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How Do I Take the GED® Test? - Adult Education and Literacy Services

Applying to Take the GED® Test

To take the GED® test at an authorized GED® center in Maryland, you must:

  • Be a resident of Maryland
  • Be at least 18 years old. Candidates aged 16 or 17 must have officially withdrawn from a high school program. The school official must complete, sign, stamp, or emboss the GED® School Withdrawal/Exception Form. Submit the completed GED® Official School Withdrawal/Exception Form to the Maryland Adult Education Office. Testers will be notified of their approval status timely via email. The date of birth will be verified at the Testing Center.
  • Has not obtained a Maryland high school diploma or a high school certificate or diploma issued by another state or a non-U.S. or correspondence school.
  • May hold a Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion in accordance with COMAR 13A.03 .02.09D.
  • Have acceptable identification to present at the Testing Center. (Valid MD MVA ID or Valid Passport and a second document to verify the name and current address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)

To take the GED® test remotely with Online Proctoring you must:

  • In addition to the conditions noted above for in-person testing:
  • Have achieved a Green (likely to pass) score on the GED Ready® Test within the past 60 days.
  • Have a computer, webcam, Internet access, and a private room to qualify.

See GED® website  for more detailed information about taking the Online Proctored test.

Registration and Scheduling

Create an account at GED® website to register to take the GED® test and click on Sign Up Or test takers can register 24 hours per day, seven days a week, through the Pearson VUE call center at 1-877-EXAM-GED (392-6433). Please do NOT create duplicate accounts. When scheduling your test modules, be aware that it is not advisable to take more than two modules per day.

Cost of testing at Authorized GED® test centers (Pearson VUE)

First time testing of each GED® module costs $14.25 per module, payable by credit card, debit card, or gift card at the time of scheduling. Visit the GED® website for registration and scheduling information. NOTE: You must apply the Maryland Discount Code: MDGED2175 to obtain the discount. *Maryland subsidizes only the initial test per module. Maryland does not subsidize any retakes.

Cost of Online Proctored (OP) GED® Testing:

The Online Proctored (OP) testing fee is $36.00 per module. As of July 1, 2023, the first attempt of each module is subsidized so that the cost is $14.25 per module. You must apply the Maryland Discount Code: MDGED2175 to obtain the discount on the first attempt of each module. There is no discount for retesting on OP testing.

  • OP Test per subject module – (first scheduled test only per subject module): $14.25
  • All OP retakes per subject module: $36.00

No-Show Candidates

If you are a No Show, Maryland will not subsidize the rescheduled test. Candidates who are a “No Show” mean they have not canceled or rescheduled their test at least 24 hours prior to their appointment and did not show up to the test. The fee paid will not be refunded in this situation. If the $21.75 subsidy was applied for that test module, the subsidy will not be applied to the rescheduled appointment.

Retesting/Retakes

For those testing in-person at a Test Center:

If you did not pass one of your GED® test subjects, you can take two subsequent retests, with no restrictions between retakes. If you fail the third or any subsequent retest, you must wait 60 days for your next attempt.

Your first retest will be discounted to the cost of $10.00. Your second retest will be the full price of $36.00. Third retests will be discounted to $10.00. Fourth and subsequent retests will alternate between full price ($36.00) and discounted cost ($10.00).

For those testing on the Online Exam:

The Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a 60-day waiting period.

There will be no discounted retests for the Online Proctored Exam.

GED® Testing in English or Spanish

Maryland offers the current GED® test in English or Spanish. Indicate the language format you desire during the scheduling process.

GED® Test Scores/Diploma Information

Candidates who have passed all four modules of the GED® test are awarded a Maryland High School Diploma issued jointly by the Maryland State Board of Education and the Maryland Department of Labor.

After passing the final subject test module, testers will receive information about how to secure an electronic PDF document delivered via email that contains Smart Transcript and Maryland High School Diploma. Save a copy of the electronic version of your transcript and diploma on your computer for future documentation requests. Do not delete these from your files. Electronic versions of the diploma include a link to order a professionally printed Maryland High School Diploma free of charge.

Future requests for official transcripts and/or diplomas will require a fee.


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