The GED test is administered all over the United States. Free programs provided through state departments of education help students prepare for the test in local test preparation centers. Students can also study for the tests at home with GED preparation workbooks or online. The test itself must be taken at an American Council on Education-approved testing center; online programs are not authorized to issue a state-recognized GED. The test is taken annually by over 1 million students, 75 percent of whom are over age 19.
You can find GED preparation programs at community colleges or technical schools. Prospective students should register for classes at the designated center; you can locate one by calling your local school board office. At GED test preparation centers, students usually work on computers that run self-scoring programs to monitor your progress. On-site teachers can answer your questions and provide tutoring. Students who wish to study on their own can purchase workbooks at local bookstores or register with GED for Free, an online test preparation service.
Students will be tested in math, language arts/reading, language arts/writing, social studies and science. Math covers computation, percentages, fractions, algebra and geometry. The reading section of the test requires reading a passage and answering questions that demonstrate comprehension. The writing section includes a handwritten essay and is the only part of the test scored by teachers instead of electronically.
Passing your GED test opens up opportunities to enroll in college and vocational programs and certifies you have what many employers consider to be the bare-minimum level of education for hiring purposes.
Some think the GED limits opportunities for education and employment, that having a GED somehow marks you as a second-class student. Actually, the GED opens up all educational opportunities and some employers admire the determination of those who have taken proactive steps to complete their education. Some famous people who got their GED include Peter Jennings, Bill Cosby, Ruth Ann Miller (governor of Delaware) and Jessica Simpson.