Do you want to make an informed decision about taking the GED exam within the state of New Jersey? A GED credential can be that one career boost you need, and here’s how you can apply for it.

The GED evaluates your aptitude in five key areas, subjects which are standard components of the high school curriculum – the Reading and Writing subsections in the Language Arts, as well as Science, Math, and Social Studies. The state Dept. of Education maintains that the exam will be taken in two installments, for two days; but the entire test takes a total of 7 1/2 hours to finish. Most of the questions are either given in multiple-choice or in alternative formats, except from the second part of Language Arts in Writing where you will need to write a brief essay.

In order to earn the GED credential, there are three basic things which you must accomplish: you have to accumulate an overall score of 2250; you must acquire an average grade of 450, at the very least; and you need to meet the 410-point minimum on every section of the exam. These figures are based on a ranking scale of 200 to 800 points.

The state prescribes a few guidelines for determining eligibility, and although many of these will less likely influence your qualification, it’s best to get in touch with your local test site to ascertain if you’ll qualify. Most of the requirements may also be found online, at state.nj.us. However, general guidelines do apply to all hopefuls: if you haven’t finished high school and are not presently enrolled in such an institution, you may be eligible; the same is true if you are sixteen years old (minimum) at the time of registration, but you’ll need to show a consent note with your parent or legal guardian acting as signatories. If your legal guardian will give the consent to participate, you’ll also need to provide a copy of the court papers which grant the adult guardianship.

The best way to learn about the details concerning the registration process is to get in touch with a state-approved test site in your immediate area; these have updated information regarding the prerequisites, procedures, and fees associated with the registration proper. In general, you will need to fulfill three things upon registration: write a 25-dollar check which indicates the Commissioner of Education as the receiver; show proof of identification with a government-issue ID; and provide documentation which verifies the said ID.

The state of New Jersey is one of those few areas where you can prepare for the GED by watching public-broadcast television. The ‘GED on TV’ airs four days a week from Saturday to Monday, and in two timeslots – 5:30 in the morning and 1:00 in the afternoon. Aside from this option, you can also prepare for the exam by studying on your own with the use of resources obtained from your community library or from online sites, or you can sign up for a prep course offered within your area.