If you never got to finish high school, that doesn’t mean that you have to be stuck doing the same job that you are doing now, when you are 50.

The GED (General Educational Development) exam gives you to chance to earn a certificate or diploma that is widely recognized as the equivalent of a high school diploma. If you are over 16, you can take the exam.

And most colleges accept a GED certification for entrance into a college or university program.

So the GED exam might just be the ticket that you always dreamed of.

Of course you’ve got to study.

There are five tests that you need to pass before you can earn your GED.

In the Language Arts, Writing test, you will answer multiple-choice questions in which you have to identify errors in sentence structure, usage, mechanics, and organization. You also have to write an essay.

In the Social Studies test, you’ll have to answer multiple-choice questions drawn from history, economics, geography, civics and government. This tests kind of tests your overall understanding of the basic principles in each. To do well, you are going to have to be able to read passages, cartoons, graphs and charts.

The Science test is also multiple choice, but this time questions are drawn from the fields of life science, earth and space science, and physical science (chemistry and physics). You’re gonna need to be able to interpret scientific data, have a background knowledge in these areas and good reading skills.

In the Language Arts, Reading test you have to answer multiple choice questions that tests your ability to understand the info in excerpts from newspapers, magazines, novels, short stories, poetry, drama, business or legal documents.

Finally, there’s the mathematics test. There are algebra, measurement, and geometry questions, as well as some that cover number theory, data analysis, and probability. Most are word problems and involve real-life situations or ask you to interpret information presented in graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams. Part I of the exam allows you to use a calculator; Part II does not.

We are not here to say that college is right for everyone. But if it’s something you would like to do and you didn’t get the chance to finish high school, the GED exam is just what you need to get your foot in the door to pursuing your dreams.