Contact your state's department of education to learn if you are eligible to take the GED test. Generally, GED candidates are individuals who are 18 years of age, not currently enrolled in high school and who have not obtained a high school diploma. State requirements do vary however, so it is important to make sure you qualify under your state's specific regulations.
Obtain a testing schedule from a GED test center in your area. The state department of education or the American Council on Education should be able to help you find a testing center in your vicinity. Knowing when the test will be offered aids in planning a timeline for your GED studies.
Take a practice GED test to pinpoint individual strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to spend time studying only those areas of the test where you need improvement.
Determine which GED study aids are likely to be the most beneficial. GED study aids and guides are available in many formats such as online courses, books, television programs, and videos. You will need to select and obtain the type of study materials that will work best with your individual learning style.
Carefully complete the exercises and activities in the chosen GED study guide. It is very important to take this step seriously and do your best with all of the material. Do not simply skim over test preparation materials. This seems obvious, but many GED candidates do not pass the test on their first attempt due to the incorrect assumption that the test will be easy.
When you believe your GED test preparation is complete, take another practice test to check your progress and make sure you are on target.
You are now ready to schedule your GED examination. Good luck!