Editing General Educational Development (section)

{{short description|High school diploma test}}
{{Redirect|GED}}
[[File:GED Testing Service.svg|thumb|Logo of the GED Testing Service, the only authorized provider of the GED test]]

The '''General Educational Development''' ('''GED''') tests are a group of four academic subject tests in the [[United States]] and [[Territories of the United States|its territories]] certifying academic knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma. This certification is an alternative to the U.S. high school diploma, as is [[HiSET]]. Passing the GED test gives those who do not complete high school, or who do not meet requirements for [[high school diploma]], the opportunity to earn a '''Certificate of High School Equivalency''' or similarly titled credential. 
GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education, which started the GED program in 1942.

The [[American Council on Education]], in Washington, D.C. (U.S.), which owns the GED [[trademark]], coined the initialism to identify "tests of general equivalency development" that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, [[social studies]], reading, and writing. The GED Testing Service website {{asof|2023|lc=y}} does not refer to the test as anything but "GED".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ged.com/|title=GED®: Get Your GED—Classes, Online Practice Test, Study Guides, More|website=GED|access-date=February 6, 2023}}</ref> It is called the GED in the majority of the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/iowa-fifth-state-choose-etss-hiset-120000058.html|title=Iowa is the Fifth State to Choose ETS's HiSET|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311211643/http://news.yahoo.com/iowa-fifth-state-choose-etss-hiset-120000058.html|access-date=2019-02-04|archive-date=2014-03-11|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adultedcompass.org/ |title=Information about ESOL and Basic Education for Adults in New York City |website=Information about ESOL and Basic Education for Adults in New York City}}</ref> and internationally. In 2014, some states in the United States switched from GED to the [[HiSET]] and [[Test Assessing Secondary Completion|TASC]] (discontinued December 31, 2021).<ref>{{cite web|title=What is TASC and HiSET|url=http://www.gedboard.com/get-ged-tasc-hiset/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227042810/http://www.gedboard.com:80/get-ged-tasc-hiset/ |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |publisher=GED Board}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.edmentum.com/ged%C2%AE-tasc%E2%84%A2-or-hiset%C2%AE-what-difference |title=GED®, TASC™, or HiSET®? What is the Difference? |author=Edmentum blog |date=March 14, 2014 |website=Edmentum.com |publisher= |access-date=September 21, 2023 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.edmentum.com/ged%C2%AE-tasc%E2%84%A2-or-hiset%C2%AE-which-one-better-you |title=GED®, TASC™, or HiSET®? Which one is better for you? |last=Klaehn |first=Shawna |date=April 8, 2015 |website=Edmentum.com |publisher= |access-date=September 21, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

The GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education. [[Pearson Education|Pearson]] is the sole developer for the GED test. The test is taken in person. States and jurisdictions award a high school equivalency credential (also called a high school equivalency development or general equivalency diploma) to persons who meet the passing score requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/about-ged-test|title=What is the GED® Test|access-date=2019-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328185546/http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/about-ged-test|archive-date=2013-03-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2023}}

In addition to [[English language|English]], the GED tests are available in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] in several states (e.g. California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Nevada, Texas).<ref>[http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/special-test-editions "Special Test Editions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328190200/http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/special-test-editions |date=2013-03-28 }}, Retrieved February 19, 2013.</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2023}} Tests and test preparation are also offered to people who are incarcerated or who live on military bases. People who live outside the United States and [[U.S. territories]] may be eligible to take the GED tests through [[Pearson VUE]] testing centers.<ref>[http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/international "International GED® Testing"], Retrieved February 19, 2013.</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2023}} [[Utah]]'s Adult High School Completion program is an alternative for people who prefer to earn a diploma.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}