Adult & Continuing Education: GED

• Introduction
• Cooperative Education
• Customized Training
• GED

What is the GED?

The GED (General Educational Development) is a series of tests that are designed to measure the lasting outcome of a high school education.

The GED tests last seven hours and 25 minutes and cover five academic areas:

• Language Arts/Writing (including both a multiple choice and an essay exam)
• Social Studies
• Science
• Language Arts/Reading
• Mathematics

The GED tests measure the academic skills and concepts associated with a traditional high school program of study.

Writing Skills
Part I (55 questions-75 minutes)
30% sentence structure, 30% usage, 25% mechanics, 15% organization
Part II (Essay-45 minutes)

Social Studies (50 questions-70 minutes)
40% history, 25% civics and government, 20% economics, 15% geography

Science (50 questions-80 minutes)
45% life science, 35% physical science, 20% earth and space science

Language Arts/Reading (40 questions-65 minutes)
75% literary text, 25% non-fiction text

Mathematics
Part I (25 questions-45 minutes-casio fx 260 calculator allowed)
Part II (25 questions-45 minutes)
20-30% number operation and number sense, 20-30% algebra and pattern

The American Council on Education, a private, non-profit association of colleges and universities, established the GED Testing Program over fifty years ago. The GED Testing Programs purpose is to provide adults, who left school for a variety of reasons, a fair and cost effective means of documenting that they have achieved high school level academics skills and knowledge.

GED Facts

Nationwide

• Nearly two of every three adults tested reports that they took the GED tests to qualify for further training and education beyond the high school level
• Those who obtain scores high enough to earn a GED diploma outperform at least one-third of today’s high school seniors
• More than 19 million adults have earned the GED certificate since the program’s inception in 1942
• The GED tests are offered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 10 Canadian provinces, and 9 US territories
• Famous GED graduates include: Ben Nighthorse Campbell (US Senator), Bill Cosby, Waylon Jennings, Mary Lou Retton, Kelly McGillis, Wally Famous Amos

North Dakota

• In North Dakota (2003)-1,781 took the GED tests
• In North Dakota(2003)-943 people passed the GED tests
• In North Dakota (2003)-the average grade completed for those taking the GED test was 10.1 and average age was 22.2
• Over 80% of North Dakota’s GED graduates reported that they took the test to qualify for further education, training, and/or employment

North Dakota testing requirements

• TITLE OF STATE CREDENTIAL: North Dakota GED High School Diploma
• REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF DIPLOMA: Minimum test scores—a standard score of 410 on each of thee five tests AND an average score of 450 on the five tests. OTHER: Military personnel tested in North Dakota at the time of physical residence qualify to apply for the diploma.
• MINIMUM AGE FOR TESTING: Eighteen. Applicants who are 16, 17, and 18 whose class has not graduated may request permission to test early from the GED Chief Examiner at the test center you plan to do your testing.
• REQUIREMENTS FOR RETESTING: Retesting is provided on a test form not previously taken, at the discretion of the local chief examiner.
• FEES:
  1. Testing and retesting at Official GED Testing Centers: Varies
  2. Issuance of first diploma transcript: No Charge
  3. Duplicate diploma: $10.00 each (request must be made in writing)
  4. Transcript: Each-request must be made in writing
  5. Request for transcripts or duplicate diplomas must include the individuals full name, date of birth, social security number and signature and should be mailed to:
     CKEN-11
     Adult Education & Literacy
     Department of Public Instruction
     600 East Boulevard Avenue
     Bismarck, ND 58505—0440