How To Get A Ged In Arizona

A Guide to the Arizona GED

Life is unpredictable and any number of things can happen that prevents a person from obtaining his or her high school diploma. However, don't let circumstances prevent you from pursuing and achieving your goals. If you need a high school diploma to take the next step in your life but you've been out of school for awhile, you can earn a General Educational Development (GED) certification instead. Here is a short guide to taking the Arizona GED test.

How is the Arizona GED Test Formatted?

The Arizona GED exam is a 7.5 hour test that is divided into five topics every high school student must know: science, social studies, mathematics, language arts writing, and language arts reading. The language arts writing test consists of a multiple choice and an essay section. The mathematics test has two sections also, but you can only use a calculator on the first part.

What is the Minimum Score Needed to Pass the Exam?

Each section of the Arizona GED is worth up to 800 points. While you must get an average of 450 points per section (2,250 points total), anything below 410 points is considered a failing grade. However, you can take the parts you failed over again. There is a 30-day waiting period between tests and you must have completed all sections of the exam before you can retest on any one part. The number of times you can retake the test depends on how many alternate forms of the test are available. If you exhaust all forms of the exam by December 31, you must wait until January 1 of the following year to try again.

What are the Eligibility Requirements?

You must meet the following eligibility requirements before you can take the Arizona GED exam:

At least 18 years old. Teenagers 16 or 17 years old can take the test but must present a notarized permission letter from their parent or guardian and proof that they withdrew from school
There is no residency requirement in Arizona, but the person must have attended high school in Arizona or have taken one or more tests in the state.

What are the Registration Requirements for the Arizona GED Exam?

You must register for the Arizona GED exam at an official testing center. You can find a list of these centers on the Arizona Department of Education website. Two forms of identification are required:

The primary ID must have your photograph, name, date of birth, address and signature (e.g. driver's license)
The secondary ID can be a birth certificate, bank card with photo, or a social security card

The fee for the GED exam varies depending on the testing center. Be prepared to pay up to $90 for the complete test and $15 per section of the test you must retake.

How to Prepare for the Arizona GED Test

There are a number of resources available that can help you prepare for the Arizona GED exam. You can take an adult basic education course that will help you improve your skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. These classes are typically available at community colleges and adult education centers. If you don't have time or prefer independent study, you can get GED review guides and other study materials from a bookstore, the library, or select retailers online.