Call the National GED Hotline at 800-626-9433 to register for the test. You must be a non-high school graduate older than 18 or older than 17 if you left high school. You also qualify if you have been out of school for one year. You must be a legal citizen to take the GED.
Study early with GED practice tests and study guides. Make flash cards for equations and vocabulary. The GED includes five sections: writing, reading, math, social studies and science. You need to score an average of 410 on all five sections to pass the GED, according to American Council on Education .
Practice with self-assessment modules online to understand the content and scoring of the GED test. Test Prep Review offers free self-assessment quizzes in basic and advanced algebra, averages and rounding, grammar, reading comprehensions, social studies and other important areas.
Arrive early to the testing center with a valid photo ID. Approach each section carefully. Pause and take a deep breath if you lose concentration. Pay attention to the question number and the bubble number if you skip any questions. You want to always check that you answer the right question.
Answer as many questions as possible. Each correct answer earns you a point toward your score. However, if you get a question wrong, you lose no points. You have a 1 in 5 chance of getting a question right if you have to guess, so if you are able to eliminate any choices, you should answer the question to the best of your ability.
Wait up to two weeks to receive your GED scores in the mail. You receive a standard score and percentile rank that compares your performance to the average performance of U.S. graduating high school seniors. Standard scores range from 200 to 800 with 500 being average, and percentile ranks range from 1 to 99. A lower score in one area can be compensated by a higher score in another section. For example, if you did poorly on math, your reading comprehension might bring up your score. According to ACE, you need a standard score of 410 or greater with a total score of at least 2250 or greater to pass.