Preparing for the GED Online

An Accelerated Option to Complete High School for Adults

Jun 7, 2009 John Wu

For many teens and young adults, it is daunting to complete all of the courses required for a high school diploma. A GED gives them a short-cut to finish high school.

The GED (General Education Development) test provides an opportunity for those who cannot get a high school diploma to get an equivalent certification that they've met the standards of a high school graduate. For those that need preparation for the test, there are many low cost or free resources available both locally and online.

The GED Test

The exam consists of five subjects: Writing, Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Except for the essay in the writing section, all subjects are tested via multiple choice questions. There is a time limit on each subject. The test must be taken in person but can be practiced online, or practiced on pencil and paper with a sample test from a GED test preparation book.

Because the cost of taking the exam can be substantial (over $100 in some states), exam hopefuls usually passes a practice test before signing up for the real thing.

Scoring the GED

The test is scored on a scale from 200 to 800. Each subject score needs to be a minimum of 410 with a 450 average across all five subjects in order to pass. It is possible to retake a subset of the entire exam by retaking only the failed subject exams.

Eligibility - Cannot be Attending High School

Only students who are at least 16 years of age and do not already possess a high school diploma may take the test. Many jurisdictions require test takers to be at least 18 years of age to receive the GED. Although enrolling in a GED preparation course is highly recommended, the test itself cannot be taken while enrolled in an accredited high school.

Equivalent to a High School Diploma

Many employers and colleges recognize the GED as equivalent to earning a high school diploma in four years. For somebody who has nowhere near the number of high school credits necessary for a high school diploma, the GED can help avoid a delay in entering the workforce or going to college.

Online GED Preparation Resources

There are many free online resources helpful in preparation. A good place to start is the official GED website. Many other websites on the internet provide practice questions, tutorials, and advice on preparing for the exam. Low cost schools at the local adult school or community college usually have information online regarding registration and class schedules.

There are many online educational institutions that provide online GED preparation classes. Although the learning experience is better at an in-person class at the local adult school, online classes provide the flexibility needed by some to work around their busy schedules.

Although a lot of preparation work for the GED can be online, a combination of both online resources and in-person classes works best at improving the chances of passing the test on the first try.

The copyright of the article Preparing for the GED Online in Middle/High School is owned by John Wu. Permission to republish Preparing for the GED Online in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Comments

Jul 13, 2009 9:33 PM

Guest :

which has better chance of getting a job, high school diploma/ged?

Jul 13, 2009 11:35 PM

John Wu :

A few hiring bosses may slightly prefer somebody with a high school diploma over the GED for the job if everything is a tie between two candidates. It's very rare two job candidates are that close.

In almost all cases, employers and colleges don't care how you get high school completed. But the few that do care prefer the high school diploma. After you've been on the job for a while or go to college / vocational school, the way you finish high school truly doesn't matter anymore.

Aug 6, 2009 1:37 PM

Guest :

i dropped out of high school.. and i want to get my ged but i cant afford it what do i do..?

Aug 10, 2009 1:54 PM

John Wu :

Many communities have public adult schools or community colleges that offer free or low cost GED classes. You may want to try that. Keep in mind that due to the recession, things may have changed for the worse such as reduced number of classes or new fees. In my community, there were no GED classes offered during the summer anymore.

Another way to do this is to self study from GED books and videos checked out of the public library. The only cost you would have going this route is the GED test itself.

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