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Is the GED Harder Than High School? Critical Things You Need to Know about the GED
Read time: 5 minutes
For adults who were unable to complete high school through the traditional route, the General Education Development, also known as the GED, is a standardized test offered in the United States. It’s considered to be a high school equivalency that satisfies the requirement for a high school diploma at many colleges, universities, and some careers.
If you’re an adult who studied ahead or had to drop out because of life issues, you might be considering getting a GED certificate instead of a high school diploma. However, before you make the decision, you should be aware of these four things.
1. Passing the GED Might Be Harder Than You Think
It’s not easier to get a GED than a traditional high school diploma. It has become harder for people to pass the GED test, especially after it was redesigned in 2014. To pass the GED, you need to know the same information that you would have learned in high school, including subject areas like:
- Social Studies
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Science
The time it takes can vary depending on where you live, how much preparation you need before taking the exam, and how consistent you are at studying for the exam. For most, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
This leads to point number two…
“Students who drop out of high school and get a GED are half as likely to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree as compared with students who earn a high school diploma.”
— Mark Kantrowitz —
2. Passing Doesn’t Necessarily Mean You Are College-Ready
A minimum passing score on the GED test is 145, but 165 is considered by most colleges to be a “college-ready” score. If you get less than a 145, you will likely need to take remedial courses before you will be ready to take college courses. The more remedial classes you take in college, the longer and more expensive it will be. Statistically, only about 1 in 10 GED holders go on to earn a college degree.
It takes a lot of motivation and discipline to study for and get your GED. It is also a good idea to take the GED practice test. Once you know what level you are at, you will need to create a study plan. Then you need to study regularly, just like you would in high school. Once you are ready, you will need to pay for and make arrangements to take the GED test in person or online. The GED is an option but not an easy way out of high school.
3. It Will Cost You
The GED exam can cost up to $200. It depends on your state, but most charge around the same. GED.com offers a “graduate package” that includes resources and materials to help you study and pass the test. On average, this package costs more than $200 but assumes that you will be self-motivated enough to read through all the materials, develop your study plan, take the time to regularly read and study the materials, and then take the test when ready.
For those that need help, GED.com offers GED+™, which they market as “Everything you need to earn your GED.” This is a premium service that costs over $139 per subject. If you decide to subscribe to the GED+™service, it will cost $449 to get this support for all four subjects, in addition to the cost of the exam.
If you do not pass the exam the first time, you will need to pay to retake the failed sections. This could potentially come with the need for more online courses, time, and resources spent to obtain a GED diploma.
4. You Might Be Too Young
Many states have a GED program. However, if you’re under 18, you might not be allowed to take the GED test. This is important to know because if you’re 15-16 and decide you want to drop out of school to take the GED, this approach may not be possible. Some states that do provide a GED option to 16 and 17-year-olds have additional requirements that they must meet.
Your Best Next Step with Smart Schools
We hope this information provides you with some additional considerations when deciding to go the GED route. The truth is, if at all possible, we recommend that high school students stay in school. We know that life happens and people or circumstances might prevent you from being successful in school, but it is more challenging to finish later on.
If you already dropped out, know that there are alternatives to a GED. Smart Schools offers individuals the opportunity to get a high school diploma at any age! We provide a mentor and tutoring online to help you become a high school graduate. For those that are local to Arizona, we offer resource centers where you can get WIFI and more. Best of all, this is a low-cost online high school diploma program that you can take advantage of from any location!
Smart Schools helps learners ages 11 and over complete middle school or complete their high school graduation requirements. The affordable program offers unprecedented flexibility, allowing you to pursue a high school education from any location. Connect with us today start your journey!
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Sources
GED vs HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA | Should I drop out of high school in 2020?
GED Passing Rates Rise, But Fewer Students Take Exam After Redesign