GED® stands for General Education Development, and it’s a set of five tests that, if passed, count toward a high school diploma. It’s also known as the GED (General Education Diploma) or GED (General Education Degree), as in the phrase “I got my GED.” This is incorrect. The GED® program is more than just a test; it is also a teaching and preparation program for those who did not complete high school.
The GED® program was created for members of the military who did not have a high school diploma after serving in WWII, making it more difficult to find work. In 1947, the American Council on Education (ACE) began offering the tests and education to civilians, and today, civilians make up the majority of GED® test takers. Adult education classes, which are usually free, are used to prepare for the GED® exam. Although some private programs offer GED® preparation, taking classes prior to the test is not usually required.
Before taking the GED® test, some testing locations require you to take a pretest. You can get information about testing locations in your area going to the online GED® site. You must be at least 16 years old, register for tests in advance, and bring photo identification with you. If you haven’t taken adult education classes to prepare for the GED®, you should buy or borrow a few books from the library and take some practice tests. You’ll have to pay testing fees, which may vary depending on where you go. Some testing centers let you take different sections of the test at different times, while others give you the entire test on the same day.
The GED® test is divided into five sections. These are the following:
Writing, Language Arts
Reading, Language Arts
Social Studies is a course that teaches you about
Science
Mathematics
The GED® Writing section of Language Arts is divided into two sections. The first section assesses students’ grammar knowledge requiring them to edit text. The second section is a written essay that is usually based on a prompt that is broad enough to appeal to all students. With samples of fiction and nonfiction text and multiple choice answers, Language Arts, Reading assesses reading comprehension and interpretation.
American history, government, economics, and geography are all tested in the Social Studies section. Short text passages from various materials, such as the Declaration of Independence or instructions for filling out tax forms, are followed multiple-choice questions. Graphs and charts must be familiar to students.
The Science section requires knowledge of life science, earth science, physical science, and astronomy, as well as some graphs and charts. Number operations, measurement and geometry, probability and statistics, and basic algebraic concepts are all tested in mathematics.
Passing the test entails outperforming 40% of graduating high school seniors. When a person passes the test, they are given a GED® credential, which is equivalent to a high school diploma. If test takers have identified physical or learning disabilities, they may receive additional assistance in taking the test. Extra time, scribes to write down their answers, or Braille versions of the test may be available to them. The test can be retaken if it is not passed the first time. The GED® tests can be taken up to three times over the course of a year.