GED Preparation
Submit an Online Admissions Application
If you are at least 18 years of age you may enroll into the Adult GED Preparation Program at College of the Desert.
After your application has been processed, you will receive an email containing your unique College of the Desert student ID number and student portal login credentials. All students are admitted to College of the Desert after an admissions application has been submitted.
Returning students who have attended COD within the year do not need to reapply.
Activate your FREE college email
All communications with students will be through the free COD student email address. All new students are required to have their MyCOD email account activated.
Complete Your Online Orientation
Orientation is mandatory for all new students. The online orientation is available through your MyCOD student portal dashboard.
Register For Classes
Register for classes through your Self-Service portal on or after the priority registration date.
Pay Your Fees
Pay fees through your Self-Service portal by selecting Financial Information>Student Finance>Make A Payment.
Students are financially responsible for classes in which they enroll. Students are also responsible for dropping courses they are not attending.
Study Resources Available to You
Students enrolled in the GED preparation course will have access to study tools and content through their MyCOD student portal. You will be able to monitor your progress through each subject as you work through the course.
The Finish Line Is Near!
Students who have completed the GED preparation course or feel ready to take the exam may sign up for testing through the GED website. You can take the exam either from the comfort of your own home or at a secure testing site.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The minimum age requirement to take the GED test is 18 unless you meet any one of the additional requirements:
If you are underage, you must meet one of the following additional requirements:
- You must be within 60 days of your 18th birthday (regardless of school enrollment status).
- You are within 60 days of when you would have graduated from high school had you remained in school and followed the usual course of study. (Candidates testing under this criterion may not be enrolled in high school.)
- You are 17 years of age; have been out of school for at least 60 consecutive days; and provide a letter of request for the test from the military, a postsecondary educational institution, or a prospective employer. The letter is to be provided to a test administrator at a local Pearson VUE test center that delivers the GED test for the administrator’s review and approval.
For those testing on the Online Exam:
- Online testing is available in California for any test-taker who meets the eligibility requirements for California.
- A test taker under the age of 18, with an approved waiver from the California Department of Education due to additional requirements may be eligible to test.
- A parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in to give consent and authorize the under 18 test taker to be recorded during testing. If the parent or guardian is not present, the exam session will be revoked.
No, you are not required to take a class before taking the GED test. However, instruction prior to testing is a benefit to test takers.
There is a mandatory health fee of $21.00 per semester for the Spring and Fall semesters and $18.00 for Summer session (when offered).
The instructor will provide you with additional information on how to access and purchase books.
Each students' timeline varies. GED Preparation students work at their own pace and schedule.
The total time of the GED test is 7 ½ hours.
The GED test is comprised of four subjects:
Reasoning through Language Arts: 3 sections (150 minutes)
- Section 1 - Tests all content 35 minutes
- Section 2 - Extended Response 45 minutes
- Required break 10 minutes
- Section 3 -Tests all content 60 minutes
Mathematical Reasoning: 1 section 2 parts (115 minutes)
- Part 1 - First 5 questions (calculator not allowed)
- Part 2 - Remaining 41 questions (calculator allowed)
Social Studies: 2 sections (90 minutes)
- Section 1 - Tests all content 25 minutes
- Section 2 - Extended response 65 minutes
Science (1 section - total 90 minutes)
- Section 1 - Test all content 70 minutes
- Short answer questions #1 (Recommend 10 minutes max)
- Short answer question #2 (Recommend 10 minutes max)
Starting July 1, 2023, California charges $41 per subject for the GED test.
