The GED program provides education and preparation for those who have not completed high school. It consists of five tests and passing the test means a score greater than 40% of high school students. The test can be repeated up to three times over a period of one year.
GED stands for General Education Development, and is a battery of five tests that, when passed, are equivalent to a high school diploma. It is often referred to as the General Education Diploma, or the General Education Degree, as in the phrase “I received my GED”. This is inaccurate. The GED is not just a test, but a program that provides education and preparation for those who have not completed high school.
The GED program was first initiated for members of the armed forces who, after serving during World War II, did not obtain a high school diploma, making it more difficult to find work. The American Council on Education (ACE) began providing testing and education to civilians in 1947, and now most people who take the GED tests are civilians. GED preparation is usually done through adult education classes that are offered free of charge. There are some private programs that offer GED preparation, but pre-test classes are usually not a prerequisite.
Some test sites require a pre-test before taking the GED test. You can visit the GED online website for information about testing locations in your area. You will need to be at least 16 years of age to register in advance for the tests and bring photo identification. If you haven’t taken adult education classes to prepare for the GED, we highly recommend purchasing or borrowing some books from the library and trying out sample tests. You will need to pay fees for the tests, which may vary depending on your location. Some test sites allow you to take different sections of the test at different times, while others administer all test sections on the same day.
There are five areas or sections of the GED test. These are:
Language Arts, Writing
Language Arts, Reading
Social studies
Mathematics
Language arts, writing in the GED is divided into two sections. The first section assesses grammar knowledge, requiring students to edit the text. The second section is essay writing, based on a prompt that is generally general enough to appeal to all students. Language Arts, Reading assesses reading comprehension and interpretation with samples of fiction and non-fiction texts followed by multiple-choice answers.
The social studies section tests American history, government, economics, and geography. The multiple-choice questions follow short text excerpts from different materials, such as the Declaration of Independence or instructions for filling out tax forms. Students need to be familiar with charts and tables.
The Science section relies on some charts and tables and requires familiarity with life sciences, earth sciences, physical sciences and astronomy. Mathematics tests proficiency in numerical operations, measurement and geometry, probability and statistics, and basic algebraic concepts.
Passing the test means a score greater than 40% of high school students. When the test passes, a person receives a GED credential, which is equivalent to a high school diploma. Test takers can also get help taking the test if they have identified physical or learning disabilities. They may be entitled to extra time, scribes to write down their answers, or braille versions of the test. If the test fails on the first attempt, it can be repeated. The GED tests can be taken up to three times over a period of one year.
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