General Educational Development (GED) test can open up new opportunities in your career and education. This test has been developed to facilitate a chance of higher education to candidates, who due to one or the other reason were unable to complete their high school education. A candidate seeking to progress his/her career through GED must be 18 years of age and should be a school dropout. You can take GED test if you are 16 years of age, but get a GED diploma only after 18. GED is a series of test including five assessments- Science, Mathematics, Social science, Language arts/reading, and Language arts/writing. Currently, 2002 version of this exam is in practice. Once you have passed a GED test, you are not allowed to retake the particular test. A retest is allowed only in those tests, which you have failed. Hence, it is really important that you not only obtain passing scores in these tests, but put your best efforts to score as high as possible. You must take test preparation sincerely and use relevant study material according to your own requirements.
Each assessment is evaluated on scaled scores ranging from 200 (minimum scaled score) to 800 (maximum scaled score). There are 50 multiple choice questions in science, mathematics and social science test each. Language arts/reading test consists of 40 questions. Language arts/writing test includes 50 questions and an essay writing assignment. Each test is awarded a raw score first. You get a single raw point on each question attempted correctly. The raw score is then converted into a scaled score by a process called ‘equating’. The scaling of scores is done to remove effect of variations in different test forms and editions. In language arts writing test, essay is scored in range from 1 to 4 points by two trained readers. Scores given by them are averaged to derive final score of essay. If you get 3 and 4 points by readers, your essay score will be 3.5 and so on. The score of essay in language arts writing test contributes 40 percent to scaled score of test. In science, mathematics and language arts reading tests also, scores of two test sections are statistically aggregated. Scaled scores are not proportional to percentage of questions correct. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
GED scores are reported in the form of a GED transcript. The transcript contains standard scores and percentile rank in each assessment, standard score total and battery average. Standard score total is simply the sum of scores you got in individual tests. Percentile rank reflects your performance in test in comparison to high school pass outs. Percentile rank is always in range from 1 to 99. Suppose, if your percentile rank in a test is 75, it implies that your score is same or higher than scores obtained by 75 percent high school graduates. It also implies that you stand among top 25 percent of high school graduates. This reverse rank is called national class room rank. In the above mentioned case, national class room rank will be 25. Battery average is the average of all individual scores.
GED transcripts are mailed to the test takers. These transcripts are delivered to individuals by mail only. ACE maintains confidentiality of your GED scores and all GED records.
You must know that GED test is not offered online. Some websites which claim to offer GED test online are fraudulent. You may find study materials, practice tests or classes for the test online, but test is never rendered online or through any subsidiary.
The passing score in test are determined by the state where you are testing. You must obtain a scaled score of at least 410 to pass a test and an average of 450 per test in the overall assessment. Therefore, if you have scored less than 450 in one or more test, it must be compensated in other. Your scaled score total must be 2250 or higher. If you have scored less than 410 in a test, you have failed in that exam and can retake the particular test after six months. If you have passed all individual tests, but your standard score total lies between 2150 and 2240, you can retake the exams after 30 days. If you have passed all individual tests, but your standard score total is less than 2140, you can retake the tests after 90 days. The passing scores can be higher in some states, but these passing criteria set by ACE are minimum passing requirement. You get ‘Certificate of General Educational Development’ or GED diploma, only when you pass all the tests of GED.
GED certificate holders are equivalent to high school graduates. Their percentile ranks in individual tests position them directly in comparison to high school pass outs. Most of the successful candidates prefer higher education after qualifying the exam. They easily get admission in two year colleges and may also get admission into four years college courses. Successful candidates can also get scholarships or grants on scoring high in the test. Many candidates join distance learning programs on the basis of their GED scores and continue doing their jobs. Passing the test also qualifies candidates for more jobs, which they might not be eligible before. This test helps you continuing your education and avail better job opportunities and career prospects.