GED Preparation and Testing
If you left high school without graduating, the GED Tests provide a way for you to earn your GED high school diploma. Getting your GED diploma can make a big difference in your ability to get and keep a job or to qualify for further education. For complete information about all aspects of the GED exam, go to the official website of the American Council on Education, the group responsible for the development of the GED test.
- What is the GED?
- Who is eligible to take the GED Tests?
- How do I apply to take the test?
- When is the test given?
- What should I bring to the test?
- Where can I get help in preparing to take the test?
- Can I use the Internet to prepare for the GED Tests?
- What if my question isn’t listed here?
What is the GED?
The GED testing program offers you an opportunity to earn a GED high school diploma. Many people who did not finish high school have knowledge and skills comparable to people who did graduate. This idea is the basis of the GED testing program. The GED Tests ask questions about subjects covered in high school.
The GED Tests are available in English, Spanish, and French. Special large-print, audiocassette, and Braille editions of the GED Tests are available. Adults with disabilities may be eligible for adaptations to testing conditions.
Who is eligible to take the GED Tests?
If you left high school without graduating and your high school class has graduated, you are probably eligible to take the GED Tests. Click here for details on eligibility.
How do I apply to take the test?
Go to the NY State Education Department listings of New York test centers and test dates and follow the instructions there for mailing in your application. In New York City, you can also go to a public library to pick up an application, or you can call the Literacy Referral Hotline at 212.803.3333 to request an application.
You can also download the application form and complete instructions in Adobe Acrobat Reader format. If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, click on this button to download it. 
When is the test given?
GED examinations are given at various times throughout the city. Go to the NY State Education Department for the test schedule.
What should I bring to the test?
p. On the days of the test, you must bring:
- Your Admission Notice if you applied by mail
- Two proofs of identity. One must be a picture identification with your signature: driver’s license, passport, military identification, or a non-driver’s ID card issued through any NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Office. The second proof can be a library card, credit card, birth certificate, social security card, etc. If you are not able to present positive proof of your identity, you will not be admitted to take the tests.
- Two No. 2 pencils
- A ballpoint pen.
Do not bring calculators, arithmetic tables, rulers, cell phones, pagers, “Walkman,” or computers of any kind. The calculator you must use on one section of the math test will be provided to you at the test center.
Where can I get help in preparing to take the test?
Call the LAC’s Literacy Referral Hotline:
- from New York City, 212.803.3333
- from NY State outside NYC, 888.683.READ (683.73.23) toll-free
The Hotline staff will give you information about a program in your neighborhood with classes to help you prepare to take the exam. Or you can go to the LAC’s online Adult Education Locator to search for a program in your neighborhood.
Can I use the Internet to prepare for the GED Tests?
There’s really no substitute for a class in person with a teacher who can help you with your particular needs. Also, most online GED preparation courses charge a fee. If you need just a little brush-up in only one or two areas of the test, you might benefit from Free GED Resources or PBS Literacy Links.
What if my question isn’t listed here?
Official information about the GED test is available from the American Council on Education, the makers of the test, and from the New York State Education Department.