How to Take the GED by Mail

The General Education Development (GED) diploma is offered through the American Council for Education for individuals who haven't received their high-school diploma. Although the American Council for Education does not offer the GED test through the mail, there are several independent testing centers that provide GED-equivalent tests by mail for people who can't get to an official GED testing center.

Instructions

1. Prepare for the GED test by taking practice exams and answering sample questions available either through the American Council for Education official website, a third-party website or an up-to-date test-preparation book available through a bookstore (see Resources).

2. Prepare for any essay questions in the GED equivalent test by taking the sample questions you answered and rewriting them in a longer essay format.

3. Access a math tutorial website or use a math book to go over the basic algebra, trigonometry and standard arithmetic questions that will be asked on the GED-equivalence test.

4. Locate a testing organization such as GED Options that provides a GED-equivalence test through correspondence. Send them the testing fee that they require either online using a credit card or by sending a check through the mail and wait for them to mail the test to you.

5. Answer the test questions and mail your completed answer sheets back to the address that the organization provides. You should receive either your GED equivalent diploma or a letter letting you know that you did not pass the test within 2 to 4 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't receive an answer from the testing organization within 1 month, contact them by e-mail or phone to verify that they received your completed test questions.

• Because the American Council for Education does not ever give official GED tests by mail or online, your GED equivalent diploma acquired through a third-party organization may or may not be recognized by potential employers or by any branch of the military.

Resources

• Official GED Testing Website
• GED Practice Tests
• Take GED equivalent test by correspondence
• Algebra Tutorials