Sobering Reasons Why the GED is Not a Shortcut
The GED program has now been around for eighty years. It was created for military men who didn’t finish high school because they needed to fight in the war. Since then, the high school equivalent has expanded to include civilians and now millions of people are getting their GED every year.
Truthfully, the process of getting a GED can be a breeze for some people. Those that spent more time in high school or have been learning on their own will pass the test faster. However, this is not the situation for everyone. The GED is not an easy way out. Most people will encounter some challenges when preparing to take the exam. Here’s some of them:
If you dropped out of high school, Grad Solutions offers Arizona students a flexible way to get a high school diploma with support. Learn more here
1 | You can’t get a GED before a certain age
Students consider dropping out of high school for a number of reasons. The problem is in most states, you can’t take the GED exam until the age you would have graduated if you had stayed in school. For example, in Arizona, you can’t take the GED test until you’re 18. There are some exceptions to this, but there are more requirements to meet. Basically, you can’t skip ahead to the GED.
2 | You still have to study and know ALL FOUR subjects
There are four parts to the GED exam and you have to pass all them to get your GED certificate. In Arizona, there is a fifth test —the Arizona Civics test.
It can be hard. If you have difficulty in particular areas, you will need to focus and build a habit around regular studying. If you find that studying on your own doesn’t help, consider getting outside help like a tutor or attending a local adult education center.
3 | There's lots of new content to learn
Not everyone has spent some time in high school, some people drop out early or before they started high school. This means that much of the content you will need to know is new and something you will have to learn.
Learning takes time. It will take time to do the practice tests, review, and study, before you take your first exam. Depending on when you dropped out, this could be a lot of content that you will need to learn for the first time.
4 | It can take time
Yes, every person’s journey is different. As I mentioned earlier, some people have learned and retained enough knowledge from high school that they can pass the GED rather quickly. For others, it’s not as easy. The high school that you attended could impact your ability to pass quickly. Not every school in every state is the same. It's possible that you weren't exposed to all the content you need to pass the GED.
There are different reasons why some people need more time to prepare themselves for the GED test. The GED website states that most people need around three months to prepare. In truth, everyone has a different set of circumstances that impact their ability to pass the GED. Livanne Sandoval says in her YouTube video that she spent eight years studying to get her GED. This was because she struggled with the math portion of the test. It took many tries and lots of studying before she was ready to take the math segment.
5 | You are worth more
You are not a shortcut. Unless you truly have a once in a lifetime opportunity in front of you, or an event taking place, you are selling yourself short by dropping out of school. Take the harder path. You will have more opportunities with a high school diploma than with a GED. You will also feel a personal sense of accomplishment.
If you already dropped out, don’t beat yourself up! You still have options. AND, you still have the option to get a real high school diploma. Grad Solutions and Smart Schools are both organizations that help those who have dropped out get back into school and earn their diploma. Find out how they can help you achieve your goal of a high school education!
