ROE #21 GED Testing Services

The Illinois State Board of Education has the responsibility for coordinating a statewide system for the issuance of Illinois High School Diplomas. While the registration process is completed at GED.com, ROEs have administrative and certificate issuance authority in all regions of the state, except Cook County. ROE #21 has a GED testing site, and it is through our office that you receive your GED transcript and Illinois High School Diploma when you have passed the test. You must be registered with GED as a resident of Franklin, Johnson, Massac, or Williamson County for us to be able to provide your transcript or certificate. If you have any questions about the GED test, transcripts, or certificates, please contact us.

Upcoming GED Test Dates

Sorry, we don't have any upcoming GED tests scheduled. Please check back later for updates.

GED Test Eligibility

An individual is eligible to take the GED test if they meet all the following conditions:

  • Is 17 years of age or older*

  • Does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate

  • Is a resident of the State of Illinois

*Students who are 16 years old may test if they are enrolled in Lincoln's Challenge. Students who are 17 years old are allowed to test without exceptions if they provide a withdrawal letter from a school within the previous 12 months. Proof of withdrawal can be emailed to hse@illinois.gov (preferred) or faxed to 217-558-6700. Please allow 3-5 business days for the processing of emailed documentation and 7-10 business days for the processing of faxed documentation.

Request a Transcript and/or Certificate

Once you have passed your GED test and Constitution test, you are eligible to obtain your GED Transcript and Certificate. The State required fees are:  $10 for each Transcript, and $10 for each Certificate. The GED transcript and certificate can be only obtained at the local ROE of your residence as provided on your GED registration. ROE #21 can only administer GED transcripts and certificates to people who are registered as residents of Franklin, Johnson, Massac, or Williamson county with the GED Testing Service.

To obtain in person:  Bring your State of Illinois driver’s license or other form of photo ID, as well as the fee (credit or debit card, cash, money order, or check).

By mail: Complete and mail this GED Request Form with a copy of a valid photo ID, and appropriate payment (cash, money order, check). Candidate’s signature and copy of photo ID is required for processing the request. This GED Request Form can also be used by employers and educational institutions.

If you were not registered with GED as a resident of an ROE #21 county (Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson) at the time of your GED test, you will need to contact the ROE in the county you gave as your residence when registering for the GED test. View listing of ROE’s and their counties in Illinois.

If you have any questions about GED Testing, or the ROE #21’s GED testing services, please contact our office.

About the GED Test

The current GED Test (Series 2014) is divided into four subject areas. The time allotted for the entire test is approximately 7 ½ hours. There are only 4 10-minute breaks given during the test time if the exam-taker takes all four sections of the test in one day. ROE #21 recommends the taker divide the test-taking experience into one or two sections per day, if possible. The four sections of the test:

  • Reasoning Through Language Arts

    150 minutes (includes a 10-minute break)

  • Mathematical Reasoning

    120 minutes

  • Social Studies

    70 minutes

  • Science

    90 minutes

The cost is $36 per test session or $144 for the entire test. A credit/debit card is required. Participants may also take the GED online, visit GED.com for more details.

The ICCB has provided coupon codes which can be used for in-person or online testing:

  • Enter "ILSAVE" at checkout on GED.com to take $26 off each section of the exam.
  • Enter "ILRETAKE" at checkout on GED.com for one free retake per section of the exam.

In the current exam, a passing score 145 or above is required for each section. Once the test taker has achieved a score of 145 on each section, the GED test is passed. Test takers can attempt each section of the test three times. After the third attempt for each section, a 60-day waiting period is required.

Go to the GED Testing Service Website at GED.com, where you can sign up for an account. After providing a username and password, the site contains study plans, practice tests, materials, and more. You will schedule your test through this site as well. After you take each section, the GED Testing Service will email you your test results at the email address you used when registering, usually within the same day.

If you have questions or difficulty with the website, you can contact GED testing at 877-392-6433.

Constitution Test Also Required in Illinois

In addition to passing the 4 sections of the GED test, the State of Illinois requires the test taker to take a Constitution Test before receiving their High School Diploma. The Constitution test is a 60 question multiple choice test (score of 36 is passing) covering the U.S. Constitution, Illinois Constitution, U.S. Flag, and Declaration of Independence. The Constitution test can be taken online at ilconstitution.org.

The suspension of the Constitution Test requirement between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 means:

  • Anyone who completed and passed their GED based on the State of Illinois requirements between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 will be issued an Illinois High School Diploma without the need to complete the Constitution requirement.
  • Anyone who completed and passed the GED but did not pass the constitution test prior to February 1, 2021, will be issued an Illinois High School Equivalency (ILHSE) Certificate upon request without the need to complete the Constitution requirement

If you took the Constitution Test in high school (in government/civics class), you can bring a copy of your high school transcript showing you passed the Constitution test to one of our ROE #21 offices. Also, the Constitution test can be taken through GED classes at a community college. A certificate from that college showing the date you passed the test can be used as proof you have already passed the Constitution test. Bring that certificate to one of our ROE #21 offices.

For those taking the Constitution test, a Constitution Test study guide is available from the ICCB in English and Spanish.