Residents of West Virginia who want to attain higher goals in their professional and educational careers can still do so even if they didn’t complete their high school education. The GED exam is offered to all eligible applicants who want a credential which is honored as much as a high school diploma. Here’s how you can vie for the GED exam offered within the state.

The GED exam is separated into five sections, covering high school subjects which you would have normally taken as part of the basic curriculum; all of these are in multiple-choice format, with the exception of part two of Language Arts in Writing, wherein you must answer the question by writing an essay within forty-five minutes. The other included subjects are Language Arts in Reading, Social Studies, Science, and Math. Math is also composed of two parts; the second part prohibits the use of a calculator for computations. The entire test should be taken within a seven-and-a-half hour time limit.

You have to accumulate a minimum score of 2250 for the entire test, as well as a score of at least 410 on each of the five sections in order to pass the exam; this is according to wvabe.org, the state’s Adult Distance Education site. These scores are also based on a standard ranking range of 200 to 800. If you fail the exam, do not worry because you can still retake it for up to three consecutive times; you may also retake the exam either in the sections you failed or in its entirety.

The state’s GED program is not exclusive to residents, but you do need to meet the basic requirements in order to be eligible to take the exam. The state’s Adult Distance Education site maintains that you have to be at least sixteen years old at the time of the test. You also shouldn’t be enrolled in secondary education at present; it follows through that you must not possess a high school diploma or any certificate of equal merit. If you happen to be at least 16 to 18 years old, visit wvabe.org/tcher_handbook_pdf/section8.pdf for further details on eligibility requirements. You should also get in touch with a testing center in your area to determine if there are additional requirements you need to fulfill, or if there are waivers which you may avail of.

The state requires all applicants to make a personal appearance at the testing center for registration. You may find a list of all the available testing centers within West Virginia at wvabe.org/ged_centers.htm. You’ll need to produce a valid ID upon registration, as well as a fee which may cost as much as 50 dollars.

You should prepare for the exam well before the actual test date. If you decide to do this on your own, visit the community library for study resources. The internet is also full of sites which are dedicated to help you prepare for the test. If you have a flexible schedule, it is recommended that you take preparation classes; your community college, testing center, or adult education center may offer classes designed for such a purpose.