Whether for personal or financial reasons, earning a Utah General Education Development (GED) credential is a great way to improve your life. Not only will you gain access to more opportunities, but you will feel a great sense of accomplishment when you get your certificate. Here is a short guide about the Utah GED exam.
Utah GED Test Format
The Utah State Office of Education administers the GED through official testing centers all over the state. The GED certificate serves as validation that the person has obtained a high school level of education. Therefore, the exam is based on the five major subjects taught in high school:
- Language Arts: Reading (40 questions)
- Language Arts: Writing (50 questions and one essay question)
- Mathematics (50 questions)
- Science (50 questions)
- Social Studies (50 questions)
In all, there are 240 questions plus one essay question. The Utah GED exam takes 7.75 hours to complete and is usually administered over multiple days. The test can be taken in English or Spanish. If you have a disability, call the testing center ahead of time to arrange for accommodations.
How is the Utah Exam Scored?
You must earn a minimum 2250 cumulative score and above 410 on each individual test to pass the GED exam and receive your certificate. The maximum cumulative score you can earn is 4000, which is an average of 800 for the subtests. If you fail to obtain the minimum scores, you can take the tests again, but there is a 3 week waiting period between retakes. You can only take the test up to three times per year.
Eligibility Requirements
The Utah GED exam is open to resident and nonresidents that meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You must be at least 17 years old and you high school class has graduated
- You cannot be currently enrolled in school
- You cannot have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must be formally withdrawn from high school and completed the Adult Education program or GED Testing Application for 16 to 18 year olds
- Those 16 years old must take an adult education program to prepare for the test
Out-of-state test takers aged 16 to 18 will need to meet additional requirements. More information can be obtained from an official testing center or the Utah State Office of Education website. (visit www.utahged.info)
Registering for the Utah GED Exam
You can register for the GED test in person at an official testing center or online through the Utah State Office of Education website. If you register in person, you will need to bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or state ID as well as the supplementary paperwork related to your eligibility. The fee for the test must also be paid at the time of registration. The entire test costs $85. The language arts: writing test costs $25 to retest. All other tests cost $20 each to retake. You will be charged a $15 no-show fee if you do not show up to take the exam.
Studying for the Utah GED Test
Utah participates in the GED on TV program where you are able to watch programming specially designed to help you prepare for the exam. More information about the show can be found on the Utah State Office of Education website.
Other options to help you study for the exam includes taking a GED prep course at a community college or through a distance learning program and studying independently using GED workbooks and practice tests. These materials can be purchased from a bookstore or through several online resources.