GED vs High School Diploma
GED and High school diploma are thought as effectively the same by many people because of the difference between GED and High School Diploma being somewhat blurry. Though it is true that for some persons, having passed GED is considered to be equivalent to having passed High School Diploma, there is a significant difference between the two certificates. However, you must have seen that in many places, a distinction is not made between a GED and High School Diploma, but the general perception is to hold a GED in lower esteem than a regular High School Diploma. This article intends to clarify all confusions and myths surrounding these two examinations; namely, General Educational Development, or in short, GED and High School Diploma.
What is High School Diploma?
High School Diploma is the academic school leaving certification that is given to a student in his high school graduation. High school is from Grade 9 to Grade 12. It takes a student 4 years to pass high school diploma. With regular schooling, it is not possible to get high school diploma before the age of 18. To get the high school diploma, students must complete the coursework given by the school. The study subjects and their extent depend on the state of study. That means the coursework changes from school to school depending where the schools are situated. For example, in Illinois, the students must follow English, mathematics, science, social science, world language, fine arts, physical education, and elective classes meeting selected criteria as part of the program of study for the High School Diploma. High school diploma gives more credentials in a working place for the diploma holder. When it comes to colleges, if you have a good grade in a high school diploma, then you are accepted. For a regular high school diploma holder, no entry tests are required.
What is GED?
In 1942, due to pressing demands from soldiers returning from war, General Educational Development (GED) was introduced to allow such people to demonstrate their knowledge. Those who passed these tests got academic credentials that were sufficient for them to land with jobs in various industries. GED is a group of fives tests (science, social studies, mathematics, language arts – reading, language arts – writing) that, after passing, certify that the candidate has high school level academic skills. The test has to be taken in person and not available on the net. In today’s circumstances, GED is a means of obtaining jobs for those individuals who for some reason have not been able to continue their studies to obtain regular high school diplomas. Those who get high school diplomas are not eligible to take GED. However, if someone is deciding to leave high school early, without completing the diploma, then that person can also take GED.
Thus, having passed GED makes a person qualified to get jobs that are considered fit for high school diploma holders. But similarities between GED and High school diploma end here as there are many differences that are outlined below.
GED is viewed very differently and, in general, employers do not take it in good light. They have negative feelings about a person with GED and prefer high school diploma holders to recruit for the job. You can be pretty certain that if you are competing with a person who has regular high school diploma and you are GED, your chances of securing the job are too low.
GED can be obtained with 6-7 hours of testing. GED takes less time, preparation, effort and responsibility than to get a regular high school diploma. People can take GED at the age of 16, and for that matter at any age subsequently in their lives. Though most of the colleges accept a GED for higher studies, they make a GED pass another entrance level examination.
What is the difference between GED and High School Diploma?
GED is an exam that is considered equivalent to High School Diploma. It was introduced, basically, to provide academic qualification to those who for some reason are not able to complete their high school diploma. However, there are some differences between both.
• GED is held in lower esteem than high school diploma.
• GED takes less time, preparation, effort and responsibility than to get a regular high school diploma.
• It takes a student 4 years to pass high school diploma whereas GED can be obtained with 6-7 hours of testing.
• People can take GED at the age of 16, and for that matter at any age subsequently in their lives. However, with regular schooling, it is not possible to get high school diploma before the age of 18.
• Though most of the colleges accept a GED for higher studies, they make a GED holder pass another entrance level examination, which is not required in the case of a regular high school diploma holder.
Images Courtesy:
- Benjamin Franklin High School Diploma – 1934 via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
