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The GED® was originally an acronym for the Tests of General Educational Development, but since 2011 we just use the term GED®.
GED® is a SAQA recognised High School Foreign Grade 12 Equivalent, NQF Level 4 (like a SA NSC Metric without Exemption) in South Africa.
In the early 1940’s veterans returning to the USA after World War II needed to obtain academic credentials to get civilian jobs and gain access to tertiary education or training. GED® was developed for this purpose, and is similar to an adult matric. It has subsequently been written by more than 17 million students in the USA and around the world, including South Africa!
All fifty states in the USA officially offer GED® tests and they are written in more than 3000 testing centres worldwide, including 38 testing centres in South Africa. Some tertiary institutions in South Africa may require you to covert this US foreign school leaving certificate to its South African equivalent. You need to contact SAQA for this conversion.
No, GED® is considered to be a Grade 12 equivalent. The nearest compatible qualification is the National Senior Certificate.
Yes. GED® is the ONLY higher secondary certificate available in over 85 countries and accepted by nearly all universities in the USA and many other universities across the world.
GED® is the American alternative to A-levels, HSC, New Zealand’s NCEA, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and other secondary credentials.
Yes. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), has evaluated GED® and found the National Senior Certificate as its closest comparable qualification. Students with a GED® credential may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Evaluation from SAQA , which states that the closest compatible qualification in South Africa is the National Senior Certificate or and NQF Level 4 qualification.
Confirmation of this is available on the SAQA website, under the heading “INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY”
The General Educational Development (GED®) test is an alternative to a high school diploma and is recognised in many countries, including South Africa. The acceptance of GED® for admission into higher education institutions in South Africa varies and is generally more common among private colleges and certain public universities with flexible admissions policies.
Different faculties of different institutions may have their own entrance criteria, so it is ALWAYS best to check with your institution of choice. However, in general, GED® credentials are recognized as being equivalent to Grade 12.
Yes.
Yes, if you meet the respective requirements for one of these options:
As with any other matric option, there is no guarantee that a GED® graduate will be issued with exemption from USAF, nor that a university will accept his/her application.
PLEASE NOTE: You MUST check with the universities and specific faculty of your choice that they will accept these foreign qualifications with one of the categories of exemption. Many degrees and courses have additional requirements which you will also have to fulfil, no matter what Grade 12 credential you have.
Yes. International online universities offer many benefits such as:
Completion of grade 8. Our FREE assessment will determine if a student is ready. If they are not ready we can recommend a course of action to fill in any learning gaps quickly and efficiently.
Students who have completed our Mobymax syllabus are well-prepared for the GED. Typically, it takes between 3 to 12 months to study for and complete the GED, depending on the student’s regular study habits and personal circumstances. Our online materials are self-paced, allowing each student to progress according to their own learning speed.
As of 15 January 2024, students will be required to pass the GED® Ready test with a minimum score of 145 before being able to schedule the GED® test.
If a student takes a GED Ready and scores a “green” then that student must schedule their GED test within the next 60 days for that subject. If the student fails that GED subject test, they are not required to take another GED Ready before scheduling another GED test.
We recommend that students take their GED subject test within 2 weeks of taking the GED Ready for that subject. Keeping information fresh in mind will help increase the chances of passing.
This is a half-length test, created by the GED Testing Service® as a practice test. It is in the same format as the official GED® test, so it will give you a good idea of what to expect. You can write this test at home on your own computer and it will give you a score out of 200 and tell you if you are likely to pass.
This result will confirm that you are test-ready and boost your confidence.
Click on the link below for instructions to buy a GED Ready® Test online and steps to take the GED Ready® test. The cost of the test is R130.
Steps to take the GED Ready® Test
“The GED Ready is the official GED practice test. The GED Ready test serves as an indicator of how likely a student is to pass the GED test. Upon completion of the GED Ready, students will receive their own targeted study plan based on the skills that require additional work, including specific guidance on what to study.”
How many times can I take it?
There is no limit to the number of GED Ready practice tests that you can purchase. Please note that each purchase provides one GED Ready practice test for you to take. below
There are 38 GED® test centres in South Africa at Boston VUE Testing Centres. When you book your exam online you will be given the option of choosing the test centre closest to you. You can choose from available dates and time slots and book a test date and time that is convenient for you.
Students must book their exams online at the official GED® Testing Service website. A fee of US$80 per test must be paid online using a credit/debit card. The GED® Ready Test can also be booked on this page.
The exams consist of four subjects, which can be booked to write on different days.
Each exam is scored on a scale from 100 to 200. You must achieve a minimum of 145 for each subject to pass, which equals 60-65%. You must pass ALL four subjects to achieve a GED® pass.
No. There are no outside electronic devices allowed in the testing room. However, for the portions of the exam where a calculator is allowed, it is available on-screen, within the test. We recommend this tutorial to familiarise yourself with the online calculator. https://ged.com/practice-test/en/calculator/
No, you may not take anything into the testing venue. You are provided with an on-screen calculator for any calculations required.
Yes. A student is allowed three attempts. If a student still doesn’t pass, the exam may only be rewritten again 60 days later. Each attempt incurs the standard booking cost.
Yes. GED® is committed to providing students with full access to the GED® exams for anyone with disabilities and support the intention of the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADAAA). Test accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis and include things such as extra testing time, extra breaks, and a separate testing room.
More information is available HERE and they can be contacted on 011 – 083 6433.
Types of supported disabilities include:-
Yes. You may only begin studying GED® once you have turned 16 years old, and you may only write the GED® exam once you have turned 17 years old.
When you have written and passed all FOUR exams you will receive an electronic version of your GED® High School Equivalency Credential, issue by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, DC. You will receive two emails from “Parchment”, which will be sent to the email address registered in your profile. Each email will have a link to a copy of your electronic Diploma and Transcript. It is important that you download these documents immediately and keep them in a safe place, as the links will expire.
To achieve a passing score on the GED® test, you must score at least 145 on each of the four subject tests. This score demonstrates that you have met high school-level competency.
Scoring 165 or higher on any of the GED® subject tests qualifies for a GED® Honours pass, also referred to as “GED® College Ready + Credit.” This level of achievement indicates a higher mastery of high school subjects and readiness for college-level coursework.
A GED® Honours pass can make you eligible for college credits at certain higher education institutions, allowing you to potentially bypass introductory courses. This can save both time and tuition costs. Additionally, a GED® Honours pass can strengthen your applications for college admissions and improve employment prospects by demonstrating superior academic performance.
Yes, you are allowed to retake the GED® test to improve your scores. This option is beneficial if you are targeting a higher score for specific academic or professional goals or if you need to pass a section that you did not clear in your initial attempt.
You can find study guides, practice tests, and other preparation resources at the official GED® Testing Service website, GED.com. These resources provide valuable information and tools to help you effectively prepare for the test.
The testing centre will log a case with Pearson VUE. They will email you with the approval to re-sit the test. You will then need to contact Pearson VUE directly on +27 11 083 8844 / +44 161 855 7440 to re-book your test.
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