What Does GED Mean?
General Education Development (GED) is a high school equivalency diploma suited for those who lack a high school diploma or its equivalent.
This 7-hour test is designed to test your aptitude in:
- Mathematical reasoning
- Science
- Social studies
- Reasoning through Language Arts
Each of the rigorous content areas is tested and scored separately. If you fail in one of the tests, you can retake it, not all four.
Over 98% of schools in the United States accept the GED. These include universities, community colleges, and private schools. This can also be used when applying for military positions and scholarships, etc.
The GED Approach
The General Educational Development (GED) Examination entails five sections that include writing/reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, science, social studies, and language arts.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your education and earn that degree, then it’s time for GED testing. Every day there are adults who want nothing more than a chance at success like yours – so get started today!
Although each state has its own set rules and regulations regarding requirements to apply/sit for GED, there are generally few basic things that need to be kept in mind:
- Be 18 years old or older (some states like Arizona, Alaska, and Colorado require applicants to be at least 16 years old)
- You might have to pass a formal GED practice test at your local education agency or library.
- You might need some form of identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
- You will need to apply with proper documentation and a fee structure that varies from state to state which can be checked on the official website.
Is GED Equivalent to a Grade 12?
No. General Education Development is not equivalent to a grade 12 since this test does not cover all high school syllabus and GED testing deals with only those topics which are essential for success in career or post high school education. However, people having a GED certificate can easily get access to vocational training programs, college courses without earning HSC equivalency.
Is GED the Same as a High School Diploma?
No. GED is not a substitute for a high school diploma. A high school diploma shows your formal education whereas a General Educational Development (GED) diploma denotes the amount of knowledge/education that you have gained during the course. Even though it’s equivalent to its predecessor but in no way can be considered the same as a high school diploma. There are lots of differences between these two such as:
- GED is generally held by those who dropped out, missed, or failed at some point and other than this one also need to follow specific requirements set by individual states.
- GED requires passing four tests which include writing/reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, and social studies which are equivalent to four high school subjects (math, science, social studies, and English).
- GED requires a formal course whereas a high school diploma denotes your achievement by the completion of 12th grade/secondary education.
The aforementioned points denote that there is a considerable difference between a GED and a High School diploma. Although both show equivalency, they are not the same because you can get only one certificate throughout your career.
Moreover, passing the GED exam will not automatically lead you to the issuance of a certificate or state’s recognition for having achieved academic standards like its predecessor. No record is maintained in the name of holders of General Educational Development (GED) diploma as it does for high school diplomas.
Is There Any Minimum Age Criteria for GED?
Most states and jurisdictions require online GED applicants to be at least 18 years old. However, some states allow applicants who are 16 years old or more. You may get an age waiver if you have the necessary documentation.
Usually, those who have passed the General Educational Development (GED) test before their 18th birthday gets preference in admissions from then onward, they can directly apply through usual application channels followed by other students applying for the same course.
How Long Will It Take To Get A GED Certificate/Diploma?
The time period for the issuance of a General Educational Development (GED) diploma/certificate varies from state to state. Generally, people have reported that they were able to obtain GED within a span of two weeks.
However, the exact time frame can be determined only after submitting an application and the required fee. You can either choose to receive your results by mail or pick it up in person at the nearest testing center near you.
Are There Any Benefits of Obtaining General Educational Development (GED)?
There are many advantages associated with this qualification that includes:
- Shows equivalency to formal education attained through high school which is generally required for employment.
- Enables you to move ahead in life.
- Gives a chance to enroll in higher education such as community college or four-year colleges.
- Allows you to join the armed forces and be eligible for career opportunities.
- You can also apply for some jobs that require applicants to have attained a formal high school diploma or its equivalent i.e., General Educational Development (GED).
Where Do You Take the General Educational Development (GED) Practice Test?
You can take the GED practice test online in order to prepare for the actual examination. It’s advantageous because you are able to study everything according to your own pace and time. By enrolling yourself with a reputed website that offers a large number of tests/exams, you can find answers and explanations online once you’ve completed the questions. Some websites offer free trials whereas others charge small fees in return for access to their services.
Where to Find General Educational Development (GED) Practice Test
There is no dearth of websites that offer suitable GED preparation materials be it books or online mock tests. However, preference should be given according to your learning style because different people have different preferences when it comes to learning methods. By considering the above factors, you can find a suitable website that may help to prepare well for General Educational Development (GED) exams.
How Much Does It Cost to Take a GED Test Online?
Typically, the General Educational Development (GED) test is free for those who are seeking equivalency in high school education.
However, if you want to take practice tests on a website, then there will be charges associated with it. You should therefore check the costs and prices before signing up with any website. Generally, there are three types of websites that offer GED preparation services –
- Free Websites: Most websites under this category do not charge anything but may require registration requiring you to give some personal details like name and email address etc. so as to access their services. However, they may ask for a small fee in return for sending regular information related to GED exams/practice tests, etc. or they may send promotional emails from time to time in order to acquire new users.
- Paid Websites: Applicants have to pay a small fee for GED preparation through paid websites. Such websites are preferred by those who seek quality practice tests and tutorials without any advertisements or promotional offers.
- Subscription-Based Websites: – Individuals interested in receiving regular information like online test updates, scorecards, etc. can opt for this type of service that is chargeable as compared to free or paid websites. However, there will be no charges for registration but you will receive many emails on a daily basis which may create inconvenience instead of being beneficial sometimes. It is advisable not to opt for such type of service unless you cannot find a suitable website under other categories that meet your requirements.
What Score Do You Need to Pass a GED Test?
Each of the GED subjects is scored out of 200. The four make a total of 800 points.
Applicants have to score a minimum of 145 points in each of the subjects and 580 in total in order to pass the General Educational Development (GED) test. Candidates who are unable to pass the GED test on the first or second attempt will be given a third chance after waiting for six months (180 days) long period before reappearing for the same exam. Thus, they can retake practice tests available online free of cost or charged versions as per their requirement and continue studying until they clear it successfully.
How Many Times You Can Take the GED Test?
You may take each of the GED subjects up to 3 times per calendar year (January-December). There’s no waiting requirement between the initial three test attempts. After the third session, a test-taker is required to wait for 60 days before they can sit for the test again.
How Long Does It Take To Get GED Results?
After appearing in the general education development exam, applicants usually receive their final results several weeks after completion of the exams – usually in two weeks. However, due to large numbers of people attempting the exam on the same day, it may take longer in some cases. You can always check your results on online websites that offer GED preparation services on a subscription basis or chargeable practice tests portion.
How to Get a GED Certificate?
After passing the general education development test with a minimum score of 145 marks, you will be awarded a high school equivalency certificate. You can use this document for various purposes such as applying for college, entry into armed forces, taking admission in a vocational course, etc. If you do not want to disclose your previous academic record then you may choose the ‘name withheld’ section which remains transparent and does not carry any information related to the school records of the candidate.
What Is the Easiest Way to Get a GED?
Applicants can find GED preparation kits online in order to ease their preparation for the General Educational Development exam. These study guides provide complete information about important topics that include history and principles of the United States, American government, etc. Thus, you can prepare by reading through all required material prepared from various sources such as online tutorials provided by paid websites, free newsletters or blogs available on a subscription basis, etc. You can choose any of these methods depending on your budget and requirements.
How Do I Get a Copy of My GED Test Results?
You can receive results by entering the required information on online websites offering high school equivalency preparation services like GED tutorials along with practice tests etc. You will be asked to pay a certain fee using a credit card which will grant you access to your GED certificate if you clear the test. However, there is no provision of obtaining free copies of results or scorecards by any means since it is meant for only those candidates who are unable to pass the test during the first attempt.
Can I Use a GED Certificate to Get College Admission?
General Education Development certification provides students with high school equivalency qualification and in most cases, this document can be used as proof for enrollment into post-high school courses or vocational training or education.
Usually, colleges and universities prefer applicants having higher secondary qualifications but they may take this into consideration while drawing up merit lists.
Can I Pass the GED Exam Without Attending Any Class?
Since General Education Development works on multiple-choice objective-type questions, you can easily pass this test without attending any class by making use of a GED tutorial along with self-study. However, it is always advised that you should take the GED tutorial after clearing your secondary education since this way you will be able to judge your preparation status and also assess the exam difficulty level.
What Type of Questions Are Asked in the General Education Development (GED) Test?
General Education Development practice tests as well as the official GED Test consist of four sections namely Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing Skills, Mathematical Reasoning, and Science for checking the candidate’s academic knowledgeability.
Questions are based on the following formatting “The question may contain more than one question stem. Each stem refers to a paragraph or set of paragraphs in the reading selection. A question may be based on one or more stems. The number of questions may vary.”
Can I Pass the GED Exam in One Go?
Yes/No. Considering the difficulty level of the General Educational Development test you may need to give at least two attempts. Therefore, it is always suggested that you should take GED tutorials and practice tests to ensure that you are on the right track before taking the actual test.
Can You Take the GED Test Online at Home?
Yes. You can take this test at home and also get access to many other online resources including GED tutorial videos etc. However, you will be asked to pay a certain fee before printing your scorecard after clearing this test.
Thus, it is advised that you should check out various options available on the internet so that you come up with the best choice, providing the highest quality preparation and taking actual tests in a hassle-free way.
Are Online GED Tests Valid?
General Education Development practice tests as well as the official GED Test are valid i.e., they can be accepted by colleges and universities for the admissions process provided you have minimum passing scores. Your test results will not be disclosed directly to the institution since this report is meant only for students. Therefore, it is always advised that you should verify with the college or university regarding the submission of your GED certificate scores.