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The GED Essay Test – Understanding the GED Essays, Improving the Score
By Leonard Williams
If you’re planning to take the GED Test soon, it’s essential to understand the GED essay writing section since many test candidates find it one of the most difficult aspects of the language arts exam. Understanding what this part of the GED test expects—and how it’s scored—should make the test easier and improve scoring.
The GED, the common term for the General Education Development credential, is the adult’s alternative to a high school diploma. The GED credential is awarded after passing tests in science, social studies, math, and reading and writing, or language arts.
Most of the GED test is multiple-choice. But part of the language arts writing test requires the candidate to write an original essay, based on a provided prompt. The GED essay writing test will require you to make an explanation or present a point of view that explores and explains the prompt that’s provided. Two pages are provided for the GED essay, but there’s no requirement that all the space is used. Still, at least 200 words are recommended.
Timing for the test is flexible. A total of 120 minutes is allowed for both parts of this language arts exam, with 75 minutes slotted for the 50 questions in part one and 45 minutes slotted for the GED essay test. However, GED candidates who finish the first part in less time can devote the remaining time to the second part. Or, if more time is needed for the first section and less for the second, a candidate may use remaining time from the GED essay's part and return to the multiple-choice section of the writing test.
GED essays are scored on a 4-point scale, and scored by two trained
GED essay readers.
The two GED readers' scores are averaged. If the essay receives a score of 2 or higher, the essay score is combined with the language arts multiple-choice score to form a composite. If a candidate receives a score of 1 or 1.5 in GED essay writing, there’s no composite score, and the candidate must retake both the essay and multiple-choice portion of the test. GED Essay readers may not be more than one point apart in their scoring. In those cases where the readers are more than one point apart, the chief reader for the GED scoring site will set the score by agreeing with the reader whose score follows the GED Testing Service scale.
Individual GED essay writing scores are not reported, but the score accounts for 35 percent of the test.
GED Essay scoring is based on five areas, and measures the overall impression of the essay:
Does the paper respond to the assigned prompt—did the candidate use the topic on the test, and remain on-topic?
Can the reader see or follow an organized plan for development?
Are there specific and relevant details to support the paper's focus?
Are the conventions of language (grammar, usage, and mechanics) generally followed?
Is the word choice precise, varied, and appropriate?
Here’s a good way to understand these five requirements. The essay is scored on organization, essay focus to the prompt and how well the ideas are developed and supported. The essay is also scored on appropriate English mechanics such as grammar, punctuation, along with word choice and sentence structure. However, the most important measure is organization, focus to the main prompt, and idea development.
Prompts differ from test to test, cover topics of general interest and are not released in advance of the test. But here’s an example of a prompt:
‘What is your most important reason for obtaining the GED credential? How do you think it will help you achieve a goal in the next year? In your GED essay writing, identify your most important reason for obtaining the GED and the most important goal you plan to achieve with it. Explain your point of view and support your goal, using your own experience, background and knowledge to support your essay.’
Here are some other examples of key prompts:
What is your most important goal to achieve in the next three years?
What is a hobby you like and why is it rewarding to you?
What is your one most memorable experience in life, and why is it important to you?
So, what’s the best way to prepare for the GED essay test? Practice. To best prepare, practice writing two-page essays in the 45-minute time period. You may want to use the prompts above, or think of one that’s similar. Remember, you’ll need to support your main idea with your knowledge and experiences. You’ll also want to ensure that every sentence in your essay relates to your topic and main idea. Use details.
Once you write a few essays, ask for critique and guidance to determine how well your essays are organized, focus on a particular subject and explore ideas that support your main topic. You’ll also want to know that your grammar and use of English mechanics are sound.
The American Council on Education develops GED tests and provides information online about testing, official test sites, GED scores, example test questions and GED transcripts. The website is Here.
More detailed testing advice is available about the GED test, including the essay exam and scoring at PassGED. Or, request Leonard’s Essay, complete with an Essay Guide to get you started. It’s free. LeonardWilliams@passGED.com..
McGraw-Hill provides an online Guide to how essays are scored by readers.
About the Author:Leonard Williams, an e-learning instructor with www.passGED.com, is also a curriculum specialist who focuses on research and development, implementation and assessment of best-practice learning solutions for adult learners and people with educational challenges. You can contact Leonard at: ContactUs. He invites feedback and questions from GED instructors and students.
