The GED is more than just a piece of paper on the way toward something else, though. In studying for the GED, it’s important to think of the GED as a stepping stone to college and to a better life. GED students can learn important skills that will help them in college or in the workplace, and by learning these skills, instead of just focusing on the GED test itself, studiers can earn their GED easier as well as prepare for what’s beyond.

To make the most of your GED experience, while you’re working on your GED, you should work on:

1) good study habits… things like making a study schedule and study space, and figuring out how best to spend your study time.

2) learning to be responsible for your own learning–to own what you know and judge what you’ve learned and what you haven’t.

3) thinking about how you learn best and learning study techniques.

4) developing reading, writing, math, and thinking skills… Learning basic skills is the essence of studying for the GED because these are the skills that the GED tests. Realizing that they’re essential skills for college and the workplace puts them in a new perspective.

The GED Academy focuses on teaching these skills in addition to just knowledge that’s on the GED, because they’re skills you need, but it’s not just about being “taught.” It’s about actively learning.

No matter how much GED preparation you get, college can be a tough transition. That’s why the GED Academy recommends community or junior colleges as a transitional step between the GED and 4-year colleges for most students. Community and junior colleges have a lot of support and extra classes for students who have been out of school for a while, and you can get your feet wet at the college level. Community colleges generally accept local residents who have a GED or high school diploma. Once you have community college grades, they will be what a 4-year transfer college looks at. However, if you wanted to go directly to a four-year college, you might need higher GED scores and have to meet other requirements, like SAT or ACT score requirements. The requirements are different at different colleges.

On the positive end, in a lot of ways, college isn’t like high school. Your teachers know you’re adults. And you and your classmates are there because you want to be. You’re working toward a career and a future that YOU envision for yourself. You’ve got more responsibility, and more control over your own curriculum. These factors can make college a very positive experience, once you make a commitment to succeed.

1) Employment

Maybe when you graduated high school, employers didn’t necessarily expect a high school diploma. A lot of people got jobs in factories, offices, or other companies without a diploma, and they’ve stayed in their jobs for years. The trouble comes when you get laid off, the company goes out of business, you get passed up for promotions, or your job doesn’t pay enough (or give you enough job satisfaction) for the life you want. Every day, adults are laid off and realize that the job market’s changed. Without a GED, getting a new job or promotion can be tough. The GED can open doors to jobs, promotions, and job training.

2) Education

When your goals are high, a high school diploma isn’t enough. The best-paying and often most satisfying jobs require training and education. The GED opens the doors of trade schools, community colleges, and universities. Barack Obama has set a goal for education in the United States, that by the year 2020, America will again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. A higher education is good for the individual, and it’s also good for the country. It helps the U.S. compete in the world economy, and it helps America’s economy. The GED is the first step for many Americans to participate in that goal.

3) Self-Esteem

Most people start on the road to get their GED so that they can get a better job or more education. There’s a benefit from earning a GED that many people don’t take into account: feeling good about yourself. Too many smart people feel stupid, because they were told they were stupid or because they had problems in school. Too many adults feel left behind because those around them have high school and college diplomas. When adult learners earn a GED, they earn a sense of pride and accomplishment. They learn that they can aim higher than they thought possible. Dropping out of high school doesn’t have to close doors permanently in your life. You can earn a GED and show yourself how much you can achieve.

Employers have many questions about the GED. How does a GED compare to a high school diploma? What skills does the GED graduate possess? How do these skills interface with the job market?

The answers are surprising. A prospective employee with a GED has actually demonstrated skills higher than 40% of high school graduates–and they are the skills that employers value most.

The GED was established in 1942 and has evolved into a sophisticated set of five exams that require the candidate to demonstrate a high level of understanding and skill in mathematics, science, social studies, reading, and writing. The GED tests have gleaned the most important skills from the high school curriculum, those that will add value to any workplace: critical thinking, evaluation, making inferences, and problem solving.

Unfortunately, the standards for high school diplomas are not as clear cut. A job applicant with a high school diploma may or may not have mastered basic skills because the academic standards for high schools vary dramatically. The issue is further confused by the proliferation of fake diploma mills so that it is difficult for the employer to know if the job applicant actually attended a real high school.

With the GED there is no question of the quality of the applicant’s skills. An employer knows exactly what level of proficiency the GED graduate has achieved because the GED is a standardized test that measures a very specific set of skills and knowledge. There is no guesswork with the GED. A GED graduate has not only achieved a high degree of basic skills in essential areas such as math, reading, writing, and critical thinking, but he or she has also shown the perseverance and commitment to prepare for and complete a challenging eight-hour battery of exams.

Hiring a GED graduate assures the employer that the employee is in the top 60% of high school graduates in the skill areas that matter most.

You keep hearing it on the news: The economy is having trouble. Gas and food are getting more expensive. There is more competition for jobs. And more and more jobs require a high school degree. What’s the solution for someone who never graduated high school? Getting a GED can help you get or keep a job in troubled economic times.

All over the country, people are worried about the economy. The word “recession” is all over the news. And the people at the highest risk of suffering from a poor economy are the 39 million Americans who don’t have a high school diploma. As jobs get scarcer, more highly qualified workers are on the job market, looking for employment. In an economy where, in some job markets, 75% or more of jobs require a high school degree, the prospects for someone without one are already slim. As jobs become more competitive, people without a GED or high school diploma are the most likely to find themselves without employment.

When the economy begins to look shaky, people tend not to want to make changes in their lives. They put off buying new things, and that includes investing in their education. But the truth is that, when the economy is soft, it’s the worst time to put off pursuing better education. If you’ve been thinking about getting that GED, there has never been a better time. A small investment in studying for and taking the GED exam can lead to a much more secure future and put you in a better position if you need to search for a job.

The GED can be fast and easy. By taking a practice test, many people find that they can already pass one or more of the five tests on the GED exam: social studies, science, reading, writing, and math. One caution: the GED cannot be taken online. It can only be taken at an official testing center. However, it is possible to study for the GED test online. The test is inexpensive, and the test-taker receives a credential from their state government.

Passing the GED shows that you’ve mastered the most important skills from high school: communication, basic math, and most importantly, critical thinking skills. It also shows that you have the perseverance and commitment to prepare for and complete the exam. These are the qualities employers look for: commitment, perseverance, and critical thinking. Although the GED is challenging, it’s also achievable. With focused study and personal dedication, the millions of Americans who missed out on high school can get a second chance. Many GED study programs are available to help.

In dollars and cents, a GED means earning up to $350,000 more over your lifetime—and possibly much more, even as much as a million dollars more, if you go on to trade school, community college, or a university. More urgently, a GED can mean job security and a better resume, greater respect and more possibilities for the future.

For more information about the GED test or GED test preparation, visit The GED Academy at http://www.passGED.com.

As the demand for educated workers grows, employers find themselves in a dilemma. 39 million American adults never earned a high school diploma, limiting the pool of qualified workers. One innovative solution is a GED training program in the workplace, and employers find that assisting workers to earn a GED provides significant rewards.

The GED high school equivalency test is growing in importance in the workplace. Around 30 million American adults rank “Below Basic” in prose literacy, the lowest literacy ranking, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL). In quantitative literacy, that number is 46 million. “These are startling figures,” comments Michael Ormsby, president of The GED Academy. “And it’s a difficult reality for employers. Today’s working world demands complex literacies…in problem solving, decision making, using data, and understanding information.” NAAL reports note that Americans with lower literacies are less likely to be employed and likely to earn less money. “Adults with very low levels of performance on NAAL tasks may be unable to function adequately in 21st century America,” states one NAAL report. (http://www.essentialed.org/NCES%20Report.pdf)

To develop a qualified workforce, more and more employers are turning to workplace education. “The GED test measures essential literacy skills,” says Ormsby, “the fundamental skills that employers need: reading skills, writing skills, math skills, and thinking skills.” The GED Academy is an example of a new breed of educational programs. Their passGED software provides interactive educational training for the GED in the workplace at a minimal cost. “The goal is to get learners involved, to activate their minds through storytelling and humor.” The program is easy to implement and simple for workers to use, even those who aren’t comfortable with computers.

For a small investment, the training provided by a GED preparation program both creates a more qualified workforce and provides a valued incentive for new hires. The American Council on Education states that employers who provide GED programs “get a more educated, more committed workforce, and can recruit motivated, career-minded candidates. These organizations see the increased retention and improved productivity of employees who have received their GED credentials through company-sponsored programs.”

Employees who receive GED training from their companies appear to support this claim. The United Auto Workers/Daimler-Chrysler Huntsville Family Training Center is an example. The educational facility was put in place to develop employee self-esteem as well as skills. Janitor Lorine Horton credits the company’s program with giving her the skills to get her GED. “I have no plans to leave,” she says. “This company helped me succeed.”

For more information about GED online study programs, visit: www.passged.com