How old do I have to be to take the tests?
In general, you must be 18 years old and out of school to take the GED.
Students 16-17 years old are required to enroll in a GED Prep program and
pass the Official Practice Test (OPT). When students achieve passing scores
on the OPT, the GED teacher will request that an Age Waiver be completed
prior to registering for the GED Tests
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Do I have to live in Florida?
You must be a Florida resident to take the Florida, GED and provide the
following documentation when you register for the tests.
- A State of Florida Driver’s License
- Florida Identification Card (from the Division of Motor Vehicles)
- Passport with proof of residency
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How can I practice and study for the tests?
There are many study and practice options available,
including classes in your area, online classes, and even television programs.
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There are no classes near me. What can I do?
There are other ways to prepare for your GED. Call the Florida GED Helpline
at 1-850-245-9000 or contact the Palm Beach County GED Testing Center (561)
640-5074. Back to top
What are some test-taking tips?
There are some things you can do to improve your test-taking skills.
PBS LiteracyLink has some
great test-taking
tips to improve your chances. Back
to top
What subjects does the GED cover?
The GED is a series of five tests with questions covering reading, writing,
mathematics, social studies, and science.
Language Arts - Reading (40 items)
The passages on the new 2002 Series GED Language Arts, Reading Test continue
to reflect diversity in perspective (for example, gender, ethnicity, age,
and region). The passages continue to range from 300 to 400 words. There
is one poem (8 to 25 lines) and one piece of drama on every test form.
Language Arts - Writing includes
two parts (50 items + essay)
- Part I: Multiple choice items covering organization, sentence structure,
usage and mechanics
- Part II: Examinees write an essay about a suggested topic. The essay
represents about 40% of the Writing Skills Test score. Examinees who
write off topic receive a 00 for their score and must retake both parts
of the Writing Skills Test.
Mathematics (50 items)
Measurement, Algebra, Geometry, Number Relations, and Data Analysis continue
to be tested on the 2002 Series GED Mathematics Tests.
Beginning in 2002, the GED Mathematics Test is presented in two booklets:
Part I permits the use of a calculator, Part II does not. Each part of the
test is equally weighted. Therefore, a candidate must complete both parts
of the test to receive a score. If a candidate doesn’t successfully complete
both parts of the test, he or she will have to take both parts again. A
scientific calculator is provided to the candidate for use on Part 1.
Science (50 items)
The 2002 Series GED Science Test contains an increased focus in environmental
and health topics (for example, recycling, heredity, prevention of disease,
pollution, and climate), and an increased emphasis on science relevant to
everyday life.
Half (50 percent) of the new GED Science Test are conceptual understanding
questions; the remaining 50 percent are problem-solving questions. Test
questions with graphic content have increased from 30 percent to 50 percent.
The test includes questions about Life Science and Physical Science
Social Studies (50 items)
The test source materials continues to consist of primary and secondary
sources covering US and World History, Civics, Economics and Geography.
The source materials for topic areas are:
- Prose-only (articles, speeches, textbooks, letters, laws, and so
forth)
- Visual-only (maps, graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, cartoons),
or
- Combined (source materials containing both prose and graphics).
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What must I score to pass the tests?
Candidates need a standard score of 410 in order to pass each of the
individual GED tests and an overall average score of 450 for the five-test
battery. To receive a 410 standard score on an individual GED test, candidates
generally need to answer 60 to 65 percent of the questions correctly. For
more details, see
this
sample score report. (Requires
Adobe Acrobat
Reader) Back to top
Where can I go to take the GED tests?
To find a testing center near you, click on the
Register tab on this site. You will also find
information about GED testing at the
Adult Education Center website. Back
to top
How long is the test?
The official GED tests take approximately seven hours to complete. Most
test centers give the test over a period of 3 mornings or evenings. Some
locations do provide the test in 2 days.
Language Arts - Reading -- 1 hour, 5 minutes
Language Arts- Writing -- 2 hours - (75 minutes for multiple choice,
45 minutes for the essay)
Mathematics -- 1 hour, 30 minutes
Science -- 1 hour, 20 minutes
Social Studies -- 1 hour, 10 minutes
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What are the score requirements?
The total passing score is 2250. Candidates need a minimum standard score
of 410 with an overall average standard score of 450. Each correct answer
is worth one point. For each individual GED test, these points are totaled
and then converted to a standard score, which ranges from 200 to 800.
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Can the GED tests scores be used for college
admission or to enter the military?
Nearly all United States colleges and universities accept the State of
Florida High School Diploma as a high school equivalency credential. GED
tests can not be used as a substitute for placement or admissions tests.
The Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials recommends that
postsecondary institution officials, employers, training program officials,
licensing boards and all branches of the armed services accept the high
school credential awarded on the basis of the results of the GED tests in
the same manner as they accept regular high school diplomas. GED candidates
may apply for the military. Check with your local recruiter for more information.
Grade point averages cannot be determined from GED test scores. However,
GED percentile ranks can be viewed as approximately “class rank;” GED percentile
rankings represent the GED graduate's performance related to the performance
on the GED Tests of a representative group of graduating high school seniors.
Check with your College or University Admissions Office for additional
requirements. Back to top
I have some disabilities. Can I get help taking
the tests?
Yes. Candidates with physical, emotional, or specific learning
disabilities may be provided with special testing accommodations.
Individuals seeking special accommodations must complete a request form
and provide information from a physician or licensed professional.
Special accommodation requests are forwarded to the Florida Department
of Education where consideration will be determined. This process may
take up to 8 weeks. To determine if you’re eligible for special test
conditions and to obtain the necessary forms, contact Lee Kupperman at (561) 434-8058.
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What do my test scores mean?
A counselor at the Florida GED Helpline (850) 245-9000 or at the Palm
Beach Testing Center (561) 640-5074 can discuss your scores with you and
help you understand what your test results mean.
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I didn’t pass the tests. Now what?
You can have other chances to pass the tests. A counselor at the Florida
GED Helpline at (850) 245-9000 can help you decide how to best prepare and
retake the tests. Back to top
I lost my transcripts/certificate. What should
I do?
Call the Florida GED Helpline (850) 245-9000.
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How long do I have to wait for my test results?
It takes approximately 4 – 6 weeks to receive your test results in the
mail. Back to top
How do I get my State of Florida high school diploma?
If you passed all the subtests, you pick up your diploma at the school
where you registered for the GED tests.
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