Education
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  
Adult Learners
  
GED - General Educational Development Testing Program


For information, contact:

High School Certification Office
Department of Education
Confederation Building, West Block
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
tel: (709) 729-7919
fax: (709) 729-0611

General Information

The General Educational Development (GED) test can give you the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, a certificate recognized as a key to employment opportunities, advancement, further education and financial rewards. These tests are designed to measure the general knowledge, ideas and thinking skills that are normally acquired through three years of high school but which are gained in a different manner. Many acquire knowledge and skills through work experience, reading, social interaction and communication, and informal training.

You are able to take the GED tests if you:

  • are at least 19 years of age or older;
  • are not currently enrolled in a high school program;
  • have not already graduated from high school;
  • are a Newfoundland and Labrador resident of not less than six months.

The GED testing program consist of five tests in the areas of language arts - writing, social studies, science, language arts - reading, and mathematics. The questions range in difficulty from easy to hard, and cover a wide range of subjects. The five tests take about 7.5 hours to complete and are usually written on a Friday evening and Saturday outside St. John's.  In the city of St. John's and surrounding areas the tests are scheduled weekdays, usually Wednesday and Thursday once a month, in the Confederation Building.  The composition of the GED test is as follows:

Language Arts, Writing - Part I (75 minutes)

  • 30% sentence structure
  • 30% usage
  • 25% mechanics
  • 15% organization


Language Arts, Writing - Part II (45 minutes)

  • essay


Social Studies (85 minutes)

  • 25% Canadian history
  • 15% world history
  • 25% civics and government
  • 15% geography
  • 20% economics


Science (95 minutes)

  • 45% life science
  • 35% physical sciences
  • 20% earth and space science


Language Arts, Reading (65 minutes)

  • 75% literary text
  • 25% non fiction prose


Mathematics (90 Minutes)

  • 20 - 30% number operations and number sense 
  • 20 - 30% data analysis, statistics and probability
  • 20 - 30% measurement and geometry
  • 20 - 30% algebra, patterns and functions 


The high school equivalency diploma is awarded upon the achievement of a minimum standard score of 450 on each of the five tests, and an average of 450 on the five tests in the battery.

                                                                                                                                                                                return to index


Preparing for the GED Tests

Passing the GED tests may require some preparation on your part. Some individuals prepare intensively by taking classes or studying GED preparation books and other materials. Other candidates are comfortable with simply brushing up on a few of the subject areas where they feel they need practice. To determine how you should best prepare for the tests, you can start by contacting local adult education programs sponsored by school districts, colleges, and community organizations in your area. (Check your local telephone directory.) Teachers at these adult education programs can not only help you decide the extent to which you need to study for the five GED tests, but they can also help you develop a study plan that is best for you.

There are many resources available to help you prepare for the GED tests. The Resources for Prospective GED Test-Takers box below guides you to several specific sources of information and study materials.

Resources for Prospective GED Test-Takers

  • Official GED testing centres may direct you to your closest instructional site.
     
  • Books available:
    • Complete Canadian GED Preparation, Harcourt Canada, www.harcourtcanada.com.
    • How to Prepare for the GED, Barron’s Educational Series.
       
  • Individual study allows you to prepare on your own, using materials such as commercial study guides and the Official GED Practice Tests. You can contact your local official GED testing centre to locate these preparation materials. Local libraries and bookstores also carry GED study materials.
     
  • Visit the official GED testing service Web site at www.gedtest.org for more information.
     
  • Official GED practice tests are comparable in content, level of difficulty, and format to the GED tests. You can obtain the Official GED Practice Tests by calling Thompson Nelson at
    1-800-268-2222.

The GED tests are written in testing centres situated in various high schools around the province under the supervision of local examiners appointed by the Department of Education. Testing centres are established on the basis of local demand and are conducted when there are at least fifteen applicants in the same area. Testing is conducted on a regular basis between September and June in St. John’s, and at least twice a year in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brook. Regardless of the number, testing is conducted at various locations throughout the province at least once a year, usually in May, in order to provide all areas with a reasonable opportunity to avail of the service.

Am I Ready To Take The GED Tests?

You can take the Official GED Practice Tests to determine your readiness to take the GED tests. The Official GED Practice Tests questions are similar to those on the GED 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. Your teacher or tutor can help you interpret your practice test scores to determine your next step.

                                                                                                                                                                               return to index


Available Accommodations for a Documented Disability

What is available:

    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:

  • Physical disabilities (such as blindness, low vision, deafness, impaired hearing, or mobility impairments); 
  • Learning disabilities (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, receptive aphasia, or written language disorder); 
  • Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder;
  • Psychological disabilities (such as bipolar disorder or Tourette’s syndrome);
  • Chronic health issues.

Accommodations may include:

  • Audiocassette edition
  • Braille edition
  • Large-print edition (no documentation required)
  • Vision-enhancing technologies
  • Use of video equipment for candidates who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in composing the Language Arts, Writing essay
  • Use of a talking calculator or abacus
  • Certified sign-language interpreter; use of a scribe
  • Extended time; supervised extra breaks
  • Use of a private room
  • One-on-one testing at a health facility
  • Other reasonable accommodations as warranted, based on individual needs

How to get assistance

Please complete one of the following Request for Testing Accommodations forms:

Return the completed form with documentation of your disability to the exam centre. Each request is considered on an individual basis. If the accommodations are approved, your local GED examiner will arrange with you to conduct the testing with the approved accommodations. There will be no additional cost for accommodations.

For more information, contact:

High School Certification Office
Department of Education
Confederation Building, West Block
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
tel: (709) 729-7919
fax: (709) 729-0611

                                                                                                                                    return to index

 

  
Early Childhood | K-12 | Adult Learners | FAQs | Post-Secondary
Schools | School Boards | Publications | Links | What's New


SearchGovernment Home PageDepartment HomeEducation DirectoryContact UsTop of page