You can greatly improve your employment or education prospects by earning a GED (General Educational Development) diploma. This certificate is equivalent to a high school diploma and was developed specifically for people who were not able to graduate from high school for one reason or another. Here are a few commonly asked questions about the Indiana GED.
Indiana GED Exam Format
Since 1943, over 17 million people have earned GED diplomas through the program. The Indiana GED exam serves to confirm the person has attained a level of academic knowledge and skills equal to the average high school student. As such, the test is based on the mandatory subjects taught in high schools in the state. Those subjects are language arts reading and writing, math, social studies, and science.
The test is divided into five sections and two of the sections, the language arts writing section and the math portion, are further divided into multiple parts. You will have a total of 425 minutes to complete the test.
Passing the Indiana GED Exam
Each section is worth between 200 and 800 points. You must earn an average score of 450 on the tests for a total of 2,250 points to pass the exam. A failing grade will be given to any test that earns a score below 410 and you will be required to retake that portion of the exam.
As long as you have completed the whole test, you are allowed to retake any section up to three times per year. Once you have exhausted those chances, you will have to wait until the following year to try again. Additionally, Indiana has special waiting periods for people who don’t pass the exam on the first try:
- For scores between 2150 and 2240, you must wait 30 days to retake the test
- Scores below 2140 must wait 90 days to take the test again
- You have to wait 6 months to take the exam again if you fail the first and subsequent retests
The purpose of the waiting period is to give you time to study for the exam so you can pass.
Indiana GED Eligibility
The Indiana Adult Education Department has set the following eligibility requirements for people who want to take the GED exam:
- You must be 18 years old or above
- If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must secure approval from the school Superintendent to take the test
- You must be a resident of Indiana for a minimum of 30 days prior to taking the exam
- You haven’t earned a high school diploma from any accredited public or private high school
For those under 18, you must complete an exit interview which serves as proof that you have officially withdrawn from high school. Additionally, you must pass the official GED practice exam.
Registering for the Indiana GED Test
Pre-registration is required to take the GED exam. You can do this at any of the 70 official GED testing facilities in the state. You will need to present photo ID and proof of residency. After you submit your application and paid the fee, you will set an appointment to take the exam. Further information about registration requirements can be obtain from your local GED examination center. ( visit www.in.gov)
Each testing facility charges a different amount for the test, but the maximum fee the state allows centers to charge is $60 for the battery of tests and $15 for retakes of individual sections.
Preparing for the Indiana GED
You have three options for studying for the GED exam. You can take prep classes at your local community college or adult learning center. Another option is to buy GED study guides and review the material on your own. You can find practice tests online that will help you gauge how well you are progressing. A third option is to watch GED classes on television. In Indiana, these courses are usually televised on a PBS station. You will need to check the station’s broadcasting schedule for show times.