Changes to the GED Testing Requirements

7 November 2023

Effective from 15 January 2024, all students will be required to take the GED Ready® practice test and must achieve a score of at least 145 before being eligible to schedule the official GED test. To purchase GED Ready® practice test vouchers: https://ged.org.za/index.php/product/ged-ready-practice-test/

This new requirement is not retroactive and only applies to a student’s next GED subject test to complete. If a student takes a GED Ready and scores a “green” then that student must schedule their GED test within the next 60 days for that subject. If the student fails that GED subject test, they are not required to take another GED Ready before scheduling another GED test.

We recommend that students take their GED subject test within 2 weeks of taking the GED Ready for that subject. Keeping information fresh in mind will help increase the chances of passing.

There is no limit to the number of GED Ready practice tests that you can purchase. Please note that each purchase provides one GED Ready practice test for you to take.

This applies to ALL students outside of the USA.

Changes to the SA ID Testing Requirements

28 April 2022

Following the ending of the National State of Disaster, the special arrangement whereby South African GED students were able to test with their birth certificate and an affidavit has come to an end.

This return to the original policy was communicated directly from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to Boston City Campus and they are required to follow all directives from DHA.

What this means for students. With immediate effect, on arrival at the testing centre on the day of an exam, a student will need to either present their ID, valid passport, or the DHA receipt proving that they applied for their SA ID. Should they be using the receipt while waiting for their ID, then a student will need to also bring their birth certificate and the signed affidavit as temporary proof of ID.

It is a South African requirement that any student over the age of 16 applies for a South African Identity Document/Smart ID Card.

Should a test have already been booked prior to 27 April 2022 and there is no reasonable opportunity for the student to apply for his/her ID before the test date, an exception to the above will be made. This exception will not be available for very long, so we urge students to apply for their ID document as soon as possible.

Boston Testing Centre Closure Extended

12 July 2021

Following last night’s announced extension to the Level 4 adjusted regulations, Boston GED Test Centres are now only expected to open after the 26th July.
Click on the link for the guide on how to reschedule your test http://ged.org.za/index.php/how-to-reschedule-a-test/

New SAQA Evaluation Application Process for the GED®

7 July 2021

Exciting News!

We have signed an agreement with SAQA to enable SAQA to verify GED® students credentials directly on the GED® database.

This means that you are no longer required to order the third party verification to be sent directly from America to SAQA.This is a saving of $15 (about R220) for you!

Click HERE for the updated SAQA application guide.

GED® Test – Extension on the Relaxation of ID Requirements

30 June 2021

GED Testing Service® in America has approved an extension on the special arrangement for students who are not able to apply for their Smart ID cards but are ready to test. This arrangement has been extended due to the challenges faced by the third wave of COVID-19.

For affected students, in place of their Smart ID, they may test with their Birth Certificate, together with the completed Affidavit on the link http://ged.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFFIDAVIT.pdf.

By using the Birth Certificate and Affidavit, the student will still meet the testing ID requirements of:

Full Name
Date of Birth
Signature
Photo

GED® Test – ID Requirements being Re-Instated

19 April 2021

With the easing of lockdown levels and the re-opening of the Home Affairs Department, the GED Testing Service® will be re-instating the GED® testing ID requirements with effect from 1 August 2021.

In August 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown and the temporary closure of the South African Home Affairs Department, the GED Testing Service® in America approved a special arrangement for South African students, whereby affected students, in place of their Smart ID, could test with their Birth Certificate, together with a completed Affidavit.

Therefore, from 1 August 2021, South African GED® students will only be admitted into a testing venue with their government issued ID. The ID must meet the GED® testing requirements of having the below student details. The Smart ID meets these requirements. Please refer to http://ged.org.za/index.php/exam-centres/testing-centres-south-africa/ for more information.

Full Name
Date of Birth
Signature
Photo

Therefore, Birth Certificates will NOT be accepted as a valid form of identification to write the GED® test from 1 August 2021.

Join the New GED® Mailing List

14 April 2021

As the official Africa office of the American GED Testing Service®, we strive to educate and inform potential and current GED® students and parents. With the implementation of the POPIA (Protection of Personal Information) Act on 1 July 2021, we are re-working the way that we communicate with our GED mailing lists.

To ensure that you continue receiving relevant GED information, please can you click on the link https://zc.vg/xrPdu to add yourself to the GED POPIA approved mailing list.

Once you have filled-in your email address and name and clicked ‘Join Now’, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Please click on the green “Confirm Subscription” button, otherwise we will not be able to send you GED relevant information.

We will only be sending information and updates out to this new mailing list after 1 July 2021. If you do not add yourself to the list by clicking on the link above, you will no longer receive emails from us.

GED® Test – Relaxation of ID Requirements During COVID-19 Lockdown

7 August 2020

GED® South Africa has had several students approach us unable to book or write their GED® tests as they have not been able to apply for their Smart ID cards as a result of lockdown. With no indication as to when Home Affairs in South Africa will open for students to be able to apply for their ID cards, the GED Testing Service® in America has approved the below arrangement for these affected students. This arrangement is only available for the duration of this COVID-19 pandemic and only for South African students.

By using the Birth Certificate and Affidavit, the student will still meet the testing ID requirements of:

- Full Name

- - Date of Birth
- - Signature
- Photo

South African Testing Centres Re-opening

12 June 2020

We are very excited to announce that with effect from Monday 15 June 2020, Boston City Campus VUE Testing Centres will re-open for GED® students.

However, as per requirements, at this stage only one testing station per testing centre will be open at a time.

This means that only one student will be able to book and test at a time per testing centre. This will limit the amount of bookings per testing centre.
Each testing station will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised after each student has tested.

Boston City Campus Pearson VUE testing Centres

28 May 2020

On the 24th of May 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will now move to the Risk Adjusted Level 3 lockdown period. This regulations under the Level 3 lockdown will be in effect from 01 June 2020.

In line with the announcement made by the president, Boston City Campus has to abide by the directives published for the Higher Education sector, which was delivered by Minister Blade Nzimande on Saturday, 23 May 2020.

In these directives, a number of requirements are listed and must be adhered to and implemented as part of the organisation’s confirmation of readiness to open and allow the return of our students.

As a result, Boston City Campus is awaiting guidance as to when the Pearson VUE testing centres will open for GED® students to write their examinations. It is anticipated that testing centres will not be available to re-open bookings as soon as the Campus’ re-open, due to the student number restrictions placed on Higher Education Institutions.

NQF Amendment Bill Update

Published – 20 September 2019

Umalusi hosted a roundtable discussion on 28 November 2018 on the offering of foreign qualifications in South Africa. The GED®, together with other foreign qualification providers, presented at this discussion.

Following the roundtable, communication was sent to the Minister of Basic Education recommending the inclusion of foreign qualifications on the General and Further Education and Training Qualifications sub-framework (GFETQSF).

The outcome saw the drafting of an amendment bill, which the President then signed on 13 August 2019. The bill will come into operation on a future date to be determined by the President.

We see this as a positive first step.

The amendment bill can be viewed here: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201908/4264619-8act12of2019natqualificationsframeamendact.pdf .

We have received communication from the CEO of Umalusi confirming that the status quo will remain until the finalisation of the policy on the regulation of foreign qualifications.

New Age Requirement Policy in South Africa

Published – 14 December 2018

This serves as official notice that the GED Testing Service intends to implement a new 17 year old age requirement for testing in South Africa as of 1 April 2019.

For students who have already started studying the GED, there will an exception process to make the new policy implementation fair for those who are already in the system. Any student who is 16 years old and will have passed at least one test subject before 1 April 2019, will be allowed to continue and finish all four GED tests without being affected by the new age requirement.

USAf

USAf are now clamping down on the regulations relating to the issuing of Foreign Conditional Exemption.

USAf has confirmed in writing that they will not consider applications for foreign conditional exemption from South African-based holders of the GED® who

Register for, or begin work on the GED® after the end of 2018. (This will allow people currently enrolled for the GED® to complete the credential, seek admission to a foreign university and apply to the Matriculation Board for foreign conditional exemption. It will however, mean that this route will be closed to new South African GED® candidates); or
Obtain the GED® credential after December 2019.

Many overseas universities accept the GED® for admission purposes and offer highly regarded degree programmes. South African GED® graduates who wish to enrol for degree study do have the option to consider overseas online universities.