Minnesota Adult Basic Education Disabilities

GED® stands for General Educational Development

It also stands for the education credential that hundreds of thousands have pursued as an alternative to the traditional high school diploma.  The GED credential allows its holder to gain access to employment, most post-secondary educational institutions, the military and other opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable. Most centers charge a fee for the GED battery. Local testing centers set their fees and testing schedules.  You can find a testing center nearest you by calling (800) 222-1990.  Once you contact the center, you can find out its fees and testing schedule.

Each center will have registration procedures and other testing rules and regulations that will be shared at the time you register/test.

To obtain a GED, an eligible person must attain at least a minimum established score on each of the five subtests. There is also a total overall score that must be obtained in order to qualify for the credential.

The GED battery consists of five subtests:  math (in two parts—one with a calculator and one without), writing (in two parts—one multiple choice and one essay), reading, social studies and science.  There are standard time limits for each test.

1. Math has a total time limit of 90 minutes to complete both parts.  A calculator is allowed on Part I for up to 45 minutes at which time the calculator is collected and Part II is given.  The remainder of the time may be used to work on Part II and/or Part I.  Most questions are multiple-choice, but there are a few where the candidate provides the answer, i.e. writes it as well as bubbling it.
2. Science is entirely multiple-choice.  A candidate has up to 80 minutes to complete the test.
3. Social Studies is entirely multiple-choice.  A candidate has up to 70 minutes to complete the test.
4. Reading is entirely multiple-choice.  A candidate has up to 65 minutes to complete the test.
5. Writing has a total time limit of 2 hours to complete both the multiple choice portion and the essay.  It’s recommended that no more than 75 minutes be spent on the multiple choice portion before starting the essay.  The remaining time may be spent on drafting and writing a finished copy of the essay and reviewing/finishing up the multiple choice portion.  It is important to understand that this is a single test consisting of two parts.  If the essay receives an inadequate score, the entire test must be repeated.

There is no penalty for guessing on the GED test so answering every question is to the candidate’s advantage.

Once a minimum score (currently 410) on a particular subtest has been obtained, it isn’t necessary to re-take that test unless a higher score is necessary in order to make the required minimum overall score (currently 2250).  In other words, earning a 410 on each test would mean that you had “passed” each test, but you would not have earned the minimum total necessary of 2250, i.e. 410 X 5 = 2040.

A candidate may take a subtest up to three times total in a calendar year.  Once a test has been taken three times unsuccessfully, a candidate must wait until the next calendar year to try again with that subtest. 

Over the past several months the movement towards more rigorous national standards for high school education has gained momentum.

As a result, we will not introduce a GED Test, 5th Edition, on January 1, 2012. Because of the changing national landscape we have decided to transition directly from the current 2002 Test Series to a new, more comprehensive assessment program. This new program, GED 20/20 will dramatically increase the number of test-takers and GED credential recipients who are prepared to pursue postsecondary education opportunities. The elements of the new program will be introduced as early as 2010.

Testing Requirements               

1. To be eligible to test in Minnesota, a person must be a resident and at least 19 years of age. However, it’s possible to test at between 16 and 19 with a valid age waiver issued by the GED Administrator at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  Age waiver applications are available on the MDE website at http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Learning_Support/Adult_Basic_Education_GED/GED/index.html. 
2. Age waiver applications most often are completed with the assistance of an Adult Basic Education (ABE) teacher or other staff member.  Validating information and signatures by K-12 education officials and/or parents/guardians are also required in many situations. There are six possible ways to qualify for an age waiver all of which appear on the application form. 
3. Candidates of any age must not be currently enrolled in a traditional high school program leading to a diploma.  A person cannot take the GED if he/she is already a high school graduate or has already obtained a GED.  There are a few rare exceptions.  For more information, contact the GED Office at the Minnesota Department of Education or contact your local GED Testing Center.  To find the center nearest you, call 800-222-1990.
4. Candidates in Minnesota must have a current, valid, government-issued photo ID in order to test.  ID’s used most often include drivers’ licenses, MN government ID’s, military ID’s, Tribal ID’s, and passports.  Non-citizens who otherwise meet the above-described criteria are eligible to test in MN.