GED In English

GED stands for General Educational Development, and it's a series of tests that certify a person's high school-level academic skills. The GED is an alternative to a high school diploma for people who haven't finished high school or don't meet the requirements for a diploma. It's accepted by more than 95% of US colleges, universities, and employers. Region Five Adult Education offers instruction in English and Spanish for the prepartion of the GED Test.

Each test takes at least one hour, and you must score above a certain level to pass. In Virginia, you need a score of 145 or higher on each subject area test to qualify for a GED certificate. Scores of 145–164 indicate a pass, and 165–174 indicate college readiness.

You can schedule one test at a time or all four at once. The tests use a variety of question formats, including fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, multiple-choice, select-an-area, and dropdown. You can also use a calculator and reference sheet on some tests.

The American Council on Education developed the GED in the 1940s to help veterans who joined the military before finishing high school. You can prepare for the GED by taking practice tests and enrolling in prep classes.