Adolescence can be a difficult stage of life, and quite a few high school students drop out before graduating. To continue their academic education and work towards a fulfilling career, they have an alternative to earn a secondary education credential.
That is the GED (General Education Development) pathway, a state-specific assessment consisting of four modular, independent subtests covering math, science, language, and social studies.
In most states and territories, you can take the GED exam online from home or in a certified GED test center. In this post, we talk about what requirements apply when you take the exam from the comfort of your home.
You must have a computer, a webcam, a secure and reliable internet connection, and a testing room with closed doors and without any distractions.
Green GED Ready scores
Before you can write the GED tests online, you’ll first have to attain passing results (“green” scores) on the GED Ready test, the official GED Testing Service practice test, within 60 days for each of the four GED subject tests.
This requirement does not apply when taking the GED exam at a testing center in most states. The exam is quite challenging, and applicants should really be working on their Positive Self-Image. That’s crucial for success!
These GED Ready practice tests (four in total) cost $7.99 each, but there are GED prep courses that offer free vouchers for the four tests.
The online GED exam uses an online proctor who monitors compliance with rules and regulations, and your testing room must be quiet, private, with four walls and a closed door.
What is the GED exam?
The GED exam is America’s most widely used high school equivalency test for adult learners who left high school without a diploma.
The exam includes four subject tests that measure proficiency at a level comparable to that of high school graduates.
The four subject tests cover the academic areas of:
- Math (Mathematical Reasoning)
- English Language (Reasoning Through Language Arts)
- Science
- Social Studies
Candidates can write these four subtests one or more at a time and in the order they prefer.
GED scoring system
GED scores are reported on a scale from 100 to 200, and each GED subtest requires a minimum score of 145.
On the GED exam, four scoring categories apply:
- 100-144 is the GED Below Passing Category
- 145-164 is the GED High School Equivalent Category
- 165-174 is the GED College-Ready Category
- 175-200 is the GED College-Ready + Credit Category
If students are well-prepared for one or more of the sub-exams, which nowadays is quite easy with a good online GED course, they must set up an account on the website of GED Testing Service, GED.com.
As said, they can register for the entire assessment in one session or take the subject tests individually.
Depending on their state, the minimum age to qualify for the GED test ranges from 16 to 19, and the credential will certainly lead to better employment opportunities and open the doors to a college education with high course expectations.
Please note that only two retakes are allowed on the GED exam before a 60-day wait period applies.
Requirements for online GED testing
- Before you can register for (part of ) the GED exam online, you must first reach scores in the “green range” (the passing range) on the official GED Ready test.
- There are four GED Ready tests to pass, one for each GED sub-exam. If you did not attain green scores on these tests, you will not be able to register for the online exam.
- You can only use a qualifying laptop or desktop computer. Your computer must have a webcam, speaker, and microphone, and your internet connection must be stable and secure. So, run a system check before taking the exam.
- Qualifying computers are those running Windows 10, macOS 14, or later.
- Your testing room must be a private room with four walls and a closed door. There cannot be any other persons in the testing room, and there must be no distractions.
- A certified online proctor will be monitoring you throughout the exam via webcam and guiding you through the process.
- To schedule and pay for your tests, you must register at GED.com.
- You must present a current government-issued photo ID and take a selfie to prove your identity.
What NOT to use
- When taking the GED exam online, you cannot use tablets, phones, earbuds, watches, or headphones.
- You cannot use beta versions of MacOS or Windows, or virtual machines.
- The use of secondary displays is not allowed.
- You cannot use VPN connections or corporate networks.
- You are not allowed to use any physical scratch paper or calculators, except for the embedded on-screen TI-30XS.
How online GED testing works
- To take a GED subtest (or the full exam) online, first run a system check to confirm your internet connection, computer, and webcam meet the requirements.
- To take a GED subtest (or the full exam) online, first run a system check to confirm your internet connection, computer, and webcam meet the requirements.
- You must schedule the test within 60 days after you have reached a ‘green’ (passing) score on the GED Ready test for that subject.
- You should log in to your GED.com account at least 30 minutes before your testing appointment to begin the process.
- Then, you can follow the on-screen displayed steps to be able to check in for your GED test. This includes the verification process of your system, your ID, and the testing room.
- When all is verified, you can take the test while a proctor monitors you online, in the same way they do at a GED testing center.
- Following the guidelines is crucial for success on the GED test.
Online GED testing is not offered in Florida, New York, Hawaii, West Virginia, Massachusetts, and Wyoming.
Iowa and Maine do not use the GED exam for high school equivalency testing. They are using the HiSET exam, which is also available online.