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Interpreting  Your  GED®  Test  Scores      Since  2002,  the  GED®  test  has  used  a  3-­‐digit  score  to  represent  a  test-­‐taker’s  results.  For  example,  410  or  higher  is  generally  the  minimum  required  score  on  an  individual  test  in  most  states.  Prior  to  this,  test  results  had  been  a  2-­‐digit  number.  Making  a  comparison  between  3-­‐digit  scores  and  the  2-­‐digit  scores  isn’t  as  simple  as  adding  a  zero  to  the  end  of  the  2-­‐digit  score.  This  is  because  each  new  test  series  reflects  more  recent  content  standards,  and  sometimes  the  format  of  the  test  changed  (e.g.,  the  addition  of  the  essay  to  the  Language  Arts,  Writing  Test  in  2002).  Also,  percentile  ranks  and  estimated  national  class  ranks  may  change  across  test  series.      GED®  test  scores  are  normalized  standardized  based  on  a  nationally  representative  stratified  random  sample  of  high  school  seniors  tested  in  the  spring  of  their  graduating  year.  Only  seniors  who  are  expected  to  meet  the  academic  requirements  for  graduation  are  included  in  the  sample  (separate  normings  are  performed  for  the  United  States  and  Canada).  Scores  are  re-­‐standardized  only  when  the  norm  group  shows  significant  change.  The  current  2002  Series  GED®  Test  standard  scores  are  based  on  a  2001  standardization  study.  The  standard  scores  and  percentile  ranks  can  be  used  to  describe  the  skills  of  adults  who  take  the  GED®  tests  compared  to  the  performance  of  contemporary  high  school  seniors.  GED®  test  standard  scores  have  the  following  properties:  

• The  median  standard  score  for  graduating  U.S.  high  school  seniors  is  500  for  each  of  the  five  tests.  • The  standard  deviation  is  100  points  for  graduating  U.S.  high  school  seniors.  • The  percentage  of  graduating  seniors  at  or  below  each  GED®  test  standard  score  value  is  the  same  for  

each  of  the  five  tests.  • The  percentile  ranks  provided  on  the  Official  Transcript  of  GED®  Tests  Results  are  those  for  graduating  

high  school  seniors,  not  for  adult  candidates.      Question:  What  is  my  high  school  grade  point  average  (GPA)?    Answer:  There  is  no  good  way  to  convert  a  GED®  test  score  into  a  grade  point  average  (GPA).  The  GED®  test  

score  represents  how  well  you  know  the  subject.  This  test  score  is  calculated  the  same  way  for  each  examinee.  On  the  other  hand,  a  high  school  GPA  is  the  average  grade  for  a  student  and  because  grades  can  be  calculated  in  many  different  ways  depending  on  the  school  or  school  district,  it  is  not  appropriate  to  compare  GED®  test  scores  to  GPA.  

 However,  you  should  have  received  scores  called  percentile  ranks  along  with  your  standard  scores.  The  way  to  interpret  your  percentile  ranks  is  to  think  of  them  as  a  comparison  with  a  national  sample  of  graduating  high  school  seniors.  For  example,  if  your  percentile  rank  for  the  Mathematics  Test  is  47,  then  you’ve  scored  better  than  47  percent  of  the  graduating  high  school  seniors  who  also  took  the  Mathematics  Test.    

 In  addition,  you  can  estimate  your  national  class  rank  compared  to  a  sample  of  graduating  high  school  seniors.  Use  the  table  below.  For  example,  if  the  average  of  all  five  test  scores  (battery  average)  is  540  then  you  are  estimated  to  be  in  the  top  25  to  33  percent  of  graduating  high  school  seniors  nationally.          

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GED®  TEST  AVERAGE  STANDARD  SCORE  AND  ESTIMATED  NATIONAL  (U.S.)  CLASS  RANK  OF  GRADUATING  HIGH  SCHOOL  SENIORS  

Battery  Average  Standard  Score  

 Estimated  National  Class  Rank  

700   Top  1%  670   Top  2%  660   Top  3%  640   Top  5%  610   Top  10%  580   Top  15%  570   Top  20%  550   Top  25%  530   Top  33%  520   Top  40%  500   Top  50%  460   Top  55%  450   Top  60%  

Source:  College  Admissions  and  Candidates  with  GED®  High  School  Credential,  GED  Testing  Service  brochure,  2003.