True grade 12 equivalency requires a number of very specific courses of study. You must be proficient in Algebra I and a number of other subjects, including basic grammar, history and more. For many people, the GED proves too involved for what they get out of it at the end–a diploma with relatively questionable prestige.
There is a considerable difference between a Grade 12 equivalent diploma and one that shows you have actually mastered the grade itself. Simply put, one is a narrow test of skills, while the other is a test of the full breadth of an education. If you’ve ever wondered which one employers value more, you may not be surprised to learn that a real high school education is considered far superior to a GED program.