General Educational Development

The American Council on Education, in Washington, D.C. (U.S.), which owns the GED trademark, coined the initialism to identify "tests of general equivalency development" that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, reading, and writing.

[7][better source needed] In addition to English, the GED tests are available in Spanish in several states (e.g. California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Nevada, Texas).

[9][better source needed] Utah's Adult High School Completion program is an alternative for people who prefer to earn a diploma.

[citation needed] In November 1942, the United States Armed Forces Institute asked the American Council on Education (ACE) to develop a battery of tests to measure high school-level academic skills.

Passing these tests gave returning soldiers and sailors the academic credentials they needed to get civilian jobs and gain access to post-secondary education or training.

Surveys of test-takers found that more students (65%) reported taking the test with the intention of continuing their education beyond high school, rather than to get better employment (30%).

[10][better source needed] A fourth revision was made in 2002 to make the test comply with more recent standards for high-school education.

[citation needed] In Canada the testing is free in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories.

[22][better source needed] A score of 200 on an individual test puts the student in the top 1% of graduating high school seniors.

[23] Some districts hold graduation ceremonies for GED tests passers and/or award scholarships to the highest scorers.

[citation needed] Many government institutions and universities regard the GED test credential as the same as a high school diploma with respect to program eligibility and as a prerequisite for admissions.

The U.S. military, however, has higher requirements in admissions for GED test takers to compensate for their lack of a traditional high school diploma.

[26] The GED certification itself (i.e., without further post-secondary education or training) does not help people get jobs as much as a high school diploma does.

Economist James Heckman found in a 1993 study that this is primarily due to differences in the characteristics and backgrounds of GED test graduates.

When controlling for other influences, he finds no evidence that, for the average taker, the GED test credential improves an individual's economic opportunities above those for other dropouts.

Those who support abolishing the GED say the program reduces high school graduation rates,[30] is outmoded, and a financial burden for low-income participants.