GED Battery No Substitute for Diploma

The General Educational Development certificate doesn't provide the same pathways to earnings or schooling as a high school graduation.

By Patrick Miller

“What does the GED stand for?” is a deceptively simple question. Though many people have a vague notion of what it means to “get” a General Educational Development certificate, few can identify the “Educational Development” portion of the name. Many people believe it has something to do with “equivalency,” while others may even echo the comedian Chris Rock (himself a GED recipient) and claim it stands for “Good Enough Diploma.” In fact, the GED is not a diploma, nor, some research suggests, is it equivalent to one.

The GED is a battery of five tests taken over the course of 7½ hours that cover mathematics, science, reading, writing, and social studies, designed to certify the mastery of high-school-level knowledge and skills.

Hosted and coordinated by the American Council on Education, a Washington-based umbrella group for higher education, through its GED Testing Service, the exam was developed in 1942 to help returning World War II veterans complete their studies and re-enter civilian life. The tests became available to civilians in 1947, and since 1973 have been given in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2004, some 662,000 people nationwide...