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by Leonard Williams

39 million American adults never earned a high school diploma. Throughout the country, there is a push to re-educate these adults so they can earn a GED and become eligible for higher-paying jobs and higher education. But many never try for their GED. Why?

Thirty-nine million adult Americans have no high school degree, and each one has a reason why. Educator Michael Ormsby of The GED Academy states, “I hear the stories of many people looking to earn a GED. People say, ‘I can’t…’ all the time.” Students reasons why “they can’t” earn the GED fall into a few common categories.

1. “It’s too hard.”

Is the GED too difficult for adults without a high school diploma? It’s a series of five tests in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Each test can be taken as many times as needed until they are passed. In other words, by taking time and focusing on one area of study at a time, a test-taker can work through each area of the GED. “It’s important to realize,” adds Ormsby, “that the GED requires understanding of specific skills in each area.” The GED Academy recommends that students find out what areas they need to work on by taking a pretest. Then, adult learners should find a study program that will fit their needs, in their community, in a bookstore, or online. By focusing study and sticking to a study plan, almost any adult can acquire the skills needed to pass the GED.

2. “Studying is boring.”

A recent study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found the most high school dropouts leave school because they found school uninteresting, boring and not relevant to their lives. The majority of these students had grade point averages of C or better and could have succeeded in school had they continued. (http://www.essentialed.org/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf)

Traditional approaches — like studying out of test-prep books — can be frustrating to adult learners. There are more options today for how to study than ever before, though. Internet and software study programs allow students to study at their own pace, and the best programs have entertaining, visual presentations. Discriminating adult students focus on what type of learning works best for them to find the right study method.

3. “I don’t have time to go to classes.”

Most people studying for the GED are adults, with adult responsibilities including a job, a spouse, and children. Going to classes takes time, but there are many options for studying at home at any pace. Making time for the GED doesn’t need to involve a lot of driving or a set schedule. Ormsby recommends that students set aside a little bit of time each day to work toward their goal. “If you’re managing your own study time, it’s important to find a program that can keep you interested and motivated, so look into software or online programs that are visual and entertaining.”

4. “I can’t learn all the things I missed in four years of high school.”

Because the GED is a high school equivalency exam, many test-takers expect that it will require all the knowledge taught in four years of high school. However, the GED focuses, not on memorization of facts, figures, and dates, but on fundamental skills: math skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. Test-takers need to focus their learning on how to think for the GED to acquire the fundamental problem solving, analysis, critical thinking, communications, and mathematics skills that are needed to pass. “Depending on their existing skill level,” Ormsby states, “properly preparing for the GED can take weeks or months, not years.”

5. “I don’t need a GED.”

Many undereducated adults have jobs, but most of them are underpaid and lack security. The job market is growing more and more limited for people without high school diplomas. A worker who is suddenly faced with unemployment will find it difficult to find a new job, and a worker who wants to advance in his or her firm may find promotions blocked without a high school degree. In a competitive job market, employers continue to look for applicants with more education and qualifications. Without a high school diploma, the average income is about $18,000 per year. With one, it jumps to nearly $26,000 — and if you go on to finish college, the average income leaps to about $44,000. Based on those figures, a GED is a necessity. For more information about GED online study programs, visit: www.passged.com