A Complete Guide to Continuing Your Adult Education With a GED

Overview

• Reasons for getting a GED
• How long it takes to get a GED
• How to prepare and what you should know about the GED test

When it comes to adult continuing education, earning a GED is a big achievement for many people who lack a high school diploma and can open up new opportunities.

The GED is an exam demonstrating that you have mastered the material covered throughout a high school education program. The test is designed for students who came close to finishing high school but were missing credits that would have allowed them to earn a diploma.

In this article, we will walk you through what the GED is and the benefits of taking the exam, as well as answer some FAQ regarding what you should know about the test. Here is what you need to know about continuing your adult education with a GED.

The General Educational Development (GED) test is a certificate that people can earn to demonstrate that they have a high school-level education from public schools. This test is also sometimes referred to as a Graduate Equivalency Degree and is designed by the American Council on Education (ACE).

For those interested in pursuing this certificate, you should be aware that the exam is designed to test your understanding of and competency in various subjects. Therefore, taking the time to study hard for this exam can help improve your chances of successfully passing. Some certificate programs offer coursework and enrichment classes to help students prepare to pass.

The rules about who can take the GED vary from state to state, but there is some overlap. Generally speaking, the GED is designed for people who meet the following criteria:

• They are not currently enrolled in high school
• They have not already graduated from high school
• They are at least 18 years old (although some states will allow 16 and 17 year olds to take the test, usually with special requirements)
• They meet any local requirements that the state has put out for age, location, preparation requirements, or the length of time since the end of school

There are a number of reasons someone might choose to pursue a GED. These reasons can be both personal and professional. Consider if any of the following considerations might influence your decision to pursue this exam.

Passing your GED can provide you with new job opportunities. Many employers want to hire employees who have at least a high school diploma or a high school equivalency. Earning your GED demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge, educational background, and critical thinking skills needed to do the job well.

Earning your GED also demonstrates that you have the dedication and drive to achieve a personal goal. This will appeal to those considering hiring you and increase your accessibility to new opportunities.

You need to have a high school diploma or pass the GED in order to take college courses or join the military. Taking college courses can help you earn specialized certificates, an associate degree, and even go on to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. Getting your GED can get you started on this path.

Earning a GED can also open doors for you in the military. The different branches will generally want you to have a GED or high school diploma. The military can provide you with exciting opportunities and even help you pay for college.

Many people also decide to pursue a GED for personal enrichment. It takes work and dedication to earn a GED, which means that those who successfully earn the certificate have proven they can accomplish new goals. Passing the exam can clearly demonstrate that you have the mental fortitude to pursue tough goals. It can help spark lifelong learning.

Other people might find motivation through family members, such as children. Wanting to set a good example for children by showing them the importance of schoolwork and education can encourage many adult learners to continue their pursuit of a GED.

Adults may also have the goal of gaining a basic education. Their quest for self-improvement and broadening their knowledge may have led them to complete the necessary preparations to pass their GED exam.

No definite rule exists for how long it will take you to get your GED. The length of time is largely dictated by how long it will take you to prepare for the exam. Someone who has been out of high school for many years or missed a number of different credits on their way toward a diploma might need to take their time preparing for the exam. They might want to take courses and get study books to help them master the material that will be covered on the test.

On the other hand, those who have just recently completed high school courses and have the material fresh in their minds might find that they do not need as much time to study for the test, so the preparation period might be shorter. Generally, however, we recommend that people plan on about three months to prepare for each of the test subjects.

Through GED.com, those interested in taking the exam can find access to different class opportunities to help them learn more about the material covered on the exam and study. The classes can be online where students meet virtually with a teacher who will help them review important information.

The site and its continuing education program also provides students with additional study options to help them continue reviewing on their own time. These study materials include:

• Flashcards. Those interested in taking the exam can access hundreds of flashcards across all the different subject areas. The flashcards also offer explanations and information about the material for those who got a question wrong to help them learn.
• Practice tests. Many people preparing for a big exam find it helpful to take practice exams so they can review the style of question, check for subject area weaknesses, and feel more comfortable with the overall process.
• Prep centers. There are also thousands of GED prep centers throughout the country that students can access for additional study opportunities and the chance to connect with teachers, educators, and others interested in taking the exam. These centers and their education courses might look a bit different right now due to the coronavirus, so check with your local center.

The GED consists of four different subject tests. Those taking the exam have the option of taking all of the subjects together or separating them to make the testing day less intense. Each subject test varies slightly in its duration but ranges between 70 minutes for the shortest test and 150 minutes for the longest. Altogether, the time spent taking the individual tests will be between seven and eight hours.

Each test is designed to ensure that the test-taker has a solid high school-level understanding of the subject matter. The questions will look at the ability of the test taker to read for meaning in the different subjects, understand and analyze questions, and display computational skills. Question types include multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, drag-and-drop, and a written essay in language arts.

The GED test will look at adult learners’ capabilities in four main subject areas. Each section examines the test taker’s ability to not only understand and recall material covered throughout a high school curriculum but also the adult’s capacity to analyze based on information and text provided during the test itself.

The four sections each contain a variety of different types of questions. Students should make sure they take the time to carefully study each of the four areas so they can go into the exam feeling confident.

• Mathematical Reasoning. The math portion of the test will look at the test taker’s ability to do arithmetic, some geometry, and basic algebra. Adults will be able to use a calculator on some portions of the math section. The test contains two parts.
• Science. In the science portion of the exam, the test looks at the person’s ability to analyze information from science labs, read text and interpret what is being said, and use graphs. Students can use calculators if they are needed during the science portion.
• Social Studies. During the social studies portion of the exam, test administrators look for the individual’s capacity to read for meaning in the subject area, as well as interpret graphs and charts. They will also be tested on looking at historical arguments and performing an analysis based on what is said.
• Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA). In the language arts portion of the test, the ability of the test taker to read text to gather meaning and understanding will be examined. Students will also need to demonstrate a firm grasp of English grammar as well as how to craft an argument to pass this portion of the test.

The GED exam will provide a rigorous review of high school level material. To pass the test, adults must be able to demonstrate a firm grasp of the different subject areas. Each individual test taker will find that their own strengths and weaknesses impact which test sections they view as the most difficult and challenging.

Overall, though, most students say that the math portion of the exam is the hardest. However, passing the GED subject test is certainly possible with adequate study and preparation. The key lies in taking advantage of the different study materials available, including practice tests and classes, to make sure you understand the topics at hand before sitting for the exam.

Each of the GED subject tests receives a separate score that counts toward your certificate. The four subjects all have scores that fall between 100 and 200. Your best scores in each subject will be compiled to determine if you will receive your GED certificate.

To pass any given test, you need to score a minimum of 145. Passing all four tests, therefore, will get a total minimum score of 580 out of a total possible score of 800. Receiving this score on your GED subject tests signifies that you have mastered the material to a minimum high school level and have the competency required to receive your GED.

However, if you score 165 or above on your subject tests, that signifies that you are college-ready. These scores will tell colleges and other higher learning institutions that you have the knowledge and analytical skills needed to take on college courses and continue your education.

If you score above 175, you potentially even have opportunities to pursue college credit prior to beginning any studies. Your scores have indicated that you might have the level of understanding and critical thinking that some colleges might recognize with college credit.

Once you have done the hard work to get your GED, the time has come to take advantage of all of the opportunities you have just opened for yourself. Finding a new job with your GED can help you start an exciting new career path.

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