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GED Requirements

Prerequisites for GED Testing

General Educational Development (GED) was instituted in 1942 to help the World War II veterans to get back to civilian life. Most of the soldiers had not completed high school. This test was a boon to such people to get a diploma. Now, this test is very useful for adults who have not had a formal high school education. After the completion of GED, you can take up higher studies. This diploma certificate is recognized as an equivalent to a traditional diploma.

A non-profit program of the American Council on Education (ACE), the General Educational Developmental Testing Services (GEDTS) has developed this test and administers it. This test is now offered by all the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, US territories, insular areas, Canada and internationally. The GED requirements for each state vary but the states have to follow a minimum requirement level set by the GEDTS.



GED Requirements

The following are the general GED requirements. The GED administrator of each state can be contacted for the specific GED requirements of the particular state.

  • Residency

    You can take up the GED in a state only if you are that state's resident. You have to have a valid identity card of the sate you wish to take up the test in. It can either be a driver's license, ID card issued by the state, a military ID or passport.

  • Age

    Most states have set 18 years as the age requirement for taking up the test, while some have it as 16 years. Many sates offer age waiver on special conditions. They have set 18 years as one of the GED requirements to ensure that students don't drop out of high school, so that they can take up the GED test.

  • Fees

    A fee has to be paid to register for the GED test. This fee varies from state to state and it is best to look up the individual state's website to learn about the fees. The fee can vary within the state as well. The fee to take up the test at California state is approximately around $150. Each center's fee structure varies slightly within the California state.

  • Languages

    The GED is administered in Spanish, French and English. All centers do not offer all the three languages. It is best to contact the center, where you will be taking up the test to know the languages they offer.

  • Educational Background

    Students who have not enrolled in a formal school or have received a high school diploma cannot take up the test. If you have a 9th grade or higher knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics, the GED preparation will be easy.

  • Preparation

    Preparation is very important to get the GED certificate. Most states offer free coaching for the GED test. You can also do self-study preparation for the GED. Lots of books are available which can be accessed from the local library for preparation. There are 5 subjects that are tested in the GED and they are Literary Arts- Writing, Literary Arts- Reading, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics. Each subject is scored in the range of 200-800. You are required to score a minimum of 410 in each subject and a total of 2250 to pass in the test. You can retake the subject you fail in. To get these minimum scores to pass, a thorough preparation is required.

Before you attempt the test, take up a GED prep test to understand your skill levels. Learn about the GED requirements of your state and check if you fulfill all of them. Prepare thoroughly and sincerely to pass the test. The GED diploma will help you to enroll for higher studies or get a better job.




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