The GED testing program is jointly administered by the GED Testing Service (GEDTS) of the American Council on Education and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The GED battery of tests is developed by GEDTS and the same tests are given in all fifty states.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
The GED test provides adults at least 18 years of age who are beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance under state law with an opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma.
ELIGIBILITY
To get the credential, a student must pass a series of five tests in writing skills, social studies, science, interpreting literature and arts, and mathematics. Successfully passing these sections demonstrates that the student has acquired a level of learning that is comparable to that of high school graduates.
The GED has set a national standard for the minimum score an examinee can receive in order to pass the GED. GED diplomas are issued according to the following guidelines.
The GED tests can be administered only to persons who:
• have not graduated from an accredited high school or received a high school equivalency certificate or diploma;
• are not currently enrolled in a regular high school;
are at least 18 years of age.
IDENTIFICATION
When you take the GED tests, official photo identification is required for admission.
SCORES
Tests will now be scored from 200 to 800 points. A minimum standard score of 410 is necessary to pass each individual exam, and an average standard score of 450 is required to pass the full battery.
What are the requirements for retesting? If the average standard score is 430 or better, the applicant may retake the test at any time, but remedial study is recommended.
If the average standard score is 400-429, a wait of three months or evidence of remedial study is necessary before retesting.
If the applicant’s average standard score falls below 400, a wait of six months, or evidence of remedial study is necessary before retesting.
If you retest at a center other than your original testing site, you must obtain a release from the original Chief Examiner.
What fees will I be charged? The fee for the course is $52, which also includes a textbook.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Five separate tests make up the GED battery of tests. Test questions range in difficulty from easy to hard, and cover a wide range of subjects. All the questions on four of the parts are multiple choice with five possible answers given. Part II of the Writing Skills Tests does require you to write an essay. The content of these tests are as follows:
Writing Skills, Part I (50 questions, 1 essay, 120 minutes)
15% Organization
30% Sentence Structure
30% Usage
25% Mechanics
Writing Skills, Part II (45 minutes)
Essay
Language Arts, Reading (40 questions, 66 minutes)
20% Comprehension
15% Application
30-35% Analysis
30-35% Synthesis
Social Studies (50 questions, 70 minutes)
15% History
30% Geography
30% Civics and Government
25% Economics
Science (50 questions, 80 minutes)
45% Life Science
20% Earth and Space Science
35% Physical Sciences
Mathematics Part 1 (25 questions, 45 minutes)
Mathematics Part 2 (25 questions, 45 minutes)
REGISTER TODAY
To apply to take THE GED tests, you will need to complete an official application form. Contact Ann Wyllie for details at ann.wyllie@fcps.edu.