GED Test For Dummies E-Book

Murray Shukyn

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 818

Beschreibung

Score high on the GED Test In today's job environment, it's usually the better-educated person who gets the position, promotion, or raise. Scoring high on the GED Test can give you an edge over the competition--whether it's to get a brand-new job or advance in the one you already have. If you're preparing for the exam and want to increase your odds of scoring higher, GED Test For Dummies gets you up and running with everything you need to know for test day. Inside, you'll find valuable, easy-to-digest information for navigating your way through tests on Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematical Reasoning, and Science. Whether you're looking to perfect your grammar and punctuation skills, put the social in your studies, take the fear out of math and science, get familiar with different types of fiction and nonfiction passages, or answer every multiple-choice question with confidence, GED Test For Dummies makes it not only possible, but easy for you to score high on this life-changing exam. * Fully updated to reflect the latest version of the GED test * Includes two full-length practice tests with answers and detailed explanations * Provides vital information and test-taking tips to help maximize your score * Includes special considerations for those whose first language isn't English Feel good about yourself knowing that you accomplished something amazing. Get GED Test For Dummies and put yourself on the road to greater success.

Leseprobe

GED® Test For Dummies®, 4th Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and may not be used without written permission. GED and GED Testing Services are registered trademarks of the American Council in Education (ACE). They may not be reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service. The GED® and GED® Testing Service brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license from American Council on Education. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2016960163

ISBN 978-1-119-28720-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-28722-3 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-28721-6 (ebk)

GED® Test For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “GED Test For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Table of Contents

Cover

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Getting Started with the GED Test

Chapter 1: Taking a Quick Glance at the GED Test

What to Expect: The New Testing Format

Reviewing the Test Sections

It’s a Date: Scheduling the Test

Taking the GED Test When English Is Your Second Language

Figuring Out What You Have to Score to Pass the GED Test

Chapter 2: Examining the Ins and Outs of the New Computerized GED Test

Familiarizing Yourself with the Computer

Recognizing What the Questions Look Like on the Computer Screen

Chapter 3: The GED Test’s Four Sections and You

Examining the Reasoning through Language Arts Test

Handling the Social Studies Test

Knowing How to Grapple the Science Test

Conquering the Mathematical Reasoning Test

Chapter 4: Succeeding on the GED Test

Leading Up to Test Time

Using Practice Tests to Your Advantage

Finding Out What to Take to the GED Test

Making Sure You’re Comfortable before the Test Begins

Discovering Important Test-Taking Strategies

Keeping Your Head in the Game

Part 2: Minding Your Ps and Qs: The Reasoning through Language Arts Test

Chapter 5: Preparing for the Reasoning through Language Arts Test

Grasping What’s on the Grammar and Writing Component

Rocking the Reading Comprehension Component

Examining the Extended Response Item

Preparing for the RLA Test with Tactics That Work

Chapter 6: RLA Question Types and Solving Strategies

Tackling Items in the Writing Component

Choosing Wisely in the Reading Component

Writing the RLA Extended Response

Chapter 7: Working through Some Practice RLA Questions

RLA Writing Skills Practice

RLA Extended Response Practice

RLA Reading Skills Practice

Part 3: Finding Your Way: The Social Studies Test

Chapter 8: A Graph, a Map, and You: Getting Ready for the Social Studies Test

Looking at the Skills the Social Studies Test Covers

Understanding the Social Studies Test Format

Examining Preparation Strategies That Work

Chapter 9: Social Studies Question Types and Solving Strategies

Answering Questions about Text and Visual Materials

Acing the Social Studies Question-Answer Items

Managing Your Time for the Social Studies Test

Chapter 10: Getting Some Practice on Social Studies Questions

Social Studies Practice Questions

Answers and Explanations

Part 4: Peering at Your Specimen: The Science Test

Chapter 11: From Aardvarks to Atoms: Confronting the Science Test

Looking at the Skills the Science Test Covers

Understanding the Test Format and What Topics Are Covered

Examining Preparation Strategies That Work

Chapter 12: Science Question Types and Solving Strategies

Tackling the Science Test Questions

Practicing with Sample Items

Managing Your Time for the Science Test

Chapter 13: Building Your Skills with Some Science Practice Questions

Science Practice Questions

Answers and Explanations

Part 5: Counting All the Possible Solutions: The Mathematical Reasoning Test

Chapter 14: Safety in Numbers: Facing the Mathematical Reasoning Test

Looking at the Skills the Math Test Covers

Understanding the Test Format

Revealing Some Helpful Prep Pointers

Chapter 15: Mathematical Reasoning Question Types and Solving Strategies

Perfecting Your Approach with Sample Problems

Using the Mathematical Reasoning Test’s Special Features

Managing Your Time for the Math Test

Chapter 16: Practicing Sample Mathematical Reasoning Problems

Mathematical Reasoning Practice Questions

Answers and Explanations

Part 6: Putting Your Skills to the Test: GED Practice Test 1

Chapter 17: Practice Test 1: Reasoning through Language Arts

Extended Response

Chapter 18: Answers for Practice Test 1, Reasoning through Language Arts

Answers and Explanations

Sample Extended Response

Answer Key

Chapter 19: Practice Test 1: Social Studies

Social Studies Test

Chapter 20: Answers for Practice Test 1, Social Studies

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 21: Practice Test 1: Science

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Science

Science Test

Short Answer #1

Short Answer #2

Chapter 22: Answers for Practice Test 1, Science

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 23: Practice Test 1: Mathematical Reasoning

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Mathematical Reasoning

Mathematics Formula Sheet

Mathematical Reasoning Test

Chapter 24: Answers for Practice Test 1, Mathematical Reasoning

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Part 7: Getting More Test Practice: GED Practice Test 2

Chapter 25: Practice Test 2: Reasoning through Language Arts

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Reasoning through Language Arts

Reasoning through Language Arts Test

The Extended Response

Chapter 26: Answers for Practice Test 2, Reasoning through Language Arts

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 27: Practice Test 2: Social Studies

Social Studies Test

Chapter 28: Answers for Practice Test 2, Social Studies

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 29: Practice Test 2: Science

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Science

Chapter 30: Answers for Practice Test 2, Science

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 31: Practice Test 2: Mathematical Reasoning

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Mathematical Reasoning

Mathematics Formula Sheet

Mathematical Reasoning Test

Chapter 32: Answers for Practice Test 2, Mathematical Reasoning

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Part 8: The Part of Tens

Chapter 33: Ten Surefire Ways to Prepare for the GED Test

Selecting the Best-Possible Test Date

Taking Practice Tests

Studying Subject-Matter Books

Enrolling in a GED Test Preparation Class

Scheduling Time to Study

Getting Familiar with the Computer

Preparing for the Test in Your Mind

Getting Good Rest the Week before the Test

Making Sure You Have Proper Identification

Practicing Your Route to the Test Site

Chapter 34: Ten Ways to Survive Test Day

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Arrive at the Test Site Early

Keep Conversations Light and Short

Get Comfortable

Relax and Breathe

Stay Focused on the Task at Hand

Look at Only Your Test

Start with the Easy Questions

Write Clearly and Carefully

Do Your Best, No Matter What

Chapter 35: Ten Ways to Use Your GED after You Pass the Test

Getting a Job

Being Promoted

Showing Others What You Can Achieve

Including Your GED in Your College Portfolio

Proving You’re Ready for Further Education

Setting an Example for Your Kids

Enhancing Your Wall Décor

Making You Feel like Part of a Select Group

Motivating Yourself

Improving Your Self-Esteem

Appendix: Practicing Basic Computer Skills for the GED Test

Using a Mouse

Practicing Your Typing on a Keyboard

About the Authors

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

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Introduction

Perhaps you’ve applied for a job and have been refused an application because you don’t have a high-school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) diploma. Or maybe you were up for a promotion at work, but when your boss found out that you didn’t finish high school, he said you weren’t eligible for the new job. Maybe you’ve always wanted to go to college but couldn’t even apply because the college of your choice requires a high-school diploma or equivalent (the GED diploma) for admission. Or perhaps your kids are just about to graduate from high school, and you’re motivated to finish, too. Perhaps you just want to set a good example for them.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to earn a high-school diploma — whether we’ve mentioned them here or not — this book is for you. It helps you to prepare for the new computerized GED test — which, if you pass, offers you the equivalent of a high-school diploma without attending all the classes.

About This Book

If you want a high-school diploma, you can always go back and finish high school the old-fashioned way. Of course, it may take you a few years, and you may have to quit your job to do it. Plus, you’d have to sit in a class with teenagers for six or so hours a day (and probably be treated like one, too). You could also try night school, but at one or two courses a year, that could take forever.

For most people, that situation doesn’t sound too appealing. GED Test For Dummies, 4th Edition, presents a different solution: Earn a high-school diploma and do so in the shortest time possible, without ever having to share a classroom with other people. If you don’t mind preparing yourself for a series of challenging test sections that determine whether you’ve mastered key skills, you can get a GED diploma that’s the equivalent of a high-school education — and you can do so in much less than four years.

If taking the GED test to earn your diploma sounds like a great idea to you, this book is a necessary study tool. It’s a fun-filled and friendly instruction manual for succeeding on the new, all-computerized GED test. Use this book as your first stop. It isn’t a subject-matter preparation book — that is, it doesn’t take you through the basics of math and then progress into algebra, geometry, and so on. It does, however, prepare you for the GED test by giving you detailed information about each section, two full-length practice tests for each section, and plenty of easy-to-understand answers and explanations for the test questions. After taking the practice tests and going through the answers and explanations, you can determine which subject areas you need to work on.

Just as important, we walk you through how the GED test has changed. Although people needing special accommodations may still have access to the old paper-and-pencil test format, for most, it’s now offered only on a computer. Having basic computer knowledge is much more important. Some of the question formats have changed as well, so knowing how to use the computer mouse and keyboard to solve them is also important.

Foolish Assumptions

When we wrote this book, we made a few assumptions about you, dear reader. Here’s who we think you are:

You’re serious about earning a high-school diploma or GED endorsement for existing qualifications as quickly as you can.

You’ve made earning a high-school diploma and an endorsement a priority in your life because you want to advance in the workplace or move on to college.

You’re willing to give up some activities so you have the time to prepare, always keeping in mind your other responsibilities, too.

You meet your state’s requirements regarding age, residency, and the length of time since leaving school that make you eligible to take the GED test. (Double-check with your local GED test administrator to find out your state’s requirements.)

You have sufficient English language skills to handle the test.

You want a fun and friendly guide that helps you achieve your goal.

If any of these descriptions sounds like you, welcome aboard. We’ve prepared an enjoyable tour of the GED test.

Icons Used in This Book

Icons — little pictures you see in the margins of this book — highlight bits of text that you want to pay special attention to. Here’s what each one means:

Whenever we want to tell you a special trick or technique that can help you succeed on the GED test, we mark it with this icon. Keep an eye out for this guy.

This icon points out information you want to burn into your brain. Think of the text with this icon as the sort of stuff you’d tear out and put on a bulletin board or your refrigerator.

Take this icon seriously! Although the world won’t end if you don’t heed the advice next to this icon, the warnings are important to your success in preparing to take the GED test.

We use this icon to flag example questions that are much like what you can expect on the actual GED test. So if you just want to get familiar with the types of questions on the test, this icon is your guide.

Where to Go from Here

Some people like to read books from beginning to end. Others prefer to read only the specific information they need to know now.

Chapter 1 starts off with an overview of the GED test and how to register for the exam. For those less comfortable with computers, Chapter 2 provides a lot more detail about the computerized GED test and what computer basics you need to know. If you want an overview of the different types of questions and how you can prepare for those subjects, check out Chapter 3. Chapter 4 gives you plenty of hands-on material to help you leading up to and the morning of test day, including what to do right before the test starts.

The chapters in Parts II, III, IV, and V go into detail about each of the test sections, starting with Reasoning through Language Arts, then Social Studies, Science, and finally Mathematical Reasoning. In each of those parts, you can find an introduction to the specific test section, along with question types and solving strategies, and some preliminary practice questions. When you’re ready to dive into full-length practice tests that mimic the real GED test, check out Parts VI and VII and then check your answers with the detailed answer explanations we provide for each test section (but be sure to wait until after you take the practice test to look at the answers!).

You can also access a handy Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/gedtest with helpful tips you can refer to on a regular basis.

For even more test practice, you can get a 20 percent discount on your purchase of GED Ready™ vouchers — the official practice test for the GED® test. To get your access to GED Ready™, go to www.gedmarketplace.com/wiley and follow the instructions provided.

Part 1

Getting Started with the GED Test

IN THIS PART …

Discover how the GED test and its various sections are organized and what to expect on the test.

Get familiar with each test section’s specific focus and manner of dealing with the content.

Explore the format of the computerized GED test, including how the questions are presented and how you’re expected to answer them.

Prepare for the actual test day, and find out what you should or shouldn’t do on the day(s) before, the day of, and during the exam.

Chapter 1

Taking a Quick Glance at the GED Test

IN THIS CHAPTER

Reviewing the different GED test sections and their questions

Registering for the exam

Completing the GED test when English is your second language

Understanding what your scores mean and how they’re determined

The GED test offers high-school dropouts, people who leave school early, and people who were educated outside the United States an opportunity to earn the equivalent of an American high-school diploma without the need for full-time attendance in either day or night school. The GED test is a recognized standard that makes securing a job or college placement easier.

The newly revised 2016 test is in line with current Grade 12 standards in the United States and meets the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education. The GED test also covers the Common Core Standards, used by 46 states. These standards are based on the actual expectations stated by employers and postsecondary institutions.

The GED test measures whether you understand what high-school seniors across the country have studied before they graduate. Employers need better-educated employees. In addition, some colleges may be uncertain of the quality of foreign credentials. The GED diploma provides those assurances. When you pass the GED test, you earn a high-school equivalency diploma. That can open many doors for you — perhaps doors that you don’t even know exist at this point.

You may wonder why you should even bother taking the GED test and getting your GED diploma. People with high-school diplomas earn more and spend less time unemployed than people without. Some 59 percent of people with a high-school diploma or GED were employed full-time or part-time, compared to only 49 percent without a high-school diploma. Incomes were about 30 percent higher for high-school (or GED) graduates than people without high-school diplomas.

Ready to get started? This chapter gives you the basics of the GED test: how the test is now administered, what the test sections look like, how to schedule the test, including whether you’re eligible, and how the scores are calculated (so you know what you need to pass).

What to Expect: The New Testing Format

A computer administers the GED test. That means that all the questions appear on a computer screen, and you enter all your answers into a computer. You read, calculate, evaluate, analyze, and write everything on the computer. Even for work like rough math calculations or draft essay writing, you don’t use paper. Instead, the test centers provide you with an erasable tablet. If you know how to use a computer and are comfortable with a keyboard and a mouse, you’re ahead of the game. If not, practice your keyboarding. Also, practice reading from a computer screen because reading from a screen is very different from reading printed materials. At the very least, you need to get more comfortable with computers, even if that means taking a short course at a local learning emporium. In the case of the GED test, the more familiar you are with computers, the more comfortable you’ll feel taking the computerized test.

Under certain circumstances, as a special accommodation, the sections are available in booklet format. Check with the GED Testing Service to see what exceptions are acceptable.

The computer-based GED test allows for speedy detailed feedback on your performance. When you pass (yes, we said when and not if, because we believe in you), the GED Testing Service provides both a diploma and a detailed transcript of your scores, similar to what high-school graduates receive. They’re now available online at www.gedtestingservice.com within a day of completing the test. You can then send your transcript and diploma to an employer or college. Doing so allows employers and colleges access to a detailed outline of your scores, achievement, and demonstrated skills and abilities. This outline is also a useful tool for you to review your progress. It highlights those areas where you did well and areas where you need further work. If you want to (or have to) retake the test, these results will provide a detailed guide to what you should work on to improve your scores. Requests for additional copies of transcripts are handled online and also are available within a day.

Reviewing the Test Sections

The GED test includes the following four sections (also referred to as tests), each of which you can take separately:

Reasoning through Language Arts

Social Studies

Science

Mathematical Reasoning

You can take each of the four test sections separately, at different times, and in any order you want. This is one of the benefits of doing the test by computer. Because everyone is working individually on the various test sections rather than as a group exam, the computer-based test eliminates the need for the whole group of test-takers to work in tandem. For example, you may be working on the Mathematical Reasoning test, while your neighbor is working on the Social Studies test. Just don’t look around at all your neighbors to verify this because proctors may think you’re doing more than satisfying your curiosity.

The following sections offer a closer look into what the test sections cover and what you can expect.

Because the computerized GED test is new and still evolving as we write this book, be sure to check out the latest and greatest about the GED test at www.gedtestingservice.com.

Reasoning through Language Arts test

The Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) test is one long test that covers all the literacy components of the GED test. You have 150 minutes overall. However, the test is divided into three sections: first, you have 35 minutes on all content in question-and-answer format, then 45 minutes for the Extended Response (essay), followed by a 10-minute break, and then another 60 minutes for more general test items. Remember that the time for the Extended Response can’t be used to work on the other questions in the test, nor can you use leftover time from the other sections on the Extended Response.

Here’s what you can expect on the RLA test:

The literacy component asks you to correct text, respond to writings, and generally demonstrate a critical understanding of various passages. This includes demonstrating a command of proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

The Extended Response item, also known as “the essay,” examines your skills in organizing your thoughts and writing clearly. Your response will be based on one or two source text selections, drawing key elements from that material to prepare your essay.

The essay is evaluated both on your interpretation of the source texts and the quality of your writing. You type on the computer, using a tool that resembles a word processor. It has neither a spell-checker nor a grammar-checker. How well you use spelling and grammar as you write is also part of your evaluation. You’ll have an erasable tablet on which to prepare a draft before writing the final document.

The scores from both components will be combined into one single score for the RLA test.

The question-answer part of this test consists mainly of various types of multiple-choice questions (also called items) and the occasional fill-in-the-blank question. Most items will be in the traditional multiple-choice format with four answer choices, but you’ll also see drag-and-drop and drop-down menu items. For details on the different question types, see Chapters 2 and 3.

These items are based on source texts, which are materials presented to you for your response. Some of this source material is nonfiction, from science and social studies content as well as from the workplace. Only 25 percent is based on literature. Here’s a breakdown of the materials:

Workplace materials:

These include work-related letters, memos, and instructions that you may see on the job.

U.S. founding documents and documents that present part of the Great American Conversation:

These may include extracts from the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and other historical documents. They also may include opinion pieces of relevant issues in American history and civics.

Informational works:

These include documents that present information (often dry and boring information), such as the instructional manual that tells you how to set the clock on your DVD player. They also include materials that you may find in history, social studies, or science books.

Literature:

Extracts from novels, plays, and similar materials.

You find a variety of problems in the RLA test, including the following:

Correction:

In these items, you’re asked to correct sentences presented to you.

Revision:

In these items, you’re presented with a sentence that has a word or phrase underlined. If the sentence needs a correction, one of the answer choices will be better than the words or phrase underlined. If no correction is needed, either one of the answer choices will be the same as the underlined portion or one of the choices will be something like “no correction needed.”

Construction shift:

In these types of problems, you have to correct a sentence by altering the sentence structure. The original sentence may not be completely wrong, but it can be improved with a little editing. In these cases, the question presents you with optional rewording or allows you to change the sentence order in a paragraph.

Text analysis:

These problems require you to read a passage and respond in some manner. It may be an analysis of the content, a critique of the style, review for biases or other influences, or responses to something in the content.

See Chapters 3, 5, 6 and 7 for the lowdown on the RLA test and Chapters 17 and 25 for two practice Reasoning through Language Arts tests, with answers and explanations in Chapters 18 and 26. Check out Chapter 2 for the format of the items as they appear on the computer.

Social Studies test

The Social Studies test is scheduled for 70 minutes for the 50 questions. Here’s what you’ll see on this test:

Multiple-choice questions

Fill-in-the-blank questions

The source text and data for these question types varies. About half of the questions are based on one source item, such as a graph or text, with one question. Other items have a single source item, such as a graph or text, as the basis for several questions. In either case, you’ll need to analyze and evaluate the content presented to you as part of the question. The test items evaluate your ability to answer questions, using reasoning and analysis skills. The information for the source materials comes from primary and secondary sources, both text and visual. That means you need to be able to “read” charts, tables, maps, and graphs as well as standard text materials.

The content of the Social Studies test is drawn from these four basic areas:

Civics and government:

The largest part (about 50 percent of the test) focuses on civics and government. The civics and government items examine the development of democracy, from ancient times to modern days. Other topics include how civilizations change over time and respond to crises.

American history:

American history makes up 20 percent of the test. It covers all topics from the pilgrims and early settlement to the Revolution, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam War, and current history — all of which involve the United States in one way or another.

Economics:

Economics make up about 15 percent of the test. The economics portion examines basic theories, such as supply and demand, the role of government policies in the economy, and macro- and microeconomic theory.

Geography and the world:

This area also makes up 15 percent of the test. The areas with which you need to become familiar are very topical: sustainability and environmental issues, population issues, and rural and urban settlement. Other topics include cultural diversity and migration and those issues that are of universal and not national concern.

Science test

The Science test is scheduled for 90 minutes. Our advice for the Science test is very similar to the Reasoning through Language Arts test. Most importantly, read as much as you can, especially science material. Whenever you don’t understand a word or concept, look it up in a dictionary or online. The items in the Science test assume a high-school level of science vocabulary.

You don’t have to be a nuclear physicist to answer the questions, but you should be familiar with the vocabulary normally understood by someone completing high school. If you work at improving your scientific vocabulary, you should have little trouble with the Science test. (Note: That same advice applies to all the GED test’s sections. Improve your vocabulary in each subject, and you’ll perform better.)

The Science test concentrates on two main themes:

Human health and living systems

Energy and related systems

In addition, the content of the problems focus on one of the following areas:

Physical science:

About 40 percent of the test focuses on physics and chemistry, including topics such as conservation, transformation, and flow of energy; work, motion, and forces; and chemical properties and reactions related to living systems.

Life science:

Another 40 percent of the Science test deals with life science, including biology and, more specifically, human body and health, relationship between life functions and energy intake, ecosystems, structure and function of life, and molecular basis for heredity and evolution.

Earth and space science:

This area makes up the remaining 20 percent of this test and includes astronomy — interaction between Earth’s systems and living things, Earth and its system components and interactions, and structure and organization of the cosmos.

Go ahead and type in one of the three areas of content into your favorite search engine to find material to read. You’ll find links to articles and material from all different levels. Filter your choices by the level you want and need — for example, use keywords such as “scientific theories,” “scientific discoveries,” “scientific method,” “human health,” “living systems,” “energy,” “the universe,” “organisms,” and “geochemical systems” — and don’t get discouraged if you can’t understand technical material that one scientist wrote that only about three other scientists in the world can understand.

Items in the Science test are in multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, hot-spot, and drop-down format. (See the sections on Reasoning through Language Arts and Mathematical Reasoning for descriptions of these types of items.) In addition, the Science test includes two Short Answer items that are basically short essays to be completed in about ten minutes based on a stimulus and a response to a prompt.

Mathematical Reasoning test

The Mathematical Reasoning (Math) test checks your mathematics that you’d normally know by the end of high school. Because this new test is designed to prepare you for both postsecondary education and employment, it has an emphasis on both workplace-related mathematics and academic mathematics. About 45 percent of the test is about quantitative problem solving, and the rest is about algebra.

The Math test consists of different question formats to be completed in 115 minutes. Because the GED test is now administered on the computer, the questions (or items) take advantage of the power of the computer. Check out Chapters 2 and 3 for more information and a sneak peek of what the items look like.

Here are the types of items that you’ll encounter in the Math test:

Multiple-choice:

Most of the items in the Math test are multiple-choice because this type of question is still one of the most used formats for standardized tests.

Drop-down:

This type of question is a form of multiple-choice in that you get a series of possible answers, one of which is correct. The only difference is that you see all the options at once within the text where it’s to be used. For an example, see

Chapters 2

and

3

.

Fill-in-the-blank and hot-spot:

In these types of items, you have to provide an answer. The fill-in-the-blank items are straightforward: You’re asked for a very specific answer, either a number or one or two words, and you type the answer into the space provided. Hot-spot items use an embedded sensor within an image on the computer screen. You use the mouse to move data to that spot or plot data on a graphic. The secret of doing well on these questions is still to read them carefully and answer what is asked from the information given. These types of problems don’t have any tricks, except the ones you may play on yourself by reading information into them that isn’t there.

Some items may be stand-alone with only one question for each problem, or stimulus. Others may have multiple items based on a single stimulus. Each stimulus, no matter how many items are based on it, may be text, graphs, tables, or other representation of numbers, geometrical, or algebraic materials. Practice reading mathematical materials and become familiar with the vocabulary of mathematics.

It’s a Date: Scheduling the Test

To take the GED test, you schedule it based on the available testing dates. Each state or local testing center sets its own schedule for the GED test, which means that your state decides how and when you can take each section of the test. It also determines how often you can retake a failed section. Because a computer now administers the test, you can schedule an individual appointment. Your test starts when you start and ends when your allotted time is completed. The test centers are small computer labs, often containing no more than 15 seats, and actual testing facilities are located in many communities in your state.

At the time of publication of this edition of GED For Dummies, 4th edition, some states don’t offer the GED test: Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, and West Virginia don’t offer the test. You can take the test in a neighboring state that allows non-residents to test.  Just select the state you’d like to test in when you set-up your MyGED  account. And remember — nearly all employers and higher education schools nationally accept your passing score.

You book your appointment through the GED Testing Service (www.gedtestingservice.com). Your local GED test administrator can give you all the information you need about scheduling the test. In addition, local school districts and community colleges can provide information about local test centers in your area.

Sending a specific question or request to www.gedtestingservice.com may come with a charge for the service. To save money, you’re better off asking a person at your local testing center. That way, you don’t have to pay for the privilege of asking a question, and your answer will be based on rules and conditions specific to your area.

The following sections answer some questions you may have before you schedule your test date, including whether you’re even eligible to take the test, when you can take the test, and how to sign up to take the test.

Determining whether you’re eligible

Before you schedule your test, make sure you meet the requirements to take the GED test. You’re eligible to apply to take the GED test only if

You’re not currently enrolled in a high school.

If you’re currently enrolled in a high school, you’re expected to complete your diploma there. The purpose of the GED test is to give people who aren’t in high school a chance to get an equivalent high-school diploma.

You’re not a high-school graduate.

If you’re a high-school graduate, you should have a diploma, which means you don’t need to take the GED test. However, you can use the GED to upgrade or update your skills and to prove that you’re ready for further education and training.

You meet state requirements regarding age, residency, and the length of time since leaving high school.

Check with your local GED test administrator to determine your state’s requirements concerning these criteria. Residency requirements are an issue, because you may have to take the test in a different jurisdiction, depending on how long you’ve lived at your present address.

Knowing when you can take the test

You can take the GED test when you’re eligible and prepared. You can then apply to take the GED test as soon as you want. Just contact your local testing center or www.gedtestingservice.com for a test schedule. Pick a day (or days) that works for you.

Taking all four sections of the GED test together takes about seven hours. However, the test is now designed so that you can take each section when you’re ready. In most areas, you can take the test sections one at a time, in the evening or on weekends, depending on the individual testing center. If you pass one test section, that section of the GED test is considered done, no matter how you do on the other sections. If you fail one section, you can retake that section of the test at any time. How the test is administered varies from state to state, so check with www.gedtestingservice.com or your local high-school guidance office.

Because the test starts when you’re ready and finishes when you have used up the allocated time, you can take it alone and don’t have to depend on other people. For you, that means you may be able to find locations that offer the testing in evenings or weekends as well as during regular business hours. Even better, because you don’t have to take the test with a group, you may be able to set an individual starting time that suits you.

If circumstances dictate that you must take the paper version of the test, you’ll probably have to forgo the flexibility afforded by the computer. Check well in advance to see what the rules are for you.

You can also apply to take the test if you’re not prepared, but if you do that, you don’t stand a very good chance of passing. If you do need to retake any section of the test, use your time before your next test date to get ready. You can retake the test only three times, and, in most jurisdictions, taking the test costs money (check with your local testing center to find out specifics for your area). To save time and money, prepare before you schedule the test. Refer to the later section “Knowing what to do if you score poorly on one or more tests” for details.

ARE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE?

If you need to complete the test on paper or have a disability that makes it impossible for you to use the computer, your needs can be accommodated. However, other specifics apply: Your choice of times and testing locations may be much more restricted, but times to complete a test may be extended. Remember also that if accommodation is required, the GED testing centers will ask for documentation of the nature of the accommodation required.

The GED testing centers make every effort to ensure that all qualified people have access to the tests. If you have a disability, you may not be able to register for the tests and take them the same week, but, with some advanced planning, you can probably take the tests when you’re ready. Here’s what you need to do:

Check with your local testing center or check out www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/accommodations-for-disability.Contact the GED Testing Service or your local GED test center and explain your disability.Request any forms that you have to fill out for your special circumstances.Ensure that you have a recent diagnosis by a physician or other qualified professional.Complete all the proper forms and submit them with medical or professional diagnosis.Start planning early so that you’re able to take the tests when you’re ready.

Note that, regardless of your disability, you still have to be able to handle the mental and emotional demands of the test.

The GED Testing Service in Washington, D.C., defines specific disabilities, such as the following, for which it may make special accommodations, provided the disability severely limits your ability to perform essential skills required to pass the GED test:

Medical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or blindnessPsychological disabilities, such as schizophrenia, major depression, attention deficit disorder, or Tourette syndromeSpecific learning disabilities, including perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia

Signing up

When you’re actually ready to sign up for the test, follow these steps:

Contact your local GED test administrator or go towww.gedtestingservice.comto make sure you’re eligible.

Refer to the earlier section “Determining whether you’re eligible” for some help.

Ask the office for an application (if needed) or an appointment.

Complete the application (if needed).

Return the application to the proper office, with payment, if necessary.

The fees vary state by state, so contact your local administrator or testing site to find out what you have to pay to take the tests. In some states, if you fall into a low-income bracket, you may be eligible for financial assistance.

Note: You can also do all of this online, including submitting the payment, either with your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Go to www.gedtestingservice.com to start the process.

Never send cash by mail to pay for the GED test. Most local administrators have payment rules and don’t accept cash.

Working with unusual circumstances

If you feel that you may have a special circumstance that prevents you from taking the GED test at a pre-set schedule, contact the GED test administrator in your area. If, for example, the test is going to be held on your sabbath, the testing center may make special arrangements for you.

When applying for special circumstances, keep the following guidelines in mind:

Document everything in your appeal for special consideration.

Contact the GED test administrator in your area as early as you can.

Be patient. Special arrangements can’t be made overnight. The administrator often has to wait for a group with similar issues to gather so he can make arrangements for the entire group.

Ask questions. Accommodations can be made if you ask. For example, special allowances include extended time for various disabilities, large print and Braille for visual impairments, and age (for those individuals older than 60 who feel they may have a learning disability).

Taking the GED Test When English Is Your Second Language

The good news is that English doesn’t have to be your first language for you to take the GED test. The GED test is offered in English, Spanish, and French. If you want to take the test in Spanish or French, contact your local GED test administrator so you can apply.

If English, Spanish, or French isn’t your first language, you must decide whether you can read and write English as well as or better than 40 percent of high-school graduates because you may be required to pass an English as a Second Language (ESL) placement test. If you write and read English well, prepare for and take the test (either in English or in Spanish or French). If you don’t read or write English well, take additional classes to improve your language skills until you think you’re ready. An English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is also available for people who completed their education in other countries. For more information about the language component of the GED test, check out www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/special-test-editions.

In many ways, the GED test is like the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) comprehension test. If you’ve completed the TOEFL test with good grades, you’re likely ready to take the GED test. If you haven’t taken the TOEFL test, enroll in a GED test-preparation course to see whether you have difficulty understanding the subjects and skills assessed on the test. GED test courses provide you with some insight into your comprehension ability with a teacher to discuss your skills and struggles.

WEBSITES THAT CAN HELP YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE GED TEST

The Internet is a helpful and sometimes scary place. Some websites are there to help you in your GED test preparation, while others just want to sell you something. You have to know how to separate the good from the bad. Here are a couple of essential ones (most are accessible through www.gedtestingservice.com):

adulted.about.com/od/gettingyourged/a/stateged.htm is a website that links to the GED test eligibility requirements and testing locations in your state.usaeducation.info/Tests/GED/International-students.aspx is a site that explains GED test eligibility for foreign students.

If you’re curious and want to see what’s out there, type in “GED test” into any search engine and relax while you try to read about 22 million results, ranging from the helpful to the helpless. We suggest leaving this last activity until after you’ve passed the tests. As useful as the Internet can be, it still provides the opportunity to waste vast amounts of time. And right now, you need to spend your time preparing for the test — and leave the rest for after you get your diploma.

Figuring Out What You Have to Score to Pass the GED Test

To pass, you need to score a minimum of 145 on each section of the test, and you must pass each section of the test to earn your GED diploma. If you achieve a passing score, congratulate yourself: You’ve scored better than at least 40 percent of today’s high-school graduates, and you’re now a graduate of the largest virtual school in the country. And if your marks range between 165 and 174, you’ve reached the GED College Ready level. If your grades are even higher, between 175 and 200, you’ve reached the lofty GED College Ready + Credit level.

Be aware that some colleges require scores higher than the minimum passing score. If you plan to apply to postsecondary schools or some other form of continuing education, check with their admissions office for the minimum admission score requirements.

The following sections address a few more points you may want to know about how the GED test is scored and what you can do if you score poorly on some or all of the test sections.

Identifying how scores are determined

Correct answers may be worth one, two, or more points, depending on the item and the level of difficulty. The Extended Response (also known as the essay) is scored separately. However, the Extended Response is only one part of the Reasoning through Language Arts test. On each test section, you must accumulate a minimum of 145 points.

For the most up-to-date details on the scoring for each section of the GED test, check out www.gedtestingservice.com.

Because you don’t lose points for incorrect answers, make sure you answer all the items on each test. After all, a guessed answer can get you a point. Leaving an answer blank, on the other hand, gives you only a zero. Refer to Chapter 4 for some hints to help you narrow down your choices.

Knowing what to do if you score poorly on one or more tests

If you discover that your score is less than 145 on any test section, start planning to retake the test(s) — and make sure you leave plenty of time for additional studying and preparing.

As soon as possible after seeing your results, contact your local GED test administrator to find out the rules for retaking the failed section of the test. Some states may ask that you wait a certain amount of time and/or limit the number of attempts each year. Some may ask that you attend a preparation course and show that you’ve completed it before you can take the GED test again. Some may charge you an additional fee. However, you need to retake only those sections of the test that you failed. Any sections you pass are completed and count toward your diploma. Furthermore, the detailed evaluation of your results will help you discover areas of weakness that need more work before redoing any section of the test.

One advantage of taking the GED test on a computer is that you can receive, within a day, detailed feedback on how you did, which includes some specific recommendations of what you need to do to improve your scores.

No matter what score you receive on your first round of the section, don’t be afraid to retake any section that you didn’t pass. After you’ve taken it once, you know what you need to work on, and you know exactly what to expect on test day. Just take a deep breath, and get ready to prepare some more before you take your next test.

Chapter 2

Examining the Ins and Outs of the New Computerized GED Test

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting familiar with the keyboard and mouse for the computerized GED test

Checking out the specific types of questions as they appear on the new GED test

The new GED test is offered only on a computer, which means that the test format looks quite different from the old paper version. No longer do you have to fill in little circles or use a pencil or scratchpad. Now everything is paperless; even the scratchpad of previous years has been upgraded to an erasable tablet. Now you enter all your answers into the computer. You use the keyboard to type your essay or the mouse to click on your answer choice.

This chapter provides what you need to know for using the computer to take the GED test and explains the different formats of questions on the GED test. We even throw in a few sample questions to ensure that you understand this important information. Demonstrating how to take a test on a computer with a printed book isn’t easy, but this chapter includes several screenshots of question formats and other images you need to understand to be successful. All you have to do is read and digest it. We can’t promise you a banquet of information, but this chapter is at least a satisfying meal to help you prepare for the next big step on your road to the future.

Familiarizing Yourself with the Computer

When taking the computerized GED test, you have two important tools to allow you to answer questions: the keyboard and the mouse. The following sections examine each of them in greater depth and explain exactly how you use them to complete the GED test. Make sure you understand the mechanics and use of the keyboard and mouse beforehand so you don’t end up wasting valuable time trying to figure all of this stuff out on test day when you should be answering the questions.

Because bundling the book with a computer would make it very expensive, we developed a different way for you to interact with the GED test questions in this book. We present items in a format somewhat similar to the computer screen for that type of question’s format, and you mark your choice directly in the book. Then, you get to check your answer and read the answer explanation. Make sure you read the explanations even if you got the answer right because they provide additional information that may help with other questions. That type of presentation may not be the most technologically savvy, but it does prepare you for the types of questions you’ll encounter in the various sections of the GED test. For the practice tests in Parts VI and VII, we provide an answer sheet for you to mark your answer, and we give you the correct answer and detailed explanations for each test in a separate chapter.

Typing on the keyboard

You need to have at least some familiarity with a computer’s keyboard. If you constantly make typing errors or aren’t familiar with the keyboard, you may be in trouble. The good news is that you don’t have to be a keyboarding whiz. In fact, the behind-the-scenes GED people have shown through their research that even people with minimal keyboarding skills still have adequate time to complete the test.