GED

The GED or General Educational Development test is a test that measures one's academic knowledge and is administered to those seeking to obtain what is commonly referred to as a high school equivalency diploma. For those unable or unwilling to finish high school for various reasons, the GED is a way for them to either continue their education or to find employment, as most jobs aren't open to those without a high school diploma or the equivalent. In addition, in order to attend most trade schools or community colleges, or even to enlist in the military, a high school diploma or GED is required.

The test is actually made up of a battery of five tests which are comprised of reading, writing, mathematics, social studies and science. Sometimes, high school students leave school and immediately take the GED and therefore need no further studying or preparation, but many times those who take this test have been out of school for many years - sometimes decades - and need to prepare for a while to take the test.

In most districts where the GED is administered there is a fee attached, often as much as $100, so those who take the test have a vested interest in passing it. It can be taken again, of course, but each test that must be repeated has a fee attached to it.

Obtaining one's GED opens doors to employment and higher education, although sometimes people take this test more for the feeling of accomplishment than to go on to higher education or employment.

There are many resources available to those who wish to take the GED. There is a plethora of online and community resources, many of them free, which aid those who need to study for the test. Those pursuing their GED’s can and should take all the time they need to prepare for it in order to pass it on the first attempt.

The GED is comprised of five tests: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. The entire test, with the exception of writing an essay and a small portion of the Mathematics test, consists of multiple choice questions. Each test is timed, and if the student fails one or more of the tests, only the failed tests have to be re-taken. According to the American Council on Education, in order to pass the GED a minimum score of 410 and an average score of 450 for each of the five tests for a combined overall score of 2250 is required. The lowest score one can achieve on an individual test is 200 while the highest score is 800.

There are more than 2,800 locations worldwide, including locations specific to military personnel, foreign nationals, and United States citizens located abroad where the GED test is administered. Test-takers must be at least 16 years of age. There are certain eligibility requirements that you can ascertain by contacting local educational entities. The GED test is available in English, Spanish, French, and Braille. In 2000 alone more than half a million people took and passed the GED. It has been estimated that about one in every seven high school diplomas is in fact a GED.

Once you pass the GED test you'll receive your diploma and a transcript of your scores in the mail. You should also receive a letter explaining how the scores are calculated. Keep this paperwork in a safe place, because you may be asked to provide your transcript when seeking higher education or, sometimes, employment.

While we tend to think of the GED as a test, it is actually comprised of five tests, each of which is designed to measure a person's knowledge in a specific area. For example, the science test is comprised of 50 multiple-choice questions covering life science, earth and space science, and physical science. Knowing this ahead of time can help the student selectively study for the exam.

The social studies test covers a broad area including geography, world history, American history, civics, government and economics. While one could potentially get bogged down by trying to study all of those subjects in preparation for the test, by utilizing GED test prep materials and resources one can better narrow down the appropriate materials from which to study.

The reading part of the GED is probably one of the easiest parts of the test, simply because there are no certain answers one can memorize or study ahead of time. This part of the test measures reading comprehension. There are 40 questions about provided passages that the student must read. Knowing how this part of the test works is important, however, because it is still helpful to the student to practice reading passages and answering sample questions about them to become familiar with this particular part of the test.

The Mathematics test covers such mathematical operations as algebra, geometry, fractions, decimals, and both metric and American measurement systems.

The Writing test is broken up into two parts, the second of which is the composition of an essay while the first part focuses on things like sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation, with the student being asked to correct and/or insert the correct punctuation.

Because much of the entire GED test is about knowing what to do in given situations as opposed to merely memorizing dates and such, preparing for the test is essential. If you're being asked to correct the punctuation of sentences, for example, and you've been out of school for some time, it will be much more difficult to pass the test if you bypass studying.

There are many different ways in which one can prepare to take the GED test. GED test prep books are available in bookstores while many communities offer free GED test prep classes. Many local libraries have free GED test prep resources, as do most state employment agencies.

Whether you want to prepare for the GED on your own or in a classroom situation, there are resources readily available to you; and in addition, there are countless online resources for GED prep, some of which are free. The American Council on Education maintains a website that offers information on the GED test, including sample questions for those wishing to see what the test will be like.

McGraw-Hill and Barron's both have GED test prep books that are available in major bookstores. You can also purchase or check out audio and video test prep materials. As you prepare for this all-important test, make notes of any areas in which you have difficulty so you can pay special attention to these.

Looking at and studying sample GED test questions is an excellent way to prepare for the test, and doing so often allays one's fears about the difficulty of the test. The longer one has been out of school, the more difficult one often perceives this test to be, and many people may put off taking it for years for this reason alone.

You may have to experiment somewhat with different test prep materials and/or presentations or classroom instruction to find the best way to prepare for the test. Not everyone responds to the same type of presentation. If you decide to study on your own and you get stuck in Mathematics, there are still resources you can access to help you over the hump.

Some community colleges offer adult basic education (ABE) classes that lead to the taking of the GED. Often there is no charge for these classes; however, there are specific guidelines as to the person's age and residency. Check with your local community college if you are interested in taking these classes.

Once you pass the GED you may be interested in attending college, and your local community college may be just the place to start. There are many people who have taken the GED who have gone on to earn an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's and even a Doctorate degree. Getting one's GED should not be thought of as the end of the educational process, but rather an exciting new beginning.

Studying for and passing the GED can be a great first step toward re-introducing oneself to schoolwork and test-taking, which prepares you for continuing education, and since the GED covers so many different areas of study, anyone who passes this test should feel confident enough to attend college.

Most community colleges will have information regarding community resources including agencies or organizations that participate in helping people obtain their GED’s. If you're not sure where to begin, call your local community college and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Most posted job openings that don't require a college degree require a high school diploma or GED, although most jobs don't differentiate between the two. Earning a GED in the 21st century is a widely accepted form of high school diploma. The impact the GED has made on those unable to obtain work due to the lack of a high school diploma has been phenomenal.

No matter how long a person has been out of school, he or she can be prepared to take the GED in just a few weeks, and thus change the course of his or her professional life. Doors that were once closed suddenly become open. Obtaining a GED allows a previous high school dropout to be able to consider post-secondary education, whether it is a community college or trade school the individual is interested in.

While Bill Cosby joined the Navy at a time when neither a high school diploma or GED was required, that is not the case today. In order to join any branch of the service, one must first obtain a diploma, and the GED affords that opportunity for those who have previously dropped out of school.

Use your favorite search engine and you'll be presented with an abundance of online GED resources. You'll find books for sale, online classes, sample questions, and just about anything you need to know about the GED. This can be especially helpful if you use the Internet to home in on your state and/or community resources regarding the GED. While each state sets the standards for taking and passing the GED, they are pretty standard across the board. However, by looking at the laws regarding the GED and the resources available in your area, you can ensure that you are taking the proper steps to attain your diploma.

You can take online classes in order to prepare for the test, or you can access a database of sample questions and study on your own. You can read about the eligibility requirements and the minimum requirements for passing the test. There is also information available online for those in special circumstances needing to take the test; for example, those with disabilities or those in the military.

For those who prefer to study on their own, there are several websites that offer free online GED test prep. There are also many websites that offer resources to GED test-takers that are fee-based. If you're looking for free online GED resources, you might search out federal, state, and local resources online.

Short of attending a live GED prep class, almost all GED preparation can be done at the student's own pace. Unless you're trying to get a job where you need the diploma in a hurry, you can study at your own pace and schedule yourself to take the test when you feel ready. Although the GED tests are given at regular intervals, in some small communities it could be months between test administrations, so you will want to find out how often the test is being administered and plan accordingly.

If you're looking online for GED resources, you're going to find free ones as well as fee-based ones. There are free GED resources in nearly every community. Check with your public library for books and/or tapes. Many communities offer free classes that are held both in the daytime and the evening for those preparing to take the GED. These classes are especially helpful for those who may have difficulty in one or more subjects, because for one thing the classes are usually relatively small, and for another thing you can usually get extra help from the instructor if needed.

Some communities offer GED courses through the local television station, and this can be helpful for those who are comfortable studying on their own. Even though the student doesn't have one-on-one contact with the instructor, it can be more helpful than studying a book on one's own, because you can see such things as complex math problems worked out on the board step by step.

Some public libraries have video tapes that hold an entire GED prep course. Since the test was updated in 2002 however, it is important to obtain up-to-date information. You might look in your local yellow pages under "Adult Education" or GED to ascertain where you can find further information in your community. With all the free GED resources available today almost anyone can prepare themselves for the test without spending any money at all.

Some people are concerned that the GED isn't "the real thing" when it comes to a high school diploma, but it is a widely accepted diploma today. In fact, many job applications have a box to check if you have a GED, while others have a box to check if you have either a high school diploma or GED. While most jobs won't discriminate against those who hold a GED, without it there's little chance of landing almost any kind of a job.

Once you enter post-secondary school, you will rarely have to note that you have a GED, as most job applications and other questionnaires just ask for the last level of education completed. Still, a GED is nothing to be ashamed of and is the legal equivalent of a high school diploma.

Many famous people have gotten their GED and gone on to accomplish great things. Among them, Bill Cosby, who is not only an extraordinary actor and comedian but also holds a Ph.D in education. Another famous actor who obtained a GED is Michael J. Fox. Probably best known for his role as Alex P. Keaton in the sitcom "Family Ties," the "Back to the Future" movies, and more recently his battle with Parkinson's disease, Fox was 34 when he obtained his GED after dropping out of high school in the 12th grade.

The late news anchor Peter Jennings also had a GED as did Dave Thomas, the famous founder of Wendy's and Mary Lou Retton, an Olympic medal-winning gymnast. Obtaining their GED was an important step for all of these people and it is an important step for anyone to take and one to be proud of.

If you've been putting off taking the GED test because you're afraid you've been out of school too long, take heart. There are many resources out there for you and there are many people taking the GED every day who haven't stepped a foot inside a school for years.

Passing the GED will open doors previously closed and will give you the confidence you need to pursue higher education.