Many adults who did not complete a high school program of instruction have continued to learn through a variety of experiences encountered in everyday life. The purpose of the GED Testing Program is to provide an opportunity for these individuals to have the learning acquired from such educational experiences evaluated and recognized. The GED Tests make it possible for qualified individuals to earn a high school credential, thus providing opportunities for hundreds of thousands of adults to: pursue a higher education, obtain jobs or job promotions, and/or achieve personal goals.

The General Education Development test, or GED, are an internationally-recognized series of tests involving Language Arts (Reading and Writing), Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics. They have been designed to measure major academic skills and knowledge in core content areas that are learned during four years of high school. When an adult passes the 7 ½ hour GED Tests battery, the resulting GED credential certifies that he or she has attained subject matter knowledge and skills associated with high school completion.

COST
The fee is $100 for the GED exam. Re-test fees are $20.00/test and should be paid to the Cashier in the Administration Bldg. GED candidates should bring their receipt and I.D. to the Academic Support Center (located in the back of the LRC).

PREPARATION AND PRE-TESTING
Research from the GED Testing Services indicates that GED candidates have a better chance of passing the exam if they are well-prepared for it. Some individuals prepare intensively by taking classes or studying GED preparation books or other materials. Other candidates are comfortable with simply brushing up on a few of the subject areas where they need to practice. You can get help studying for the GED, and you may be able to take practice tests at the following agencies:

You may also be interested in purchasing some GED preparation texts and other materials (Kaplan's, Barron's, ARCO, among others) at your local bookstore. Or, you can obtain the Official GED Practice Tests by calling Steck-Vaughn Company at 1-800-531-5015 in the United States. Official GED Practice Tests are comparable in content, level of difficulty, and format to the GED Tests. Feel free to visit the official GED Testing Service web-site for more information.

The minimum age for testing is 18, as determined by the California Department of Education. The following circumstances are the only exceptions:

You may take the test 60 days (or fewer) from your 18th birthday or within 60 days of when you would have graduated from high school had you remained in school and followed the usual course of study (you must provide verification from your high school, written on school stationery).

If you are 17 years old but do not meet the requirements above, you may take the test only if you meet both of the following qualifications:

If you are 17 and are incarcerated in a California state or county correctional facility, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Persons who pass the GED test at age 17 will not receive the equivalency certificate until their 18th birthday. Instead, a letter of intent is issued which states that the certificate is being held pending the examinee’s 18th birthday.

The following five subject tests cover academic knowledge and skills in core areas required in GED testing:

IDENTIFICATION AND PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
You must present current photo identification issued by the government. The following are acceptable forms of identification: any state driver’s license (issued by that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles), a valid state identification card, a tribal identification card, a military identification card, or a passport. You must include a clear copy of your identification at the time you pre-register, and you must bring the original on each test date.

Since space is limited at all test sessions, you must pre-register and pay the fee at least one week before the scheduled exam. Mail your completed application form, copy of your identification, and check or money order to College of the Redwoods, Academic Support Center, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, California 95501. Download a copy of the pre-registration form

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
If you have a documented disability that could keep you from taking the GED Tests in the way they are usually given, you may apply to the State of California for special testing accommodations. Please contact College of the Redwoods to obtain the required application form. This process typically takes two months to complete.

Accommodations are available for people with (but not limited to) the following: physical disabilities (such as blindness, low vision, deafness, impaired hearing, or mobility impairments); learning disabilities (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, receptive aphasia, or written language disorder); attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; psychological disabilities (such as bipolar disorder or Tourette’s syndrome); and chronic health issues.

Accommodations may include: audiocassette edition; Braille edition; large-print edition (no documentation required); vision-enhancing technologies; use of video equipment for candidates who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in composing the Language Arts, Writing essay; use of a calculator or abacus; certified sign-language interpreter; used of a scribe; extended time; supervised extra breaks; use of a private room; one-on-one testing, as well as other reasonable accommodations as warranted, based on individual needs.

INTERPRETING GED TEST RESULTS
The sample Official Transcript of GED Tests Results below reports sample scores for a GED test-taker. Your performance on each of the five GED Tests is reported in two ways: as “standard scores,” ranging from 200 to 800, and “percentile ranks,” ranging from 1 to 99. Both scores compare your results to scores earned by a recent representative national sample of high school seniors. Approximately 68% of all graduating seniors score between 400 and 600 on the standard score scale. Only 2% of graduating seniors score lower than 300 or higher than 700. Download a copy of the sample here.

PREPARING FOR THE TESTS
Make sure you know (in advance) how to get to College of the Redwoods on time the day of the test.

Eat a good meal and get a good night’s sleep before your test day.

Plan to arrive at the testing center about 20 minutes early to allow for any last-minute changes or delays.

Make sure that you have the following items with you on the day of the test:

During the test, you will NOT be able to keep the following items at your seat: purses, backpacks, or tote bags; pagers or cell phones; portable music players; hand-held electronic games; calculator watches; food or beverage items; textbooks (including dictionaries); notebooks or supplies; jackets, coats, or hats; and any other non-essential items.

Find out how many and which tests you are scheduled to take. Ask the time that your testing session will end. Make sure you have transportation available.

TAKING THE TESTS
Read all directions and questions carefully and completely to ensure that you understand exactly what you are expected to do to answer each question. In addition, listen very carefully to the directions that the GED Examiner gives you.

Pick the single best answer. All multiple-choice questions have five answer choices. There are no “trick” questions. Eliminate the answer choices that you know are wrong and choose the best remaining answer.

Follow the test directions for filling in the answer sheet. Mark only one answer space for each question; multiple answers will be scored as incorrect.

Answer every question. If you get stuck on a question, move on. Complete the rest of the test and then come back to the questions you skipped. Even if you are unsure, mark an answer choice for every question because you will not be penalized for wrong answers.

Always be sure of the time limit and time remaining for the particular test you are taking. Each of the GED Tests has a different time limit. When the test begins, notice when the GED Examiner writes down the time that you must be finished and then carefully allocate the minutes as you work through the questions.

If you erase, make sure that you have erased your first answer completely.