The new year brings with it a revised, tougher-to-pass GED. Anyone who didn't take and pass all five sections of the old test by Dec. 31 must begin anew with the 2002 version.

        Among the new requirements: A calculator must be used on the math test, and the essay on the writing portion will be more rigorously graded.

        About 90 people who took the test Monday at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College were among the last in the nation to try to pass the version in use since 1988.

        “It needed to be updated ... to reflect the content being taught in high school classrooms,” said Ohio Department of Education spokeswoman Beth Gianforcaro.

        The test was created in 1942 to help returning World War II veterans complete their studies, and has been updated several times since then. The current edition was due for an update, said Lyn Schaefer, director of test development at the GED Testing Service in Washington.

        “It's changing for one really big reason: Every state has undergone or will undergo a standards initiative, and we have to mirror what the states are doing,” Ms. Schaefer said.

        The revised GED will better reflect new standards many states set for high school graduation, Ms. Schaefer said.

        Employers, colleges and universities have said they wanted the writing portion to be tougher, she said. More weight now will be given to the required essay.

        The writing section will also include business communications such as letters, memos, meeting notes, e-mails, executive summaries and applications.

        For the first time, the math section will be divided into two parts, with one part measuring math skills with a calculator and the second part measuring the skills without a calculator.

        The social studies test will contain a greater percentage of history questions, including more world history content.

        For more information about GED changes, go to the Web site www.acenet.edu/calec/ged/ or call (202) 939-9475.

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