If you’re an adult student aiming to earn your high school diploma or equivalent, chances are you’ve been following the news recently.

In case you haven’t, this article will explore recent developments in GED testing. With a major shake-up to the decades-old system looming, adult students must search for alternatives. As this article demonstrates, those alternatives might be even better than the GED itself. Join us as we discuss the end of GED testing, its implications for mature students, and the new pathways to success.

What Is GED Testing?

GED stands for General Educational Development. Its testing and subsequent certification have been the go-to standard for adult diploma equivalency since the testing arrived in Canada in the 90s.

Essentially, adult students who didn’t finish high school in Ontario could take the GED exam – a comprehensive span of five tests – to demonstrate their secondary school knowledge and earn a certificate equivalent to the OSSD.

The Canadian GED testing is (soon to be “was”) run by an American company called Pearson Vue Testing Services, which runs an authoritative global network of test facilities and exam infrastructures.

In the News: The End of GED Testing

Recently, Pearson Vue announced that it was pulling the GED testing from Canada. Despite several news outlets covering the story, it appears no one knows precisely why the American company is dashing its Canadian operations. But perhaps that doesn’t matter; what matters is the immense educational vacuum the decision has left in its wake.

The company and its affiliated Canadian ministries have handed down an ultimatum to adult students: Register for the GED by January 1^st, 2024 (already passed), and take the exam by March 31^st. After that, the GED will cease to exist in the country – and along with it, a stellar opportunity for adult learners to prove their high school proficiency in one fell swoop.

What GED’s Exit Means for Adult Learners

Naturally, several prospective adult students felt a sense of shock and disappointment at the news. What could they do now? The GED testing was a convenient, all-in-one exam that could fast-track their mature student high school diploma equivalency. And now the entire enterprise has evaporated.

It’s too early to tell if Canada has a backup plan. The government hasn’t announced anything yet – nor have they even announced that they’re working on anything substitutive. (The Ontario gov’t lists a simple message in its memorandum “More information will be available in the future”). As such, some adult learners feel in limbo. They can’t wait around for the government to create an effective substitute (which may never happen). But – for various reasons, both personal and professional – they cannot continue to go without a high school equivalency certificate.

Luckily, there are alternatives. For the rest of this blog post, we’ll map out an agreeable alternative to the GED testing that can be every bit as flexible and self-led. It involves PLAR and a quality ministry-inspected online school in Ontario. Here’s what you need to know.

The Alternative: PLAR & Flexible Online Schools

As the Ontario Government notes in its memorandum on the end of GED testing, “Adult learners can also access Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) through school boards to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.”

This effective method of earning one’s high school equivalency isn’t going anywhere. And while, at first blush, it may not have the appeal of a single “one-and-done GED exam,” it can be as simple, straightforward and flexible.

Here’s everything you need to know about earning your diploma as an adult student in the post-GED landscape.

What Is PLAR?

As the quote above mentions, PLAR stands for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. Basically, it’s an admission that your life experience as a mature adult – the things you’ve learned at work, home and elsewhere – constitutes an educational equivalent, and should be recognized as such.

In OES’s resource on PLAR, we describe the process as follows:

“Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for mature students is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process whereby mature students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. Students may have their knowledge and skills evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum in order to earn credits towards the OSSD.”

In other words, you can gain credits toward your diploma simply by demonstrating that you’ve learned things since you left high school. And these credits appear on your transcript in the same way a completed course does – no difference.

You can’t receive the full and total credits necessary for a diploma through PLAR, but you can get pretty far. As for the remaining credits, we have a handy solution for those: Online learning. In the subsequent section, we’ll explore how online learning fills the hole left behind by a departing GED program, and offers students an accommodating pathway toward a high school diploma.

Making Up Remaining Credits in a Flexible, Self-Paced and Supportive Environment

Despite your gains through PLAR, you’ll need to take some courses to complete your diploma. Again, we refer to our comprehensive guide on PLAR:

“Mature students who have previously accumulated 26 or more credits towards the diploma… must successfully complete the required number of courses to bring their total number of credits up to 30 before they will be eligible to receive the OSSD.

“Following the equivalency or challenge process, any remaining required credits may be earned by taking the required courses.”

In simple terms: Whatever you didn’t gain through PLAR, you can earn with OES’s convenient online courses. Refer to OES’ grade 12 overview to explore a few of the courses you may need to complete.

How does this strategy stack up to the GED, and what benefits do online schools offer mature and returning students? Read on to explore.

PLAR/Online Courses Vs. The Now-Discontinued GED Testing

We understand that you might be thinking, “Oh darn, I have to go back to school now! At least with the GED, it was one simple test.”

Was it? Most GED takers spent months studying for that four-test exam, including paying out of pocket for preparatory courses, tutoring and lengthy textbooks. They put in long hours in the evenings to get ready for their one shot to take the GED. That sounds an awful lot like going back to school – except without the support of teachers.

The GED may be gone, but the alternative in Canada – PLAR and online learning – is every bit as convenient and flexible, perhaps more so. Not only is it remote and self-paced, but it has the added bonus of offering support and guidance along the way.

If you’re a mature or returning student keen on obtaining an OSSD after the GED deadline, consider the following benefits of online courses. If you have any lingering questions, please consider booking a 15-minute Academic Guidance Meeting with one of our knowledgeable staff, during which you can determine the right path for you.

Online School Is Flexible Enough to Fit Your Busy Schedule

We understand that most returning students have a busy schedule. Maybe your goal in obtaining an OSSD is to supercharge your professional career; therefore, you can’t take time away from work to complete academic courses. Or perhaps your aim in acquiring a diploma is to enrich your life, but you’re too busy with familial and personal obligations to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar school.

In either case, you’ll find the flexibility you need at OES. Our flexible courses have no fixed start or end date, nor do they require you to study during predetermined hours. You get a generous block of time to complete the course at home, and you can study for the course whenever you please – whether it’s after work in the evenings, during the days when kids are at school, or for a few hours each weekend.

If that block of time passes and you haven’t finished? Chat with us about an extension. Our aim is to accommodate you on your journey toward a high school diploma.

Self-Paced Studies Let You Personalize Your Education

Our courses follow a “self paced learning” or “asynchronous learning” model, which is a fancy way of saying that you can move at your own speed.

If you feel “stuck” in a course, or struggle comprehending certain topics/concepts, you can take longer on them. Conversely, if you feel comfortable in a course and wish to breeze through the material, you can do that, too. Self-paced studies allow you to personalize your educational experience and get the most out of your time here. Plus, research shows that self-paced studies significantly improves academic performance!

Dedicated Teachers and 24/7 Tutoring Optimize Your Chances at Success

As mentioned, the now-discontinued GED had its downsides. Namely, the test left learners to fend for themselves. Many ended up soliciting help from in-person tutors and preparatory courses, but even these support systems couldn’t be a consistent and thorough guide to learners taking the GED.

At OES, support is our superpower. OES students enjoy one-on-one time with their teachers, during which time they can bounce ideas, voice frustrations, or ask for help.

They also enjoy access to 24/7 tutoring through our online platform (you read that correctly – 24/7). If you’re burning the midnight oil on your studies and need guidance, you can reach out to our knowledgeable tutors for help. Likewise, if you live in a distant time zone or can only study on weekends, this round-the-clock service ensures that you’re never far from a helping hand.

Why do we provide such a robust support system? We believe that, by being there for our students whenever and however they need us, we can optimize their chances at success. So far, the system has worked! Check out the “Student Stories” on our website; you’ll find testimonials from mature students who have successfully obtained their diplomas.

Convenient Remote Learning Means You Won’t Have to Leave Home

A mere 15 years ago, a mature student needed to return to a physical classroom to complete their high school diploma. It was inconvenient. It was rigid. And the commute was time-consuming, especially for those mature students with families and careers.

Now, the whole experience is at your fingertips. It’s a prime example of how online learning changes education for the better, creating a more accommodating and convenient atmosphere for all types of students. Mature learners with busy home lives, limited time for studying, or mobility issues can easily log on to their courses via a home computer or laptop. They can schedule one-on-one meetings with their teachers online. They can work on, edit, complete and submit assignments online. And they can take tests and exams online.

The Bottom Line: We’ve Got Your Back

To recap, OES students take advantage of an attentive support system, convenient platform, self-paced model and flexible approach to course completion. The bottom line? We’ve got your back.

We want to see you succeed, diploma in hand. That’s why, aside from the benefits above, we also offer resources and guidance through our site. On our main site, you’ll find resources like how to access Ontario grants for mature students and how to navigate the PLAR process. Meanwhile, on our blog, explore general study tips pertaining to time management, exam preparation and a host of other topics.

The GED testing might be leaving Canada, but that doesn’t mean hope is lost for mature and returning students. There is a viable, supportive alternative with PLAR and online courses. Learners who enjoy convenient, flexible, supportive pathways to success will find that the alternative is every bit as enjoyable – maybe even more – than the outgoing GED testing.

If you have questions about your individual journey toward a high school diploma in Ontario, we encourage you to book an informational session with our academic guidance experts.