MSAD 54 Adult and Community Education GED Program

61 Academy Circle Skowhegan, Maine 04976 Tel: (207) 474-7553 Fax: (207) 474- 0992

What do you know about the GED program?

TRUE or FALSE?

G.E.D. stands for General Equivalency Diploma.
When I’m 17, I can quit high school and get my GED.
If I don’t pass a test, I can take it again.
A high school diploma is “better than” a GED.
Getting a GED is free.
If I get a GED, then my kids will want to quit school and get one too.
I can make more money if I get a GED.
People with equivalency diplomas don’t go to college.
I can take the GED Tests whenever I want to.
Earning a diploma as an adult is just as important as earning one as a high school senior.

ANSWERS

1. FALSE. GED stands for General Educational Development. When you pass all five tests, the Maine Department of Education issues you a Maine High School Equivalency Diploma.
2. FALSE. You must be 18 years old to take the GED Tests. A 17-year-old can test only when he or she has been out of school for one year. A 16-year-old may not test under any conditions per state law.
3. TRUE. You must pass each test with a score of at least 410, and your overall average must be at least 450. You can retake any test up to three times a year, but that would be an unusual situation. Only prepared candidates may take the Official GED Tests. In 2006-2007 MSAD 54's overall average score was 530 – with an estimated National Class Rank of Top 33%. The highest possible score is 800.
4. FALSE. The diploma you earn from passing the GED Tests is the legal equivalent of the traditional high school diploma. The only real difference is in people’s perceptions. In neither case does the diploma guarantee success. As a friend likes to say, “It’s not THE ride, but it is a ticket TO ride.” Ninety-five percent of employers, colleges, and universities accept diplomas earned by passing the GED Tests.
5. TRUE. There is no cost to the person who enrolls in the GED Program. The GED Program is paid for by local, state, and federal funding.
6. FALSE. GED diploma holders are more likely to encourage their own children to finish school.
7. TRUE. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the income differential for a person with an equivalency diploma is $7,400 per year.
8. FALSE. One in 20 college freshmen holds a diploma earned by taking and passing the GED Tests.
9. FALSE. The GED Examiner at your site determines when you are prepared to take the GED Tests. First, you must complete a series of assessments to find your skills in reading, writing, and math. Some people need to bring their skills up before taking the Official GED Tests.
10. TRUE. Adults earn diplomas for reasons directly related to their everyday lives -- to go to college; to get a better-paying job; to keep a job; to be a better role model for children; and to show the world and themselves that they can do it!