If you received a GED score that you're not thrilled about, don't get too discouraged. You're definitely not the first person to struggle with this exam. Statistics show that only 60% of high school seniors pass the GED on their initial attempt. Below is advice that will help you obtain a score that opens doors of opportunity.
Retaking the Test
If you fail one or more subtests, you are allowed to retake each subtest a maximum of three times per year. Your highest score from each subtest is retained and combined into what will hopefully be a passing score.
If you took the GED in 2013 or before, you will have to take the new GED that went into affect on January 2nd, 2014. Subtest scores from the older versions of the GED cannot be combined with subtests scores from the latest version of the GED. You'll have to pay to retake the test, but the opportunity to secure a higher score is valuable.
Understanding Subtest Scoring
The lowest passing score for each subtest on the GED is 410. Individual states and their boards of education may raise the minimum-score requirement above 410, but that is an increasingly rare practice. Some universities establish their cutoff at 500 or higher.
As a rule of thumb, a student must pass at least one of the five subtests in the battery to have the option of selectively completing future subtests. That is, if a student passes between one and four subtests, then he or she may take only the subtests that weren't passed the first time. The number of times a student may take an individual subtest over within a one-year period is established by the state in which the GED is administered.
Benefits of Retesting
Students looking to retake one or more subtests may also encounter a waiting period. If all five subtests are passed, however, students may come into better standing with many universities, employers, and government institutions. A student's employability will actually be enhanced even more by passing the 2014 GED. Career skills and college-preparedness aptitudes have been incorporated into this version to lend greater confidence to colleges, universities, and employers alike.
Testing Tips
It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the GED if it has been some time since you last took it. All sections of the GED feature a multiple-choice, five-option format. Make sure you understand all directions beforehand so you don't squander valuable time on test day. It is important to choose the best answer among those listed and answer every question during the allotted time. Good time-management practices and remembering to completely erase an answer you know is incorrect are little tips that can lead to a score you can be proud of.
It's also wise to prepare yourself for the GED test by taking GED preparation classes. It's easier and more convenient to study for the GED than ever before with GED courses online being offered by GED online schools. So if you're planning on retaking the GED test, start studying!
