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Grays Harbor College would like to help you become a successful GED graduate.  This guide provides general information about the GED and the services and programs that GHC offers to help you succeed.  It answers questions you may have about the GED Tests and includes some important hints on how to maneuver through the five different sections.

                     What is the GED?                                   Are you ready to take the GED Tests?

                     GED Preparation Courses                      Practice Tests 

                     Online Practice Questions                    Accommodations for Documented Disabilities

                     GED Testing Locations                         What It Looks Like

                     Overall Scoring                                     Taking the Test

                     After taking a Test                                Resources

What is the GED?

The  GED   is   a   series of   five   tests   designed   to provide  evidence  of  general  educational  competence equivalent to the minimum required for a graduating high school senior. The  GED  Tests make it possible  for  qualified individuals to  earn  a  high  school  credential,  thus  providing  opportunities  to:

         1.      Pursue  higher   education,

         2.      Obtain jobs or job promotions and/or

         3.      Achieve personal goals

 The Tests of General Educational Development (GED)  have been  designed  to  measure  major  academic skills and knowledge in the following subject areas:

           o   Language Arts, Writing

           o   Social Studies

           o   Science

           o   Language Arts, Reading

           o   Mathematics

 The GED Tests are internationally recognized. Upon earning a GED your resulting GED credential  certifies that you have attained subject matter knowledge and skills associated with high school completion.

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Are you ready to take the GED Tests?

First, you must be at least 16 years of age to take the test.  Next, you may wonder if you are ready to take the GED Tests. A minimum score must be achieved on each test to earn your GED. If you feel you need some help determining if you are ready to take the tests or help preparing, here are options to explore:

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GED Preparation Courses

Grays Harbor College offers  GED Prep I and GED Prep II courses where instructors can help you decide whether you will need to study for all the tests, or whether you should spend time brushing up in just a few areas.

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Practice Tests

Grays Harbor College offers free GED Practice Tests. These tests determine your readiness to take the official GED Tests and  include questions  similar to those on the official tests in content, difficulty and format. The Practice Tests are a good tool to help you  decide  whether  you are adequately prepared to succeed  on the actual GED Tests or whether you would benefit from additional study or practice.

Free GED Practice Test hours for Aberdeen are:

GHC main campus—Mon—Thurs, 9am—12pm, room 2218 or

Whiteside Educational Center—Mon—Thurs 9am or 2pm or 5:30-8:00pm, room 101

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Online Practice Questions

You can find free online GED Sample Test Questions for each of the five subjects located at:

1.     GED practice

2.      Study Guide

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Accommodations for Documented Disabilities

If  you  have  a  documented  disability  that could keep you from  taking  the  GED  Tests  in  the  way  they  are  usually given,  you  might  be  entitled  to  receive  testing  accommodations.

 Accommodations are available for people with (but not limited to) the following:

         o   Physical disabilities

         o   Learning disabilities

         o   Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

         o   Psychological disabilities

         o   Chronic health issues

 Accommodations may include:

         o   Audio cassette edition

         o   Braille edition

         o   Large-print edition

         o   Vision-enhancing technologies

         o   Certified sign-language interpreter

         o   Use of video equipment for candidates who are deaf or hard of hearing in composing the   

              Language Arts, Writing essay

         o   Extended time, supervised extra breaks

         o   Use of private room

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GED Testing Locations

Grays Harbor College offers official GED testing at the following locations by appointment:

Grays Harbor College—Main Campus

1620 Edward Smith Dr.

Aberdeen, WA  98520

(360)538-4099

Testing is done on Wednesdays at 4:30pm

and Thursdays at 1:30PM in the Counseling Center

                    GHC Riverview Education Center                    GHC Columbia Education Center

                    600 Washington Street                                    208 Advent Ave SE

                    Raymond, WA  98577                                       Ilwaco, WA  98624

                   (360) 267-8466 or (360) 875-9466                   (360) 267-8433 or (360) 642-9433

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What It Looks Like

*Except for Part 2 of the Language Arts, Writing Test, which requires an essay, and the Mathematics Test, which requires the gridding of some answers, questions are provided in multiple-choice format.  Each multiple-choice question lists five possible answer choices; you must select the best answer.

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Overall Scoring

To pass the five-test battery, you must earn both a minimum score of 410 on each test and an average score of at least 450 on all of the tests in the battery. This means a minimum total score of 2,250 with no single test score below 410.

 Each question on the GED test equals one point. Points are converted into a standard score, which ranges from 200 to 800. To receive a standard score of 410 on an individual GED test, you generally need to answer 60 to 65 percent of the GED test questions correctly.

 Retesting: You may retest if you do not pass a specific test with the minimum score.   You  may  only  retake  the same test two times in the same calendar year.  Determination of a retesting schedule is left up to you and you should contact the same office where you originally scheduled  the  test.  You  can also consult with the GED Examiner for retesting suggestions. Remember there is a $15 fee for each retest.

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Taking the Test

• Read all directions and questions carefully and completely to ensure that  you  understand exactly what you are expected to do to answer each question.  In addition,   listen very carefully to the directions that the GED Examiner gives you.

• Pick the single best answer.  All multiple-choice questions have five answer choices.  There are no “trick” questions.  Eliminate the answer choices that you know are wrong and choose the best remaining   answer.

• Follow the test directions for filling in the answer sheet.  Mark only one answer space for each question; multiple answers will be scored incorrect.

• Answer every question.  If you get stuck on a question, move on, but be sure to skip the space for that answer.  Complete the rest of the test and then come back to the questions you skipped.  Even if you are unsure, mark an answer choice for every question because you will not be penalized for wrong answers.

• Always be aware of the time limit and time remaining for the particular test that you are taking.  Each of the GED Tests has a different time limit.

• Do not change your answers unless you are very sure the answer you have chosen is wrong.  Research has shown that it is best to go with our first instinct about which of the choices is the correct answer.

• Use all the time.  If you finish early, go back and review your answers to make sure you haven’t skipped a question.

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After taking a Test

• An unofficial score results sheet will be mailed to you or your designated instructor (if permission is granted) in approximately 3-5 business days.

• The Language Arts/Writing Skills test score may take up to 4 weeks

• Upon successful completion of the GED you should receive an official score report in 3-5 business days

• Your GED Certificate will be issued by the State of Washington in 4-6 weeks.

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