High School Diploma or GED?

Are you evaluating various options and wondering which route to take to achieve a high school exit certificate?

What’s the difference between an American high school diploma and a GED®?

Is a GED® equivalent to a high school diploma?

What is the GED®?

The GED® is a high school Grade 12 equivalency* credential.

The GED Tests form a programme of the American Council of Education (ACE). The GED Tests offer home educated learners and adults who didn’t complete high school the opportunity to certify their attainment of high-school level academic knowledge and skills. The GED uses tests that are field-tested and normed on graduating high school seniors.

The GED Test® has been updated and aligned with 21st century college- and career-readiness standards. Unlike other traditional exams, it tests a range of skills, such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, analysis, interpretation and evaluation etc. rather than focusing largely on the memorisation of facts.

What Can a GED Do for You?

A student who passes all four of the GED Tests, namely Maths, Science, Social Studies and Reasoning Through Language Arts, will earn a state high school equivalency credential and recognition that you have a high school level of education.

Is a GED Equivalent to a Diploma?

In the USA, most colleges and employers regard the GED and a high school diploma as the same. About 98% of U.S. colleges accept the GED, including community colleges, private secondary or technical institutes and universities.

What’s the Difference Between a GED and a Diploma?

An American high school diploma is a certificate that students receive when they have completed the four years of high school from the 9th-12th grade.

There is no national curriculum in the United States. However, states, school districts and national associations do require or recommend that certain standards be used to guide school instruction.

The GED® credential is an American high school equivalency credential or Grade 12 alternative. It was designed and created to show that students who have passed the GED tests have demonstrated the same knowledge as a traditional high school graduate.

Like a high school diploma or matric certificate, a GED-holder can enter the workforce, attend college or university or launch the career of their choice.

The biggest difference between a GED® and an American high school diploma is the time and the cost.

Traditionally, students need four years to complete the courses or classes required to graduate. In contrast, students who have reached about grade 10 level, through home education or traditional schooling, can typically prepare for the GED® in less than a year and they can take the tests anytime after they turn 17. This could potentially save a lot of time.

For home educators, this means that prior to preparing for the GED®, families are free to use whichever resources or curriculum products they prefer. They are not obligated to follow the national curriculum or enrol in expensive online schools or distance education courses.

They have the freedom to learn at their own pace, using products that suit their budget, their interests and their lifestyle. This article gives recommendations from a veteran homeschooler for curriculum products for the early high school years: What to Do Before the GED

Is the GED recognised in South Africa? Can you study further in South Africa with a GED?

*SAQA, the South African Qualifications Authority, has evaluated the GED® and found the National Senior Certificate as its closest comparable qualification. Candidates with a GED® credential may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Evaluation from SAQA which states that the closest comparable qualification in South Africa is the National Senior Certificate (matric) or an NQF Level 4 qualification. You can read this for yourself on their site here: SAQA

A GED is similar to a matric or National Senior Certificate with a diploma pass. However, you can study a DEGREE course at Boston City College or at various online universities with a GED alone. You can also study a higher certificate or diploma with a GED alone. To achieve the equivalent of a bachelor’s pass you need to take steps to meet the requirements for exemption from USAf. The most common options are exemption by virtue of academic qualifications or if you are 23 or older, mature age exemption is possible.

Many GED graduates find that the private institutions of higher education are more welcoming than the public universities. Take a look at Where do GED Graduates Study?

As with any kind of high school diploma, there is no guarantee that a GED® graduate will be granted exemption from USAf, nor that a university will accept his/her application, as there may be other selection criteria too. 

The following three pages are essential reading:

University with a GED®
Where do GED Graduates Study?
GED Success Stories

Which Option Is Best for You?

What’s the difference between a GED and an American high school diploma? Which should you choose?

Both options open up possibilities for a higher salary, additional education, and professional advancement.

A traditional high school diploma is an ideal option for those who have the time and who want to complete four years of prescribed high school courses. Always check the admission requirements for further tertiary study at the institution of your choice.

For those who want don’t mind being unconventional or who want more freedom of choice or need to spend more time on other interests, such as dedication to a sport, business, music, job or other interest, then the self-paced Online GED study programme and the flexibility of being able to book each GED test when it suits you will be very attractive. You don’t have to keep up with a service provider and take tests on prescribed dates.

Of course, a comparison of the time involved and the pricing is also important.

GED is Great for Mental Health

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