Frequently Asked Questions about the GED® Exam

HOW DO I SIGN UP TO TAKE THE GED^® ?
To sign up for the GED^®, come to the SFCC Testing Center in person. We are located in Room 611. To register, you’ll have to show us a government-issued ID. Your ID must be original (not a photocopy), current (not expired), and must show your photo, your date of birth, your address and your signature. A driver’s license, state ID, passport (from any country), or military ID are good examples of an acceptable ID to use.

You must pay for the tests you plan to take before you sign up for them. Make your payment at the SFCC Cashier and bring your receipt with you when you come to the Testing Center to register.

If you plan to test on a MONDAY,
you can come by to sign up any time before the test date during Testing Center business hours (M-TH, 8:00-7:00; F, 8:00-5:00), or on the day of the test between 8:00 and 1:30. Space in the testing room is limited, and there are days when we will fill up quickly.

If you plan to test on a WEDNESDAY,
the sign-up process happens ONLY on the day of the test. Come to the Testing Center between 8:00 and 1:30 to get your name on the registration list. Be aware that this is a first-come, first-served system, so the longer you wait to sign up, the more you risk not getting in to test. Again, space in the testing room is limited, and we may fill up quickly.

WHAT IF I AM UNDER 18?
If you are under the age of 18, you will need to bring to the SFCC Testing Center a completed UNDERAGE PERMISSION FORM (UPF) when you come to register. This form requires the signature of your parent or guardian. If the last school you attended was part of a public school system, the superintendent of that school district needs to sign it as well. If you were last in a charter school or private school, the principal of that school may sign. If you were home schooled, your parent/guardian must sign where the superintendent/principal would sign. You can obtain the UPF from the SFCC Testing Center.

CAN I SIGN UP TO TEST OVER THE PHONE?
No. We must confirm your identity in person, even if you have tested with us before.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE SIGN UP FOR ME?
No, for the same reason listed above- we must be able to verify your identity with your photo ID and your signature.

CAN I SIGN UP FOR THE TEST BEFORE I PAY?
No.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE GED^®?
Each of the 5 GED^® tests cost $20, for a total of $100 to take the entire set of tests. Retesting also costs $20 per test. If you pay in advance for any or all of the tests but take several weeks or months to complete the testing process, your payment will remain on file and will be valid for future testing.

IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO IF I’VE NEVER TAKEN THE GED^® BEFORE?
Yes. If this is the very first time you will be taking the GED^®, you will need to complete a GED^® Intake packet, which includes an intake form and a demographic booklet that takes some time to fill out. The booklet has 8 pages and the information requested must be written in AND “bubbled” in with a pencil. If you are new to the SFCC Testing Center, but have taken GED^® tests at another test site, you only need to fill out the SFCC GED^® Intake form, but not the Demographic booklet. This paperwork must be completely filled out and submitted before you will be allowed to begin testing. We will give it to you when you come for your first test registration.

WHERE DO I GO TO TEST?
You’ll come back to the SFCC Testing Center, to the same window where you signed up for the GED^®.

DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING TO THE TEST WITH ME?
Other than your photo ID, you won’t need to bring anything with you. We provide pencils, pens, scratch paper and calculators. If you do have belongings with you—hats or jackets, purses, backpacks, food or beverages, cell phones or MP3s—you’ll have to store them in one of the Testing Center lockers. It is strictly prohibited to take personal items with you into the testing room. If possible, leave your personal belongings in your vehicle or with a family member or friend.

WHEN DO YOU GIVE THE GED^® TESTS?
GED^® testing at the SFCC Testing Center happens every Wednesday and every other Monday, except during official holiday breaks, SFCC Midterm Week and Final Exam Week. Testing begins as early as 3:00 in the afternoon, and can go as late as 7:20 in the evening. Please review the current SFCC GED^® Testing Schedule for specific dates and times that will work for you. You can pick up a copy of the schedule at the Testing Center or view it online: www.sfcc.edu/ged

WHAT TIME DO I HAVE TO SHOW UP TO TEST?
Once you have signed up to test, you must return to the Testing Center 30 minutes before your first test is scheduled to begin. For example, if your test begins at 3:00, plan to be at the Testing Center by 2:30; if your test begins at 4:25, plan to be at the Testing Center by 3:55. It takes time to get all of the testers checked in and seated, fill out paperwork and go through testing guidelines and instructions. Our goal is to start each test on time.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET MY SCORES?
It will take about 2 weeks for your scores to arrive to your mailing address. Sometimes it takes less time, sometimes a little more. If 3 or more weeks have passed since your test date and you haven’t received your scores in the mail, contact the GED^® examiners at the SFCC Testing Center. If you prefer to pick up your scores from the Testing Center instead of getting them in the mail, just let one of the GED^® examiners know, and we will hold your scores for you. Also, if your mailing address changes at any time during your testing process, let us know. We DO NOT tell test-takers their scores over the telephone.

WHAT IS THE HIGHEST/LOWEST SCORE I CAN GET?
The score range for the GED^® tests is between 200 and 800. The national passing standard for the GED^® Tests is a minimum of 410 on each of the five tests AND an average score of 450 on all 5 tests. These standards are set by the GED^® Testing Service.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T PASS?
If you do not pass all 5 tests, you may retest to raise your scores. The state of New Mexico requires a 30 day waiting period for retesting if you’ve passed 4 out of the 5 tests, and a 60 day waiting period if you’ve passed less than 4. The waiting period begins from the date you originally took the test that you plan to retake.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO TAKE AND PASS ALL 5 TESTS?
The state of New Mexico allows 3 years from the date of the first test you take to complete and pass all 5 tests. If you miss the 3 year deadline, ALL scores for the GED^® tests you have already taken will be erased from the scoring database, and you will have to begin the entire testing process again. You may test in a given subject area up to 3 times within a calendar year. For instance, if you took your very first math test in January of 2012 and did not pass, you have 2 more chances to retest in math during the remaining months of 2012. If after retaking the math test 3 times in 2012 without reaching a passing score, you have 3 more chances to pass math in 2013, and another 3 chances in 2014, as long as you test within the 3 year deadline.

WHAT IF I NEED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS TO TEST?
The GED^® does allow special testing accommodations for those examinees who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Permission for accommodations must be given from the New Mexico State GED^® Administrator, but the process for receiving accommodations begins with the local Testing Center. Accommodations requests can take considerable time to process, so students should begin the request process at least two months before they intend to test. Please speak with one of the GED^® examiners in the SFCC Testing Center for more information.

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