If you never finished high school, you may have considered taking the General Education Development test to earn your GED. And for good reason: Today, having a high school diploma or GED is crucial to getting a job. Fortunately, the GED test is a fairly simple process. This is what you have to do:
- Meet Eligibility Requirements : GED applicants must be at least 17 years old and a Tennessee resident. Applicants must not have earned a high school diploma or GED in the past. Applicants who are 17 or 18 years old must obtain an eligibility form from the last high school office. Nineteen-year-old students who have enrolled in school during the current year must also obtain this form.
- Take a prep class : In Tennessee, GED applicants must first take a GED prep class and practice the test. While there are many classes available, both online and in person, free and paid, Memphis City Schools offers a free class at Messick Adult Center. Call (901) 416-4840 to schedule a class.
- Register to Take the Test – There are two test sites in the city of Memphis. One is at Southwest Tennessee Community College and the other is on the Memphis City Schools Board of Education. Both sites require you to register in person and pay the $ 55 * fee to take the exam.
- Bring Required Documentation – On the day of the test, you will need to bring these items to the test site: a state-issued photo ID, a Social Security card, your practice test scores, two pencils, and a pen. Applicants ages 17 and 18 must also bring a certified birth certificate and their school’s eligibility form.
- Wait for your results – it can take up to three weeks before your test has been processed and scored. At that time, you will receive your results by mail. Applicants who passed the test will also receive their diplomas by mail.
Additional Information
- To pass the exam, applicants must have an average score of 450 or higher on the entire exam, scoring no lower than 410 on a single portion of the exam.
- The tests are available in English, Spanish, French, and Braille. Specialized tests are available for applicants with documented special needs.
- If you don’t pass the exam the first time, you can do it again in 30 days, and you can do it up to three times in a year.
* Trial fees were accurate at the time of this article, but are subject to change. Make sure to contact the trial site to check the fees before signing up.
