THE GED PROGRAM
The GED program was started in 1949 and there have been an estimated 15 million graduates of the program since its inception. The program allows adults to earn a GED certificate that is accepted as an equivalence to a traditional high school diploma by government agencies, academic institutions, and most private employers. Worldwide, more than 800,000 adults take the GED tests every year.
Famous GED graduates include: comedian Bill Cosby, tennis star Michael Chang, actor Christian Slater, actor Michael J. Fox, singer Waylon Jennings, Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton, and Wendy's founder Dave Thomas.
QUICK FACTS:
- The GED PROGRAM is a series of FIVE (5) separate academic exams.
- Writing Test
- Social Studies
- Science
- Interpreting Literature
- Mathematics
- Each exam lasts between one to two hours in length.
- Exams are usually taken separately, often weeks, months, or even years apart.
- A GED certificate requires successful completion of ALL FIVE exams.
DID YOU KNOW?
- More than 95% of employers nationwide employ GED graduates on the same basis as high school graduates in terms of hiring, salary and opportunity for advancement.
- Nearly 70% of GED test takers plan to enter college or another institution of higher learning.
- Each year, 1 in 20 first-year college students is a GED graduate
*Oregon Department of Education Links:
State information regarding the GED program at the
Oregon Department of Education