Table of Contents
- What is GED and What are the Benefits of Getting a GED?
- About the General Educational Development (GED)
- GED Prerequisites
- How Do You Take the GED Examination?
- Why Is It Important to Get a GED?
- Should You Get Your GED?
- How Difficult is it to Get GED?
- How Long Does It Take to Finish GED?
- How Much Does It Cost to Get Your GED?
- Resources and References:
What is GED and What are the Benefits of Getting a GED?
GED stands for General Educational Development. However, you might hear other means like General Educational Diploma and Graduate Equivalency Degree.
After attaining the requirements of high school graduation, you get a diploma. A high school diploma refers to a document that states that you have finished all the needed courses so as to graduate. However, some high school students are close to completing and obtaining a high school diploma, but they end up not getting there. Students take a sequence of tests in such cases to show whether they have a high school education level. This is referred to as General Educational Development (GED) test.
About the General Educational Development (GED)
The General Educational Development (GED) test has four major subjects of testing which include;
- Social Studies
- Science
- Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Mathematics
Students take different tests, which together make up the whole General Educational Development (GED) examination. All these four tests take one hour each, and candidates will have to get a specific score so that they can pass. Students can schedule all four tests at once or one at a time.
GED Prerequisites
- GED testing fundamentals comprise a minimum age of 16 (in most states)
- Status of school enrollment (many states necessitate that GED candidates be officially out of high school)
- Place of residency: Many states necessitate that you reside in the state where you are to undertake the GED examination.
How Do You Take the GED Examination?
The General Educational Development (GED) examinations are usually administered in-person at official GED examination centers. Also, GED can be taken online. Every state in the country has many certified testing centers where students can take their GED tests. Students are required to schedule their testing time online at GED.com prior to taking the examination. To prepare for GED tests, students can attend local GED classes, virtual classes and see test previews, practice questions, and tests.
Why Is It Important to Get a GED?
Enhance Your Self-Esteem
Successfully passing the General Educational Development (GED) test makes you proud when showing your potential employer or family member about your accomplishment. This shows your capability to perform tasks in addition to showing your education level. Passing a GED exam impress employers makes your family proud, and boosts your confidence level. It isn’t easy to learn or maintain your commitment to the General Educational Development program, but eventually, you will thank yourself.
New Employment Opportunities
The other reason to get a GED is that many employers, as well as labor unions and the military, necessitate candidates to have either A GED certificate or a high school diploma. Attaining a GED test makes you marketable in the job market. This implies that you will have numerous job opportunities. Many employment opportunities mean that you will have a better life together with your family in case you are married and have children. Jobs aren’t the only advantage you will get after obtaining your General Educational Development certificate.
Access to Further Studies
Many community colleges, trade schools, including off-job learning programs, necessitate you to pass the General Educational Development exam before benefitting from their courses. Getting additional learning from these resources enhances your skills and increases your appeal to employers. Further education results in better jobs which have numerous benefits.
College Options
A GED certificate indicates that an individual possesses high school-level skills. After passing the GED series of tests, one has the choice of proceeding with studies. According to the GED Testing Service, over 95% of United States universities and colleges admit GED graduates. Certainly, you have to attain other admission requirements as deemed by every college’s admission process. Additionally, some colleges need SAT and/or ACT, including extra achievement or placement tests.
Confidence Builder
According to the United States Department of Education, studies show that low self-esteem is connected to many negative outcomes as well as low socio-economic status. Research from adult teachers shows that excelling in General Educational Development might build self-confidence. This confidence is an initiative of working towards enhancing their economic status through considering further studies and chasing better jobs. Studies from GED Testing Service show that many recipients of GED left fewer skill-demanding and lower-paying jobs for new careers. Additionally, the research shows that GED might have assisted in increasing their confidence level.
Should You Get Your GED?
Still, you might be wondering if it is worth getting a GED than other choices. It is important to attain a General Educational Development (GED) when compared to no high school diploma completely. As mentioned early, you will have access to many opportunities, and you might continue with your further studies. Also, you can obtain your High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), or you can opt to return to school in case you are still young.
When compared to a traditional high school diploma, a General Educational Development (GED) can make you to some extent less qualified to colleges, universities, and some employers. In case you have the chance and capability to do so, it is recommended to return to school and complete your high school courses.
If this is not your choice, you can also consider attaining a High School Equivalency Diploma rather than a GED. High School Equivalency Diploma has numerous added requirements, but you are supposed to take similar tests as GED in a good number of states. A High School Equivalency Diploma is normally accepted by many colleges and employers, even though it perhaps would not make a big impact when comparing to a GED.
Attaining high school credentials is crucial in case you intend to qualify for many colleges and professional jobs. Even though you did not complete your high school as intended, attaining your General Educational Development will indicate that you are qualified like other graduates from high school in terms of future opportunities.
How Difficult is it to Get GED?
One question that many people wonder is what it takes to earn a GED. Since you dropped out of school, you might doubt your capabilities. Individuals left high school due to numerous reasons.
- Possibly you dropped out of school to assist your family.
- Possibly you joined the wrong peer groups or since you did not love the classroom setting.
Irrespective of the reason that made you drop out of high school; you are now more enlightened than before.
- The learning materials, as well as the testing program, are intended to assist you in succeeding.
- The knowledge will encourage you to pursue a GED.
- You studied didn’t learn more about how studies assist adults in making better lives for themselves as well as their families.
It is hard to get a GED Test since it’s very time-pressured. However, if you prepare well, it will be extremely easy.
The General Educational Development (GED) test provides you with limited time, that is, 70 to 150 minutes based on the subject for almost 35-40 queries for each subject.
Most candidates who take the GED test ultimately feel that they could have done well in case they had adequate time. Also, the GED examination is very easy since it isn’t tricky. It is an easy test, and you can prepare in few weeks based on your academic background.
How Long Does It Take to Finish GED?
How long it takes to complete your General Educational Development (GED) is depended on your level of education and skill level. Averagely, it takes three months, but it can be quicker when you are prepared well for the examination. The time you require to get your GED certificate also depends on the skills that you have and the number of hours you learn every week.
Do practice tests so as determine areas that you comfortable with and those that you do not. And only learn what you want to learn. All the four subjects are tested separately. In case you don’t excel in one test, you require only to retake that particular test and not all. There are some states in the country that permit you to retake a subject as many as eight times in a span of one year.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Your GED?
Obtaining your General Educational Development (GED) doesn’t have to be costly. Here are some pointers to the cost of GED:
- GED testing costs differ in all states. The average cost of completing a series of four tests in the United States is $120.
- Free learning materials are offered at your community library.
- You don’t require to schedule and pay for GED tests once.
- Practice tests and tutorials are offered free at the GED Testing Service website.
- You do not need to schedule and pay for all four tests at the same time.
- If you want to attend GED classes, costs might be significantly higher. Attaining your General Educational Development (GED), nevertheless, would make outcomes worth the expenses.