Free Online GED Classes

Written by:
John Hamilton

Are There Free GED Classes Online?

While many GED classes require payment of a registration fee, there are community colleges and adult education programs that offer free online GED classes. These programs are typically open to residents who meet minimum age requirements (16 or 18 years of age, depending on the state) and undergo an enrollment process that could include taking an assessment test. Below is just a sampling of schools offering free online GED classes to qualifying students. You can check with your state department of education to see if any free courses are available in your area.

Illinois Central College

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has provided a grant so state residents at least 16 years of age can take free online GED classes at Illinois Central College (ICC) free of charge. Don’t forget the enrollment is on a ”first come, first served” basis, and you will be administered a reading test. You can register at the start of a semester or at the halfway point of a semester.

Maryland Adult Education Online

The Maryland i-Pathways program is free to state residents who are at least 18 years old, and you can study whenever and wherever with the flexible online offerings. You will be required to take pre-tests in reading and mathematics. In addition, online teachers can give you weekly feedback.

South Bay Adult School

This Los Angeles County school features a ”GED Information Live Webinar” to start you on your journey. Once enrolled, the school’s free blended courses offer a combination of in-person lab work with computer learning. When the campus is open, students must attend the lab at least twice each week.

What Other GED Study Aids Are Available to Me?

Some sites offer free practice tests and other supplemental study materials, including videos and question breakdowns. While you can’t take the actual GED online (and you should be aware of sites offering such), there are plenty of additional ways to prepare for the test online beforehand.

GED.com

We should note here that GED.com is the official online resource to prepare for the GED examination. Signing up for an account on GED.com is free, and so are some of the study guides and materials offered under the ”Study” tab. However, most of the in-depth, online preparatory work has a cost associated.

Study.com

Study.com hosts a comprehensive review of each subject on the GED. The GED Study Guide has over 1,300 video lessons, practice quizzes, and test-taking tips to prepare students for each section of the test. Study.com also has targeted courses students can use to increase their expertise on all four sections of the GED exam:

The subject-specific courses each provide short video lessons and engaging practice questions to ensure students are understanding the review material.

Lastly, Study.com’s wealth of GED review courses can be accessed on a phone or tablet so students can take their studying with them wherever they go each day. The lessons are available 24/7 with no need to schedule in advance, so students can study whenever it is most convenient for them.

GED Study Tips

What’s the best way to go about studying to pass your GED examination? Everyone is different, so that will certainly vary from person to person. However, count on studying for at least three months at the bare minimum and more realistically set a goal of studying for one full year in advance of the test.

Don’t forget that for part of the mathematics test you will be allowed to use a calculator to answer questions. You may want to do some research or even contact your test center to find out what model will be utilized for your test. That way you can familiarize yourself with your calculator and its buttons before exam day.

The week before the test it is not a great idea to start cramming and staying up late. This will only make you more stressed, and the lack of sleep will exhaust you on test day. Instead, create a set study and sleep schedule that final week and stick to it.

When test time arrives, remember that the GED does not penalize for wrong answers, so you absolutely want to make your best guess and fill in every single answer. If you do have to resort to making an educated guess, try to eliminate some answers so you have it down to two choices.