Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GED?

What are the Tests in the GED Battery?

Do you have to be an Arkansas resident to take the GED?

How Much Does it Cost to Take the GED ?

How Do You Get Transcripts of GED Scores?

What Editions of the GED are Available?

What Accommodations Can You Get on the GED if You Have a Disability?

What is the GED? The General Educational Development (GED) exam was developed to allow adults a “second opportunity” to prove acquisition of contemporary high school skills and life skills. For the thousands of Arkansans who have not completed high school, the issuance of the Arkansas High School Diploma based on the five GED subtests provides the opportunity to demonstrate academic skills at a high school level of competency.

The five GED subtests are designed for adults who have not finished high school, but who have gained knowledge and skills through life experiences, reading books and newspapers, listening to television and radio, etc. The tests are designed to measure general knowledge and higher-order thinking skills. The tests are in the areas of Language Arts, Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Reading , and Mathematics.

The GED tests are both comprehensive and rigorous. Only 58 percent of graduating high school seniors nationwide are able to attain sufficient scores to qualify for the Arkansas High School Diploma. The Social Studies, Science and Language Arts Reading tests require the candidate to read passages or interpret graphic representations (diagrams, maps, etc.) and apply that information. The Math Test consists of solving word problems and working with fractions, decimals, and algebraic and geometric functions. Math Test 1 allows the use of the Casio FX-260. Math Test 2 does not allow the use of the calculator.

The GED/diploma is accepted by most of the colleges and universities and provides adults who did not complete high school with an opportunity for further education and training. The military also accepts the GED diploma if other qualifying criteria are met. Additionally, the GED diploma is well accepted by the business and industrial community.

What are the Tests in the GED Battery ? The Language Arts, Writing Test is composed of two parts. Multiple-choice questions in the first part of the test measure knowledge of sentence structure, usage, and mechanics. Part Two of the Language Arts, Writing requires a written essay on an assigned topic that assures all components of written communication have been mastered. The topic requires an opinion or an explanation of a situation for which most adults have general knowledge. The essay is scored holistically based on its overall effectiveness, thus errors in spelling and punctuation are not the most important aspects of the essay. The Language Arts, Writing Test score is a combination of the scores of the two parts.

• There is a time guideline of 75 minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions.
• There is a time guideline of 45 minutes for the essay section.

Note:

• No score can be reported for the Writing Skills Test if the examinee's essay is blank, illegible, or “off-topic.” As a result, the candidate will have to take the entire Language Arts, Writing Test again.
• If a candidate does not pass the essay portion of the Language Arts, Writing Test with a 2 or higher, then the writing test score will be recorded as a “0” and the examinee must repeat the entire Language Arts, Writing Test . If a candidate receives a score for the writing test, that indicates that he/she has passed the essay portion.

The Social Studies Test includes items that are designed to measure concepts and skills from the academic high school subject areas of history, geography, civics, government and economics. The test includes at least one “practical” document such as a voters' guide, tax form, etc. The candidate is expected to have knowledge of major world and United States periods of history.

• There is a time limit of 70 minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions.

The Science Test measures the use and application of factual knowledge from personal knowledge, written text and graphics. Abstract thinking and problem solving abilities are very important for the Science Test . Questions for the exam come from the following areas: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science.

• There is a time limit of 80 minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions

The Language Arts, Reading Test includes models of writing from well-known literary authors. The questions measure the examinee's knowledge of various genre, understanding of literary periods and movements, comprehension, analytical skills, and application skills.

• There is a time limit of 65 minutes to complete the multiple-choice questions.

The Mathematics Test consists of numerical problems that emphasize the ability to solve real life problems and the ability to perform multi-step computations. A page of formulas is provided with every test booklet. Scratch paper is allowed; but calculators are only allowed on Mathematics Test 1, unless special testing accommodations have been granted because of a disability. The content areas are as follows: geometry, algebra, arithmetic measurement, number relations, and data analysis.

• There is a time limit of 90 minutes – during this 90 minutes, the calculator time limit for Part 1 is only 45 minutes

The Arkansas GED requires that applicants taking the GED exam achieve a total score of 2250 points or above and a standard score of at least a 410 on all of the five subtests .

Do You Have to Be an Arkansas Resident to take the GED ? Yes. Persons physically residing within Arkansas for a period of 30 days with proof of an Arkansas mailing address are considered residents.

Current, valid photo identification with current name and address, birth date, and preferably a Social Security number is required prior to all testing sessions. Only the following are accepted:

• A valid driver's license
• A valid passport
• Military identification
• Government-issued photo identification
  

The Examiner has the authority to require additional identification for positive verification.

How Much Does it Cost to Take the GED ? GED testing is free of charge.

How Do You Get Transcripts of GED Scores? Persons requesting a duplicate of their GED transcript and/or diploma must do so in writing to the State GED Office. The request form may be obtained at the original testing center office. There must be a signed release before anyone (including instructors) may receive exam results.

What Editions of the GED are Available? The GED Tests are available in U.S. and Canadian English-language, Spanish language, and French-language editions. Special editions of the English-language GED Tests are available in Braille, large print, and audiocassette formats.

Official Practice GED Tests printed editions are available in English and Spanish. An audiocassette edition and large print edition of the Official Practice GED Tests are also available in English only.

What Accommodations Can You Get on the GED if You Have a Disability? According to GEDTS, accommodations are available “... for candidates with a documented physical, sensory, emotional, or specific learning disability. These accommodations may be requested by candidates who have disabilities that can be expected to have a negative impact upon the candidate's chances of passing the GED Tests.” The “Request for Accommodations”, Form L-15, can be provided by your GED Examiner .

Approved accommodations are determined by the needs of persons with documented disabilities.

Possible accommodations include:

• Audiocassette edition
• Braille edition
• Large print edition
• Extended time
• Scribe
• Private room
• Frequent, supervised breaks
• Calculator
• The following are not allowed:
• Word processors
• Spell checking programs
• Readers

The following test-taking strategies require no formal documentation but do require prior notice to the Examiner

• Large Print Edition of the GED Tests
• Straightedge with no markings
• Graph paper
• Colored overlays
• Incandescent or halogen lighting rather than fluorescent
• Priority seating
• Temporary Adhesive with Spatial Directions
• Earplugs
• Magnifying device

For more information, please contact
Becky Linsky, Director of Adult Education, at 501-760-4339
or Claudia Lippold, Secretary, at 501-760-4335

View a map to the Adult Education building on the NPCC Campus.