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 qualify for the diploma awarded by their state, territory, or province. Departments or ministries of education in the United States and Canada awarded 472,007 credentials (5 percent more than in 1986) based on the GED test results. The average age of the 1987 examinees was 26.7 years, with nearly 29 percent being 19 or younger and 11 percent being 40 or older. The majority of examinees (724,092) took the English language edition of the test, 31,757 took the Spanish edition, 1,640 took the French edition, and 878 took a special edition (Braille, large-print, or audiocassette). The examinees completed an average of 9.9 years of schooling before leaving high school. Over half the examinees reported that they planned to continue their education and training beyond the high school level. Since 1971, the following states have had the largest increases in the number of GED diplomas awarded: Vermont (45 percent), North Carolina (36 percent), Alaska (35 percent), and Oklahoma (27 percent). (Eight tables and four figures summarizing program results are included.) (MN)