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 | GED Test FAQ |
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This is a continuation of the information and instructions for GED Test at North Seattle Community College. Please begin by reading over the GED Test page. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I take the GED test? A: The General Education Development Test (GED) is a means for an individual who has not completed high school to demonstrate that he or she has the equivalent knowledge of someone who has. Most colleges and universities will accept GED score reports instead of high school transcripts, although policies differ depending upon the institution. Also, in order to receive Federal Financial Aid, a student must have completed high school or obtained their GED. Most employers also accept the GED. Q: Who can take the GED? A: A person may take the GED if they have not graduated from an accredited high school; have not received a high school equivalency diploma; or are not currently enrolled in an accredited high school. An examinee must also be a Washington State resident and have a Washington State address. Examinees must be 16 years of age or older. If the examinee is 16-18 years of age (and not homeschooled) they must submit a permission form from the school district in which they reside (NOT the district in which they last attended). This form is the "Request for Approval to Test, General Education Development (GED) Diploma", and will be provided by the school district office. In North Seattle, near NSCC, contact the Enrollment Services Center, (206) 252-0765, or visit their office at 1330 N. 90th St. If homeschooled, the examinee must submit the "Notarized Statement/Letter for Home School Students Taking the Test for Certificate of Educational Competence". Please contact the Testing Center if you would like a copy of this form. Non-US citizens, including refugees and immigrants, may also take the GED if they meet all other requirements. Q: What is the GED test like? A:The GED exam includes tests in 5 separate subjects. The Social Studies, Science, Language Arts: Reading, Language Arts: Writing, and Mathematics. Social Studies, Science and Language Arts: Reading tests are all multiple-choice with 5 possible answers per question. The Language Arts: Writing test includes both a multiple-choice section and a short essay. The math test has both multiple-choice and alternate forms of answers, such as graphing. It is divided into two equal sections of 45 minutes each; a calculator is permitted (and provided ) during the first section. Questions on every test range from easy to difficult, and cover a wide variety of material.
Q: When and where do I take the test? A: Please refer to the Testing Calendar for specific dates and times. The Testing Center will give GED tests on Thursdays, usually 2 to 3 times per month. Appointments are required to test. If North GED testing dates are not convenient, testing may be continued at another site. There are two more GED Testing Centers in the Seattle Community College District: Seattle Central Community College at 206-587-6915 and South Seattle Community College at 206-764-5349. Please note that every center is separate and will have its own schedule and procedures, and will require payment for individual tests. Q: What do I need to bring to the test? A: Photo ID is the most important item: no photo ID, no testing -- no exceptions. The preferred forms of ID are a Washington driver's license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued ID. Other ID may be used if it has your photo, signature, and birthdate on it. Examinees should know their Social Security Number (a GED ID number will be issued to those who do not have or do not wish to provide a Social Security Number). The appropriate fees for GED Testing were already paid when you turned in your GED Test Registration Packet. The Testing Center will provide pencils, pens, scratch paper and a graphing calculator. Nothing else is necessary for testing. Examinees may not use their own calculator or any reference materials. Pagers, phones, and other messaging and electronic devices should not be brought to the test session. Friends and family must wait outside the testing room. Q: How is the test scored? A: The scoring of the test is based on a sample of GED scores from 20,000 graduating high school seniors. The number of correct answers, or raw score, is converted to a standard score between 200-800. Examinees will be given standard scores only. To pass any individual subject test, a minimum standard score of 410 is required. Passing the entire GED exam requires a minimum standard score of 410 on each subject and a total standard score for all five subjects of 2250 or higher. Q: When will my scores be ready? How do I get my scores? A: Multiple-choice tests are scored by computer only, and are generally available the next day; essays (Language Arts-Writing) are sent to an official Essay Scoring Center and those results are generally returned within 7 days. GED policy prohibits the scoring of tests while examinees are present. Results are not automatically mailed after testing, and are NEVER released by phone or email. Results may be obtained in person at the NSCC Testing Office, and photo ID must be presented. Results (or even verification of testing) cannot be given out over the phone, or to anyone other than the examinee, without a signed release. Score reports are free (these are the official record of your GED scores) and will be mailed or given after all tests are completed. The actual GED certificate is mailed from Olympia. You can access GED information at the website: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/GED/ Score reports may also be obtained by written request. The request must include the examinee's name, a contact telephone number, social security number, date of testing, signature, and mailing address (to which the report is to be sent.) If you completed your GED at North's Testing Center, you may send score report requests directly to us at North Seattle Community College, Testing Center, 9600 College Way N., Seattle, WA 98103 Q: How can I prepare for the test? A: GED preparation books are available in most bookstores and libraries. Books by the Steck-Vaughn Company are widely used. NSCC also provides GED preparation classes. Contact the ABE/ESL advisor for information. Career Link Academy may be an option for students between the ages of 16-20. Visit the Career Link website for more details and contact information. Online preparation help is also available at various websites: www.GEDonline.org/ and www.gedpractice.com/ Q: What if I don't pass? A: Individual subject tests may be taken up to 3 times per year, with the year beginning January 1. However, all 5 tests must be taken once before any individual test can be re-taken. Each subject re-taken is $15.00 per test. Q: I took part of the GED test somewhere else. What do I do? A: Examinees should let the staff know that they have taken tests at a different site. Testing Center staff will be able to look up those scores if they were earned in Washington State, and determine which future tests and versions should be taken. If the scores were earned in another state, the examinee will need to obtain an official copy of those scores in order to transfer them. Examinees who fail to inform the Examiner that they have taken prior tests may have their tests voided or have to pay additional fees if there is a conflict between the earlier and new scores. Also, scores for individual subject tests earned before January 1, 2002 are no longer valid, and will not count toward your GED. You will need to start GED testing from the beginning on the current (2002) version of the test. Q: How long do I have to finish all 5 tests? A: There is no limit (as long as the current version of the test is in effect); an examinee may take one test and then not test again for weeks, months or years. The complete battery of tests will take slightly over 7 hours and most examinees take at least 2 weekly sessions to complete it. Q: Once I've passed all 5 tests what happens? A: NSCC will automatically apply for the certificate from Olympia when the entire test has been passed. The GED certificate will first be mailed to NSCC. The certificate will then be mailed to the address on the examinee's original application form. If the certificate is mailed, but returned as undeliverable, it will remain on file at NSCC until the examinee picks it up. Q: I have a physical disability. How do I get accommodations for testing? A: Please call or stop by North's Testing Center and ask for the "Request for Special Accommodation in GED Test Administration for Candidates with Physical or Emotional Disabilities" (Form # SA-001). This form must be completed by the GED candidate and a Certifying Professional (1) before it is submitted for review to the Chief GED Examiner at North's Testing Center. The chief examiner will then forward the request to the state GED administrator for processing. Approval may take from 7 to 10 days, so be sure to complete this form early in your effort to earn your GED diploma. This form must be approved before accommodations can be given for exams.
Q: I have (or think I may have) a learning disability. How do I get accommodations for testing? A: Please stop by or call the Testing Center and ask for the "Accommodation Request for Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder" (Form L-15). The GED candidate and a Certifying Advocate (2) must complete this form before it is submitted for review to North's Chief GED Examiner. The Chief Examiner will then forward the request for processing to the State GED Administrator. The State GED Administrator must approve this, before accommodations can be given for exams. It may take up to 10 days for approval, so please make sure you start this process as early as possible. The L-15 form has many sections to complete. The more thorough the answers, the less time it will require for review and forwarding for approval.
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