# Getting your High School degree late in life

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995 "2004-06-12T17:47:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995/1 "2004-06-12T17:47:38Z")

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What is the usual process and assesment method of handing out GED or other high school equivalency degrees? How do they decide where to start you and when you’re done? I know people don’t just go back and sit through every high school day again, so I’m wondering if it is all self-paced with proctored exams or what? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995/2 "2004-06-12T18:00:22Z")

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(Canadian GED)

When I did mine (2001) I had to apply with the Ministry of Education in Ontario and pay them money. They had a bunch of dates set up in various cities and you picked a convenient one. It was a 5 part proctored exam. Sections were: social science (basically geography), English (grammar), short essay, math, and something I cannot remember. It was done over 2 days, each section marked independently, and was incredibly easy. I don’t see American GED tests being that different than Canadian, probably just a different focus in the content.

It’s worth getting if anybody is interested. Managed to get me into university.

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**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995/3 "2004-06-13T00:28:54Z")

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my brother took the GED along time ago. I was around 12 years old at the time, so I don’t quite remember all the details. He told me it was a 6 hour long test consisting of mostly writing and math. He told me a few sample problems. I probably could have passed it when I was 12.

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-your-high-school-degree-late-in-life/249995/4 "2004-06-13T04:08:19Z")

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I took my GED in 1989 in California. I took a series of tests over a week or so, then paid a fee and got my certificate.

The tests were proctored and timed, but not that difficult. I got the test results immediately, but had to wait to get the certificate.

All in all, not THAT big a deal.

Robin