Test-Taker Resources - Eligibility

What Are The GED Tests?

The GED Tests measures the major and lasting outcomes and concepts associated with a traditional four-year high school education. In Utah, GED Tests are offered in English or Spanish. The complete GED Tests take approximately 7.75 hours to complete and tests may be taken over multiple testing sessions.

The GED Tests consists of five subtests:

• Language Arts, Reading
• Language Arts, Writing (multiple choice and essay portion)
• Mathematics (two-part test)
• Science
• Social Studies

Eligibility

Who is Eligible?

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older whose high school class has graduated is eligible to take the GED® Test. Anyone ages 16-18 whose class has not graduated is eligible to take the GED® Test with the following requirements.

16 year-old applicants

• Must contact the school or district last attended to obtain and complete the Utah K-12 Education Withdrawal and GED® Testing Registration Application form. The signatures on this form indicate the student has been formally withdrawn from the public K-12 education system.
• Must access a Utah state-sponsored adult education program for verification of academic readiness necessary to take the GED® Tests. Verification by an adult education program is not a guarantee that the test-taker will pass the tests.
• Test Registration
  Paper/Pencil tests: Must submit a copy of the form to the GED® Testing Center at time of registration.
  
  Computer-Based Test (CBT): Must submit a copy of the form to the adult education program to release registration record. The registration process cannot be continued until this step is completed.

Utah School District Adult Education Programs

17-18 year-old applicants

• Must contact the school or district last attended to obtain and complete the Utah K-12 Education Withdrawal and GED® Testing Registration Application form. The signatures on this form indicate the student has been formally withdrawn from the public K-12 education system.
• Test Registration
  Paper/Pencil tests: Must submit a copy of the form to the GED® Testing Center at time of registration.
  
  Computer-Based Test (CBT): Must submit a copy of the form to the adult education program to release registration record. The registration process cannot be continued until this step is completed.
   

School districts do not have the authority to delay or deny access to the GED Tests if the test-taker meets the eligibility requirements. This is inclusive of correctional facilities, detention centers and jails providing education services under the direction of the local school district’s board of education.

School-age GED test-takers who have an IEP are eligible for Free Access to Public Education (FAPE) regardless of successfully obtaining a GED and the resulting Utah High School Completion Diploma.

School-age GED test-takers whose class has not graduated who do not pass all five of the GED Tests may return to a K-12 program of instruction and will be required to complete all necessary graduation requirements for a traditional K-12 diploma.

Out-of-state test-takers age 16-18 may use the “Adult Education Program and/or GED Testing Application for 16-18 Year-Old Non-Graduates” form or bring the following two letters to the GED Testing Center.

• Letter 1 (on letterhead) from last school attended or school district stating that the candidate is formally withdrawn from a K-12 program of instruction.
• Letter 2 from parent/guardian granting permission for the candidate to take the GED Tests.
  Note: A marriage certificate may be used in lieu of a parent/guardian letter.

Incarcerated test-takers do not need withdrawal applications, but cannot be participating in any other education programs.

Residential treatment/special purpose schools, including Job Corps

1. Test-takers are required to have parent/guardian signature granting permission to take the GED Tests. Permission must be obtained prior to GED Tests registration. Testing centers may accept a faxed copy of the “Adult Education Program and/or GED Testing Application for 16-18 Year-Old Non-Graduates” signed by the parent/guardian attached to an original application as proof of parental/guardian permission.
2. Residential treatment/special purpose schools students who are 16 must comply with all requirements for 16-year-old applicants
3. Clearfield and Weber Basin Job Corps have permission to conduct the necessary pre-testing of 16-year old GED Tests test-takers using the Official Practice Test (OPT) to demonstrate GED Tests readiness. Job Corps staff signatures will appear in section 3 of the “Adult Education Program and/or GED Testing Application for 16-18 Year-Old Non-Graduates" rather than adult education program staff.
4. Note: When all five of the GED Tests are passed, the test-taker may not be re-enrolled in a residential treatment/special purpose or Job Corps K-12 educational program of instruction as the successful passing of the GED Tests in the state of Utah is a Utah High School Completion Diploma.

Residency is not a requirement for a GED test-taker to take the GED Tests.

Branches of the military may or may not accept GED credentials for enlistment. GED test-takers are strongly advised to contact the military recruiters to see what the current policies are prior to taking the GED Tests.
Note: When all five of the GED Tests are passed the test-taker may not enroll in an adult education program to pursue an Adult Education Secondary Diploma.