It’s Never Too Late: Why Enroll in GED Preparation Classes
Across the US, more than 1.2 million students leave high school before earning their diploma each year[1]. There are many reasons why people leave high school early: They might need to support their families financially, they might not be interested in classes, or they might believe that they are unable to succeed academically and that there’s no point in going to school[2].
Whatever your reason for leaving high school before earning your diploma, it’s not too late to change your life. While you might not be able to re-enroll in a traditional high school program, you are able to take the General Educational Development test (GED), which provides you with an equivalency diploma if you pass.
Many people take GED preparation classes to help themselves get ready for the exam. Learn more about the test itself and how signing up for a prep class can help you.
What is the GED?
The GED is one of three high school equivalency tests available to people who haven’t earned a traditional high school diploma. The other two tests are the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC).
Not every state recognizes or offers each test. In Florida, for example, you have the option of taking the GED test, not the HiSET or TASC[3].
As of 2014, the GED test is a computer-based exam that is made up of four parts:
- Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Science
- Social Studies
The language arts section is the longest part of the test, with up to 150 minutes allowed. The Science and Social Studies parts need to be finished within 90 minutes and the Mathematical Reasoning section allows up to 115 minutes. The test is offered in both English and Spanish.
When taking the GED test, you don’t have to take all four sections at once. To take the test, you have to sign up online. You can take the GED Ready practice test online at home before you take the GED assessment at a testing center. If you did not pass one of your GED® test subjects, you are given two subsequent retests, with no restrictions between retakes. If you fail the third or any subsequent retest, you must wait 60 days for your next attempt: https://ged.com/faqs/test-retakes/
Why Would You Want to Earn Your GED?
After you pass the GED test, you earn an equivalency diploma, which is looked at in the same way a traditional high school diploma is in many instances. Employers who require employees to have a high school diploma will usually recognize the GED. Many colleges and post-secondary education programs also accept students who have passed the GED test.
No matter what you want to do with your life or what career you want to pursue, passing the GED test can help you along.
How GED Preparation Classes Can Help You
To pass the GED test, you need to earn a score of at least 145[4] (out of 200) on each subject. Average scores in 2017 were 150 for math, 152 for language arts, 154 for science, and 153 for social studies[4].
Because taking and passing the test requires both a commitment of time and money, many people want to do whatever they can to make sure they are well equipped and prepared to pass.
Enrolling in a GED preparation class can help you become familiar with the subjects the exam will cover as well as the type of questions you’ll be asked on the test. Classes also introduce you to the computer format used on the test (no paper-based GED tests are offered anymore).
Although there are plenty of test prep materials, such as books and online practice tests, available, they can’t replace the instruction and guidance you’ll receive in a prep class.
Enroll in GED Preparation Classes Today
Orange Technical College offers GED preparation classes at all of our campuses: Orlando, Westside, Mid-Florida, and Winter Park. Two of our campuses, Westside and Mid Florida, are also official GED testing locations.
If you’re interested in signing up for GED prep classes at Orange Technical College, you can speak with a counselor at any one of our five locations. Above you have 4 campuses that offer prep classes- Avalon also offers GED Prep Classes, but it is under Winter Park. Once you’ve successfully completed the class and are ready to take the GED test, you can register for the exam at GED.com.
Sources:
- “11 Facts About High School Dropout Rates,” DoSomething, https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-high-school-dropout-rates
- “Some of the Surprising Reasons Why Students Drop Out of School,” neaToday, December 19, 2017, http://neatoday.org/2017/12/19/why-students-drop-out-of-school/
- “High School Equivalency Diploma Program (2014 GED® Test),” Florida Department of Education, http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/hse
- “GED Passing Rates Rise, But Fewer Students Take Exam After Redesign,” Education Week, February 21, 2018, https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and _beyond/2018/02/GED_more_taking_but_fewer_passing_equivalency_exam_after_redesign.html