Washington D.C. GED Requirements
- Resident: You must be a resident of Washington DC.
- Age: You must be 18 years of age. However, if you are 16 or 17, you must provide documentation from a principal, director, or superintendent of having withdrawn from a traditional educational program six months prior to sitting for the GED® test; or provide a notarized letter from a parent, guardian, government agency, or court granting permission to sit for the GED test. Be sure to review your state’s rules and requirements before testing.
- Enrolled: You cannot be enrolled in an accredited high school or be a high school graduate.
- Cost: Test Center: $3.75 (per subject) or $15 (all subjects). Online: $36 (per subject)
- Score: 145 (minimum) in each subject
- Accommodations: You must apply for disability accommodations through the GED test’s accommodations page.
- Diploma: After you pass the test, Washington DC will award you a GED certificate that will show you have achieved the same level of knowledge as a high school graduate.
Online GED Classes
Online programs like GED Academy are available to help you get your GED fast and easy.
Below you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about how to get a GED in Washington D.C..
The GED testing service offers an official GED practice test for $6 per subject. Essential Education offers a free online GED practice test. You can take our free practice test in one subject, several subjects, or all of the subjects.
You can earn a high school equivalency certificate by taking the Washington DC GED test. Employers and 99% of colleges will accept a GED certificate in place of a high school diploma.
The Washington DC GED exam tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts.
| SUBJECT | TIME |
|---|---|
| Math | 115 minutes |
| Social Studies | 90 minutes |
| Science | 90 minutes |
| Language Arts | 150 minutes |
| Total | 7 hours, 41 minutes |
| SUBJECT | # OF QUESTIONS |
|---|---|
| Math | 46 |
| Social Studies | 35 |
| Science | 34 |
| Language Arts | 46 |
The DC GED test is $3.75 per subject, or $15 in full.
You must score at least 145 points (45% correct) in each of the four subjects. You can check your score after you complete your test on your MyGED account with the GED testing service.
You can take any subject on the test up to 2 times with no waiting period, but after the 3rd attempt you must wait 60 days before your next attempt.
The GED test must be taken at an official GED testing center or online*. Find the closest center to you in DC by clicking here.
*Online Proctored GED test notification update: 7-26-2021
Beginning September 1st, 2021, there will be an Online Proctored (OP) GED test option, which means that you will have the option to take your GED test remotely (online). For more information, please click here.
Yes, you must be a resident of Washington DC to take their GED test.
You must be 18 years old or older.
If you are 16 or 17, you can take the test if you apply for and receive an age waiver. You will also need to provide a notarized letter of permission from a parent or guardian. In addition, you need documentation stating one of the following:
- Have not been enrolled in a traditional high school program for at least six months and has submitted a Notice of Intent to Home School with OSSE.
- Have not been enrolled in a traditional high school program for at least six months, and is enrolled in a DCPS or DC Public Charter School-based educational program that provides preparation toward your GED completion.
- Is incarcerated or in an out-of-home secure placement with the juvenile justice system, so you could not reasonably complete a tradition high school diploma program based on the current level of academic credits and time remaining for compulsory education.
- Is enrolled in a program established by the federal law to provide GED test preparation to youth under 18.
If you have a disability, you can apply for disability accommodations through the GED test’s accommodations page. Don’t know if you qualify? Click here for more information.
To get a copy of your GED transcript, you can request it through the GED testing service. Just click here to get started.
Over 20 Million Adults
That's how many have successfully passed the GED Test. So why wait?
Sign Up Now"My goal was to gain the satisfaction of knowing that I could obtain my GED certificate. I had been putting this off for the last 35 years. At 51 I feel like I have really accomplished something significant. Something that nobody can take away from me or minimize the importance of my accomplishment, I did this for me."