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GED Preparation

The GED covers the following subjects:

• Language Arts Writing
• Language Arts Reading
• Social Studies
• Science
• Mathematics

The test includes 240 questions and an original essay. In order to successfully pass the test, you must have a minimum score of a 410 in each of the subject areas and an overall score of 2250.

Language Arts, Writing

The GED Language Arts, Writing Test is composed of two parts, and takes two hours to complete. In Part I you'll have 75 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions. In Part II, you'll have 45 minutes to write on a topic which will be provided to you.

Part I requires that you read various workplace and community documents, how-to documents, and informational passages that may or may not have errors in them. The multiple-choice questions ask how the sentence or passage should or should not be changed to make them proper. The purpose of the test is see if you understand basic sentence structure, grammar usage, and mechanics.

In Part II, you're asked to write an essay on a provided topic, something that the average person would be able to write about, such as your goals or your opinion on a specific subject. The essay is read by two, trained readers. Because of the limited time, you are not expected to create the "perfect" essay.

Language Arts, Reading

The Reading Test is composed of 40 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The test requires that you be able to not only comprehend what you're reading, but also that you can interpret different types of passages. The reading materials can be drawn from poetry, drama/plays, fictional works from all different time periods, nonfiction prose, critical reviews, and workplace and community documents, such as legal documents, letters, manuals, etc. Diverse ages, multicultural and ethnic backgrounds, gender, socioeconomic groups, and regional differences are considered when reading passages are selected.

Social Studies Test

The GED Social Studies Test is 70 minutes long and is composed of 50 multiple-choise questions covering U.S. history, world history, government and civics, economics, and geography. You must show that you can understand and apply social studies information and concepts in national and global contexts. Besides subject area questions, there will be questions based on practical documents, such as consumer or voting information, and on key historic documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and landmark Supreme Court cases.

Science Test

The world around us is filled with science. In fact, everyone needs scientific knowledge in order to make choices that arise everyday. What we wear, what we eat, and where we live are the results of science. The GED Science Test requires the skills that individuals must possess so that they can make appropriate choices about the way they live.

The Science Test allows 80 minutes to complete 50 multiple-choice questions based on life science, earth and space science, and physical science. Using charts, diagrams, tables, and graphs (these make up about half of the questions), the test emphasizes the relevance of science to everyday life, the environment, and health, as well as the application of problem-solving skills. Although you may not have to remember Newton's Third Law of Motion, a question may require that you know how to apply the law to a real-life situation.

Mathematics Test

The GED Mathematics Test runs 90 minutes and is delivered in two parts, each with 25 questions. Of these, 40 of the questions are multiple-choice and 10 are in a grid format. The areas covered include: number operations and number sense, data analysis, statistics, and probability, algebra, and geometry and measurement.

Both parts contain multiple-choice questions, as well as grid formats and both parts provide a formulas page to use with geometry and measurement problems. In Part I, however, you're allowed to use the Casio fx-260 Solar Scientific Calculator, provided at the test site. After Part I is completed, the calculators are collected and you'll begin Part II using only paper and pencil.

With all these areas covered so extensively, completing the GED Tests can take nearly 7 1/2 hours. I know it sounds a little overwhelming at first, but don't let the length of time or the various subject matters scare you. With a little preparation and advance practice, you'll do just fine.