Education Atlas

How Knowledge Is Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Qualification

General Educational Development (GED)

Secondary and School-Leaving Qualifications

The General Educational Development test, better known as the GED, is a set of four subject examinations in the United States and its territories that certify knowledge equivalent to a high school education for those who did not complete traditional secondary school. Developed by the American Council on Education beginning in 1942, it covers science, mathematics, social studies, reading and writing, and passing candidates receive a Certificate of High School Equivalency issued by their state or local board of education. More than six thousand official testing centres administer the test across the United States and its territories. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Qualification Level
High school equivalency credential 1
Awarding Body Type
State and local boards of education, based on a test administered by GED Testing Service 1
Typical Duration
Four separate subject tests, to be completed within a set window 1
Country of Origin
United States 1
Established Year
1942 1
Field of Study
General secondary education: science, mathematics, social studies, reading and writing 1
Field of Study
Field of Study (ISCED-F category)
Education (ISCED-F 01) 1
Field of Study (ISCED-F category)
Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics (ISCED-F 05) 1
Classification
Qualification Type
Certificate 1
Qualification Level
Qualification Level (ISCED category)
Upper Secondary (ISCED 3) 1
Sources
1. General Educational Development (GED) (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening section
    Passing the GED test gives those who do not complete high school the opportunity to earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency
  • Infobox and lead section
  • Body text describing awarding body
  • Body text on duration and requirements
  • History or overview section
  • Body text on scope and subject coverage
  • History section
  • Description, qualification-type classification
    Developed by the American Council on Education beginning in 1942, it covers science, mathematics, social studies, reading and writing, and passing candidates receive a Certificate of High School Equivalency issued by their state or local board of education.
View the Source

Take a Related Quiz

Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.