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GED - More Information
The General Educational Development (GED) Tests can give you the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency certificate...a credential recognized as a key to employment opportunities, advancement, further education, and financial rewards. This page answers many of the questions you may have about the GED Tests - the keys to your future.
Return to GED and Registration page
INDEX:
Application Requirements
How Should I Prepare for the Tests?
Constitution Examination
Fees
Reexamination
Special Accommodations
What Are The GED Tests Like?
History
Legal Basis
Application Requirements
Adults may apply to the Regional Superintendent of Schools in their county of residence provided they meet one of the following criteria:
1. Applicants who are 18 years of age or older, maintained residence in the State of Illinois for at least 30 days, and are not high school graduates, but whose high school class has graduated.
2. A member of the Armed Forced of the United States on active duty, who is 17 years of age or older, and who is stationed in Illinois or is a legal resident of Illinois.
3. A ward of the Department of Corrections who is 17 years of age or older, or an inmate confined in any branch of the Illinois State Penitentiary or in a county correctional facility who is 17 years of age or older.
4. A female who is 17 years of age or older who is unable to attend school because she is either pregnant or the mother of one or more children.
5. A male 17 years of age or older who is unable to attend school because he is the father of one or more children.
6. A person who is 17 years of age or older who has been a dropout for a period of at least one year.
7. A person who is successfully completing an alterative education program under Section 2-3.81 or Article 13A of The School Code of Illinois.
8. A person who is enrolled in the youth education program sponsored by the Illinois National Guard (Lincoln's Challenge).
Any applicant who cannot qualify as stated above, and who has been out of school for at least one year, may be administered the GED Tests upon written request of the director of a program who certifies to the chief examiner of an official GED test center that the applicant has completed a program of instruction provided by such agencies as the Job Corps, the Postal Service Academy or apprenticeship training program, an employer or program director for purpose of entry into apprenticeship programs, another State Department of Education in order to meet regulations established by the Department of Education, a post-high school education institution for purposes of admission, the Department of Professional Regulation for licensing purposes, or the applicant meets all the Illinois standards, said applicant shall be issued the Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate upon reaching the age of 18.
Servicemen and veterans who have previously passed the GED Tests through the United States Armed Forces Institute, official GED centers in other states, or Veterans' Administration Hospitals should file the application form GED 28-18, accompanied by the official GED Test Report with the Regional Superintendent of Schools of the county in which the applicant has maintained residence.
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How Should I Prepare for the Tests?
Local school districts and community colleges offer adult education programs free of charge which provide the instruction you need for the tests. You can discuss with the adult education instructors whether you need to study for all the tests or if you only need to brush up on your skills in a few areas. Call (800) 321-9511 to locate GED preparation classes offered in your area.
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Constitution Examination
In addition to the five GED Tests, Illinois residents are required to satisfactorily pass an examination on American patriotism and the principles of representative government as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, as well as on the proper use and display of the American Flag as provided by Section 27-3 of The School Code of Illinois.
Qualified Illinois residents who apply for the High School Equivalency Certificate may take the Constitution examination at an official GED test center, an authorized Adult Education Program, or at the Regional Superintendent's Office. If applicants cannot appear in person (e.g., military personnel), they must advise the Regional Superintendent of the name and address of the Commanding Officer, Education Advisor, or School Principal who will agree to administer the Constitution examination under secure conditions and return it to the Regional Superintendent for evaluation. No fee shall be charged for this examination.
To order one copy of the Constitution Study Guide of the United States and the State of Illinois, send a check or money order for $5.14 made payable to CPC with a note listing your address and whether you want English or the Spanish version of the Study Guide to
Curriculum Publication Clearinghouse
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, Illinois 61455-1390
To order two or more copies, call (800) 322-3905.
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Fees
1. $35 application fee paid to the Regional Superintendent of Schools for the purpose of taking the GED Tests, and issuance of the certificate upon successful completion of the GED Tests and the Constitution examination.
2. Each GED Test, with the exception of the Language Arts: Writing Test, requires a $5 retest fee. A $10 retest fee is required for the Language Arts: Writing Test.
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Reexamination
An applicant who fails to make the required scores on the GED Tests has the option of taking the entire battery or the individual test which he or she has failed. Applicants who fail the Constitution examination will be permitted to review the subject matter and be retested at no cost.
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Special Accommodations
Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning disability, a physical disability, or an emotional disability, you may qualify for special accommodations when taking the GED Tests. Request Form L-15 or Form SA-001 when you register to take the GED Tests is you have special needs. If approved, special accommodations are provided at no additional charge to the GED candidate.
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What Are The GED Tests Like?
With the exception of Part II of the Language Arts: Writing Test, which requires an essay, all questions on the GED Tests are multiple choice with five possible answers given. The questions range in difficulty from easy to hard, and cover a wide range of subjects. The content of the test are as follows:
Language Arts: Writing - Part I
(50 questions, 75 minutes)
30% Sentence Structure
30% Usage
25% Mechanics
15% Organization
Language Arts: Writing - Part II
(essay, 45 minutes)
Social Studies
(50 questions, 70 minutes)
25% U.S. History
25% Civics & Government
20% Economics
15% Geography
15% World History
Science
(50 questions, 80 minutes)
45% Life Science
35% Physical Science
20% Earth & Space Science
Language Arts: Reading
(40 questions, 65 minutes)
75% Literacy Text
25% Nonfiction Prose
Mathematics - Part I (Calculator)
(25 questions, 45 minutes)
Mathematics - Part II (No Calculator)
(25 questions, 45 minutes)
20-30% Number, Number Sense & Operations
20-30% Measurement & Geometry
20-30% Data, Statistics & Probability
20-30% Algebra, Functions & Patterns
An applicant shall make a standard score of 410 or above on each of the five tests and a total standard score of at least 2,250 on the entire battery (average score 450 on all tests).
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History
The General Education Development (GED) Tests began in 1942 with the development of a battery of tests for U.S. Military personnel who had not completed their high school studies. The tests provided an opportunity to demonstrate that these persons had achieved learning outcomes usually associated with a high school diploma. Because of this program, many persons were able to qualify for jobs and pursue postsecondary education upon discharge from military service.
Today, the tests are used in al fifty states, in the U.S. territories, and in many Canadian provinces. Approximately 800,000 adults take the tests annually, with nearly two-thirds qualifying for a credential in accordance with the criteria established by their states or provinces. Over the years, the GED Tests have provided personal satisfaction as well as professional and academic opportunities for millions of adults who, for many reasons, were unable to complete their formal high school studies.
It should be clearly understood that the GED Tests can in no way take the place of a regular high school education. The tests are not means to an education, but are designed to appraise the educational development of applicants who have not completed their formal high school education.
The GED now serves Spanish-speaking and French-speaking candidates as well as those who speak English. The five tests are offered in braille, in bold print, and on audiocassettes. Many adult education programs in Illinois provide instruction to assist individuals in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the GED.
A new series of GED Tests were introduced nationally on January 1, 2002. The new tests will continue to measure the significant lasting outcomes of a four-year high school course of study and will incorporate the most current, widely used curriculum standards and standardized assessment practices.
In brief, the GED Testing Program has offered millions of adults a second chance by enabling them to demonstrate that they have many of the skills they would have acquired had they been able to remain in high school.
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Legal Basis
Section 2-3.34 of The School Code of Illinois, as amended, and Section 3-15.12, as amended, authorized the Program for the Issuance of High School Equivalency Certificates. Illinois Law authorized the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules necessary to carry into efficient and uniform effect the provisions for the issuance of High School Equivalency Certificates in the State. The law requires the Regional Superintendent of Schools of each county/counties to administer the High School Equivalency Testing Program. The American Council on Education also makes recommendations to the Illinois State Board of Education relative to the policies and procedures for the administration of the GED Testing Program. Recognized Illinois high schools are not authorized to issue a GED credential.
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