A pilot project determined whether a proposed essay addition to the new General Educational Development (GED) test batteries, scheduled for release in 1988, could be successfully administered and scored in local test centers with an acceptable degree of test reliability and validity. Conducted in cooperation with the GED Testing Service, the project also investigated the logistics, costs, and effort involved in coordinating instructional and testing components. An instructional component explored various instructional strategies and curriculum materials for teaching writing skills to prospective GED candidates. The testing component involved the following: selection of GED candidates to take essay tests, coordination and scoring of essay tests, collection of data and information for project evaluation, and completion of the project evaluation survey. Project conclusions were that the essay component was effectively administered, scored, and reported at the local level; the instructional component contributed significantly to GED candidates' preparation and readiness; and the strategy of holistic scoring meets the overall objectives of efficient, effective, reliable, and valid scoring of the essay at the local level. (Appendixes, amounting to approximately three-fourths of the report, include an outline of evaluation strategies with surveys, scoring procedures, and essay test and descriptions of project procedures.) (YLB)