The GED Math Test: Know the Calculator
By Leonard Williams
To score well on the GED math test, it’s important to learn how to use the Casio fx-260 calculator, since it’s the calculator used for the official General Education Development Test. For GED math prep, it’s a good idea to get hands-on practice with this Casio, and to understand which calculator functions the GED math test expects you to know.
The Casio fx-260 is used for Part 1 of the two-part GED math test, which covers basic algebra and geometry, data analysis and basic number operations. Each one of the two parts has 25 questions, with 45 minutes slotted, or 90 minutes total allowed for the entire GED math test. The Casio fx-260 is distributed by the test site center for Part 1 of the test, and then collected before part 2. Calculators can’t be used for Part 2.
About the Casio Calculator
This Casio is a scientific calculator. It’s more advanced than the simpler or more basic calculator models most adults use to balance their checkbooks or to add a grocery bill while shopping. Many of today’s high schoolers and even college graduates aren’t familiar with the advanced calculators and multiple functions of scientific calculators used in today’s technology, science and for advanced financial operations. So calculator skills aren’t just important for GED math students; knowledge of scientific calculators is important to everyone engaged in today’s rapidly changing technological society.
 Here are some basics to understand about the Casio fx-260 for GED math help:
- Learn the location of the keys.
- Learn the functions that the keys perform.
- Use the “On” button to reset the calculator, or to clear the memory.
- How to use the “Clear” and “All Clear” buttons or functions.
- Using number keys 0-9, and basic operation keys for addition, multiplication, subtraction and division.
- Learning the location of the decimal point key, equals and percent, and how and when each is used.
- Using the “Shift” key -- to change other keys to alternate functions.
- How the “Change Sign” and “Fraction” keys work, and when to use them.
- How the “Square” and “Square Root” keys work, and when to use them.
- The “Parenthesis” keys are important, since these keys are used to control the order of mathematical operations.
- Understanding the keys to raise numbers to another power, and for exponentials -- “EXP” key -- used in scientific notation.
Does it look complicated? Maybe, bu only if you haven’t practiced with the Casio calculator used for the for the GED math test. Be sure to include the Casio calculatory in your GED math practice.
Don’t worry, though. While it seems like a lot to learn – and to understand – the test requires only basic knowledge and application of a few calculator functions. And this knowledge will actually provide GED math help to the test candidates for them to solve the GED math test’s more complicated problems.
The Casio fx-260 is worth learning. Use Casio fx-260 for GED math practice so that you become familiar with the functions before you sit for the exam. Understanding goes a long way toward reducing “math anxiety,” improving the final GED math test score and gaining the skills needed for today’s technological society.
More Resources
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.
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The GED Math Test: Know the Calculator
by Leonard Williams
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.passged.com.
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