While high school dropout rates are down, there are still significant numbers of people who leave secondary school before completing their diploma. In most cases, these people go on to face severe challenges in trying to land gainful employment, as the vast majority of even unskilled labor jobs require candidates to have a high school education.
If you left school early but want to improve your educational credentials to enjoy brighter job prospects, getting your GED certificate is a good idea. The GED, or General Educational Development, is a high school equivalency examination that is recognized across North America.
The GED tests students' abilities in five subject areas: writing, reading, social sciences, mathematics and life sciences. The writing section has two parts; in the first, you'll have to demonstrate your knowledge of grammar, syntax and sentence structure, and in the second part, you'll be asked to write an essay. In the reading section, your comprehension will be tested.
In the social studies section, you'll face questions about American and world history, civics, government and politics. In the mathematics section, you will have to answer questions on subjects that include geometry, algebra, number operations, statistics and probability. The science section covers the life sciences and earth sciences as well as space and physical sciences.
It is highly recommended that you take time to properly prepare for your GED examination before you take it. The exam is always conducted in person, and no online version is available.
To get ready for your GED test, you can either purchase a study manual from a bookstore or take a prep course. If you are confident in your ability to direct your own studies, buying a manual is a cost-effective way to get ready. These manuals contain instruction on all the subjects you'll be tested on, as well as practice exams for you to take. A prep course will offer more hands-on learning opportunities with an instructor and is recommended for students who will benefit most from outside direction as they study.