Differences in a GED & Adult Diplomas
Adults who did not earn a traditional high school certificate have several options for earning a high school credential. The General Education Development test, or GED, is a test administered by the American Council on Education offering a certification equivalent to a high school diploma. Adults can also earn an adult diploma by meeting a high school's graduation requirements.
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Time Commitment
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The GED requires seven hours and five minutes to complete five separate tests in Mathematics, Language Arts, Reading, Writing, Sciences and Social Studies. Test-takers will also need to spend time studying and preparing for the exam. Adult diplomas require completion of coursework over the course of an academic year. Evening classes are available in some school districts. The amount of coursework required to earn an adult diploma depends on the number of the student's prior high school credits as well as their state's requirements.
Age and Other Requirements
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Students are eligible to take the GED examination if they are not currently enrolled in high school and have not already graduated from high school. They must also be over the age of 16 and meet all state and local requirements concerning age, place of residency, and time since they left school. Students earning their adult diploma may need to be over the age of 19 and pass admissions exams, depending on their state's diploma requirements.
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Tuition and Fees
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In February 2011, the cost of taking a GED test varied by state and ranged from no charge to $80. Practice materials and test preparation courses are also available for additional fees through private companies or local colleges, high schools and adult learning centers, though some states offer GED preparation at no charge. The cost of an adult diploma varies depending on how many courses the student needs to take and the high school, college or adult education center they enroll in.
Benefits
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According to the U.S. Department of Education, the GED process confirms that a high school dropout has reading, writing, mathematics and critical thinking abilities equivalent to high school graduates. The certificate can increase access to postsecondary education and increase employment opportunities slightly. The greatest influence on future employment is the length of education and training, however, so earning high school credit through an adult diploma program can do more to make up for the benefits lost by not completing high school as a teenager.
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References
- U.S. Department of Education: Educational and Labor Market Performance of GED Recipients; February 1998
- American Council on Education: GED FAQs
- Peninsula College: GED & Adult High School Diploma
- U.S. Department of Education: Educational and Labor Market Performance of GED Recipients Executive Summary; February 1998
- Photo Credit female student image by Petro Feketa from Fotolia.com
