Parma City Schools

GED Testing Center  

New/revised information has been highlighted in red.

 TO THE PROSPECTIVE GED EXAMINEE:

Often times the first step a person takes in pursuing a GED diploma is to complete the Official GED Practice Test.  The practice test is structured exactly the same as the Actual GED test.  It has ½ of the number of questions as the actual test and allows ½ the amount of time.  Several purposes of this experience are as follows:

(1)   It familiarizes the individual with the make-up of the Actual GED Test.

(2)   It provides an analysis of the individual’s strengths and weaknesses in the subject areas of the test.

(3)   Upon earning a passing score on the practice test, the individual can no longer receive a fee waiver to cover the cost of taking the GED Actual Test.

The subject areas of the Official GED Practice Test are the 5 primary core subjects of a typical high school curriculum:

·        Language Arts-Writing (includes English grammar and a written essay)

·        Science

·        Math

·        Social Studies

·        Language Arts-Reading, which is high school literature. 

The scoring of the Official GED Practice Test is the same as that used for the Actual GED Test.  The standard scores range from 200 to 800.  A score of 450 or higher is needed to pass each individual test, with one test score permitted between 410 and 450. An individual must also achieve a total of 2,250 points or a 450 average to pass the entire test. 

The essay on the writing test is scored on the basis of 1 to 4 points.  Four would be the highest score.   A passing score starts with 2.0 points then continues with 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0.  The essay score is combined with the score on Part I of the writing test to record a total score. 

Once an individual achieves a passing score on the Official GED Practice Test, he/she may be ready to take the GED Actual Test.  In order to be eligible to take the GED Actual Test, the individual must submit a test application to the State GED Office in Columbus.  This can be accomplished by:

    (1)    Completing a test application form and mailing it to the State GED Office.  A completed fee waiver can be included to cover the cost of the test.  This process usually requires several weeks to get approval.

    (2)    Completing a test application on-line.  This is the quickest method to get approval to take the test.  Once the required information is submitted on-line, approval can be achieved in 2 or 3 days.  A fee  waiver can also be submitted using this method.

For people who fail the Official GED Practice Test, it is advisable to develop a plan of study.  This can be accomplished individually or by enrolling in a Free GED Preparation Class.  Often times even those who pass the Official GED Practice Test may have some weak subject areas that need some review.

The final step in the process of achieving a GED diploma is to schedule and complete the GED Actual Test.  Scheduling can be accomplished by contacting a testing site to register for the test.  In order to be eligible to test, an individual must have prior approval from the State GED Office in Columbus.

If an individual fails the test, he/she may only need to re-take the parts failed depending  on the number of points that need to be made up. Remember on a pretest, the individual can take as many of the tests that s/he wants to repeat.

 Here are three examples of final test scores:

     (1)     Language Arts-Writing  - 530                      Math                                    - 390

Science                            - 490                       Language Arts-Reading    - 470

Social Studies                 - 450                       Average                              - 456      Total points: 2330 (2250 needed)

 In this example the individual had achieved a passing average of 456 (minimum passing is 450), but his math score is 390 and 410 is the minimum passing score allowed on one subject test.

  The individual would only need to re-take the math test and improve the score to 410 or more, unless he/she wants to try to improve the overall score.

 

(2)   Language Arts-Writing  - 480                        Math                                 - 410

Science                            - 450                        Language Arts-Reading  - 450

Social Studies                 - 450                        Average                            - 448     Total points: 2240 (2250 needed)

 In this example the individual passed all the subject area tests with a score of at least 450 or better (and one subject test between 410 and 450), but did not achieve a passing average of 450.  The average of 448 is 10 points short of passing.  The individual would need to decide whether to re-take one or more of the subject area tests.

 

     (3)  Language Arts-Writing       - 460                           Math                                 - 400

             Science                                - 450                            Language Arts-Reading - 450

             Social Studies                     - 450                           Average                            - 442   Total points: 2210  (2250 needed)

In this example the individual passed all the subject area tests with the exception of math.  The average score of 442 is failing.  The individual would need to re-take the math test. Also with an overall average of 442 (450 is passing), the individual is 40 points short of passing.  If the individual only re-takes the math test, then he/she must achieve a score of 440.  In this instance it may be wise to re-take another one or two tests in addition to math in order to help make up the deficit points.

 

Parma City School District GED Testing Center

440-885-8762