The GED exam may just be the one thing you need to get on and ahead with your career. Since it is an equivalent alternative to a high school diploma, you can even use it in applying for a college education. Here’s how you can take the GED exam in the state of Kansas.

The exam tests your mettle in five subjects, those which may be already familiar to you since they are basic parts of high school curricula: Social Studies, Science, and Math, as well as two sections in the Language Arts (Reading and Writing). Most of the items in the exam are provided with multiple choice answers, except for the obvious format in Language Arts in Writing, where you have to answer the questions by composing a short essay.

The range of scores which you can obtain with the exam is within 200 to 800 points, but you have to get a score of at least 410 (for each of the five sections) in order to pass the exam; in addition to this, there is also a 450-point average requirement for the entire exam which you have to meet.

Unlike some states which offer the exam to non-residents, Kansas only allows state residents to take its GED exam. You also have to be 18 years old at the time of the exam, and you shouldn’t be presently matriculated in any accredited secondary education school; it follows that you should not have graduated from any high school or received an equivalency certificate as well. Concerning the age requirement, the 18-year old minimum rule can be waived for 16 and 17-year olds, provided that they take the test under certain conditions. If you have any further questions regarding your eligibility to take the test, get in touch with your nearest test site; rules vary between sites, and yours can provide detailed information on whether you can vie for the exam or not.

Registration proper is held at the official testing sites throughout the state. The state’s Board of Regents furnishes a list of such sites at kansasregents.org/adult_ed/gedtestingcenters1.html, so that you may locate the one which is nearest to you. Upon application, you need to bring two essentials: a valid identification card (with recent picture) which details your basic personal information, and the fee for taking the exam (68 dollars).

If you want to learn at your own pace, independent study is probably the most effective method for you. You’ll find plenty of study materials which you can browse through and check out at your community library. If you want to get thorough with your study guides, you can purchase them from a bookshop or from online sites. There are also websites which offer free preparation modules that you can take advantage of. On the flip side though, it is highly recommended that you take preparation classes; these are structured in such a way as to allow you to get the most out of the test. Your local adult learning center will usually offer these prep courses. Visit kansasregents.org/adult_ed/centers.html for further information.