The GED or High School Equivalency Certificate shows that you have a level of knowledge equivalent to a high school graduate. The TVO Independent Learning Centre (ILC) is funded by the Ministry of Education and is the only provider of the General Educational Development (GED) testing program in Ontario.
GED stands for General Education Development or General Education Diploma. The GED is an internationally recognized test. If you pass the GED test, you will earn an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate. You are likely looking for information on the GED because you are currently working and need to show your employer a proof of high school equivalency but do not want to go back to high school, OR need a proof of high school equivalency to find a job or pursue studies in college or apprenticeship.
The GED test has a cost of $100 to register and is made up of five different tests:
In order to pass and obtain your certificate you need to need to score at least 450 out of 800 on all five tests.
However before you even attempt the test, you must meet certain eligibility requirements to write it. The fee for the test is the same for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and temporary residents. In addition to being one of the above you need to be at least 18 years old. If you are 18 years old exactly you need a “date of leaving letter” from the last high school you attended, and if you were homeschooled, you must provide proof that you were homeschooled.
There are 12 testing centres in Ontario and you need to register to take the test. You can take the test in English or French. Special editions and testing accommodations can be made for people with special needs and physical or learning disabilities. Learn more about the GED test.
The TVO ILC mentions two books that can helps you study for the GED but makes it clear they do not endorse any particular book or publisher. The two books they mention are the “Complete Canadian GED® Preparation Handbook” and “How to Prepare for the GED® Test: Canadian Edition“. In addition to mention studying materials they also mention GED® Preparation Centres which offers tutorials and classes in preparation for your GED test. Some also have an online option if you can’t make it to one of these centres. However TVO ILC again has to point out that GED® preparation courses are unregulated in Ontario and TVO ILC does not endorse any specific preparation centre. Also take not that since TVO ILC is not in charge of these centres and they are all independent entities, courses, costs, and instruction can vary between centres, so take this into account when picking a centre.
Besides pointing out resources to test takers, TVO ILC also gives general advice for the test, which can be found here. TVO ILC also give an in depth overview of how the day of the test will go down. When you arrive at the test centre the only things you need to have with you is some form of ID to verify your identity, such as a passport, driving licence, or health card. You don’t need to bring any writing instrument or calculator, everything needed to write the test will be provided to you. Writing (language arts) is the longest test of the five. You will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete a multiple choice section, then you will be given an addition 45 minutes to write and essay. The remaining four tests are more straightforward and pimarly just multiple choice and short answers. Reading (language arts) consists of 40 multiple choice questions over the course of 1 hour and 5 minutes, mathematics is 50 mixed questions with a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes, social Studies is 50 multiple choice questions with 1 hour 10 minutes to finish it, and finally science is once again 50 multiple choice questions with 1 hour 20 minutes. The TVO ILC gives a much more detailed breakdown, click here to learn more.
