LearningExpress LLC - GED Test Power Practice

CHAPTER 1

About the GED Test

T he GED test measures how well you can apply problem solving, analytical reasoning, and critical thinking alongside your understanding of high-school level math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Passing the GED test proves you have a high school level education. If you pass, you will be awarded with a GED test credential, the equivalent of a high school diploma. You should choose to take the GED test if you would like to receive a high school diploma but are unable or do not want to graduate in the traditional way.

What Are the GED Tests?

Four separate tests make up the GED test:

Mathematical Reasoning

Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA)

Social Studies

Science

To score your best on each test, not only will you need to know the basics of each subject, but youll also need to use critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills.

How Is the Test Delivered?

You will take your GED test on a computer. Although you absolutely do not need to be a computer expert to take the GED test, you should be comfortable using a mouse and typing on a keyboard.

How Long Is the Test?

You can choose to take all four GED tests at once, or you can take each test separately. The entire exam will take about seven hours to complete. The timing for each subject area alone is as follows:

Mathematical Reasoning115 minutes

Reasoning through Language Arts150 minutes (including a 10-minute break)

Science90 minutes

Social Studies90 minutes

What Types of Questions Are on the Test?

Most of the questions on the GED test will be multiple choice, where you have to pick the best answer out of four given choices: A, B, C, D.

Because youll take the test on a computer, youll also see some other kinds of questions that will ask you to use your mouse to move images around or use the keyboard to type in your answer.

Drag and Drop

For these questions, you will need to click on the correct object, hold down the mouse, and drag the object to the appropriate place in the problem, diagram, chart, or graph that youre given.

Of course, within this book you cant drag and drop items. For the purposes of GED Test Power Practice , you will choose from a list of items, as you would on a typical drag-and-drop question, and write the correct answer(s) in the appropriate spot.

Drop Down

In drop-down questions, you will need to select the answer or phrase to complete a sentence or problem from a menu that drops down with the click of a button.

Drop-down questions are very similar to multiple-choice questions, so you will not see them in the two tests within this book.

Fill-in-the-Blank

These questions ask you to manually type in answer(s) to a problem rather than choose from several choices.

The fill-in-the-blank questions in this book look almost exactly like the ones youll encounter in the online test, but here you will of course have to write in your answer instead of typing it.

Hot Spot

For hot-spot questions, you will be asked to click on an area of the screen to indicate where the correct answer is located. For instance, you may be asked to plot a point by clicking on the corresponding online graph or to click on a certain area of a map.

In this book, you will be asked to draw a dot on a specific point or to circle a certain part of a diagram.

Short Answer

Short-answer questions are similar to fill-in-the-blank questionsyou must type your response on the provided lines. However, these questions require you to write a paragraph instead of a word or two, usually in response to a passage or an image. Each should take about 10 minutes to answer.

Like fill-in-the-blank questions, short-answer questions in this book look as they will onlineyou will just write in your answer instead of typing it.

Extended Response

For extended response questions on the RLA exam you will be given 45 minutes to read one or two informational articles (a total of 550 to 650 words) and type a response on a computer using a simple word-processing program. This question requires you to read the prompt (the passage provided), create an argument based on it, and write a strong essay with evidence and examples.

When using this book, you can choose to either hand-write your essay or type it on a computer.

When and Where Can I Take the Test?

There are three testing opportunities per year in each subject area. To find a GED test center, visit the link below, choose your location, and enter your zip code:

www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/locate-a-testing-center.

You can sign up for any or all of the GED tests online at the link above, depending on the availability of spots in your area.

How Much Will the Test Cost?

Each of the four GED tests costs $30, for a total of $120 for all four tests. You can pay for any or all parts of the test you are ready to take. There may be additional fees, depending on the state in which you take the test. Check the official GED test website for complete test information.

How Are the Tests Scored?

A minimum score of 150 is required to pass each test. Each question on the GED test is assigned a different point value depending on its difficulty. You will find out your score or scores on the same day you take the exam.

About the Test Sections

Before you make your way through the tests in this book, lets explore each of the four GED test sections.

Mathematical Reasoning

On the GED Mathematical Reasoning test, you will have 115 minutes (just under two hours) to answer 45 questions. These questions will fall under two areas: Quantitative Problem Solving and Algebraic Problem Solving.

Quantitative Problem Solving questions cover basic math concepts like multiples, factors, exponents, absolute value, ratios, averages, and probability.

Algebraic Problem Solving questions cover basic topics in algebra, including linear equations, quadratic equations, functions, linear inequalities, and more.

Calculator

An online calculator, called the TI-30XS MultiView (pictured below), will be available to you for most of the questions within the Mathematical Reasoning section.

Your first five questions will be non-calculator questions, but the rest of the test will have this on-screen calculator available for you to use. If you have never used the TI-30XS MultiView or another scientific calculator before, be sure to practice using it before you take the actual test.

The GED Testing Service has created a calculator reference sheet and tutorial videos on its website to help you practice. The reference sheet will also be available for you to use during the test. However, you should be comfortable with the functions of the calculator BEFORE taking the test. You will not want to take extra time to read through the directions while trying to complete the problems on test day.