The GED test is designed to function as the high school equivalent benchmark and springboard for advancing your education. The exam has been revamped to offer more precise evaluation for the students. Instead of the five parts in the version before the revamp, the new test is made up of four parts, which include Literacy (Reading and Writing), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. All the sections are computer-based. It is essential to mention that the questions are more challenging than the previous edition of the test. You do not have to despair though, with the appropriate preparation and focus, you will be able to cope with your GED Study Guide and Training Course.
The candidates are allotted a time frame of 7 hours and 25 minutes for the completion of the exam. The time duration is broken into 150 minutes for Reasoning through Language Arts. This time allocation is inclusive of the 10 minutes break in the course of writing this section of the test. 90 minutes is allocated for the completion of Mathematics Reasoning and 90 minutes – for Science. The remaining 90 minutes arededicated to the Social Studies part. The passing score for the GED exam is 150 points for each subject. Therefore, you will need to attain a minimum score of 150 on each of the section and a total score of 600 or more in the whole exam. The students who score 170 points and above in any of the subjects will receive an ‘Honors’ score. If you score between 100 and 149, this is below the passing score, which means you will have to take the test again.
Details of GED Test
Mathematics Reasoning: This section is made up of questions focusing on more than sixty skills. The two major components of this area are quantitative and algebraic problem solving. The quantitative aspect forms 45% of the total questions, and the algebraic problem solving forms 55% of the questions. The candidates will need to have procedural knowledge and competency in answering these questions. To perform excellently in this section, you should develop your computational skills in perimeter and area of polygons, perimeter and area of two-dimensional composite shapes, and area and circumference of circles. You also need to develop proficiency in how to locate points in coordinate plane, graph two variable linear equations, and determine slope of a line in equation, table, or graph. Other skills that the exam measures include basic arithmetic, percentage based problems, one-variable linear equalities, two-step problems, linear inequalities in one variable, and one- or two-variable linear equations, among others.
Reasoning through Language Arts: This section is focused on writing and reading skills of the candidates. The questions evaluate your understanding of various texts, both non-fiction and fiction. It incorporates diverse ages, gender, multicultural and ethnic backgrounds, regional differences, and socioeconomic groups. Reading passages are extracted from literary and non-fictional writings, and the students are required to use high level of thinking skills to respond to the questions. The questions cover analysis, comprehension, application, and synthesis. The individuals will also be asked to demonstrate their understanding of literary themes and literary use of language. The writing section consists of multiple-choice items that prompt the test takers to edit and make revisions like it is used in normal everyday writing. The passages for this part are extracted from how-to and informational texts, as well as community and workplace documents. The question format in part 1 of this section is in three parts: revision, correction, and construction shift. The Reasoning through Language Arts area is made up of multiple-choice questions covering a wide range of skills.
Science: This section focuses on specific skills, such as the processes and methods used to ‘do’ science with focus on scientific method; science as inquiry; relationship of science and social issues; interaction of scientific inquiry with technology and tools; critical topics in science such as systems and change; and history and nature of science.
Social Studies: In this section, the test takers are measured based on their understanding and application skills of social studies concepts and information in national and global frameworks. The exam questionsare centered on practical documents, such as voting or consumer information, key historic documents such as the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The students should develop specific skills for this section of the exam. They should include usage of information to make valid claims or logical inferences at an inconsistent or a limited level; describe places, environment, processes, events, and people, and the connections between each of them; and analyze cause and effect relationships, including the ones that are multi-factors.
Preparation Tips for GED Test
There are numerous preparation options and study materialsthat the candidates can explore for the GED exam. You may want to look for training classes for GED in your area as it will be of great help to your preparation. There are many certified teachers who offer tutoring classes for the students preparing for the test. You may also look for some free courses offered through the school district in your area. There are numerous GED practice tests that you can find online to help with your exam preparation as well.In addition to all the resources available to you, you must be ready to set aside ample time to study independently. When it comes to self-study, there are some tips that will help you have an effective preparation. These tips are highlighted below.
- Choose the right location: You cannot study effectively with the TV sets blaring or in the middle of a family discussion. Talk with your family members and make them understand your need alone-time to prepare for your exam.
- Put your timer to work: This is very important to your effective study. You don’t have to spend hours on your study to be effective. If you know your attention span is not more than 40 minutes, don’t set reading time for two hours. Set a timer for your study and when you are done studying for 40 minutes, take a break and do other things before returning to study.
It is important to check the information and updates at the official website where you can find more details you need to know about the test.