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Photo by Warren on UnsplashSo you decided to take the GED® (General Educational Development Test)— now what? There's a lot of advice online, especially from companies that want you to pay for their prep courses. You don't need to spend a lot of money to get your GED, and the process is quite simple!
Did you know?
The GED® is no longer available to Canadians as of May 4th, 2024.
Canadians who want a high school equivalency credential must take the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) instead.
For information about the test format and contents, see the official CAEC website.
To determine if the CAEC test is available where you live, search online for your provincial/territorial CAEC page. For example, “Ontario+CAEC”.
Sign up at www.ged.com
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on UnsplashThere is only one way to get your GED: sign up on the official GED website.
No other organization is authorized to offer the GED test.
You can take the test in person at an official GED test center or take it online from home. The online test is proctored, meaning someone watches you on a webcam while you take the exam.
Did you know?
Do you have a disability? You can apply for testing accommodations such as extra testing time, extra breaks, or a separate testing room.
Pick the In-Person or Online Test
Photo by Andy Barbour on Pexels
Should I take the test in person?
Pros:
The test center provides all the materials you need — pencils, scratch paper, equation charts, and equation charts.
If you fail the test, there's usually a discounted fee to retake it.
Things to consider:
Most test centers only hold the tests on weekdays.
Limited number of seats are available.
You must travel to the test center — if traffic is bad or it's hard to find parking, you might be late or get stressed out before the test.
Want to take the test in person?
Find out if your state offers in-person testing.
If it does, you can search for a test center close to where you live
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Should I take the test online?
Pros:
Test times are available on weekends and nights.
No travel time or parking is required.
Things to consider:
You need a reliable internet service, a recent model Windows or Mac computer (no Chromebooks or tablets), a microphone, and a webcam. Run a system test on your computer to check if your setup is okay.
You must be in a private, walled room with a closed door.
The online test is proctored (someone watches you on the webcam to make sure you're not cheating) using an app that must be downloaded onto your computer.
If you break any rules during the test (including touching your webcam, talking out loud, eating or smoking, or standing up), your test will be invalidated and you'll be banned from taking the test ever again.
You have to pass the GED Ready practice test before you can schedule your GED test.
You can't use scratch paper or a calculator, only the provided online scratch pad, whiteboard, and calculator.
If you fail the test, you'll have to pay the full fee to retake the test.
Want to take the test online?
Find out if your state offers online testing.
Watch this video explaining how to register for and take the GED online.
Did you know?
If your state doesn’t offer the GED, you can take the in-person or online GED test in another state. Check the state rules to find out who allows non-residents to take the test.
How Much Does the GED Test Cost?
The cost is different in every state. Some states charge less for taking the test online. Some states offer their residents the GED Test for free! Prices range widely from $4 to $81 per subject (there are four subjects in the GED) but most states charge around $30-$40 per subject.
Check the price in your state.
Some companies offer their employees GEDWorksTM, a program that provides free GED prep courses and pays for GED testing.
How Do I Study for the GED?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on UnsplashMost people take about three months to study. You can:
Take a GED prep course:
Take an official in-person prep course. You can sign up for free courses at some public libraries, community colleges, or organizations like USAHello and Goodwill.
Practice:
Do the practice questions and practice test.
Quiz: GED on a Budget
Sam didn't graduate from high school and is currently working. They would like to get their GED to qualify for a promotion and better pay. To reduce the cost of getting their GED, Sam could:
A. Take the GED test in another state that charges lower fees.
B. Check if their home state partially or fully subsidizes test fees for residents.
C. Find out if the local public library offers free GED prep courses.
D. Ask their employer if they offer a free GED prep course and pay for the test.
Quiz
Select all correct answers:
Free GED testing is only available to residents of the state where they take the test. However, if you’re willing to travel or take your test online, you could take your test in a state with lower fees.
This Byte has been authored by
Suzanne Cheng
Director of Education
B.E.S., B. Arch, B. Ed.