Understanding the General Equivalency Diploma (GED): Requirements and Opportunities

The General Educational Development (GED) tests offer a pathway for individuals who have not completed high school to demonstrate their academic proficiency and earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency or a similarly titled credential. These tests, available in person and in some states in Spanish, assess knowledge in core academic subjects. Passing the GED can open doors to further education, better job opportunities, and a more stable future.

The GED: An Equivalent to a High School Diploma

The GED tests are a group of four academic subject tests that certify academic knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma. The GED Testing Service, a joint venture of the American Council on Education, administers the test. Pearson is the sole developer for the GED test. The American Council on Education coined the initialism to identify "tests of general equivalency development" that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, reading, and writing. Alternatives to the GED include the HiSET.

A Look into the History of GED

In November 1942, the United States Armed Forces Institute requested the American Council on Education (ACE) to develop a battery of tests to measure high school-level academic skills. These tests provided military personnel and veterans who had enrolled in the military before completing high school a way to demonstrate their proficiency. ACE revised the GED tests for a third time in 1988. The most noticeable change to the series was the addition of a writing sample, or essay. The new tests placed more emphasis on socially relevant topics and problem-solving skills. A fifth revision was released on January 2, 2014, designed to be administered on Pearson VUE, a proprietary computer-based testing platform. The new test applies to the United States and internationally, but not to Canada, which used the 2002 version. As of May 2024, Canada discontinued the GED.

Test Administration and Security

Official GED Testing Centers are controlled environments. All testing sessions take place either in person or online according to specific rules, and security measures are enforced. There are approximately three to six GED test forms in circulation at any time. This helps catch test-takers who may be cheating.

Eligibility Requirements

Regulations governing who is eligible to take the GED vary by state. According to GED Testing Service policy, students at least 16 years old and not enrolled in high school are eligible for the program. However, many states require the candidate to be 17 years old and a resident of the state. For example, in California, individuals may be eligible if they are 17 years of age; have been out of school for at least 60 consecutive days; and provide a letter of request for the test from the military, a postsecondary educational institution, or a prospective employer. A parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in to give consent and authorize the under 18 test taker to be recorded during testing.

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Some states allow people who do not live in that state to take the GED test and others do not. Arizona and Oregon currently do not have a residency requirement; while Nevada does.

Cost of the GED Test

The cost of the GED test for test-takers varies depending on the state. As of 2014, costs in Maryland were $45, free in New York, but the typical fees are $120 for all four tests, or $30 for each of the four subject tests. In Canada the testing is free in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories.

Scoring and Passing Standards

Possible scores on each test within the GED battery range from a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 200. 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 jurisdictions (e.g. states) adopt these minimum standards as their own, a jurisdiction may choose to establish higher standards for issuance of the certificate.

Honors and Recognition

Many jurisdictions award honors-level equivalency diplomas to students who meet certain criteria higher than those for a standard diploma in a given jurisdiction. 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.

Retaking the Tests

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.

GED's International Recognition

The GED test is available in many countries around the world. 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.

GED vs. High School Diploma in the Job Market

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. 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.

Criticisms and Alternatives

There are calls for the GED to be abolished. Alternatives to the GED include the HiSET.

High School Equivalency Programs (18+)

Oregon's High School Equivalency Program, administered by the HECC Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) oversees the GED test preparation, instruction and testing process in Oregon. The GED program provides individuals 18 and older with an opportunity to earn a GED test credential.

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