A high school education is indispensable for those who want to get more out of their career paths; unfortunately, and for a variety of reasons, not everyone has the chance of earning a high school diploma. If you are looking for an alternative to such but still want doors opened for you without reservations, a GED certificate may just be the thing you need, and it’s offered on all states, including Arkansas.

The Arkansas GED certificate is earned by undergoing a battery exam which takes over seven hours to complete. It is composed of subjects which are very familiar to any high school student: two subjects in the Language Arts (both Reading and Writing), as well as Math, Social Studies, and Science. The entirety of the exam follows a multiple-choice format, except for the Reading section in the Language Arts which has to be fulfilled with an essay, composed within 45 minutes. Math is actually composed of two parts, with the second prohibiting the use of any calculator in computations.

Each separate section is evaluated based on a ranking range of 200 to 800. In order to successfully get through the exam, you have to accumulate at least 410 points on each of them, as well as an average of 450 and higher on the combined scores of all five tests. If, however, you fail in any section, or you didn’t make it to the required average, you can take a retest for up to two attempts in a year – including the first attempt, this translates to three tests for the calendar year.

The basic requirements for eligibility, as prescribed by the state website (arkansas.gov), maintains that you shouldn’t be matriculated in any secondary school at present, and that you still have to earn your high school diploma. You should also be at least sixteen years old upon registration, and a legal resident of the state of Arkansas. All applicants should also pass a mandatory GED practice test before they are allowed to take the actual exam. If you are concerned about your qualifications, contact a testing site within your area for more information on possible waivers and exemptions.

At present, there are about 58 recognized testing sites within the state; visit the Arkansas website at arkansas.gov for a thorough list which includes all of them. You have to register at the testing site wherein you plan to take the GED exam. You need not worry about registration fees at the moment, as the state currently affords you the privilege of taking the exam at no cost.

Your testing site can offer you the best information on any preparation classes which may be offered within your vicinity; such may also be offered at an adult ed center or a community college. If you choose to prepare on your own, your local library and bookshop offers ample resources for study; you will also find numerous prep lessons online, many of which are offered free of charge. For further details on the GED, go to the state website previously mentioned, or visit the American Council on Education’s online site, at acenet.edu.