By Leonard Williams

Most adult learners and GED students want to know what to expect on the GED test, and whether the GED testing is harder than the tests and exams they took in high school.

There’s no question about it—the GED test is difficult. But most passGED graduates say the test isn’t as hard as high school exams since the GED testing is about essential skills and relevant information. The emphasis of the GED tests is not on memorization, but on thinking skills and the application of practical knowledge. It’s a test of “show what you understand,󈯍not a test that requires recalling knowledge from memory.

So what’s the difference? Just consider how standard high school classes and courses work. Over weeks and months, a student covers lots of information and in most cases, must remember it. While quizzes and tests create a grade, and indicate how well a student is progressing through the material, the real test—or most important grade—probably results from mid-term and final exams. Students who have a tough time with memorization may not test or score well, especially if weeks and months have passed since the information was covered.

Also, many students find it hard to learn and remember information that doesn’t seem important or practical to their lives. For example, a history or social studies test may require that the student remember the date the Magna Carta was signed. The correct answer may not seem relevant to real life; still, the answer could make the difference between pass or fail.

The GED test measures knowledge differently, and requires application skills. Like high school, it addresses science, social studies, basic algebra and geometry, reading and writing. But it’s not memory of knowledge that the test measures. It’s the use and application of it.

Consider the Magna Carta again; suppose it were part of the GED test.

Example Test Passage:

Signed in 1215 in England, this document was coined the Great Charter, and developed by English nobles. The nobles compelled King John to execute the Magna Carta as a means to recognize the rights of noblemen and common Englishmen. It established the principle that no one, including the king or a lawmaker, is above the law. The Magna Carta marked a turning point in preventing tyrannical rule and anarchy. It also marked a turning point in political history, and is considered the first step in the process toward constitutional law. 

Example Multiple-Choice Test Questions:

If this were one of the GED essay topics, one test question might ask for the date the Charter was executed, since knowledge application requires your ability to glean information from material. The answer is in the first sentence of the test passage.

Other questions might stress thinking skills and the ability to make conclusions, asking you what “tyrannical rule” or “anarchy” mean in the passage, or to define the meaning of the phrase “above the law,” The GED testing is also designed to measure judgment—or the ability to apply significant information to a different situation. So you may also see a question on how the Magna Carta is comparable or relevant to a recent civil rights event.

For some people – especially those who have relied on memorization skills in their education, GED testing can seem more difficult than high school because it’s easier to just memorize information than know how to use it. For people who haven’t had much experience in making inferences, analyzing data, and making judgments from information, the GED test can seem difficult. But fortunately, there are strategies test candidates can exercise to make the test easier and net higher test scores.

1. Understand the Test:  Get acquainted with the GED essay topics and the GED test structure as a whole: Become more familiar with how test passages and questions are presented and the best way to find the right answer among five multiple-choice options.

2. Practice First:  Take some GED practice tests to increase your familiarity and to determine skill weaknesses and strengths. Pre-tests or GED practice tests can also help you plan a study guide and determine how much time you’ll need to prepare for the GED. The official GED practice tests are best, since these will give you an idea of how you’ll score, identify study areas and they’re similar to the actual tests. To get an idea of what information is on a Practice Test and the real GED test, the ACE provides sample practice questions at Practice Tests.

3. Back to School: Consider taking a GED class or enrolling in a GED study program or test preparation course. Most communities offer free or low-cost programs and classes through schools, nonprofits and even libraries. Or you may opt for an online GED program. Do shop, compare and read the fine print; lots of online companies offer fake diplomas or promise results that they can’t deliver.

4. Get Support: Find a community-based support group, study group or online learning community of GED students, student supporters or instructors. Likely, you’ll find test advice, test-taking tips, and encouragement from people who want you to achieve your educational and career goals. Find more information at http://www.passGED.com.

About the Author: The GED Academy president, Michael Ormsby oversees program management and delivery of best-practice GED programs, software and curriculum for adult learners, basic skills and workforce development, with a special focus on adult learners with educational challenges. For more information, visit http://www.passGED.com. Michael can be contacted by email at: ContactUs or by telephone at 541-740-4717.

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What the GED Test Really Measures 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.