How to register for the GED in South Africa

Check that you may write

• Age: 18 or older. At 17 you must complete the age waiver in your GED.com account first. Nobody aged 16 or younger may write in South Africa.
• Identification: a Smart ID card, an old green ID book or a valid passport, showing your full name, date of birth and photograph. Birth certificates are not accepted.
• Foreign nationals: you need valid documentation such as a South African ID, study permit, refugee status or a valid visa, and you send certified copies for approval before booking. The address is on the official policy page.
• Language: the test is in English.

The steps

1. Create your own account at GED.com using your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, and choose South Africa.
2. Prepare for the subject you want to write first.
3. Buy and take the GED Ready practice test for that subject on GED.com. You need at least 145.
4. Book the official test: choose a test centre and a time, and pay the fee of 90 US dollars for the subject.
5. On the day, arrive early with your accepted ID. You write on a computer at the centre.
6. Repeat for the other subjects. You may write them on different days or on the same day.

If you do not pass a subject

You can book the subject again straight away after a first unsuccessful attempt; there is no waiting period. After you have taken the same subject three times, you must wait 60 days before trying again. You pay the test fee each time.

Your score report shows which skills to work on. It is usually better to spend a few weeks on those skills than to rebook immediately.

After you pass all four

Your GED.com account explains how to get your transcript and diploma. If you need it for study or work in South Africa, you can apply to SAQA for a Certificate of Evaluation. Read Is the GED accepted by South African universities? so you know what the credential does and does not do here.

Common questions

Where do I write the GED in South Africa?

At an authorised test centre. When you book on GED.com you see the centres and times available to you.

Can I write the GED online at home in South Africa?

The official South African policy describes testing at test centres. Check your GED.com account for the options currently offered to you.

How old must I be to write the GED in South Africa?

18 or older. If you are 17 you must first complete an age waiver in your GED.com account. Nobody aged 16 or younger may write.

Can I write all four GED subjects on one day?

Yes, the policy allows it, but most people do better writing one or two subjects at a time.

Sources

• GED Testing Service: South Africa policies

Read next

• GED Ready: the official practice test you must pass first
• How much does the GED cost in South Africa?
• GED passing score: how the GED is marked