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 blindness
Psychological disabilities, such as schizophrenia, major depression, attention deficit disorder, or Tourette syndrome
Specific 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 to www.gedtestingservice.com to 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.

Taking a Quick Glance at the GED Test

What to Expect: The New Testing Format