Welcome to McGraw-Hill Education: Preparation for the GED® Test! This book contains practical test-taking information and review sections for each of the test’s four sections. It also contains a pretest and a posttest for every test section. It will give you the information and practice you need to do your best on test day. For best results, follow this five-step plan:
1. Learn about the GED® test. Read “Introducing the GED® Test” beginning on page 1. In this section you will learn all about what subjects the test covers, how the test is structured, and how it is scored. You will also see examples of the different question types, including the interactive question formats that appear on the computerized test. This section will also give you valuable test-taking strategies that can raise your score, as well as useful study suggestions and tips for test day.
2. Start with the pretests. The pretests in this book are modeled closely on the real GED® test. They have the same number and types of questions and the same degree of difficulty. Take each pretest as your first step in preparing for each part of the real exam. Use the Answers and Explanations section to score yourself, and complete the Evaluation Chart at the end of the test. The chart will help you pinpoint your areas of strength and weakness in your knowledge base and your skill set.
3. Develop a study plan. Use your results on the pretest to develop a study plan. Prepare to focus particularly on the topics that were difficult for you on the pretest. Set up a study schedule based on the amount of time you have available. The review sections of this book are broken into short, manageable chunks of information, so you can study one topic at a time at your own pace. A sample study plan for each test is included.
4. Prepare for each test section. The four main sections of this book provide a complete review of the subjects you need to master in order to succeed on the GED® test. The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) and Mathematical Reasoning sections include numerous examples to illustrate key concepts. The Science and Social Studies sections contain helpful charts and other graphics to clarify ideas and make learning easier. The RLA section also includes vital information on how to answer the extended-response (essay) question. Work through these sections at your own pace, paying special attention to topics or question types that were particularly difficult for you on the pretests. Check your understanding by completing the exercises and taking the practice quizzes you’ll find in each section.
5. Take the posttests. When you have completed your review for each test section, take the corresponding posttest you’ll find at the end of the book. Like the pretests, the posttests are closely modeled on the real exam in terms of question types, number of questions, and degree of difficulty. Use the posttests to check your progress, to gain experience with the GED® test format, and to learn to pace yourself to get your highest score.
In addition to the pretests and posttests in this book, you will find two additional, full-length sample tests on the bonus practice test app that accompanies this book. You can use this app on your smartphone or tablet. If you prefer studying with a computer or laptop, you can use the online version of the app found on the companion website, MHE Practice Plus.
These interactive practice tests offer a number of features that will help you meet your study goals:
• You can choose whether to take a test section timed or open-ended, depending on your practice goals.
• When you finish a section of the test, you will immediately receive a score that shows the percentage of correct answers.
• Your scores will be saved so you can refer back to them and follow your progress.
• Review mode allows you to see your answer and the correct answer together. (We hope they’re the same!) Here you’ll find concise and clear explanations to more challenging questions. Moreover, you’ll be able to see the original question for reference. If you exit a test section before finishing it you can simply return to where you left off at a later time.
If you take the practice tests on your tablet or smartphone, you will find the practice test app to be the ideal companion to your study plans. Depending on the device you have, go to one of the following:
Apple → iTunes
Android → Google Play
Once you are at the appropriate app store, search “MHE Practice Test App for the GED® Test” and download.
To find the online version of the practice test app visit mhprofessional.com/GEDTest. Below the book’s illustration, open the tab “Downloads & Resources.” Here, click on the link under “Practice Tests” and you will be able to use the sample tests on your laptop or home computer.