Do GED Test Scores Expire or Is It Non-Expiring?
Contents
- Rules on GED Score Validity
- Benefits of Non-Expiring GED Scores
- Continued Education
- Career Opportunities
- Military Service
- How to Improve Your GED Score: When to Retake GED
- What is the GED Test?
- Types of GED Scores
- Standard Scores
- GED College Ready Score
- GED College Ready + Credit Score
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- What is the lowest passing score for a GED?
- Can I still use my GED scores if I took the test many years ago?
- Do different states or regions have varying policies regarding GED score expiration?
- Sources
The General Educational Development (GED) test is an alternative pathway to earning a high school equivalency diploma for individuals who did not graduate from traditional high school.
Over the years, many people have benefited from the GED program to pursue higher education or enhance their career prospects. One common question is, do GED test scores expire? This article answers it using GED Testing Service's official policies.
Rules on GED Score Validity
GED Testing Service, the organization that develops and delivers the GED test, sets the rules on score validity. So, do GED test scores expire? Generally, no.
According to the GED Program Policy Manual, once you pass a subject on the current GED test, that subject score does not expire. Individual states and jurisdictions may still set their own expiration policies.
The GED testing services streamlined this test in 2014, reducing the number of subjects to four: reasoning through language arts, mathematical reasoning, science, and social studies. Scores for each subject are on a scale of 100 to 200, with a passing score of 145. There is no overall or average score: you must pass each of the four subjects.
There is one important exception for older tests. Subject scores from earlier series (1942, 1978, 1988 and 2002) can't be combined with scores from the current test.
If you passed some subjects on an older version but never earned the credential, you must pass all four subjects on the current test. Because policies can differ, check with your state's GED office and with any school or employer that asks for your scores.
Benefits of Non-Expiring GED Scores
Continued Education
Having a GED credential with non-expiring scores allows individuals to pursue higher education. Whether you decide to attend college immediately after obtaining your GED or you choose to do so several years later, your credential will still be valid.
Career Opportunities
Many employers require a high school equivalency if you didn’t complete high school. With non-expiring GED scores, you can confidently apply for jobs throughout your career without worrying about the validity of your educational qualification.
Military Service
A GED credential can help you qualify for the armed forces, which set their own enlistment requirements. Check with a recruiter for the current rules in the branch you want to join.
How to Improve Your GED Score: When to Retake GED
You can retake any subject you don't pass. Under the standard GED retake policy for test centers, you can take two retests with no waiting period. After that, you must wait 60 days before your next attempt.
Retakes of failed subjects are discounted for two retests taken within 12 months of your first full-price test. Prices and online retake rules vary by state, so check your state's policy page on ged.com.
Most states also let you retake a subject you already passed to raise your score, but you need approval from GED Testing Service first.
Before retaking the GED test, engage in focused preparation. Consider using study materials, online resources, or enrolling in GED preparation classes to improve your knowledge and skills in the tested subjects.
Each subject stands on its own. A better score on a retake improves that subject's result; it doesn't change your other subjects.
What is the GED Test?
The GED test is a series of exams set by the GED testing services to assess an individual’s knowledge and skills in core subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies, and reasoning through language arts.
When you pass all four, you earn a high school equivalency credential, issued by your state or jurisdiction.
The process starts with eligibility. GED policy requires candidates to be at least 16 and not enrolled in high school, and most states set extra requirements for anyone under 18.
You can take the test at an official testing center or, in states that allow it, online from home. You choose where and when to test when you schedule on ged.com.
Next, you need to be GED-ready, so you enroll for classes at a community college or adult education center. Alternatively, enroll in private GED-ready classes to boost your self-study sessions. Your local adult education center or community college can also guide you on where to get learning resources and local student groups to join.
Many programs start with a placement test to see where you stand. The official GED Ready® practice test also shows whether you're likely to pass each subject.
After you finish a subject test, your score is usually available within 24 hours, though it can take up to 3 business days. Once you pass all four subjects, you receive your GED credential.
Types of GED Scores
The current GED test reports one scaled score per subject, and that score falls into one of four performance levels.
Standard Scores
Each subject is scored on a scale of 100 to 200. The passing standard is 145 (145 to 164 is "Passing"). A state can set a higher passing standard, but not a lower one.
Scores of 100 to 144 are below passing. There is no total or combined score across the four subjects.
GED College Ready Score
A score of 165 to 174 is GED College Ready. It signals readiness for college-level courses and may qualify you to skip placement tests or developmental classes.
GED College Ready + Credit Score
A score of 175 to 200 is GED College Ready + Credit. It could qualify you for up to 10 college credit hours, depending on the school.
Conclusion
No, GED scores do not expire. Passing subject scores on the current test don't expire under GED policy, and once you earn your credential you keep it. Hence, you can pursue higher education, career opportunities, and military service without concerns about the expiration of your GED scores.
However, states may set their own score expiration rules, so check your state's GED policy page if you're finishing the test after a long break.
FAQs
What is the lowest passing score for a GED?
The lowest passing score for the GED test is 145 for each of the four subject areas: reasoning through language arts, mathematical reasoning, science, and social studies. Test-takers must score 145 or higher in each subject to earn their GED credential.
Can I still use my GED scores if I took the test many years ago?
Yes. A GED credential doesn't expire, and passing subject scores on the current test don't expire under GED policy. Scores from older series (2002 and earlier) can't be combined with current-test scores, though.
Do different states or regions have varying policies regarding GED score expiration?
Yes, they can. GED Testing Service doesn't expire passing scores on the current test, but its policy lets each jurisdiction set its own score expiration rules.
Sources
- The GED Program Policy Manual, GED Testing Service
- Test Scores, GED Testing Service
- Test Retakes, GED Testing Service
- Understanding Scores, GED Testing Service
