FAQ’s

GED®, ESL, and Adult Reading classes are held in the morning and evening hours at various locations across Houston, Henry, Barbour, Bullock, and Dale Counties. Open enrollment permits students from all levels to enroll at any time. These FREE classes allow students to gain academic instruction from very basic skills up to a college level. Click here to view class locations and schedules.

Adult education class closings will be posted on the Wallace Community College website and the Adult Education page. Students should also register for WCC Alert to receive updated information pertaining to weather and other emergencies. Most importantly, use your best judgment in deciding whether or not to travel to class; your safety is top priority.

Individuals for whom English is not their native language are usually directed, at least initially, to an ESL class. ESL stands for English as a Second Language; however, we also incorporate civics skills and US citizenship preparation. Emphasis here for the beginning student is on acquiring conversation and survival skills in English. More advanced learners tackle difficult vocabulary, confusing usages with a focused concentration on reading and writing English. Many ESL learners go on to enroll in reading or GED® classes.

GED® stands for General Educational Development. The GED® test is a four-subject high school equivalency test that measures skills required by high schools and requested by colleges and employers. The four subjects assessed are science, social studies, mathematical reasoning, and reasoning through language arts. The test may be taken in Spanish, but it is generally taught only in English. A basic knowledge of English is strongly recommended.

The complete battery is about 7 hours long with the timing for each subject as follows:

Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA)-150 minutes (including a 10-minute break)

Mathematical Reasoning- 115 minutes

Science- 90 minutes

Social Studies- 70 minutes

* Please Note: You can only schedule two subjects in one day due to the length of each test. 

The time required to prepare for the test varies. Some factors include the length of time out of school, the highest grade completed, consistency of class attendance, and how much time is dedicated to studying the material. Usually, an instructor can give learners a general idea of how long the process will take after the initial academic assessment. After classroom preparation, our enrollees may take GED® Ready: the official GED® Practice Test. This practice test gives the student a good indication of what their scores will be on the actual GED® test.

The requirements to take the GED® exam specify that a person is not enrolled in a K-12 school and has not previously earned a high school diploma. Those 18 and over have no additional requirements; however, 16 and 17 year-olds must meet additional criteria: 

The test costs $36 for each subject area. Re-takes are available for $10 per section for the first time. After the first re-take the price resets to $36 per section. Examinees may schedule tests separately and only take the subjects they are prepared for. However, most of our students qualify for vouchers that cover the entire cost of the test!

Examinees can test in the same subject three (3) times without a waiting period. After the 3rd attempt, the examinee must wait 60 days before testing in that same subject. The first retake will be $10. After the first re-take the price resets to $36 per section. An examinee must make a minimum score of 145 on each part of the test in order to pass. Candidates who are unsuccessful at passing all four parts only have to retest on the parts that do not meet the minimum score requirements.

GED testing centers are located throughout Alabama, with two centers in our area at Wallace Community College – Dothan campus and Wallace Community College – Eufaula, Sparks campus. Prospective GED examinees can phone the testing center at (334) 556-2373. Applicants must register and pay online prior to testing. However, the test cannot be taken anywhere other than an approved testing facility.

Examinees only need to bring their ID with them on the day of the test. GED examinees must provide a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or learner’s permit, passport, national/state/country identification card, or any other form of government-issued ID card. An examinee must register using the exact name on his/her ID.

All other items (i.e. jackets, hats, wallets, keys, purses, etc.) will be locked in a locker while you test. No food or drinks are allowed in the testing facility.

The test is only available on computer in Alabama and must be taken at an official GED® Testing Center. The testing centers do not offer on-site registration. To register and pay for the test, test-takers must go to www.ged.com or call 1-877-EXAM-GED (392-6433).

Examinees should be able to reschedule their exam as long as they contact GED Testing Service/Pearson VUE at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled test. Emergency situations would be handled through Pearson as well. 

Please call (877) 392-6433 to reschedule.

Test-takers will be able to log into their MYGED account on www.ged.com and see their scores anytime they want. Students are also able to access scores on their smartphones. Once an examinee has passed all four subjects, you will receive an email with a link and password to access your electronic transcript and diploma. You can download these up to seven (7) times and can print off as many as you need. You can also select an option to have your diploma mailed to you.

The GED® scale runs from 100 to 200, with 145 scaled score points as the Passing Standard for high school equivalency; 165 scaled score points indicates that you are GED College Ready, and a score of 175 or above indicates that you are college ready and may qualify for some college credit. To pass the test in Alabama, you must score 145 points on each of the four tests/modules.

Each April we enjoy celebrating our students’ progress with a GED graduation. Informational letters are mailed out approximately six to eight weeks prior to the graduation date. Anyone who has passed the GED and has not attended a previous graduation is eligible to attend and will receive a letter, but pre-registration is required. Please call the adult education office at (334) 556-2613 if you have any questions.

You will receive an email with a link and password to access your electronic transcript and diploma. You can download these up to seven (7) times and can print off as many as you need. You can also select an option to have your diploma mailed to you. However, you have a two-month window of time to access these documents. After that time is up, you will need to follow the steps below. 

How to access your transcripts if you are not a “new” test taker:

Click here to create an account in order to pay to receive your electronic transcript. The cost is $18 and you will receive your electronic transcript by email. Download, save, and print this transcript for current and later use.

Yes! GED® graduates that attended an Alabama Adult Education program automatically qualify for a scholarship for one FREE college class at any Alabama community college. There are also several other scholarships graduates may qualify for and are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships as possible. For information about scholarships and enrollment into college contact Rebecca Greenwood at (334) 556-6823.

Our Career Coach, Rebecca Greenwood, helps students make the transition to college by assisting students with the application process, exploring financial aid opportunities, deciding on a major, and answering any other questions about attending college. Contact Rebecca Greenwood by calling (334) 556-6823 or send an email to rgreenwood@wallace.edu