Sometimes life gets in the way of meeting your goals, but if you’re one of more than 600,000 people worldwide who takes their GED test this year, your goals won’t seem quite so far off. Acquiring your GED "diploma" is a huge step toward higher education, career advancement, and a better salary—and we applaud your decision to pursue it!
The GED program has a long history of success
GED testing was established in 1942 to assist World War II veterans in finishing their education when they returned from the battlefield. Since then, more than 17 million people are estimated to have earned their GED, including celebrities such as comedian Bill Cosby, actor Christian Slater, and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
The GED test is a measurement of your achievement
The GED is designed to measure the basic skills usually acquired during high school in reading, writing, science, social studies, and mathematics. The test estimates your academic knowledge and skills as compared to recent high school graduates. Successfully passing your GED program is the equivalent of placing in the top 40 percent of your senior class, so acquiring it is quite an accomplishment!
In fact, a GED is such a good indicator of your academic skill level, that it is accepted for admission by more than 95 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. If you plan to pursue higher education beyond your GED, you will have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to deciding where you want to go.
Good GED prep will probably help increase your GED scores
If it has been a while since you cracked open a textbook, there are many options available to you for boning up on what you need to know to pass your GED. Books, online courses, and night school are some of the most common forms of GED prep that people use to hone their skills before the day of their test. GED preparation is offered locally at community colleges, learning centers, and other educational sites, including those on the Internet. (Be aware that the GED test is never administered online.) Use the main contacts and Web links provided at the GED Testing Service site to access more specific information about preparation programs in your state.
While the American Council on Education, which oversees the GED program, is a national organization that sets general standards, the actual GED testing process is administered by "jurisdictions." For example, North American jurisdictions include the Midwestern, Northeastern, Southern, and Western Regions of the U.S. and 12 in Canada. Each jurisdiction associated with the GED awards its own credential and sets its own policies. Because of this, you should begin your preparation by visiting the GED Testing Service site on the Web for information about test requirements and policies, test preparation, and testing centers.
Whatever you do, don’t wait to prepare—your future awaits!