General Educational Development

The GED (General Educational Development) tests comprise of four subjects, which aims at measuring the proficiency of a student in the fields of science, mathematics, social studies, reading, and writing. Upon the successful completion of the test, the student is provided with certification that he has the academic skills equivalent to United States or Canadian high school-level academic skills. It is deemed as an alternative to the US high school diploma, HiSET, and TASC test.

Passing the GED test provides an opportunity to those students who by some means could not complete their high school or the necessary requirements for the acquisition of the diploma, to get an equivalent certificate to that of high of school.

The GED Testing Service is a joint project of the American Council on Education. The developing services are provided by Pearson for this test. It can be taken online as well as in person. Premier law college is among the very few institutions in Pakistan to offer this programme in order to help students get admission in the United States and Canadian colleges for higher education.

Overview

The GED®️ test comprises of 4 subjects.

  1. Reasoning Through Language Arts
  2. Mathematical Reasoning
  3. Science
  4. Social Studies

Types of questions on the test

Following types of questions are asked in the GED test

  • Multiple choice
  • Drag and drop
  • Hot spot (select an area)
  • Fill in the blank
  • Short answer
  • Extended response.

Topics in the test

The GED®️ test evaluates the skills and knowledge of an aspirant in 4 different subjects.

1. Language Arts

THE REASONING THROUGH LANGUAGE ARTS TEST:

  • Has total 150 minutes
  • Comprises of 3 sections
  • Embraces a 10-minutes break between sections 2 and 3
  • Contains one essay that the aspirant has 45 minutes to write

Aims at measuring aspirant’s

  • Ability to read closely, write clearly, and edit and understand written English
  • Ability to understand, interpret, and answer questions based on text
  • Ability to use evidence to support an argument
  • Understanding of basic English skills at a level needed to succeed in university/college or a job

2. Mathematical Reasoning

THE MATHEMATICAL REASONING TEST:

  • Has total 112 minutes
  • Comprises of 2 parts
  • Allows the aspirant to use an on-screen TI-30XS calculator for Part 2
  • Provides the aspirant with some Math formulas and a calculator reference sheet

Aims at measuring aspirant’s

  • Quantitative problem-solving abilities (45%)
  • Algebraic problem-solving abilities (55%)

3. Science

THE SCIENCE TEST:

  • Has total 90 minutes
  • Embraces no breaks
  • Allows the aspirant to use an on-screen TI-30XS calculator

Aims at measuring aspirant’s

  • Knowledge of life science (40%), physical science (40%), and Earth and space science (20%)
  • Ability to read, understand, and interpret science-related texts
  • Problem-solving abilities in science-related situations

4. Social Studies

THE SOCIAL STUDIES TEST:

  • Has total 70 minutes
  • Allows you to use an on-screen TI-30XS calculator

Aims at measuring aspirant’s

  • Knowledge of civics and government (50%), U.S. history (20%), economics (15%), and geography and the world (15%)
  • Ability to read, understand, and interpret social studies-related texts
  • Problem-solving abilities in social studies-related situations

FAQs

How long will it take?

Each test is a different time duration as described above.

  • Math – 115 minutes
  • Science – 90 minutes
  • Social Studies – 70 minutes
  • Reasoning Through Language Arts – 150 minutes

Passing Score

The GED exam has a passing score of 145 out of 200 for each subject. To earn your certificate, you’ll need to score 145 on all four subjects. Be sure to check with your prospective university about scores required for admission.

Price

The GED® test costs changes from US$75 to US$80 per subject (effective October 1, 2021). There are four subjects on the GED® test, so the total for all subjects is US$320.

Age

18 years old may sit for the test with no restriction.

Can a person younger than 18 sit for the exam?

16 years old aspirants can request for an exception. The aspirant in this case will have to fill the Age Exception Waiver form, signed by a parent or guardian, before the exam and delivery it help@ged.com. Upon approval the aspirant will receive notification in GED account.

Does resident need to bring proof of his residence of the local country?

No, it is not needed to provide documentation of residency in the aspirant’s country to test.

Does aspirant need to take GED classes from local center?

Yes. In Pakistan the aspirant is required to be approved by an Authorized GED Prep Provider before you are approved to sit for the GED exam. 

Is it mandatory to take the GED Ready® practice test before testing?

No, it is not mandatory to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test. However, the GED Ready practice test is the best way to predict how likely you are to pass the GED® test.

How long should the aspirant wait before taking the exam, in case of his failure?

There is no waiting period for the aspirant to wait after taking the test for the first time. After taking a test subject 3 times, aspirant will have to wait 60 days before retesting in the same subject.

Can an aspirant retake the exam after passing it in order to earn higher grades?

In order to test again in a subject, the aspirants have already passed, they must complete an approval process. To request approval, they will need to email a brief description of why they wish to test again at help@ged.com. Upon the approval of the request, the aspirant will receive an email.

What is the International GED® credential called?

The international credential is called the District of Columbia High School Equivalency Diploma.

Can the aspirants take all the GED® test subjects at once or does they need to setup different appointment times?

Yes, the aspirants can take all test subjects in the same day if they can find a testing center with hours that accommodate it.

Can aspirants take the test for separate subjects?

The GED® test is made up of 4 subjects, broken into separate exams. The aspirants don’t have to take all 4 tests at once – they can space them out however it suits them and go at their own pace.

Are other languages also allowed in test?

No, in Pakistan the test will be conducted only in English.

Can an aspirant take test from a different country after he has taken one test in some other country?

Yes, there is no requirement that all tests must be completed in the same city or country.

From where the aspirant would get his certificate / transcript after passing?

Aspirant can get his certificate / transcript after passing:

After passing the GED exam, they will have access to one free electronic certificate and transcript and one printed certificate at the cost of shipping.  Additional certificates and transcripts can also be purchased.

Electronic Certificate and Transcript

They will receive an email with links to download their electronic diploma and transcript. Aspirants should download their electronic documents right away, as they are only available for a limited time. These PDF documents are very valuable since they can be forwarded to employers and colleges that accept electronic credentials.

Carefully follow the instructions presented during the ordering process! The free diploma link will only be available until it has been used and can only be used one time.

Printed Certificate

The printed certificate (diploma) can be ordered from the aspirant’s GED account. After logging in to the account on GED.com, they should follow these steps:

  1. Go to the My Scores page
  2. Select Order Duplicates
  3. Select Diploma option and then select the Printed Diploma – Free option
  4. Fill in the form indicating where they want the diploma to be mailed.
  5. Pay the shipping fee and the document will be mailed via FedEx to their destination

Can the test be taken online?

No, for exam security and to prevent cheating the exam cannot be taken online. The aspirants must appear in person at an official GED exam center to take the GED exam.

Things to be brought on the day of exam

  • A government issued photo ID (CNIC)
  • the name and date of birth on photo ID should match the information in the GED.com exactly
  • copy of your confirmation email or letter to the exam center
  • Cell phones, smart watches and any other electronic devices are strictly forbidden in the testing room.