GED Test

What is the purpose of the GED Test?

The General Educational Development Test (GED) is a means for an individual who has not completed high school to demonstrate that he or she has the equivalent knowledge of one who has. Most colleges and universities will accept GED score reports instead of high school transcripts, although policies differ depending upon the institution. Most employers also accept the GED.

Who Can Take the GED?

Only persons who have not graduated from an accredited high school or received a high school equivalency diploma, nor are enrolled in an accredited high school may take the GED. Examinees must also be a Washington State resident and be able to provide a Washington State address.

Examinees must be 16 years of age or older, and if 16-18 (but were not homeschooled) years of age must submit a permission form from the school district in which they reside (NOT the district in which they last attended). This form is the "Request for Approval to Test for Certificate of Educational Competence." In the Seattle area, contact the nearest Parent Information Center, listed in the phone book with information about Seattle schools. If homeschooled, the examinee must submit the " Notarized Statement / Letter for Home School Students Taking the Test for Certificate of Educational Competence. " Please call to request one of these forms.

Non-citizens, including refugees and legal and illegal immigrants, may also take the GED if they meet all other requirements.

What is the GED test like?

How much does the GED cost?

The fee for the entire GED test is $75.00 ($15.00 per subject test), and must be paid before testing begins. If scores have been transferred to SCCC from another GED testing center for part of the test, the fee is $15.00 for each remaining subject test. Retest fees are also $15.00 per subject test. Cash, checks (made out to SCCC), and credit / debit are accepted until 4pm; after 4pm only exact change cash or checks are accepted.

I am on public financial assistance. Where can I get help with fees?

Some examinees enrolled in GED classes at the Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI) have their test fee paid by SVI. Please call (206) 587-4950 for more information. Examinees can also apply to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for a fee voucher. However, a voucher or other payment must be received before testing begins. There are no fee waivers.

What do I need to bring to the test?

Photo ID is the most important item: no ID, no testing --- no exceptions. The preferred forms are driver license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued ID. Other ID may be used if it has a photo, signature, and birthdate on it. If the examinee is under 19 years of age, they must also bring the signed permission form mentioned above. Examinees should know their Social Security Number. (GED ID# will be issued to those who do not have or wish to provide a Social Security Number.) The appropriate fees should also be brought to the Orientation. Nothing else is necessary. Seattle Central will provide pencils, pens, scratch paper, and calculator. Examinees may not use their own calculator or any reference materials, and will be asked to place personal items in a separate area during the test. Pagers, phones, and other messaging and electronic devices must be turned off and turned in to the Examiner for safekeeping until the exam is over. Friends and family must wait outside the testing room.

How is the test scored?

The test is normed on 20,000 graduating high school seniors. The number of correct answers, or raw score, is converted to a standard score between 200 - 800. Examinees will be given standard scores only. To pass any individual subject test, a minimum standard score of 410 is required. Passing the entire GED exam requires a minimum standard score of 410 on each subject and a total standard score for all 5 subjects of 2250 or higher.

How soon are results available, and how do I get them?

Multiple-choice tests are scored by computer only, and are generally available the next morning. GED policy prohibits the scoring of tests while examinees are present. Essays are sent to the official Washington State GED Essay Scoring Center; results are generally returned within 2-3 weeks. Results are not automatically mailed after testing, and are NEVER released by phone or email.

Results may be obtained in person at the Seattle Central testing office, and photo ID must be presented. Results (or even verification of testing) cannot be given out over the phone, or to anyone other than the examinee without a signed release. Unofficial score reports are free; official score reports (other than that issued with a GED certificate) are $3.00. The actual GED certificate is mailed from Olympia. Replacement or duplicate certificates must be requested directly from Olympia, at (360) 704-4410.

Score reports may also be obtained by written request. The request must include the examinee's name, social security number, date of testing, signature, and mailing address to which the report is to be sent. The same fees apply, with exceptions for incarcerated individuals. Send all requests to Seattle Central Community College, Testing Office 2BE1145E, Seattle, WA 98122.

How can I prepare for the test?

GED preparation books are available in most bookstores and libraries. Books by the Steck-Vaughn company are widely used. SCCC also provides GED preparation classes (206/587-4180 for information), as does SVI (206/587-4950). Online preparation help is also available at GEDonline.org and www.gedpractice.com.

I have a disability. What kind of help is available?

A wide range of accommodations is available to examinees with a documented disability. They include, but are not limited to, extended time, extra breaks, Braille, scribe and private rooms. Candidates should contact the SCCC Advocate, Al Souma, at 206/587-4169 to discuss possible accommodations and the process for approval.

What if I don't pass?

Individual tests may be taken up to 3 times per year, with the year beginning January 1. However, all 5 tests must be taken once before any individual test can be retaken. Each subject retaken is $15.00 per test.

I took part of the GED somewhere else. What do I do?

Examinees should let the staff know that they have taken tests at a different site. The staff will be able to look up those scores if they were earned in Washington State, and determine which tests and versions should be taken. If the scores were earned in another sate, the examinee will need to obtain an Official copy of those scores in order to transfer them. Examinees who fail to inform the Examiner that they have taken prior tests may have their tests voided or have to pay additional fees if there is a conflict between earlier and newer scores. Also, scores earned before January 1, 2002, are no longer valid.

When and where do I test?

GED testing takes place every Tuesday, excepting holidays and the last two weeks in June. They are held in the Testing Office at Seattle Central, room BE 1106. Enter the Main Entrance from Broadway, and turn right onto the main college hallway. Testing is the first office on the right side. APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED.

The first time an examinee comes in to test at Seattle Central, they must come in for an 8am orientation. This orientation is mandatory, but must only be attended once. After orientation, Testing is conducted from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. About once per month, on the third Tuesday, testing also continues from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Math Tests are only given at 9:00 am and 1:00pm. All other tests may be taken at any time during the above hours, as long as there is enough time left in the session for the maximum time limit.

If the above dates and times are not convenient, testing may be continued at another site. Please call these sites for testing schedules. A more complete listing for Washington State is available upon request.

How long can I take to finish all 5 tests?

There is no limit: an examinee may take one test and then not test again for weeks, months, or years. However, the entire test is 7.25 hours long, and most examinees take at least 2 weekly sessions to complete it.

Once I've passed all 5 tests, what happens?

SCCC will automatically apply for the certificate from Olympia when the entire test has been passed. The GED certificate will first be mailed to SCCC. The certificate will then be mailed, along with an official score report, to the address on the examinee's original application form, unless it is specifically requested that the certificate be held: the examinee will then be contacted by phone when the certificate is available to be picked up. If the certificate is mailed, but returned as undeliverable, it will remain on file at SCCC until the examinee picks it up.

• As of January 1, 2002, the GED Test has changed. For information on what changes were made, visit http://www.gedtest.org.
• If you began your GED exam, but did not finish by December 31, 2001, those scores are invalid and have been destroyed. You must begin again.
• All diplomas earned by December 31, 2001, are still valid.