KnowHow2GoKy

Adults - Jump-start your education, life and career by getting your GED in Kentucky

The nationally recognized GED® test offers you an opportunity to earn a Kentucky high school equivalency diploma aligned with current high school standards (including grade 12 standards) and career- and college-readiness expectations. The GED® test is four tests that show you have the same level of knowledge as graduating high school seniors in Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies. 

Be sure to go to GED.com and create an account to learn more about the test and access all of the services to help you through the test-taking journey.

Step 1 - Make sure you qualify

To take the GED® test in Kentucky, you must:

  • Have a Kentucky address.
  • Be 19 or have reached the legal age of withdrawal in the local school district where you live and be withdrawn for at least 90 days.
  • Pass GED Ready™, the official practice test.

Step 2 - Contact a local adult education center

Lots of help is available to help you prepare for the GED® test.

  • Adult education centers in every Kentucky county offer free classes.
  • The adult education centers can also help get you started.  There may be distance distance learning options, such as KET's Fast Forward, so you can study at home.
  • But, please beware of any online programs that purport to offer the GED® credential.  The credential is only issued by the state when taken at official test centers under contract to GED Testing Service®.

Step 3 - Take the test

The national fee to take the GED® test is $30 for each of the four modules, which amounts to $120 for the complete test. Discounts may be available through the local adult education centers. The test can be taken at Pearson VUE/GED Testing Centers at numerous Kentucky locations. You can find a test center near you at the test center locator at GED.com.

You can earn a GED® test credential only by going in person and taking the test at an Official Person VUE/GED® Testing Center™.

Step 4 - Receive your results

You can view your test results online at GED.com. If you pass, you'll receive your diploma in about a week.

Your Score

Test-takers must earn a minimum score of 145 on each of the four content areas (Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies) in order to earn a high school equivalency credential. 

To demonstrate higher level skills, the GED® test has two additional score designations: GED® College Ready (165-174) and GED® College Ready + Credit (175-200).  GED College Ready and College Ready + Credit are performance level designations evaluated and recommended by the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT®). 

If you do not pass, you can study some more and take the test again. GED Testing Service® discounts the cost of retakes to $10 for two additional attempts per content area per year.