Dr. Shafiq

February 25 2024

05:57:00

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Difference Between GED and High School Diploma

You may have heard of the General Educational Development or GED test if you couldn't complete your secondary school education. GED is a high school-equivalent test and is a great way to demonstrate your academic skills and knowledge without having to finish high school.

In this write-up, I’ll discuss the differences between GED and High School Diploma. I will further explain the requirements for attending a GED test and how it differs from the secondary school diploma. You'll also get to know the advantages and disadvantages of each option so you can choose wisely.

What Is GED?

GED stands for General Educational Development. It is a test that measures a person's skills and knowledge in language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics.

This test is used to demonstrate high school-level academic skills and knowledge and is accepted by universities and workforces as an equivalent to a school-leaving qualification. However, students who could not complete high school can only take this test.

To attend a GED test, you have to fulfil some requirements. Let’s see what they are:

An age of 16 years or above
Mustn’t be currently enrolled in a high school.
You will require valid IDs.
Have to have an incomplete high school.
Can’t take the test more than 3 times in a year.

Advantages of GED

A GED test allows students who could not complete high school to prove their knowledge and continue studying further. Let’s explore some advantages of this test:

High school dropouts can resume their study through the GED test.
Won’t require attendance in prep classes as it’s not very important.
You need to pass only 4 subjects to pass.
Being a computer-based test, you can take it online from home.
Costs around $120 only, which is much cheaper.

Disadvantages of GED

With many advantages, GED also comes with a few disadvantages. Let’s explore these:

A GED test is not open for all.
It has many social stigmas associated with it.
Offers very few career opportunities with limited benefits.
Not all services will allow you to join with this qualification.

What Is A High School Diploma

What Is A High School Diploma?

Secondary school diplomas are qualifications awarded to students who have completed the required coursework for high school. The school usually issues the diploma that the student attended, and the principal and other school officials must sign it.

It is also known as a secondary school diploma or a graduation certificate. This qualification shows that a student has completed all the necessary courses and requirements of high school credits.

Here are the requirements you have to fulfil to get a secondary school diploma:

Pass all required courses like English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and other general education courses.
Satisfy all graduation requirements as set by your school.
Complete a set number of credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Submit a capstone project or senior thesis if required by your school.
Participate in community service or extracurricular activity if required by your school.
Obtain a letter of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counsellor, or other adult mentors.

Advantages of Secondary School Diploma

With secondary school-leaving diplomas, you can plan your career or higher study accordingly. It will offer you many advantages as below:

Increased education opportunities.
Better job opportunities.
Higher earning potential.
Further education opportunities like bachelor’s, master’s, etc.
Improved self-esteem.
Increased professional networking.

Disadvantages of Secondary School Diploma

Like every other qualification, this qualification also has many disadvantages. They are as follows:

Takes a longer time to complete.
Only a secondary school diploma has low earning potential.
You won't have professional advancement having a secondary school diploma only.

Also Read:

What Is The Difference Between GED And High School Diploma

What Is The Difference Between GED And High School Diploma?

Is there a difference between GED and high school diploma? Both are awarded to students who complete secondary education but differ in many ways. Let's see some of the significant differences:

Academic Requirements

The biggest distinction between a GED and a general High-School Diploma is the academic requirement. To be a secondary or general diploma graduate, you must complete many coursework requirements, assignments, projects, etc.

On the other hand, GED does not have any specific course requirements. You can choose to complete the prep before sitting for the test.

Test Requirements

The GED test requires less time to complete as you will have to take an exam on 4 subjects. Altogether, the test will take around 7.5 hours if you take all of them at once.

In contrast, in secondary School Diploma students have to take exams in each class to earn their grades. After completing all the courses, you will get a cumulative grade. However, you can take the GED test three times a year.

Learning Experience

The learning experience for a secondary school diploma is much broader than for a GED. It will allow you to learn and experience various courses and topics. However, the GED test is limited to only 4 courses. So, the scope for learning is very narrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between high school diploma and GED?

A GED is a computer-based test for students who cannot complete high school for personal or financial reasons. It assesses the high school-level skills and knowledge of a student. However, a secondary diploma qualification is awarded to high school graduates.

Is it bad to get a GED instead of a diploma?

A GED is equivalent to a General Diploma, but they are different from each other. Employers, universities, and colleges sometimes prefer a secondary school diploma to GED.

Why is a GED not as good as a diploma?

It’s because GED is a standardized computer-based test on limited subjects. However, a Secondary School Diploma has a wider learning curve and is preferred by employers and universities.

What is easier to get GED or high school diploma?

GED is easier to crack compared to a high general diploma. A GED test takes significantly less time than a secondary school diploma. Plus, the test subjects are also fewer for GED.

Final Thoughts

Having learned about the difference between GED and High School Diploma, you can say that both of them measure basic academic skills and knowledge. While the GED test is often the best option for people who did not finish high school, a secondary school or general diploma may be more beneficial in the long run.