Can students with learning challenges like dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia and those on the autism spectrum succeed on the GED?
While the answer may depend on the severity of an individual’s challenges, from experience, we find that generally, the answer is
YES!
Testimonies from tutors of students with various (and sometimes multiple) learning challenges follow below.
Students with professionally diagnosed learning difficulties may apply for accommodations on the GED tests, but they must still pass all four exams in order to earn their GED credential. Accommodations are granted on a case-by-case basis. Usually students get extra time or extra breaks. Some students with extreme reading difficulties may apply for a reader, but this concession can’t be provided at all test centres as they don’t all have a separate room to accommodate reading aloud.
We recommend that you sign up for a 5-day free trial so that you and the student can see how the online GED prep course works and see how he or she manages.
What does the GED Test?
You can view a detailed description of each subject here: What’s on the GED Test?
The GED tests SKILLS rather than memorisation of large amounts of content like traditional school exams. Probably the most vital skill is the ability to read with comprehension and to think critically about what you read.
A student can take as long as they need to complete the study programme. They should only book each test when the learning programme tells them that they are ready. It shows them that they have achieved good passing scores on the practice tests. There is no deadline for taking the tests in any given year, so the student can learn at their own pace with less time pressure than other options – where all the exams must usually be written in a given year or a limited time frame.
Testimonies of GED Success with Learning Challenges
Tina-Lynn shared:
Oh my goodness, where to begin. Most of the students I have worked with over the last 10 years have challenges to learning. R dropped out of school in Grade 8, and landed with me through my son’s youth group. He was already 19 by then. Fast forward 5 years, and he had his GED, had worked in the US for a year, and is now studying at Soltech.
- K. has Asperger’s, completed the GED by the middle of his Grade 12 year, has completed a diploma in conservation, and is now headed for the UK.
- A. had major depression and anxiety, and simply couldn’t function in a traditional school. She wrote the GED and SAT in her Grade 12 year, completed a marketing qualification at Boston, and is now 2nd year at Stadio, studying B.Ed.
- M. also had anxiety, and really struggled with focus, depression and motivation. He is now 2nd year at AIE. D. had learning difficulties and came to me from a remedial school. He wrote GED in 2021, just after Covid, and is now studying to be a pilot.
- M. had Aspergers and ODD, and wrote the GED in 2019, passing with flying colours.
- J. suffered from Aspergers, ADHD and anxiety. We worked together through high school, and he passed all his subjects with over 160 on the first try.
- M. passed his GED just after his 17th birthday, and is now studying in Europe.
The list goes on and on. GED has been the best solution these students. Some fly through the material, and the confidence it gives them is priceless. Others take a lot longer, but the depth of understanding, ability to read with insight and life skills they leave with are invaluable.
Marlene shared:
I agree with Tina-Lynn. I have learners with some or the other form of dyslexia that are writing final exams and that are prepping for exams.
I have a learner with dyslexia that failed Social Studies at the end of last year and this year we focused on coaching her on how she should approach her questions; start with the question, looking for keywords in questions and in the passage, eliminating answers, using answers to get the correct answer, paragraph by paragraph approach and last week she passed Science, without having done Maths yet, with a solid 155.
What I have found in 8 years is building confidence and teaching the skill of exam writing goes a very, very long way in how we approach GED. I had one learner with dyscalculia that failed Maths once and unfortunately the parent did not trust my methodology and pulled her out. Part of my methodology is that you cannot rush this. It is not about finishing course work and then rushing to write and pass an exam. Once the coursework is done the REAL work starts, prepping to write the exam. The coursework is the vital foundation but the exam prep is just as important. And anyone with whatever challenge can do it with the correct coaching and the will to work at it.
That’s a good line to remember: “…anyone with whatever challenge can do it, with the correct coaching and the will to work at it.”
Gemma told about instances where her students didn’t succeed:
I haven’t had success with: A slow processing speed disorder and with those borderline dyslexics who aren’t severe enough to qualify for concessions. There really isn’t any other condition that can’t manage. We had a full range from epilepsy, everywhere on the autism spectrum, the range of ADHD (both inattentive and not), every kind of anxious diagnosable and the chronically ill (2 genetic and one life limiting).
Ansia shared:
I have a now 21 year old daughter with high function autism. She had emotional burnout in Grade 11. We had to remove her from school to get her anxiety under control. Once we did that we registered with Online GED Prep. She also finished in her first round. She is now studying towards a BA Social science degree at Boston. I am so thankful that she could finish her [grade 12 equivalent] with confidence and having her first step into the adult world.
In closing, as a word of encouragement, the most important thing parents and tutors need to do, is to build up our children’s self-confidence. We need to help them discover their STRONG points. Find what they are good at, what makes them unique as individuals. Help them to find things that they LOVE doing.
Whether they both achieve a certification or not, there is a place in this world where everyone can succeed. When they are given time to develop their interests and useful skills, there is sure to be something that they can pursue as a career.
Encourage your students to think entrepreneurially. Education is essential and it should be ongoing, but it doesn’t look the same for all of us. Likewise, some people make good employees, others are better off being self-employed.