MALTA – At 50 years old, Paula Goral is only one test away from realizing her dream of obtaining a General Educational Development certificate.

But that dream could hit a setback if Goral does not pass the math component of the GED program by the end of this year. The GED will get a makeover in 2014, and students partially through the program will have to start from the beginning in the new format if they fail to finish the five required tests.

For students such as Goral, starting over would mean higher costs, as the price for testing will increase from $50 to $120 plus a $10 charge to receive the certificate. It would also mean a new curriculum to fall in line with Common Core standards being implemented at high schools and testing performed exclusively through computers – an uncomfortable change for Goral.