Minnesota Literacy Council - Adult Basic Education FAQs


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Adult Basic Education FAQs

What is Adult Basic Education (ABE)?

Who qualifies for ABE?

What's the difference between GED and Adult Diploma?

How do you know whether to get your GED or Adult Diploma?

Where can I find the latest info on GED 2008, including content and eligibility?

Can I study for the GED on my own?

What are Alternative Programs?

Where can I go to prepare for the TOEFL test?

Where can I learn about post-secondary educational institutions?

What is Adult Basic Education (ABE)?

ABE provides opportunities for Minnesota adults to acquire basic education skills:

necessary for literate functioning and meeting their responsibilities with family and community,
to benefit from post-secondary and job-training programs,
to achieve high school equivalency, and
to achieve self-sufficiency.

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Who qualifies for ABE?

Participants must be age 16 or over, not enrolled in secondary school, and functioning below the 12th grade level in basic academic areas, including reading, math, writing and speaking English.

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What's the difference between GED and Adult Diploma?

An Adult Diploma is awarded by a recognized Minnesota School District based on a learner satisfying that district's prescribed graduation requirements.

The GED Diploma is granted by the State of Minnesota to learners who meet the passing requirements of the five-subject Tests of Educational Development (GED).

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How do you know whether to get your GED or Adult Diploma?

If a learner needs only a small number of credits to complete his/her high school diploma requirements and has the time to complete them, the Adult Diploma option might be the most attractive choice.

If the learner needs many credits to meet high school graduation requirements or desires to obtain a high school credential in a short time period and has the skills necessary to pass the tests, then the GED path may be a better choice.

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Where can I find the latest info on GED 2008, including content and eligibility?

Go to the Minnesota Department of Education Web site.

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Can I study for the GED on my own?

The following Web sites offer free practice tests and information about the GED:

http://litlink.ket.org/wesged.aspl
www.gedpractice.com
http://www.sppl.org/learnatest.html (for individuals with a St. Paul Public library card)

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What are Alternative Programs?

State approved Alternative Programs (Area Learning Centers, Alternative Learning Programs, and Private Contracted Alternatives) are optional educational programs for learners who want to complete High School in a nontraditional setting designed to meet their individual needs. For more information visit the Minnesota Department of Education Web site.

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Where can I go to prepare for the TOEFL test?

Most of the programs listed in this database will not help you prepare for the TOEFL exam. There are online TOEFL resources at Dave's ESL cafe.

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Where can I learn about post-secondary educational institutions?

The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a free educational outreach program helping adults pursue post-secondary education and training. Their office address is:

1501 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-659-6543

Their Web site has an assortment of statewide post-secondary educational resources. Go to http://www.minneapolis.edu/trioprograms/educationalopportunitycenter.

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