Age is the most common excuse people use to quit. We tell ourselves we’re too old to learn a language, too tired to start a business, or too late to fix past mistakes. Then someone like a 70-year-old student comes along and earns a GED after years of grueling study, and suddenly our excuses look pretty pathetic. This isn't just a feel-good news blurb. It’s a masterclass in what happens when you refuse to let a clock dictate your worth.
Most people think of the GED as a safety net for teenagers who dropped out of high school. That's a narrow way to look at it. For a senior citizen, it's a marathon. Imagine sitting in a classroom or staring at a laptop screen trying to remember algebraic formulas you haven't seen since the Eisenhower administration. It’s intimidating. It’s humbling. And honestly, it’s brave as hell.
The grueling reality of going back to school at 70
Let’s get real about what this actually takes. Learning doesn't get easier as you get older. Neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new connections—slows down. You have to work twice as hard to retain half as much. When a 70-year-old sets out to graduate with a GED, they aren't just fighting the curriculum. They're fighting biological hardware that’s seen seven decades of wear and tear.
It takes years. We’re talking about late nights over practice exams and the mental exhaustion of failing a section only to go back and try again. Many older learners face the "digital divide" too. Taking a standardized test today isn't about No. 2 pencils and Scantron sheets anymore. It's all digital. Learning how to navigate the software is a hurdle in itself before you even get to the actual math or social studies questions.
People often ask why someone would bother at this age. They aren't looking for a corporate promotion or a higher salary at 71. This is about closing a wound. For many who didn't finish school decades ago, that missing diploma is a weight they’ve carried. It’s a quiet shame that sits in the back of their mind during every job interview or conversation about education. Earning that GED is about proving something to yourself, not to an employer.
Why the GED remains a massive hurdle for older adults
The General Educational Development test is notoriously difficult. It’s not a participation trophy. According to the GED Testing Service, the battery of exams covers four main areas: Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies. To pass, you have to perform better than about 60% of graduating high school seniors.
Think about that. A 70-year-old is competing against the academic standards of 18-year-olds who have been in a classroom five days a week for twelve years.
The math wall is real
Math is usually the "boss fight" for older students. The GED math section requires a solid grasp of functions, geometry, and basic algebra. If you haven't touched a quadratic equation in fifty years, you’re essentially starting from zero. Many seniors spend months, even years, just on this one section. They find tutors. They watch YouTube videos. They buy workbooks that look like ancient Greek to them at first.
Literacy and critical thinking
The Language Arts section shifted years ago to focus more on evidence-based writing. You can't just be a good reader. You have to analyze two different arguments, pick the stronger one, and write an essay explaining why using specific evidence from the text. This requires a level of critical thinking and technical writing that many people, regardless of age, struggle to master. Watching a senior navigate these complexities is a reminder that the brain is a muscle. If you use it, it grows.
The psychological shift of the lifelong learner
There is a specific kind of grit required to be the oldest person in the room. Most adult education centers are filled with 20-somethings looking for a quick fix. Walking into that environment at 70 takes a thick skin. You have to be okay with being "the student" again. You have to be okay with asking "dumb" questions.
This is where most people fail. They let their ego get in the way. They think they should already know everything because they’ve lived a long life. But the seniors who actually graduate are the ones who check their ego at the door. They embrace the struggle. They understand that being a "graduate" is a title you earn through the discomfort of being a "beginner."
The ripple effect on the community
When a 70-year-old graduates with a GED, it does something to the people around them. It's a "no excuses" signal to their children, grandchildren, and neighbors. If Grandpa can pass a high-level math exam at 70, what’s stopping a 30-year-old from finishing their degree?
It changes the narrative around aging in America. We’re obsessed with youth. We treat people over 65 like they’re finished products, ready to be put on a shelf. This achievement screams that growth doesn't have an expiration date. It proves that the "old dog, new tricks" proverb is a lie designed to keep people comfortable in their stagnation.
Practical steps if you’re looking to finish what you started
If you’re reading this and thinking about your own unfinished business, stop waiting for the "right time." It doesn't exist. Here is how you actually get moving.
First, go to the official GED website and take a practice test. Don’t worry about the score. You just need to see where the gaps are. You might find you're great at Social Studies but need a massive amount of help with math. That's fine. It’s data.
Second, find a local adult education center. Most communities have them, and they’re often free or very low-cost. Don’t try to do this entirely alone. You need a teacher or a mentor who knows the test format. They can give you the shortcuts and strategies that work for adult brains.
Third, commit to a schedule that sounds too easy. Don't say you're going to study four hours a day. You'll burn out in a week. Say you'll do 20 minutes a day, every day. Consistency beats intensity every single time.
Finally, tell someone. Accountability is the only way to survive the long months when you feel like quitting. Tell your kids or your friends what you’re doing. Let them cheer for you. When you eventually walk across that stage, that diploma won't just be a piece of paper. It will be the evidence that you refused to give up on yourself.
Go sign up for the practice test today. The time is going to pass anyway. You might as well spend it becoming the person you always wanted to be.
