Talk:General Educational Development

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FYI, I believe the test was originally conceived as a way for G.I.'s to catch up and get a high school degree. I also remember reading something two years ago to the effect that the test had gone through a re-organization in response to the "too easy" criticism. --Feitclub 16:38, Sep 25, 2004 (UTC)

Test was revised in 2002, and I've just written about that. The test was designed for G.I.'s during the '40s (I want to say '47), but I'm too worn out from writing all that I just did to add a history section in right now. I will start working on it, however.  :) Beginning 07:32, Jan 3, 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Lit samples in Spanish and French?

In response to this edit, are the passages in Writing, Part I really translated into French and Spanish? Since the whole purpose is to show an understanding of the English language, that doesn't make any sense. I thought they just gave the directions in French/Spanish on that section...? – Beginning 01:54, Feb 4, 2005 (UTC)

It's certainly a French language test in Canada, with the selections in French and purpose to show understanding of French. My understanding, admittedly not sourced, was that it was probably the same in the Spanish-American version. Samaritan 05:46, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
I've edited out the info about the Spanish test and noted that the info about French is possibly only relevant in Canada. Thanks for clarifying. – Beginning 17:25, Feb 4, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] criticism section needs to be more specific

The section "Criticism of the GED" is full of vague attributions. "Some" are said to think this, and "some" to think that. Comments about the value of the GED, positive or nagative, should be attributed to specific individuals or organizatiosn, and sources for thsoe views cited, if at all possible. DES (talk) 21:37, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Agreed I put up a weasel words tag for that very reason. SirGrant 16:37, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Comments from anon

November 19, 2005

Re: Letter to the Editor, (Wikipedia Article), GED

Dear Editor: We are writing to share our comments on an article that appears on your online Website about the GED Test. in this article is a section titled “ Criticism of the GED”. Our comments are in regards to this section.

First, the section mentions that some employers see the test, as being a lower degree than an actual high school diploma because the test is easier than it should be. We understand that some employers have their concerns about the test. However, some of us took the test in the early 1990s before the 2002 revision and found it to be difficult to the pass.

Secondly, the section mentions that there are too many basic operations on the mathematics portion of the test and not enough advanced algebra questions. We understand that some professions in our society use algebra. However, consider that not every test candidate is seeking a career that employs the use of algebra; algebra is not a required subject to take in some high school programs, so it shouldn’t be emphasized on the test like is currently.

Lastly, the section mentions that the test was revised in 2002 by the GED Testing Service in Washington D.C. to make it more difficult to pass. We understand that the testing service is trying to appease its critics, with most of its critics being that of higher social and economic groups than those actually taking the test. However, the testing service must not just appease its critics, it must also appease the ones preparing to take the test as well. The testing services own statistics: http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm? Section=GEDTS&Template=/CM/ContentsDis… shows a decline in the number of candidates who tested, completed, and passed the test from 2001 to 2003; one theory for this decline maybe that potential candidates became dissatisfied with the 2002 revised version of test and complained that is was too difficult.

Since the 1940s, the test has been a great way for an individual to finish their high school education in an expedited way. But the test seems to be more and more becoming an entrance exam for collage and not an exam to finish one’s high school education. The Testing Service must reconsider the direction it wants to take its test in, without such reconsideration the service risks losing the very individuals they’re trying to help and attracting competition to compete with their test.

Thank you for reading our comments on this subject.

Sincerely, Concerned Group of American Citizens

copied from Wikipedia:General_complaints Broken S 00:27, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Diploma

So does a GED equal a high school diploma? So insted of finishing high school you can just pass this easy test and leave school after say 10th or 11th grade?--BorisFromStockdale 05:20, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

I believe it is suposed to but some colleges/employers will be less likely to let ged people in


I think bigger colleges will generally accept GEDs, but you will still need highschool transcripts. I have my GED and although I dropped out of school, I'm doing better than all of my friends who did graduate.

Well, I dropped out of school in grade 9, and I'm working on getting my GED, and I'm going to a community college, then going to a 4 year school.

You don't need transcripts, you might need to take SATs though. -matthew

you basically won't be getting into any ivy league schools with it, unless your SAT's are amazing. 70.248.145.145 04:53, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GED stands for...

Isn't it General Equivalency Diploma? Andre (talk) 23:31, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

  • No. Beginning 02:43, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Edited the first line to remove "General Equivalency Degree," which isn't what it stands for either. MartyR 20:45, 16 September 2006 (UTC)


The GED is the same, but some employers/schools view it as "The easy way out"


Good Enough Diploma.

^ a lot people the pass high school can't pass the GED test, it's a true fact.

[edit] GEDs

I have my GED and can't find information on this anywhere, but is it possible for me to go back and get a diploma from an adult learning center (for HS) or am I stuck with this GED now?

Why would you want too? - shorelinetrance

Why try and get a high school diploma when you basically already have one?70.23.194.204 01:11, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Too easy?

American GEDs represent what you would've learned in an American public high school, which isn't much. Thus explaining why it's "too easy".

I do not know who wrote the previous paragraph, but I would ask for his citations. I went to school, so I cannot claim any personal experience with the GED, but right now I am tutoring a home-schooled artist-type who needs his GED to go to an art program in Florida. We're using a Barron's GED book, which if the SAT books are any indication, should be harder than the actual test. I covered the entire math section in 38 hours over the course of a month and a half. Based on what was in that book, I would be very disappointed if there were a freshman from my high school who could not pass this test. In September.

Mind you, the suburbs of New Jersey are pretty good in terms of public education, and I like to think that my school is a little better than average (don't we all?), but even so I am not ready to believe that around where I live, eighth graders are smart enough to pass high school math.

Of course, the Barron's book I'm using never mentions any calculus, which according to this wikipedia article is part of the math section, so maybe I'm just woefully ignorant and being snooty about it. 0702034.

[edit] Recipients

The section on famous people who've received GEDs should contain sources, or it may violate WP:BLP

Has Brittney Spears received her GED yet? I thought she was still studying for it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.116.5.63 (talk) 00:13, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia must be removed, not renamed to "Popular culture"

Just changing the section's name from "Trivia" to "Popular culture" is insufficient. This trivia section must be removed and integrated into the rest of the article. --KJRehberg (talk) 17:52, 21 January 2008 (UTC)