According to the American Council on Education, about 96% of employers and post-secondary schools accept the GED (General Educational Development) certificate as a valid educational credential. This means that if you want to advance your career, change jobs, or earn the college degree you’ve been dreaming of, then taking the Oregon GED is the best decision you can make for your future.
Oregon GED Test Format
Created in 1942, the GED was developed to help men returning from war continue their education so they could reenter the workplace. Since then millions of people have taken and passed the exam. The Oregon GED test is made up of 240 multiple-choice questions about five main topics high school students must learn to earn their diplomas. Those subjects are science, math, language arts: reading and writing, and social studies.
In the language arts writing portion of the test, there is one essay question. You are not expected to be an expert about any particular topic to answer the question. However, you must produce a well written essay that showcases your writing skills. You will have approximately 45 to 90 minutes to complete each test, and the exam is usually spread out over several days.
Passing the Oregon GED Test
Although you must get a minimum score of 410 or more to pass each test, you have to earn a cumulative score of 2250 to pass the Oregon GED exam. That is an average of 450 per subtest. You will need to take the test over if any of your individual scores fall below 410 or you fail to achieve the minimum cumulative score.
You can take the GED exam up to 3 times per year based on the number of alternative forms of the test that are available. You may be required to take a preparatory course and present a competency letter to the Chief Examiner once you complete it.
Test scores are valid for three year after your first test date. If you do not pass in that time, the score will be invalidated and you will have to start over.
Who Can Take the Oregon GED Test?
You are not required to be an Oregon resident to take the Oregon GED test, but you must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18 but at least 16, you can still sit for the GED exam. You will need to either be exempt from compulsory attendance or live in a district that has an Oregon GED Option for Selected Secondary Students program. Proper documentation proving your exception will be required.
Registration Information
Prior to taking the GED exam, you must complete registration and orientation at an official GED testing center. You will need to present a government-issued ID with your photo and all relevant paperwork regarding your eligibility. There orientation session is mandatory. You don’t need to make an appointment to sit for the orientation, but you must be on time or you will be refused entry. Once there, you have to sit through the entire 90 minute session to complete the registration process.
When you return to take the test, you will need to bring your identification and payment receipt. In Oregon, the cost of the GED exam is $120 for all five tests and $25 per test for retakes. (Visit www.oregon.gov)
Preparing for the Oregon GED
Taking time to study and prepare for the GED exam is the best way to ensure you will pass. Many adult education facilities and community colleges offer GED prep courses that will walk you through a review of the subjects you will be tested on. An alternative method is to purchase GED study materials and review them on your own. You can study at a pace that suits your needs and spend as much or as little time on each subject as you require. GED exam materials can be purchased at a bookstore, online retailers, or checked out from the library.