In order for students to qualify for a job, obtain a High School Equivalence credential, or continue their education beyond the secondary level, they often must pass a standardized test. It is the responsibility of the  or adult secondary education/high school equivalence teacher to make sure their students learn the knowledge and skills to pass the test. Classes are geared towards helping students focus on the subject areas tested; social studies, science, math, and language skills. In addition to specific subject areas, the class would also emphasize life skills such as critical-thinking, problem-solving, communication, and information-processing skills, to both help students be more successful on the test and in their other educational pursuits.