Bermuda College is offering free GED practice tests to eligible students later this month in an effort to increase the number of people sitting the exam.

The “See for Free” programme — run in conjunction with the US-based GED Testing Service — will be held between September 22 and October 3 at Bermuda College, the official GED testing site in Bermuda.

College registrar Carleen Place said it was hoped the initiative would increase test-taker confidence, educator confidence and boost the level of test takers.

“The GED has proven to be viable and accepted option for Bermuda’s students, who for any number of reasons do not possess a school leaving certificate,” she said.

“This ‘See for Free’ initiative, introduced nationwide by the GED Testing Service, allows students to see if they are ready to pass the GED test, identify the skills they need to work on to pass the test and will give students access to a personalised study plan advising them on specific areas to study.”

To be eligible for the two-week offer, students must be aged at least 17, not enrolled in an accredited high school and living in Bermuda. In 2013, there were 160 graduates of the GED in Bermuda.

The GED (general educational development) test was revised recently to make its focus more compatible with college preparatory materials.

In the “See for Free” programme, students will also be able to learn about training centres and classes offered at several adult education centres in Bermuda, as well as other resources to help them prepare for the test.

The GED Testing Service is offering students who take its practice test a guarantee that they will pass the real exam if they achieve a “likely to pass” score in the trial run. If they don’t, GED will pay for a retake — so long as the GED test is taken within 60 days of scoring “likely to pass” on the practice test.

Ms Place can be contacted on 239-4049 or cplace@college.bm for more information.