Not being able to complete your high school education due to life circumstances or personal choice limits your academic and career possibilities. Without a high school diploma you may be unable to enroll in college or apply for high paying positions. Thus, you will want to obtain your high school equivalency diploma by taking and successfully passing the GED examination. In Ohio the GED examination is overseen by the Ohio Department of Education School Options, and in order to take the GED you must first meet all of the requirements set forth by this department.
Ohio GED Test Eligibility Requirements:
The first requirement you must meet in order to take the Ohio GED examination is the age requirement. Typically speaking, the Ohio Department of Education requires all test takers to be at least 18 years of age. If you are 18 years or older you must have the Superintendent, or designee, sign and complete the Ohio GED Age Waiver Form and attach this form your GED registration application.
If you are over the age of 18 and your class has already graduated, then you will be required to provide the Ohio GED Testing Facility with your official high school transcript to prove that your class has graduated. The transcript must also accompany the GED test application.
If you are at least 16 years old but are not 18 years old then you may still qualify to take the Ohio GED examination if the Superintendent of the school you most recently attended is able to sign and complete the GED Age Waiver Form. You must also have your parent or legal guardian sign the GED Parental Consent Form and lastly you must attach both of these forms to the Ohio GED test application for review.
Registering for the Ohio GED Examination:
Once you are ready to take the Ohio GED examination you must first locate the GED testing facility nearest you. The Ohio Department of Education offers a complete list of all authorized Ohio GED testing facilities throughout the state. Contact the testing facility you wish to test at and fill out a paper GED Application Form, or complete the online GED application form, which is available in the Sources section below. You must also bring all required documentation. As of 2011, the Ohio GED examination requires a $40.00 fee to take the entire exam.
Passing the Ohio GED Examination:
After you have successfully completed all five of the GED test sections, which include: mathematics, reading, writing, science and social studies, you must score a minimum of 410 on each of the section and have a total average section score of 450; however, if you are unable to pass all five sections you must retake the sections you failed or you may retake the entire GED examination. Once passed, you will be given a high school equivalency diploma.
SOURCES:
Ohio Department of Education: GED Age Requirements
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID;=684&ContentID;=7271&Content;=94931
Ohio Department of Education: GED Application, Age Waiver and Parental Consent Forms:
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID;=684&ContentID;=13916&Content;=98050
Ohio Department of Education: Ohio GED Testing Centers by County
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID;=684&ContentID;=7324&Content;=103677
Ohio Department of Education: GED Web Application Sign In (SAFE)
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID;=684&ContentID;=1375&Content;=98196
Ohio Department of Education: General Educational Development (GED) FAQ
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID;=684&ContentID;=1362&Content;=94933
