1. What is the GED Test?
"GED" stands for "General Educational Development" exam. The test is intended to give adults who have not completed high school a chance to demonstrate that they have equivalent school and life skills. Some people take the GED test to qualify for jobs that require a high school education; others take it to enter higher education programs; still others take it to inspire their own children to stay in school, or simply to prove to themselves that they can do it.
Whatever their reasons, people who receive a GED have proven they have sophisticated skills in mathematics, writing, and reading comprehension. Nationwide, only 60% of graduating high school seniors are able to pass the GED exam at the level West Virginia requires. That means that a GED graduate is more highly skilled than many high school graduates.
2. What is the test like?
There are five GED subtests: Language Arts, Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics. They are designed for adults who have gained knowledge and skills through life experiences, reading books and newspapers, listening to television and radio, etc. as well as through the educational system. The tests attempt to measure general knowledge and thinking skills.
The Social Studies, Science and Language Arts, Reading tests require the candidate to read passages or interpret graphic representations (diagrams, maps, etc.) and apply that information. These three tests are all multiple choice. The Math Test consists of solving word problems and working with fractions, decimals, and algebraic and geometric functions. Math Test 1 allows the use of a calculator provided by the GED test center. Math Test 2 does not allow calculator use. Most of the math test problems are multiple choice, but there are a few that require the test taker to fill in numbers or respond in other ways. For the Language Arts, Writing Test has two sections, a multiple choice section as well as an essay on a topic assigned in the test booklet. The essay is graded by a standard team of scorers and is geared toward the level of the graduating high school senior who has had at least four years of structured English writing instruction.
The tests total about five hours. In some West Virginia test centers, it is given in one long stretch, while other centers break it up into two evening sessions. All the test centers require that you come to an orientation session on a day before the test is given, and that you register and pay for the test prior to that orientation session.
3. How can I tell if I'm ready to take the GED test?
There are several places where you can access tests that are similar in content to the GED. There is an Adult Basic Education (ABE) class offered in Marlinton September through May. I have several different assessment tests, including the GED Official Practice Test. If you're ready to take the GED class, I can let you know. Many people who come to my class do find they are ready to take the test with little or no review. Greenbrier and Randolph counties also have ABE classes, if these are more convenient for you.
There are many GED self-teaching books on the market and available at libraries. Nearly all of these include self-assessment tests aimed at helping you decide what and how much you need to study.
There are some web sites that offer free GED-like assessment tests on line. www.4tests.com has free online practice GED tests in a format close to the Official Practice Test I use in my Adult Education class. You can take the practice tests, have them graded, and see your scores, all online. The site has for-pay services, and sells books as well. I haven't used the books they promote, but most recent GED study books are of decent quality. Other tests offered include:LSAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, and COOP/HSPT.
http://www.testprepreview.com/ged_practice.htm is also a free site. You can take short tests on the material covered in the GED, identify the areas you need to work on, and study the corresponding modules, all online. The material looks good to me, and would be helpful to many people.
4. How can I prepare for the test?
The ABE class in Marlinton is there to help people prepare for the GED, for other college entrance tests, and to brush up on basic skills in general. Everybody is welcome.
If you prefer to work solo, at home (some people study better that way, including me!), there are several excellent books written to help people review and study for the GED. I use the Contemporary Books GED study guide in my classroom and many students have found it helpful. I have also used the Steck-Vaughn and McGraw-Hill books, and they seem to be just as good.
5. Where can I take the test?
The GED exam is given in many places in West Virginia. The two closest locations for Pocahontas County residents are Lewisburg and Elkins. The exam is given monthly in Lewisburg. For more information, call the Greenbrier County Board of Education office, (304)647-6486. Sallie Dalton, Cheryl Dufour, or Frankie Appel can answer your GED exam questions. Registration in Lewisburg is on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited to ten people per test. Lately, the testing sessions have been filling up quickly. The test will be given at the Greenbrier County Board of Education office, Lewisburg, WV on the dates listed on the Pocahontas County ABE page.
The exam is also given monthly in Elkins, at the Randolph County Vo Tech Center. Their information number is (304)636-9195.
In the last few years, Pocahontas County has occaisonally offered the GED exam at the McClintic Library in Marlinton. The announcements appear in the Pocahontas Times. You can also contact the McClintic Library (304-799-6000)to find out if another exam is scheduled.
There are many other GED exam sites in West Virginia. If you would like a complete list, to see if there is some other location that might be convenient for you, you can download the information in a .pdf file from the West Virginia ABE website.
6. How do I register to take the test?
You need to contact the test center where you want to take the test. Most test centers have registration forms available. All applicants must register for the GED Tests in person at least five business days prior to testing at the site designated by the local testing site. Most centers require payment ($50) at this time. Current, valid identification is required to register and to attend the orientation and tests. Only the following are accepted: a valid driver's license; a valid alternate Mountaineer DMV identification; a valid passport; an current institutional identification card (e.g. Job Corps). The examiner may require additional identification for positive verification.
To register, 18-year-olds also need to bring with them documentation from their former high school showing that they been formally withdrawn from school for at least three months, or that their high school class has graduated. 17-year-olds need to bring with them documentation that they have been formally withdrawn from school for at least six months, or that their high school class has graduated.
7. Who can take the test?
Anyone 19 years of age or older may register and take the test if they wish. For people 18 years of age or younger, special rules apply. Because the rules are complex and I don't want to misrepresent them, I am going to quote directly from the 2004-2005 WV ABE Instructor's Handbook, Section 8: GED Testing in West Virginia.
For 18-year-olds: Individuals who are eighteen (18) years of age and have been out of a traditional classroom situation (i.e. officially withdrawn, home-schooled and/or in an approved alternative education program) for a period of three months before making application or whose original high school class has been graduated may be admitted to testing by providing written documentation from the last school/system attended stating that the student has been withdrawn and giving the withdrawal date from school and the original class graduation date.
The candidate, at least eighteen (18) years of age, who does not meet all criteria for test eligibility, but believes extraordinary circumstances exist, may request an exemption to take the GED Tests from the local school superintendent where the candidate resides. If the superintendent recommends that the eighteen (18) year old be allowed to take the GED Tests, the superintendent shall mail or fax the recommendation to the State GED Coordinator for final approval. The superintendent, the eighteen (18) year old, and the local GED Examiner will be notified in writing of the State GED Coordinator's final decision. If the exemption is granted, the candidate must officially withdraw from the last school/system attended as evidenced by written documentation, or the candidate must have been home-schooled, as evidenced by written documentation from the county home-school monitor. Documentation must include withdrawal date or home-school dates, and the original class graduation date.
For 17-year-olds: Individuals who are seventeen (17) years of age may test if the candidate has been officially withdrawn from a traditional classroom situation, i.e., officially withdrawn or home-schooled for a period of six months prior to test registration as evidenced by written documentation from the last school/system attended. Documentation must include the withdrawal date or home-school dates, and the original class graduation date. The candidate must also provide a statement on official letterhead from an employer military recruiter, college admission officer, or vocational-technical director evidencing acceptance/promotion of the candidate once he/she passes the GED Tests. The seventeen (17) year old candidate may also be admitted to testing if the candidate's original high school class has graduated before the candidate makes application for GED testing as evidenced by written documentation. Documentation must include the withdrawal date and the original class graduation date.
The candidate, at least seventeen (17) years of age, who does not meet all criteria for test eligibility, but believes extraordinary circumstances exist, may request an exemption to take the GED Tests from the local school superintendent where the candidate resides. If the superintendent recommends that the seventeen (17) year old be allowed to take the GED Tests, the superintendent shall mail or fax the recommendation to the State GED Coordinator for final approval. The superintendent, the seventeen (17) year old, and the local GED Examiner will be notified in writing of the State GED Coordinator's final decision. If the exemption is granted, the candidate must officially withdraw from the last school/system attended as evidenced by written documentation, or the candidate must have been home-schooled, as evidenced by written documentation from the county home-school monitor. Documentation must include withdrawal date or home-school dates, and the original class graduation date. The candidate must also provide a statement on official letterhead from an employer, military recruiter, college admission officer, or vocational-technical director evidencing acceptance/promotion of the candidate once he/she passes the GED Tests.
For 16-year-olds: Individuals who are sixteen (16) years of age who believes extraordinary circumstances exist, may request an exemption to take the GED Tests from the local school superintendent where the candidate resides. If the superintendent recommends that the sixteen (16) year old be allowed to take the GED Tests, the superintendent shall mail or fax the recommendation to the State GED Coordinator for final approval. The superintendent, the sixteen (16) year old, and the local GED Examiner will be notified in writing of the State GED Coordinator's final decision. If the exemption is granted, the candidate must officially withdraw from the last school/system attended as evidenced by written documentation, or the candidate must have been home-schooled, as evidenced by written documentation from the county home-school monitor. Documentation must include withdrawal date or home-school dates, and the original class graduation date. The candidate must also provide a statement on official letterhead form an employer, military recruiter, college admission officer, or vocational- technical director evidencing acceptance/promotion of the candidate once he/she passes the GED Tests.
8. Is there any way to take the test for free?
Sometimes you can get a voucher through your local ABE classroom. To qualify for a voucher, you must take the entire Official Practice Test for the GED. This is a long test, and requires at least two of my class periods to complete. You must score 480 or better on each test to qualify. To find out if vouchers are available, contact me through the ABE classroom.