A study compared General Equivalency Development (GED) program completion and Adult Performance Level (APL) attainment in West Virginia. During the study, 97 GED program participants, who were not exposed to APL instruction or materials, completed the APL survey either just before or immediately after taking the GED examination. Seventy-seven of the subjects were successful on the GED exam and 20 were not. Only three subjects who were successful on the GED test scored below average on the APL test. In fact, 23 of the successful subjects scored above average on the APL instrument. Since their preparation consisted only of the usual GED preparation program, it appears that such preparation may also adequately prepare one in fundamental competencies such as those measured by the APL test. Furthermore, it appears that no difference in the functional competencies of the successful male and female GED takers exists as measured by the APL test. If, as the study seems to indicate, the GED and APL are equally valid measurements of one's equivalent educational level, then it would seem logical to recognize both on a par and grant diplomas accordingly. (MN)