Jane R. Burstein - The GED crash course

Are you thinking about taking the GED? Perhaps youve already made that decision and are beginning to review and prepare for the tests. Or maybe youve taken one or all of the GED tests but need a little help getting a passing score when you retake them. At whatever stage you are now, Idiots Guides: The GED Crash Course, Second Edition, can help you move to the next level so you can accomplish your educational goals.

Passing the GED provides proof youve achieved the level of education equivalent to a high school diploma. So if you missed out on getting a high school diploma for whatever reason, nows your chance to get one. This achievement can be an important step in getting a better job, moving ahead in your career, or even getting further education beyond high school if you want. Getting a GED credential also can build your confidence and help you gain more respect from others.

In other words, if youre on a path that leads toward passing the GED, youve made a smart decision.

If youve decided you need to review the information and practice the skills youll need to pass the GED, youve made another smart decision. The tests arent easy. In fact, only about two thirds of those with high school diplomas can pass them. This book provides a crash course for each of the four subject areas covered on the GEDlanguage arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. It reviews the skills you need to master and provides practice questions similar to those on the actual GED. Reviewing these chapters and practicing with the sample questions will improve your chances of passing each of the tests.

Idiots Guides: The GED Crash Course, Second Edition, starts at square one and progresses in a simple, straightforward manner so you dont get lost or confused along the way. The book is broken down into 29 chapters, making it easy to find what youre looking for, work through each chapter, plot your progress, and complete your preparation before test day.

Although this book is easy to use, dont be fooledits focused on serious learning. It wont show you tricks that help you beat the tests, but it will help you develop the knowledge and practice the skills you need to pass the GED. Choosing this book is yet another smart decision youve made.

Idiots Guides: The GED Crash Course, Second Edition, is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different needs. You can work through it from beginning to end, or you can prioritize and focus first on the areas where you feel less confident. Develop your own plan, and use it in the way that makes sense to you.

For ease of use, this book is divided into four parts:

Part 1, Reasoning Through Language Arts Test, is divided into 10 chapters designed to help you develop the reading and writing skills on which youll be tested. We review good writing and grammatical skills and also evaluate reading comprehension and interpretation skills, focusing on different types of reading: nonfiction and fiction, including poetry, drama, and prose. Two chapters cover the Extended Response (better known as the essay) and offer guidance on planning, writing, and editing it.

Part 2, Social Studies Test, reviews five key subject areas: U.S. government and civics, U.S. history, economics, world history, and geography.

Part 3, Science Test, reviews what you need to know in life science, physical science (chemistry and physics), and earth and space science, providing a basic understanding of science and scientific inquiry.

Part 4, Mathematical Reasoning Test, covers four major areas: number operations and number sense; geometric measurement; data analysis, statistics, and probability; and algebraic expressions and functions. It also includes a chapter on taking the Mathematical Reasoning Test.

At the end of each part, youll find a final chapter that provides a half- or full-length practice test containing questions that reflect those on the actual GED. Dont skip these chapters. They give you a sneak peek at the types of questions youll encounter and enable you to practice your test-taking strategies and pacing. They also give you a sense of how well youre doing and whether or not you need further review and practice.

Throughout this book youll find four types of sidebars, each providing something extra you can use. Heres what to look for:

DEFINITION

These sidebars define and clarify words, giving you a better understanding of important terms you may encounter on the GED.

HEADS-UP!

These sidebars provide cautions to help you steer clear of trouble when studying for and taking the GED.