Almost one of every seven persons who gets a high school-completion credential does so through the tests of General Educational Development (GED). A study based on figures gleaned from the annual reports of the GED Testing Service is reported. (MLW)

A comparison study used the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) to describe the English-language literacy skills of individuals who passed the Tests of General Educational Development (GED Tests) and of those who did not. The research explored what the GED and NALS instruments measured in common and what was measured separately. Findings…

During 1987, a total of 758,367 people (3 percent more than in 1986) took the General Educational Development (GED) tests at 3,314 testing locations. Of these, 511,973 earned scores qualifying them for equivalency credit. Thus, approximately 74 percent of the examinees who completed the test battery in 1987 earned scores that were sufficient to…

Key characteristics of adults who took the General Educational Development (GED) Tests in 1989 were compared with those of their 1980 counterparts. Findings indicated that the percentage taking the tests primarily to fulfill postsecondary educational admissions requirements increased from 29.1 to 32.8 percent. The percentage who took the tests for…

A multidimensional follow-up study of three categories of Florida high school graduates focused on early exit General Educational Development (GED), second chance GED, and conventional graduates. The research provided the first comprehensive overview of the demography, educational experiences, aspirations and post-graduation activities of both GED…

In 1989, a study was conducted to determine whether General Educational Development (GED) certificate holders and students with high school diplomas achieved the same degree of academic success at Lorain County Community College (LCCC). The study subjects were LCCC students who were admitted just prior to the 1988-89 school year, including 40…

With the aim of evaluating state policies on high school diplomas for adults, the Richmond, Virginia, public school system conducted a national survey on states and territories issuing diplomas or equivalency certificates on the basis of the General Educational Development test or other standardized tests; kinds and sources of tests being used;…

The General Educational Development (GED) Tests date from 1942, when the United States Armed Forces Institute designed a battery of tests to provide military personnel and veterans the opportunity to obtain a credential that demonstrated proficiency on par with high school graduates. Since World War II, the GED Tests have also been beneficial to…

These two presentations discuss the National External Diploma Program (EDP) sponsored by the American Council on Education and its relationship to the Department of Labor's Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report and to the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS). The first presentation focuses on the…

The National External Degree Program (EDP) of the American Council on Education is an alternative way for adults to earn a high school diploma. EDP is a competency-based, high school level assessment system that credentials mature adults who have acquired their high school level skills through their life experience. It uses materials adults have…

A study compared the levels of academic achievement of high school equivalency students and high school diploma students as measured by grade point averages and proportion of credit hours passed. The problem was whether students with a high school equivalency certificate could be as academically successful in a university program as high school…

A fall 1989 nationwide survey of General Educational Development (GED) Tests candidates examined schooling experiences, study patterns, and educational plans. Findings indicated the GED Tests attracted more young adults than older adults, more older women than older men, and equal numbers of young adult men and women. Seven percent of candidates,…

Gainesville College (GC) in Georgia conducted a study to determine how many traditional-aged students enter the school with General Education Development (GED) certificates and how well they progress academically. Students monitored were those who received their GED at 21 years of age or younger and entered GC within 4 years of receiving the…