Your Guide to Online GED Programs

Online GED classes are a convenient alternative for receiving your high school diploma.
Most online GED programs are self-paced so you can access and study the course material at a schedule that works for you.
Obtaining a GED certificate can open doors for you in terms of higher education as well as higher paying employment opportunities.

Online GED classes offer students the opportunity to earn an equivalent of a high school diploma without disrupting their ongoing commitments. Whether you wish to gain access to higher education or you’re looking to boost your employment chances, enrolling in an online GED school may be your best option.

What is a GED?

GED stands for General Education Diploma. You may also hear it referred to as General Educational Development Test. A GED is the equivalent of a high school diploma.

All students graduating from high school receive a diploma stating that they have successfully completed all the courses required to graduate. This diploma can be used to gain entrance into college or to secure a relevant job.

However, not everyone gets the opportunity to graduate from high school. Some students may drop out mid-year for a number of different reasons. Other students may not get chance to enroll in high school at all. Taking a GED test and earning a diploma helps these students demonstrate that they have a high school level of education. Students with a GED diploma have an equal chance of gaining admission into college or getting a job as high school students.

Can You Take GED Classes Online?

Yes, you can take GED classes online. In fact, most individuals prefer to enroll in online schools because they offer a flexible, convenient, and affordable solution to earning a GED diploma. Once you enroll in your chosen online GED school, you can complete the lessons at your own pace and on your own schedule.

There are a few basic requirements you’ll need to meet to be able to enroll in an online GED school.

You must be at least 16 years or older. 16 and 17 year olds must get an official release from their high school before registering for online GED classes.
You have must basic computer and internet skills as well as regular access to a computer and the internet.

Other than these requirements, you it’s helpful that you are disciplined and have good time management skills to fit the necessary study time into your daily schedule and other commitments.

Can You Take The GED Test Online?

Yes, in addition to online GED classes, you can also take the GED test online. Research carefully though. You will find many providers that claim to offer legitimate diplomas. However, the test offered by GED.com is the only accredited provider of online GED tests.

To take this test, you will need a computer with webcam and reliable internet and a government-issued ID. Another important requirement is that you must take the test in a private workspace. This is defined as a room with four walls, a closed door, and no distractions.

Here’s how the online GED test works:

Follow the link provided by GED.com and run a system test to make sure that your computer meets the specified requirements.
Schedule your online test within 60 days of getting a ‘green’ score on a GED Ready practice test. This is a required test and you must score ‘green’ for each subject in which you want to test online.
Log in to ged.com and launch your test 30 minutes before your test appointment time.
Once you check in, you will first need to verify your I.D., system, and workspace. You can do this easily by following the on-screen steps.
You are now ready to take the test. Be aware that an online proctor will be monitoring you throughout the duration of the test just as they would at a test center.

What To Expect At An Online GED Test

The GED test is composed of four main components or test subjects:

Science
Mathematical Reasoning
Social Studies
Reasoning Through Language Arts

You will take the four tests separately. Depending on how ready you are, you can schedule the four tests over four separate testing sessions or you can schedule them all at once. Your marks for each test are added together to determine your total test score. You must get a certain total score in order to pass and earn your certificate.

The total duration of the online GED exam is about 8 hours. You will receive your scores immediately on completing the exam and the official certificate will be mailed to you. This can take up to 3 weeks.

These tools are made available to test-takers during the online GED test:

Onscreen calculator: Physical calculators are not allowed in the room while taking the test. However, during the exam, you’ll have access to an onscreen calculator that you can use to solve any math problems.
Onscreen scratch pad: If you need more than a calculator to perform math calculations you’ll have access to an onscreen scratch pad. You can use this for notes you want to take or help perform math calculations.
Onscreen whiteboard: The onscreen whiteboard can be useful for drawing and writing out math calculations using your mouse.

You can also chat online with the proctor but only for resolving technical issues. The proctor will not help in any way with questions related to exam content.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A GED Online?

The cost of getting a GED online can vary state to state. Check the cost in any state through the tool on GED.com. Using the drop-down menu you can select your geographic location to discover your state’s testing fees. Some states do not charge any fee for legal residents while others do not offer online testing facilities.

Additionally, a few companies participate in a program called GEDWorks. Through this program employees enjoy free GED preparation and testing facilities. You can log into your GED account or create a new account to see if your company is a program participant.

Benefits Of Obtaining A GED

Passing a GED exam can open many doors for you. This recognition that you have a high school level of education can help you gain access to higher education and also boost your employment opportunities. If you’re wondering, ‘do educational institutions and companies recognize a GED certificate”, the answer is yes, they do. This certificate is recognized by almost all U.S. colleges, universities, and employers.

If you wish to enroll in college but didn’t get the opportunity to get a high school diploma, this provides an alternative route to achieving your higher education goals. Keep in mind that every school and program sets its own admission requirements, so you will have to research individual institutions to determine their criteria. Also, some programs, such as one that prepares students for a career in nursing, may set additional requirements such as a minimum GED test score.

A GED certificate is also useful even if you don’t wish to pursue higher education but want to enter the workforce directly. GED diploma holders are employed in a wide range of fields including:

sales
administration
social services
transportation
and community services

With this certificate, you’ll also earn more than other workers who don’t have any type of high school education credential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022, workers who held either a GED or high school diploma, earned a median annual wage of $41,850 while those with no formal educational credential earned a median annual wage of $31,380.

Tips For Success In An Online GED Program

Enrolling in an online GED school is the first step to improving your future prospects while still fulfilling your current commitments. The key to success with a GED is getting the highest score possible. These tips can help:

Know what’s on the test: Make a study plan that includes sufficient time to master the ability to analyze, reason, draw conclusions, and present compelling answers for the four separate exam topics.
Take practice tests: Taking timed practice tests will help you get more familiar with the format and the time constraints. You’ll also discover your strengths and weaknesses so you can allot more time to study up on your weaker areas. The more tests you take the more confident you’ll feel on the actual test day.
Schedule your test: The good news is there is no strict timeline within which you must take the test so you can choose a date and time when you feel fully prepared. However, you do need to schedule your test ahead of time.
Make sure you are ready the day before the test: Check your computer and internet connection the day before the exam. Make sure the room you’re taking the test in meets the requirements. And of course, get plenty of sleep the night before and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of your exam.

How To Choose The Right Online School For A GED Program

Choosing one from among the hundreds of online GED programs available can be challenging. Taking these factors into consideration will help:

Accreditation: In general, certificates obtained from accredited programs are more widely accepted by colleges as well as employers. Before enrolling in a program, check the ‘About Us’ section for its accreditation information.
Flexibility and convenience: If you have a busy schedule or other commitments, make sure to enroll in a program that allows you to log in to class on your own schedule instead of set times.
Easy-to-navigate learning environment: The online learning environment should be easy to access from the more common platforms and it should also be easy to navigate. You don’t want to waste hours trying to figure things out or find what you’re looking for. The best online classrooms are designed to be user-friendly and easy for all students,
New student orientation: The top online schools have personal enrollment advisors to help students transition to online learning and walk them through the program interface.
Student support: It’s important to choose an online program that does offer comprehensive student support, whether to help with technical problems or academic problems that are holding up your progress.
Online reviews: Are the majority of students happy with the program overall or do they have a long list of things that went wrong? Reading reviews written by past students is a good way to get real feedback about the program.

Now that you’ve completed your GED, find colleges that will take you to the next step. Check out your acceptance odds at any college in the country with College Raptor’s free match tool. at any college in the country with College Raptor’s free match tool.