What is the GED?

First things first. What is a GED, and how will it help you if your plans to graduate high school on time fall through? The General Education Development  or GED test is a set of exams designed to determine whether or not the test-taker has a high-school graduate’s level of knowledge. Although a GED credential isn’t the same as a high school diploma, it is accepted by many employers, colleges and post-secondary educational schools, if a traditional diploma is not obtainable by the student. If your plans to graduate on time fell short due to an unplanned pregnancy, the GED is important element needed when applying for college, or for career advancement. In today’s ,most, if not all, jobs require a high school diploma or GED. People with credentials from high school, whether it is a GED or Diploma, will earn about $500,000 more in a lifetime compared to those without any credentials from high school.

 

Where to begin:

In 2014, the exam content was reformatted and revised. Today, the exam has to be taken on a computer at a testing center and is made up of the following subjects:

  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Language Arts
  • Science
  • Social Studies

The test is available in English and Spanish and more than 3,400 testing centers offer the GED. Registering for the GED test is very simple once you take the time to study and prepare for the exam. A great resource is https://ged.com/ Here you can find a testing center near you, get practice materials, score reports, the cost of the test, and develop study plans.

 

Below are 4 easy steps to getting your GED.

First, Review State Requirements:

The first step in getting your GED is sitting down and reviewing the requirements in your state. The requirements for obtaining your GED differ across states. In many states, test takers must be at least 16 years old to sit for a GED test. If your state requires you to be at least 18 years of age, there is an approval process that you can go through to sit for a GED test at a younger age. To view the requirements and policies in your state, visit

Preparing and studying for the Exam:

The GED test is broken down into 4 different categories.

  • Mathematical reasoning – this section of the test covers two major areas, Quantitative & algebraic problem solving. 115 min allotted to complete this section
  • Science- Life science, physical science, earth and space science. 90 min allotted to complete this section
  • Social Studies- Civics and government, U.S. history, economics, geography and the world. 90 min allotted to complete this section
  • Language Arts– Ability to read closely, write clearly, and edit and understand written text. 150 min allotted to complete this section

After you understand the layout of the exam, there are many resources available for you to get study information. First, check with your high school and see if they offer any resources for getting your GED or if any local community colleges or technical schools provide GED test prep classes. There are also many online sites that provide practice tests and have low-cost tutorials online. In some cases local libraries will have test prep materials as well.

Register Online for the GED:

When you feel that you are ready to take the GED test. Simply go online and register. Here you will provide your personal information and make an account. After you make an account you will select which test dates work best for you and choose a testing center in your area to complete the GED test.

Taking the Test:

The entire exam is estimated to take 7 ½ hours. However, because of new regulations as of 2014, test takers can choose which sections, and how many they want to take. As the test take you have the option of sitting for 1, 2, 3, or all 4 sections of the GED test. Below is a list of the types of questions that can be found on the GED test:

Types of Questions on the GED:

  • Multiple choice
  • Drag and drop
  • Hot spot (select an area)
  • Fill in the blank
  • Short answer
  • Extended response

Post GED Test:

Access your scores:

Once you’ve taken the test you can access your scores through the personal account that you made when registering for the GED. To pass the GED you need to score at least a 150 in section on the test. Any test taker to score higher than a 170 on the exam will receive special honors.

If you need to retake the test:

If you do not pass the test the first time you can retake the test, usually for a discounted cost. If you find yourself sitting for a GED for the 3rd time, the GED testing service will mandate a 60-day waiting period.

 

The GED is a great option for those who do not have the resources available to get their high school diploma. The GED makes many career goals and high education options possible and is a great way to open the doors to the future.