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GED Information

Sources of Information for GED

Being the only nationally recognized high school equivalent credential in the US, the GED is taken by tens of thousands of non graduating adults every year. With research reporting that only 60% of graduating high school students are able to clear GED at their first attempt, the GED is an exam that requires a good amount of planning and preparation. GED testing policies also differ depending on the jurisdiction where you take the test. So, if you are planning for GED, it is crucial that you have all the required GED information with you. From GEDTS and ACE to state/district/county departments, there are many places where you could find relevant GED information. Here is a synopsis, listing some of the key sources.

GED Essentials

Developed by the GED Testing Service (GEDTS), a program of the American Council on Education (ACE), the General Education Development Tests (GED) are a standardized set of tests offering a high school equivalent credential. Here is a summary of the basic GED information for you:



  • While the test is designed and developed by GEDTS, it is administered and the credentials are awarded by individual jurisdictions/states across the US. At international locations, the test is administered by Prometric.
  • GED is not conducted online. You need to take the test in person, at designated GED Testing Centers.
  • GED testing policies differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The minimum age criteria, the marks for passing, and the credentials awarded vary depending up on jurisdictional policies. For instance, the minimum age bar for taking GED is 17 years in California, while the same is 16 years in North Dakota.
  • GED is a battery of five tests and takes seven hours and five minutes to complete all. You may not be taking all tests in one single administration, though.
  • GED has strict passing standards-a minimum of 410 in each of the five tests and 2250 in total.
  • The GED credentials, diplomas, certificates, or endorsements are accepted as equivalent to high school diploma across the US. ACE reports that 95% percent of US colleges and institutes and 96% of US employers accept GED credentials for admission into programs and for offering employment.

Official GED website is the best online resource for generic GED information (http://www.acenet.edu//AM/Template.cfm?Section=GED_TS). For jurisdictional policies and state specific GED information, you may check the 'Testing Policies' section of the GED website (http://www2.acenet.edu/gedtest/policy/index.cfm). You may also contact the relevant state departments and their specific GED programs for state specific GED information. For example, for information on Oregon specific GED policies and requirements, you may contact the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development GED program (http://www.oregon.gov/CCWD/GED/).

GED-Sections and Question Types

The GED battery includes five tests on five subject areas/skills, and a variety of question types:

  • Social Studies: History, Economics, Geography, and Civics and Government are the content areas included in the Social Studies test. There are 50 multiple-choice questions to be answered based on given passages and visual information.
  • Science: 50 multiple-choice questions are included in the test covering topics from Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science. The questions are based on given passages and visual information (tables, charts, graphs, etc.).
  • Mathematics: Divided into two parts, the Mathematics test measures your understanding of mathematical concepts, and your ability to apply them. Each part has 25 questions of different types-including multiple-choice, coordinate plane grid, and standard grid formats.
  • Language Arts, Reading: The Reading test measures your skills at reading comprehension and information interpretation. There are 40 multiple-choice questions to be answered, based on information from the given passages, including non-fiction and literary texts.
  • Language Arts, Writing: While the first part of the test includes 50 multiple-choice questions to revise and edit documents, the second part requires you to write an essay on a given general topic.

For relevant GED information on the sections and question types, you may visit the GED website. The website has sample questions, video files, link to Official Practice Test, and authentic information on GED sections and question types. (http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/prep/sample_questions.htm). For preparation assistance, you may contact Adult Basic Education Centers in your area, or check the American Literary Directory (http://www.literacydirectory.org). The GED preparation representative in your area can help you find schools for GED preparation (http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/GED_Preparation_Info.htm). In addition, you may check with your local department GED programs or adult education programs.

You may find plenty of other resources online and offline for GED information. For example, there are a variety of GED videos available on YouTube (www.youtube.com), which have been helping plenty of test takers. Your local television also might have GED programs. However, it is important that you verify the authenticity and accuracy of information, so that you are not duped into false claims like 'getting your GED credentials online.'




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