By Leonard Williams

For today’s 39 million adults in the US who didn’t graduate from high school, the GED credential is the high school equivalent to a high school diploma and the best way to demonstrate skills and proficiency levels that are necessary to progress in education or career.

Developed in 1942, the first GED Tests were designed to help military veterans finish their basic education. Today, anyone who has not received a high school diploma in the U.S. qualifies for GED eligibility for taking the test. The GED credential is awarded to anyone who can pass the full test series that measures knowledge and skills in science, social studies, math, reading and writing.

Who’s eligible to take the GED test? As a rule, you’re eligible if:

• You aren’t currently enrolled in high school;
  
  
• You haven’t graduated from high school;
  
  
• You are at least 18 years old or older. A few states will allow testing at 16 and 17 years.
  
  
• You meet state, provincial, or territorial requirements regarding age, residency, and the length of time since leaving school.

What other circumstances apply to GED test candidates?

• Some candidates elect to take the test when they have a high school diploma from an unaccredited high school or they’ve been home-schooled.
  
  
• Candidates who graduated from a non-US high school are eligible to take the GED test if they meet all other state and federal requirements.
  
  
• US citizenship is not a requirement to take the GED test. Adults who aren’t US citizens can take the GED test.

Is the GED test given online?

No, the GED is not available online. The GED is administered by the American Council of Education, which develops and distributes tests. Official GED tests are ONLY given at designated test centers throughout the U.S., U.S. Territories and Canada. To locate official testing centers, visit http://www.passGED.com/test_state.php. International testing is also available.

What makes a GED credential a high school equivalent?

The GED test is rigorous 7.5-hour exam, equal to or exceeding high school proficiency. Tests are standardized and normed using a national random sample of graduating high school seniors. To pass the GED tests, a candidate must demonstrate a level of skill that meets or exceeds that demonstrated by 60% of graduating high school seniors. This means that 40% of graduating high school seniors wouldn’t pass the GED tests.

Approximately 97 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S., and 95 percent of employers accept the GED credential.

More GED Resources

• Free resources and information on GED testing, official testing sites, financial aid and student support are available at http://www.passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. In addition, information on test scores and official test sites are available.
  
  
• The American Council on Education and most local libraries and community colleges will also have additional GED resources designed specifically for GED students and adult learners. Visit the ACE’s GED Testing Service at www.gedtest.org, or call 202.939-9490.
  
  
• Contact GED resources such as local public school district, community college, public library or university and ask about GED and adult education programs. Local family resource centers or volunteer centers are also good resources to find programs and support services for GED students and adult learners. Browse listings of Volunteer Centers, provided by the Points of Light Foundation: http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm
  
  
• Does your community have Communities in Schools program? Or  YouthBuild USA?  If so, you can probably find information on local GED resources, and even other support services for families who want to focus on their education. Learn more about CIS at http://www.cisnet.org/intro.html. Learn more about Youth Build at http://www.youthbuild.org/.

About the Author: Leonard Williams, an e-learning instructor with www.passGED.com, is also a curriculum specialist who focuses on research and development, implementation and assessment of best-practice learning solutions for adult learners and people with educational challenges. You can contact Leonard at: ContactUs. He invites feedback and questions from GED instructors and students.

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Eligibility for the GED test by Leonard Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.passged.com.