Preparation for and Performance on the GED Test - Abstract and Executive Summary

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

This GED Testing Service research study examines how candidates prepare for the GED Test and how preparation activities relate to achievement. It uses survey data from 90,032 U.S. candidates who completed the test in 2004 and classifies them into eight mutually exclusive preparation profile groups. Findings compare mean scores, pass rates, and demographic patterns across options such as public school adult education, community college programs, individual study, official practice tests, and no preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Test preparation profile groups and sample

Score and pass-rate comparisons

Executive Summary

Study purpose and data source

Preparation activities and demographics

Major findings

Preparation for and Performance on the GED Test Joseph W. McLaughlin, Gary Skaggs, & Marg®aret Becker Patterson GED Testing Service Research Study, 2009-2 Abstract and Executiv®e Summary Abstract GED testing candidates have many options available to them to prepare for the GED Test, including adult education (AE) classes, practice tests, and selfstudy. This study focused on candidates who voluntarily took the GED Test and could choose freely among preparation activities. We examined GED Test preparation activities and created eight mutually exclusive test preparation profile groups: public school AE with or without a practice test, community college AE with or without a practice test, individual study with or without a practice test, practice test only, and none. The final sample included 90,032 U.S. candidates who completed the GED Test in 2004 and fell into one of the eight test preparation profile groups. Candidates in the study most often reported studying on their own without a practice test (29 percent) or studying in a public school AE program without a practice test (28 percent) . A smaller proportion studied in a community college AE program without a practice test (13 percent) or did not prepare at all (14 percent) . The public school and community college AE profile groups had mean GED scores 25 to 34 points higher for candidates who took a practice test. The individual study group means were 20 points higher for candidates who took a practice test. Among the profile groups, the group members who studied individually with a practice test and the none groups scored the highest on average. The lowest mean scores were observed in the group who indicated public school AE preparation without a practice test. All groups’ content areas and battery mean scores were higher than the passing requirement (410 and 2,250, respectively) . The group with the highest pass rate was the individual study with a practice test group, and the lowest pass rate was recorded for the public school AE without a practice test group. Executive Summary GED testing candidates have a number of preparation options available to them, including adult basic classes, practice tests, and self-study. The purpose of this study was to investigate how candidates prepare for the GED Test and how those test preparation activities are related to achievement. In some states, candidates must meet certain prerequisites (such as instruction or passing a practice test) before testing. This study focuses on candidates who voluntarily took the GED Test and were able to choose freely among preparation activities. The GED Test U.S. Demographics survey asked candidates to indicate which of 27 test preparation activities, including none, they undertook. The final sample included 90,032 GED completers from 2004 who fell into one of eight test preparation profile groups. The eight mutually exclusive test preparation profile groups were: (1) public school adult education (AE) without a practice test; (2) public school AE with a practice test; (3) community college AE without a practice test; (4) community college AE with a practice test; (5) individual study without a practice test; (6) individual study with a practice test; (7) official practice test; or (8)“None”(no test preparation) . Candidates in the sample tended to most often report studying on their own without a practice test (29 percent) or studying in a public school AE program without a practice test (28 percent) . A smaller proportion studied in a community college AE program without a practice test (13 percent) or did not prepare at all (14 percent) . However, different populations of candidates engaged in different test preparation activities. For example, women were more likely to enroll in AE than men, and candidates who entered AE tended to be slightly older. Men tended to take the Official GED Practice Tests (OPT) or not prepare for the GED Test. AE candidates were slightly more likely

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study?

The study investigates how GED candidates prepare for the GED Test and how those preparation activities are related to achievement.

How were candidates grouped for analysis?

Candidates were classified into eight mutually exclusive preparation profile groups based on preparation setting (public school AE, community college AE, individual study, official practice test, or none) and whether a practice test was taken.

Which preparation groups achieved the highest and lowest average results?

The highest scoring groups were individual study with OPT, none, and OPT only, while the lowest mean scores were observed for public school AE without a practice test and community college AE without a practice test.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel