30 Facts About The GED

1. The inception of the GED began in 1942.

2. The original purpose of the GED was two pronged; to compare academically to a traditional high school diploma and provide a condensed educational replacement for returning military personnel.

3. The GED was originally used only by the United States Armed Forces Insitute to provide veterans a more practical opportunity to successfully achieve educational criteria in a much shorter time duration.

4. The purpose of the GED is to show how well an individual measures up to the educational criteria covered in a four year high school education.

5. The GED is a high level overview of what is covered in detail in a four year high school education.

6. The battery of GED tests will determine the life experience and memory retention of an individual. While the GED does cover questions that can be answered from life experience, it is highly recommended no matter the individual, to study diligently for the tests.

7. The General Educational Development is revised periodically to stay in line with the level of difficulty experienced in a high school curriculum. The last time the GED tests were updated was in 2002.

8. In order to meet the requirements needed to realistically pass, one must possess general educational skills such as at least a 9th grade level of reading, basic math and problem solving skills.

9. Roughly one million individuals take the GED each year. 2009 should set a record based on current data figures.

10. Roughly 45 million American adults do not possess a high school diploma certificate.

11. Almost 100% of organizations, institutions, colleges, universities, trade schools, technical schools, police academies, the military and employers will accept a GED as they would a traditional diploma.

12. In order to pass the General Educational Development, the individual must score higher than 40 percent of the graduating high school seniors in the United States.

13. The GED has been known also as the General Equivalency Diploma and General Education Diploma.

14. The American Council on Education is the only developer of the GED. Ace was established in 1918 and represents and employes a melting pot of educational talent which member institutions serve 80% of current college student academics as well as the GED.

15. The GED can only be taken at a local testing center. You cannot complete the GED on a computer.

16. There are almost 3,500 GED testing centers in the United States and abroad.

17. Roughly 20 million people have successfully passed the GED since it was originally offered in 1942.

18. For a period of time there was a college-level GED for individuals who had met the qualifications for this level of difficulty. One of the providers of this type of GED was DANTES. It has since been discontinued for some time now.

19. The GED is also administered in Spanish, French, audio, braille and large print. Additionally, private testing companies offer the GED course for those who live outside the United States, U.S. territories and Canada in certain circumstances.

20. Each state has certain criteria that will need to be reviewed and met before an applicant is eligible to take the GED.

21. The only eligible applicants for a GED are those that don't already possess a GED or high school diploma.

22. Under certain requirements, the GED can be administered to an individual who posseses a alternative high school diploma. The GED cannot be administered to a candidate who is enrolled in an accredited high school.

23. In order to be first eligible to take the GED, you must be at least 16 years old. Some states require the candidate to be 18 years of age. Check with your local GED provider to find their specific requirements.

24. In certain states or jurisdictions, an applicant may be required to pass an official GED practice test in order to take the GED. Check with your local GED provider to find their specific requirements.

25. No matter the educational background of an individual, it is highly recommended they study properly for the GED as roughly 40 percent fail their first time.

26. There are local GED classes that can be taken at a very affordable cost in order to prepare for the GED battery of tests. Students who take these classes will see the similarity in how a high school class operates; in that there are lessons, required attendance and homework.

27. Another form of preparation for the GED is tutoring. There are either local tutoring centers, individual tutors for hire or GED preparation literature to help an individual be ready for the General Educational Development.

28. Most GED testing centers will offer accomodations for students who are disabled and require specific attention to these matters. It is recommended they notify the counselors while completing their application to take the GED battery.

29. The GED is monitored by counselors who are available to assist students as well as ensure there is no cheating. Certain objects such as cell phones, laptops and palm pilots are not permitted while taking the GED.

30. On the day/s that the test is to be taken, the student must bring their admission notice, two proofs of identity, two #2 pencils and a ballpoint pen.