General Educational Development
The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a group of four academic subject tests in the United States and Canada certifying academic knowledge equivalent for a high school diploma. This certification is an alternative to the U.S. high school diploma, as is HiSET. Passing the GED test gives those who do not complete high school, or who do not meet requirements for high school diploma, the opportunity to earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency or similarly titled credential. GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education, which started the GED program in 1942.
"GED" redirects here. For other uses, see GED (disambiguation).
The American Council on Education, in Washington, D.C. (U.S.), which owns the GED trademark, coined the initialism to identify "tests of general equivalency development" that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, reading, and writing. The GED Testing Service website as of 2023 does not refer to the test as anything but "GED".[1] It is called the GED in the majority of the United States,[2][3] Canada, and internationally. In 2014, some states in the United States switched from GED to the HiSET and TASC.[4][5][6]
The GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education. Pearson is the sole developer for the GED test. The test is taken in person. States and jurisdictions award a high school equivalency credential (also called a high school equivalency development or general equivalency diploma) to persons who meet the passing score requirements.[7]
In addition to English, the GED tests are available in Spanish and in French in Canada, large print, audio, and braille.[8] Tests and test preparation are also offered to people who are incarcerated or who live on military bases. People who live outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories may be eligible to take the GED tests through Pearson VUE testing centers.[9] Utah's Adult High School Completion program is an alternative for people who prefer to earn a diploma.
Passing the GED testing battery[edit]
Possible scores on each test within the GED battery range from a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 200.[21] A score of 200 on an individual test puts the student in the top 1% of graduating high school seniors. ACE issues recommendations for what constitutes a minimum passing score for any given sub-test (currently 145) and for the test as a whole (currently 580—i.e., an average of 145 per test across all four sub-tests). Although most GED-issuing jurisdictions (for the most part, Boards of Education of U.S. states) adopt these minimum standards as their own, a jurisdiction may choose to establish higher standards for issuance of the certificate. Many jurisdictions award honors-level equivalency diplomas to students who meet certain criteria higher than those for a standard diploma in a given jurisdiction.[22] Some districts hold graduation ceremonies for GED tests passers and/or award scholarships to the highest scorers.
Colleges that admit based upon high school grades may require a minimum score on the GED test in order to admit students based upon the test. For example, Arizona State University requires an average sub-test score of 500 in addition to the certificate.[23]
If a student passes one or more, but not all four, tests within the battery, he or she only needs to retake the test(s) not passed. Most places limit the number of times students may take each individual test within a year. A student may encounter a waiting period before being allowed to retake a failed test. Tests must be completed by the expiration date, which is generally every two years on the last day of the year.
The GED test is available in many countries around the world. Since 2015, the GED test has become popular in African countries including South Africa and Namibia.
Many government institutions and universities regard the GED test credential as the same as a high school diploma with respect to program eligibility and as a prerequisite for admissions. The U.S. military, however, has higher requirements in admissions for GED test takers to compensate for their lack of a traditional high school diploma.[24] The test is administered to a representative sample of graduating high-school seniors each year, about 30% of whom fail the test.[25]
Effects on employability[edit]
The GED certification itself (i.e., without further post-secondary education or training) does not help people get jobs as much as a high school diploma does.[26] People who have earned the GED credential tend to earn more than dropouts and less than high school graduates. Economist James Heckman found in a 1993 study that this is primarily due to differences in the characteristics and backgrounds of GED test graduates. When controlling for other influences, he finds no evidence that, for the average taker, the GED test credential improves an individual's economic opportunities above those for other dropouts.[26]
Some say there is a stigma for GED certification holders that affects their employability or pursuit of higher education.[27][28]