Remain competitive in today's global marketplace by earning your General Education Development (GED) certificate. A GED will allow you to make up for not earning a high school diploma in the traditional way. The following information will cover Minnesota's requirements.
What Is the Format?
The Minnesota GED has four sections: Reasoning through Language Arts; Social Studies; Science; and Mathematics. Test-takers can tackle all four subjects at once if they feel prepared and able to test for more than seven hours in a single day, but subject exams can also be taken individually. The GED is taken on computers at official testing sites around the state.
Question types include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer and essay prompts. Most of the subject exams are divided into two or three parts to accommodate different question types or circumstances; for example, math has a short section that doesn't allow for a calculator, followed by a longer portion that does.
How is the GED Exam Scored and What Happens If I Don't Pass?
A score of 200 is the maximum possible on each subject section. The minimum required to pass each section is 150; a score of 170 or more is a good indication of career and college-readiness. Individual subject tests can be taken and re-taken as needed up to three times before a waiting period of 60 days is imposed.
Who is Eligible?
In Minnesota, eligibility for the GED exam differs according to age. Those 19 and older who aren't enrolled in high school and who don't already hold a diploma are typically able to register for the exam. For 17- and 18-year-olds, requirements include an age waiver from the Minnesota Department of Education. The GED is not an option for those younger than 17.
How do I register for the GED and What Does it Cost?
Establishing an account at www.GED.com is the first step to registering for the GED exam; an email address is needed to do so. There's no cost for making the account, but the tests themselves cost $30 per subject. Some financial assistance or discounts may be available from the state and/or through the Adult Basic Education program. Up to two re-take attempts are also discounted.
How Do I Prepare?
Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs are offered by local school districts and some community and technical colleges; community organizations may also provide cost-free instruction for the GED tests. A locator to help find the closest assistance is found on the GED website and through the Minnesota Literacy Council website (www.mnliteracy.org). Additionally, a practice test is available on the GED site at a nominal cost to determine strengths and areas that need further study.
