GED
Not sure if the GED is right for you? The college counseling staff can help you
make the right choice. The GED may be best for the person who has “decent” basic
skills and knows how to take tests. At some colleges, you can take a fast-track
GED class that’ll quickly help you polish your reading, writing and math skills
so you can pass the tests. The GED test covers Language Arts/Writing, Social Studies,
Science, Language Arts/Reading and Mathematics. If you pass all five tests - like
the more than 18,000 Washington residents every year – you’ll prove you know the
same stuff as a traditional high school grad.
Preparing for the Test
Every community and technical college has a program to help prepare you to take
the series of five GED tests. That means there’s one near where you live and work!
Taking the Test
The GED Test takes approximately 7-3/4 hours to complete. You don’t have to take
all five subjects at one time. The questions test your ability to apply your knowledge
of each subject to real-world, business-related situations.
What to Watch out For
You can’t earn a Washington State GED® Certificate by taking the test online or
through correspondence. Only community and technical colleges and public schools
are authorized to give the test. Any other high school equivalency certificate may
be of dubious value and may not be accepted by employers, colleges and universities,
or the military.
Lots of Good Info
There are a lot of places to get good information and help to get started. Check
out this Website
for things like:
- A list of colleges that offer prep classes
- Testing center locations
- Eligibility rules
- Sample test questions
- Disability accommodations and forms
- Records request forms
High School Completion
Most community and technical colleges offer programs to help you earn a high school
diploma if you are 16 years or older and complete the graduation requirements. The
High School Completion program may be a better option than the GED if you are just
a few credits short of your diploma. Talk with the college counseling staff to be
sure. If you are worried about cost, talk with the college staff about a tuition
waiver. In some cases, high school classes may be free.
If you know you want the diploma, you can also take college classes that count toward
both your high school diploma and your college degree or certificate. Our teachers
are specialists at explaining things so people “get it.”
Graduation requirements have changed for students who began high school (9th grade)
after September 2004. Visit the State Board of Education Website for more information
about graduation requirement http://www.sbe.wa.gov/.