In January 2014, the current GED test will be replaced in Arizona, meaning students who started their testing under the current series of tests will need to pass all five parts before the end of this fall, or start completely over after the new year.

The General Education Development tests offer those who did not finish high school a chance to earn a high school equivalency credential. The general consensus about the new GED test is that it will be harder to pass than the current test, according to new Cochise College Adult Education Director Susan Morss. The content will now be designed to not only prove high school equivalency, but also provide evidence of readiness to enter the workforce or move on to post-secondary education.

There will be four subjects — reasoning through language arts, math reasoning, science and social studies — tested, rather than five, and some of those sections will expand to include essays and short answers.

The entire test will be computerized; no more pencil and paper. The Cochise College Testing Center will offer the current test — known as the 2002 test because that was the last time it was revised — on computer beginning this month. The Testing Center will also offer the pencil-and-paper version of 2002 GED test through the end of the year.

Cochise College Adult Education offers free GED test preparation at its various locations in Cochise County, with registration periodically throughout the year. The next round of classes begin at the end of this month. For more information, visit www.cochise.edu/adulteducation.

• Sierra Vista GED preparation
Registration: 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. March 18 or 19
Classes start April 1
Sierra Vista Campus, 901 N. Colombo Ave.
Call (520) 515-5456 for more information

• Douglas GED preparation
Registration: March 4-8, call (520) 417-7410 for hours
Classes start March 25
Douglas Public Library, 560 10th St.
Call (520) 417-7410 for more information

• Benson GED preparation
Registration: 5:30 p.m. March 20, 21 and 23
Classes start March 25
Benson Center, 1025 State Route 90
Call (520) 586-1981 ext. 3304 for more information

• Willcox GED preparation
Registration: 5:30 p.m. March 19-20
Classes start March 26
Willcox Center, 470 N. Bisbee Ave.
Call (520) 384-4502 for more information