The GED allows students who dropped out of high school to earn a certificate comparable to a high school diploma. However, it is not given away: the GED tests a candidate's knowledge of all four core academic subjects. Each test is graded separately on a 100-200 scale, with 145 generally considered to be a passing grade (varies by state). A student needs to pass each test individually in order to earn credit, meaning that you cannot make up for a 135 in English with a 155 in math. If you need some help preparing for the exam, Varsity Tutors can help you find a GED Prep tutor who can help you work toward your academic goals.
Here is how each GED test breaks down:
- Math: 115 minutes to answer multiple-choice questions. It's divided into two parts, with calculators permitted on Part II. Sample topics include algebra, geometry, graphs, and functions.
- English Language Arts: 150 minutes total, including 45 for the essay component. Multiple-choice questions test a student's Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Argumentation skills
- Social Studies: 70 minutes, tests a student's ability to apply information (prose and numerical data) within historical context. Multiple-choice
- Science: 90 minutes, tests a student's ability to apply information )prose and numerical data) within scientific contexts. Multiple-choice
GED Prep tutoring allows you to concentrate specifically on your areas of need. For instance, a student who tenses up whenever they see numbers probably needs to spend more time on math than they do on English. Working with a private tutor allows you to study at your own pace, so you can keep reviewing a given concept until you are comfortable with it.