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Frequently Asked Questions
How
do I locate my scores?
Is
Distance Learning right for me?
Who
is eligible to take the GED Tests?
What
do I have to do to pass the GED Tests?
Should
I study for the GED Tests?
How
much time does it take to complete the GED tests
Where
do I go to take the GED Tests?
How
much does it cost to take the GED Tests?
What
do my scores mean?
What
if I don't pass the tests the first time?
What
makes a GED diploma "equivalent?"
Will the GED get me into college?
Are GED graduates eligible for
financial aid for college?
What
accommodations are available for people with disabilities
Is Distance Learning right for me?
Only you can decide whether
distance learning is right for you. GED ON TV is not an easy
version of studying in a classroom. To study at home you will
need self motivation and the ability to work without the help of
a teacher or other students. We are happy to answer questions
via the GED ON TV telephone helpline or e-mail.
Who is eligible to take the GED Tests?
Indiana requires an individual to be a resident
of Indiana for 30 days; and to be at least eighteen years of
age, or to be at least seventeen (17) years of age and not
subject to compulsory school attendance. Those who are seventeen
years old must provide the testing center with passing practice
test scores and a copy of the official exit interview from the
last high school they attended.
What do I have to do to pass the
GED Tests?
You have to be able to read, compute, interpret
information, and express yourself in writing on a level at or
above the level of 57 percent of graduating high school seniors.
If you are uncertain whether you have the level of skill needed
to successfully complete the tests, you can find out more about
your abilities in several ways. To learn whether you need
intensive preparation or a quick "brush up" here are some
options:
*Indiana adult education and
GED preparation classes Call 1-877-433-6688 for the number of
the program nearest your home.
*Check with your local library
for GED preparation books. Some have sample tests in the back.
*Bookstores carry GED
preparation books. You can buy one and study at home on your
own.
*Our GED Connection series is
available throughout Indiana on public television and cable TV.
*To buy a self-scoring version
of the GED Practice test call 1- 800-62-MY-GED.
Should I study for the GED Tests?
Preparation is an essential part of any important
examination. You probably have gained some knowledge and skills
thorough life experience, reading, and informal training, but
remember that the GED Tests are a rigorous battery of five tests
that take more than seven and a half hours to complete.
Regardless of your ability, you'll be more certain to perform
your best on the tests if you know what to expect before the
testing day arrives. If you are planning to attend a
college or university you will want to check with their
admissions office to see what GED scores they require. Then you
can study if you believe you need a higher score. It is
always good to find out if you need to simply "brush up" in a
few areas, or whether you need more intensive preparation.
You can find out more about
your abilities in several ways:
*If you enroll in GED ON TV you
will take a pre-test to learn where you stand.
*Check with your local adult
education/GED preparation classes about a pre-test or the
official practice test.
*Your local bookstore or
library carries GED and pre-GED preparation texts.
*Call 1-800-62-MY-GED to
purchase a self-scoring Practice test.
How much time does it take to
complete the GED Tests?
The battery of five GED Tests takes 7 hours and
35 minutes to complete. Some Indiana testing sites require you
to take all five GED test sections at one time. Other sites will
allow you to spread out your tests. You must complete all
five tests in 35 days. Call toll-free 1-877-GEDONTV for the
telephone number of your nearest testing center. You don't have
to go to the site nearest your home. If a center offers a time
that fits your schedule better, or offers the option of
spreading the tests over more than one sitting, you may wish to
choose another testing site. You will call to make an
appointment to test at the site you chose and the testing center
will tell you their schedule and requirements. Some sites may
offer testing in the evenings. Look on our
testing sites page for the telephone number of the testing
sites in your area.
*It may take six
to eight weeks for your Indiana scores to be reported back to
you.
Where do I go to take the GED
Tests?
There are over 80
GED
Testing Centers in the Indiana.
Learn at Home keeps an updated
list of testing sites. Call toll free 1-877-GEDONTV for the
addresses and telephone numbers of the sites closest to you.
Check your local telephone
listings under Adult Education/GED.
Call 800-62-MY GED
Look on the
testing sites page of this web site.
Check with the
Division
of Adult Education at 317-232-0522.
How much does it cost to take the
GED Tests?
The maximum cost of taking the tests is $60 in
Indiana. Some sites may charge less. If you fail one or more
sections of the test your re-test in those sections could cost
$12-15 each.
What do my scores mean?
Your transcript contains two sets of numbers:
standard scores and percentile ranks. The standard scores make
it possible to compare scores across tests and test forms. This
is necessary because some tests contain more questions than
others and there are multiple, equally difficult forms of the
test in circulation.
The percentile rank makes it possible to compare your
performance on each one of the tests with the performance of
graduating high school seniors. The higher the percentile rank,
the better your performance.
Example: Kelly's average standard score after completing all
five of the GED Tests is 570. The percentile rank for that score
is 77. The percentile rank, "77" means that Kelly has
outperformed 77 out of 100 graduating high school seniors. Such
a score places Kelly in the top 25% (100-77=23) of graduating
U.S. high school seniors in terms of her general academic skills
and knowledge.
RANK IN
GRADUATING CLASS AND GED AVERAGE
STANDARD
SCORE EQUIVALENCIES
Your average GED score = Your
rank in your graduating class
640 = TOP 5%
620 = TOP 10%
580= TOP 20%
570 = TOP 25%
540 = TOP THIRD
530 = TOP 40%
500 = TOP HALF
480 = TOP 60%
460 =TOP TWO-THIRDS
450 = TOP 70%
*Source: GED Testing Service
What if I don't pass the tests
the first time?
You can take the tests again. However, Indiana
has special requirements for examinees who don't pass the GED
Tests the first time. These waiting periods are required so that
you will have time to study on the areas you did not pass.
- If you score between 2150
and 2240 points you may retest after 30 days.
- If you score 2140 or fewer
points must wait 90 days to retest.
- If you fail to achieve a
passing score on the first retest (and all subsequent
retests) you must wait six months.
- Once you have completed
all five tests, you are not required to take the
whole test again. You must retake any section on
which you scored below 410 points. You may retake any
section or sections to make up needed points to reach 2250.
What makes a GED diploma
"equivalent?"
The GED Tests are developed using specifications
established by experienced secondary school and adult educators
and are reviewed by subject matter experts. Every test question
is subjected to multiple reviews by test specialists and
external content specialists, and is pre-tested before becoming
part of a final test form. The GED Tests are also standardized
and normed using a national stratified random sample of
graduating high school seniors. By gathering these data, the
GED Testing
Service can compare the examinee's performance to the
performance of the sample group. In order to pass the tests, the
GED candidate must demonstrate a level of skill that meets or
surpasses that demonstrated by approximately 66 percent of
graduating high school seniors.
Will the GED get me into college?
About 95 percent of U.S. colleges and
universities accept GED graduates in the same manner as high
school graduates. If you know what college or university you
want to attend, call their admissions office and ask what GED
score they require for admission. That way you can go back and
brush up on any weak subject before you take the GED and you
will earn the score you need to get into the college of your
choice.
Your college or university may
require you to take the SAT or the ACT. Ask the admissions
office or your former high school how to sign up. Some colleges
to which you apply may also require you to take placement or
achievement tests so that they can determine whether you need
additional coursework.
Are GED graduates eligible for
financial aid for college?
Yes. Federal monies are available to GED
recipients as they are to traditional high school graduates who
meet the eligibility criteria. These requirements usually
include demonstrated financial need. A student must be enrolled
in an accredited program leading to degrees or certificates.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and
must have social security numbers. The U.S. Department of
Education publishes two booklets that you may find helpful:
*Funding Your Education
*The Student Guide
Call the Federal Student Aid
Information Center, 1-800-4FED AID (1-800-433-3243) Monday
through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, or write
to them at PO Box 84, Washington, DC 20044. The
GED Testing
Service publishes a free brochure for GED graduates about
finding financial aid and a companion booklet for adult
educators.
How do I locate my scores?
If you remember where you took
the GED tests contact the testing site and ask if they have your
scores.
If it has been some time since
you tested and you tested in:
Indiana, write to the Indiana Department of
Education, Division of Adult Education GED Administrator , Room
225 State House, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Click here to download a PDF form to use to request your GED
scores or a copy of your Indiana GED diploma.
If you were in the
military, contact the
GED Testing
Service,
If you tested in
a state prison, contact the
location where you took the test.
Score reports may be obtained
for $10 by contacting:
GED Transcripts
GED Testing Service
One Dupont Circle NW
Washington, DC 20036-1163
All requests for
transcripts must be in writing. No personal checks are accepted.
Rush delivery is available for an extra charge. Questions -
Telephone: (202) 939-9490 E-mail:
ged@ace.nche.edu
What
accommodations are available for people with disabilities who
want to take the GED Tests?
According to the
GED Testing Service accommodations in testing are available for
adults who can document a physical or specific learning
disability. The tests are available in:
U.S. English-language Braille
U.S. English-language
Audiocassette
Large Print
In addition,
adaptations to the standard testing environment may be made
according to the candidate's need and the
GED Testing Service
policies. These adaptations include extended time,
supervised breaks, one-on-one testing sessions, and the use of a
scribe to write down the candidate's responses. Some of the
accommodations not permitted are having a person read the test
questions aloud and the use of a dictionary or spelling checker.
Testing on any one test in the battery must be completed, under
most circumstances, within one day. Each request for testing
modifications is considered individually.
Because extended
testing hours and special materials are often needed, the first
point of contact for the person with a disability or his/her
advocate must be the nearest GED Testing Center.
Source: GED
Testing Service, Indiana Department of Education, Division of
Adult Education and Learn at Home.
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