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GED Program

What is the GED?

The G.E.D. is the General Educational Development program that represents the alternative to a High School Diploma. It requires tests verifying an equivalency to accepted high school standards. The GED Test is comprised of 5 tests: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts/Reading, and Language Arts/Writing. The candidate must earn a minimum standard score of 410 on each test and an average standard score of 450.

Students who are not enrolled in K-12 schools and who are 17 years old or older may be authorized to take the GED tests. Students 17-18 years of age must enroll in Adult Education classes and qualify to sit for the GED Test by passing the Official Half-Length GED Practice Test. The minimum passing requirements for the GED Practice and the Official GED Test are standard scores of 410 on each of five subtests and an overall average standard score of 450 on all five tests.

  • Those who are 19 years old or older may be authorized to take the test without enrolling in adult education or passing a qualifying test.
  • Those who are 19+ years of age can contact the Adult Education program in their area and be scheduled to take the GED.
  • Those who are 17-18 years old will have to enroll in the Adult Education program, where they will be required to take classes until demonstration of their readiness to take the GED Test. These qualification criteria will be discussed with each person upon enrollment into the program. The classes are free.
  • Those who are 17-18 years old will need documentation from the school system that they have officially withdrawn.
  • Special accommodations are available for those meeting the GED Testing Service requirements and completing the proper documentation.
  • Those who are 16 years of age will have to satisfy certain criteria before enrolling in an Adult Education program. State law states that a 16-year-old student cannot drop out of the K-12 school system unless that student meets certain hardship criteria:
    • Pregnant or actively parenting,
    • Incarcerated or adjudicated,
    • Institutionalized or living in a residential facility,
    • Chronic physical or mental illness, or
    • Family and/or economic hardships.

For more information on GED testing and scheduling, please visit the Louisiana Community & Technical System Adult Education website.