GED, High School Diploma, and Literacy Resources in Illinois

The General Educational Development (GED) tests provide a Certificate of High School Equivalency that is an alternative to a high school diploma. The tests cover four subjects: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Eligibility: In Illinois, you must have been an Illinois resident for at least 30 days (documentation required), and in most cases, you must be 18 years old to take the GED. There are special circumstances for when 16 and 17-year-olds can be eligible described on the GED website.

Cost: $36 per subject ($144 total for all four subjects)

Format: Tests can be taken online or at in-person testing centers¹. Each test allows between 75 and 155 minutes, depending on the subject. You can schedule them on separate days, or all on one day with 10-minute breaks between them. If you need to cancel or reschedule, you must do so more than 24 hours in advance or you will not be able to get a refund. The online test has very specific technical requirements and strict rules that must be followed, and you will be monitored by a proctor via webcam at all times.

Additional requirements: GED Test takers in Illinois must also pass the Illinois Constitution test. There is no fee for this test. See this page for more information:

Preparation Classes:

Search for local GED prep centers here: https://www.ged.com/study/ged_classes/

  • Some in-person locations also offer online classes, both with and without a fee.
  • Online prep classes available starting at $69 at the GED website: https://www.ged.com/study/online-classes/
  • St. Augustine College - GED Prep Classes (English & Spanish)
    • https://www.staugustine.edu/general-educational-development/
    • Available to all Illinois residents
  • City Colleges of Chicago - Free GED/ESL classes (Virtual & In-person)
    • https://www.ccc.edu/menu/Pages/I-am-an-English-Language-Learner.aspx
    • Must live in Illinois

Accommodations: Requests for test accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis and include things such as extra testing time, extra breaks, or a separate testing room. The process to request accommodations can take up to 30 days and requires documentation of the disability. Decisions can be appealed. Details here: Accommodations https://www.ged.com/about_test/accommodations/

Scores: The scoring on the GED ranges from 100-200 for each of the four subject tests, so 400-800 total. Illinois uses the suggested total passing score of 580, but other states have the option to set a higher passing score. If you don't pass one or more of the four subject tests, you don't have to retake all four tests; just the test(s) you didn't pass.

Alternative Options to the GED:

HiSET² (High School Equivalency Test) is similar to the GED, and the diploma you get should be accepted anywhere a GED diploma would be accepted. Each state has its own testing requirements, policies, and fees for the HiSET. The main difference is that the HiSET has a paper testing option in most states, and the GED does not.

TASC³ (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) was another version of high school equivalency testing, but it was discontinued in 2021.

  Other Helpful Resources

Adult Learning Resource Center - Illinois Adult Education Hotline

https://alrc.thecenterweb.org/other/illinois-adult-education-hotline/

  • Call or Text: (800) 321-9511
  • The ALRC has information on many Adult Education programs in Illinois including GED prep, Literacy, Citizenship, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Digital Literacy.

U.S. Department of Education - Adult Education and Literacy

https://aefla.ed.gov/

  • The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) supports programs that help adults get the basic skills they need including reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving.

How to Get a Copy of your High School Diploma

1. Contact your school.

  • You can use Google or another search page to look up contact information. If you graduated in Illinois, the links below may also help. Please note, some schools may require you to provide identification or pay a fee to order a copy of your diploma.
  • If the school you graduated from is no longer open, you can contact the local school district.
  •  Illinois Public School District Lookup: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/PublicSchoolDistrictLookup.aspx 
  •  How to request records from non-public schools in Illinois: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Student-Records.aspx

2. Be patient, flexible, and persistent.

  • It can take time for a request to process and be mailed. Ask how long the process should take when you put in the request and set yourself a reminder to follow up with the school if you haven't received the document by then.
  •  Some schools will not offer diploma copies but may instead offer transcripts, or an official letter stating your date of graduation. These options should be acceptable to most places that request a copy of your diploma.
  • Watch out for scams and fraudulent websites that may just take your money and either never deliver the document, and/or offer to create a counterfeit diploma, which is illegal.

3. When you receive the document in the mail, don't open the envelope until you've confirmed whether you need a sealed copy. (Many places that request records will require them to be submitted in their original, unopened envelope, to ensure they haven't been altered.)

Skills Practice

ESL Support

Suggestions for where to look for local resources:

  • Public libraries
  • Colleges and universities
  • Alternative schools
  • Public schools
  • Adult education centers
  • Community-based organizations
  • Nonprofits
  • Literacy advocacy groups

References

  1. https://www.ged.com/about_test/scheduling/
  2. https://hiset.org/illinois/
  3. https://tinyurl.com/awzwv53d