The G.E.D. worked for me!

After a quick look around the web we've found a few stories of people who got their G.E.D. and made it work for them.  Check out the links below:

This is the story of a woman who quit high school and now runs a successful business.

This man got his G.E.D. and now has a high paying job that he's proud of.


This is the story of a grandmother who learned to read to her grandchildren while preparing for her G.E.D.

This is the story of a city worker who got his G.E.D. in an accelerated program.

This woman got her G.E.D. to meet a life-long goal and make her family proud.

Do you have a story about how a G.E.D. worked for somebody?  Let us know about it.

"How I got my G.E.D."

I got my G.E.D. when I was 21-years-old in a county jail.  They offered you the opportunity to take the test there if you had not already got your G.E.D. or high school diploma and had classes to help you study and prepare for the test.  These classes were an hour and a half long and were 5 times a week, Mon-Fri.  I went to about 80% of the classes, which lasted for about two months and were immediately followed by the test.  The classes normally had 8-12 students and one teacher.

The main reason I decided to get my G.E.D. is because I would need to have it to get into college.  I did not have to study hard to pass it.  The main things were touching up on my basic math skills and algebra and learning the structure of a “five-paragraph essay”.  It really did not take much effort to relearn these things and I feel that anyone who has completed a year or two of high school would be able to pass the test.  The information just needs to be fresh in your head.  I had not been to school in 4 years and did not need to study much at all.  The reason for my going to so many classes was to get out of the cell, and I enjoyed helping other people study and getting into ridiculous debates with the teacher.

To study for the test I would go through a set of questions that are typically found on the test.  After completing this “mock test” I would be able to see which kinds of questions I have problems with.  For example: after taking the “practice” or “mock” test I might realize I have problems with using “Pythagoras’s equation” to find the length of a triangle or how to find the percent of a number.  I would then focus on those kinds of problems.   In my case, I would ask the teacher to explain it, but you don’t need to have a teacher or be in a class to learn this stuff.  You could look the problem u online and find a good website that explains how to do it.  You could find a book on the subject, or ask a friend.  After going over the stuff you had difficulty with until you understand how it works, take another practice test to see how you do.  

The G.E.D. is broken down into 5 different sections, so you only need to focus on one at a time.  The five sections are: math, science, social studies, reading and writing.  For me, I only had to focus on two of those.  If you are comfortable with a section the first time you take it, you can put it out of your mind.  The main thing is making sure it’s all fresh in your mind when you go to take the test.  Review anything you had difficulty with the night before.  

When I took the test it was over the course of two mornings.  When you take the test you take each of the five sections one at a time.  For each section you are given a certain amount of time to complete it.  I don’t remember exactly how much time was given, but I had enough time to carefully go through each problem and go back and review all my answers when I was done and still have time to waste after.  If you can comfortably get through the practice tests you should not have to worry about time being an issue.  You have to wait for the time for that section to run out before you can go on to the next section.  If you get caught up on a problem, skip it and go back to it once you have finished everything else in that section.  Don’t worry about getting a few wrong; that’s fine and you will still pass.  When you get to the writing section and have to write an essay, don’t worry about being creative or very informative.  Just answer whatever questions the essay asks for and show them you understand how to write a “5-paragraph essay”.  If you don’t have much (or anything) to write on the subject, or have no interest in the subject, just write the way someone else would who does care.  Make things up.  Keep it short and to the point.  The people grading these essays have to read so many of them and it doesn’t matter what you write as long as it makes sense, answers the question, and shows you know how to write an essay.  

 Did you get your G.E.D.?  Please tell us your story!

Helping people access the GED

With an education system that is becoming increasingly centralized at the federal level, the GED remains one of the best opportunities for students who need options that are not provided by mainstream schooling.  In the news various communities are increasing the supports available for individuals seeking the GED and in some innovative ways.  Recently in Virginia a $383k dollar grant was awarded to Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career Education (TJACE), for the purpose of expanding their GED preparation programs, among others.  In order to increase the community’s access to GED preparation TJACE has developed a hybrid online model for delivering the GED courses.  (Davis 2012)

In response to early challenges discovered in strictly on-line types of classes, many institutions began using hybrid versions that would implement both on-line features and face to face classes.  This model of course delivery was developed at least as early as 2001 and is said to have been initiated at the request of non-traditional students in the college setting.  Although there has been more research in this area since, a study of one of these early attempts with a hybrid model found that students learned faster and better than when using an online only version.  (Martyn 2003)  This method should be particularly successful with the kind of non-traditional students who are seeking a GED because it can provide the flexibility, as well as the personal contact, that this type of student can use.  

In Winston-Salem, N.C. collaboration between Forsyth Tech Community College and the WR Anderson Community Recreation Center has improved access to GED courses by making them available off-campus in the Anderson Center’s neighborhood.  This will add to Forsyth Tech’s four other satellite GED locations. (Garms 2012)  Forsyth Tech’s GED programs specialize in helping students with Irlen Syndrome, a form of light sensitivity.  Students who struggle with this condition can read more easily through the use of colored lenses and films while reading.  In 2010 about 44% of Forsyth Tech’s GED students were able to benefit from using this method. (Forsyth Technical Community College 2010)

On the other side of the country, the Oregon Employer Counsel has recently donated $1550 to the Easter Oregon University‘s testing center to help individuals with financial need access the new computer-delivered GED exams.  The EOU program is one of the first to implement the new computer-based GED, which they did during the summer.  The new scholarship fund may be particularly timely as the new test is more expensive than the paper version.  In some areas the cost has doubled.  The Counsel acknowledges that it has become more difficult to secure employment without a high school equivalent credential, and wants to help at least a few individuals succeed.  (Eastern Oregon University 2012) (Eastern Oregon University 2012)

Works Cited

Davis, Megan A. "Local GED organization expading its reach." The Daily Progress. Charlottesville, VA: World Media Enterprises Inc, September 23, 2012.

Eastern Oregon University. "EOU launches new computer-based GED testing services." Eastern Oregon University - Press. La Grande, OR, June 14, 2012.

—. "Oregon Employer Council supports students completing GED exams at EOU’s testing center." Eastern Oregon University - Press. La Grande, OR, Oct 9, 2012.

Forsyth Technical Community College. "Forsyth Tech celebrates graduation of GED and AHS students." Discover Forsyth Tech. Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 2010.

Garms, Layla. "Rec center's latest offering: GED classes." The Chronicle. Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Oct 18, 2012.

Martyn, Margie. "The hybrid online model: Good practice." Educause Quarterly. no. 1. January 1, 2003. 18-23.