By Leonard Williams
Most GED students are busy adults. Whether they’re enrolled in a local GED prep class, or managing a self-guided study program, limited time means study time should be as effective as possible.
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By Leonard Williams
Preparing for the General Education Development Test can be overwhelming – where do you start? Start by knowing that GED prep is worth time and effort since preparation builds knowledge and thinking skills, the most important elements to getting a good test score.
Here are some essential steps for solid GED test preparation:
Assess Abilities
Without an understanding of existing knowledge and abilities, it’s difficult to map a study plan. So first determine the knowledge and skills you already have, along with the ones important for the test. Measuring abilities will also determine skill weaknesses, and identify areas for study.
The best way to make a self-assessment is with an Official GED Practice Test. Practice tests include the same type of questions as the actual GED test and measure the same skills and knowledge the test expects you to know. Also, practice tests are good score indicators, and they’ll help you become familiar with the way the test works. Having a working knowledge of the test is another way to improve the final test score.
Practice tests may be available at local bookstores, through community colleges or ordered online. When shopping online, just ensure your tests are official practice tests.
Develop a Study Plan
The results of your assessment or practice tests provide a map for a study plan. Scores should indicate which test areas require little or no study, areas for refresher study and basic reviews, and skill areas where there are real weaknesses. Design a study plan that reflects areas for reviews and for developing knowledge and strengthening skills or developing new ones.
You’ll also want to reinforce good skills since higher test scores in some areas can help compensate for lower test scores in others. And, strengthening skills you already have will help you develop skills you don’t have.
Use the Study Plan
Your study plan really works if you exercise it. It should include three components: instruction, application and routine.
Instruction: You’ll want to relearn basic knowledge in any test area where the assessment identified skill weaknesses. There are many ways to do this. Most community colleges offer free or low-cost GED classes or basic skills classes. Or, you may find a support program through local family resource centers, nonprofits or in your workplace.
Study guides and online courses are also available, and provide good learning solutions for adults who haven’t had good classroom experiences, or have schedule conflicts, or lots of family and work responsibilities.
Application: Use knowledge that you learn anew, or relearn. Apply it. Make sure your study plan includes plenty of practical problem solving. This will help prepare you for test and also identify any areas that require additional instruction. It will also help to use new knowledge in everyday situations. Consider how math study can be used to mentally calculate groceries while shopping, balancing a checking account, managing a budget … or perhaps during a home repair project that requires measuring. Skills newly learned for other parts of the GED test can be used while reading, planning, organizing or interpreting directions or instructions on the job.
Routine: The study plan works best when it’s routine. GED test candidates best benefit from daily study, with short and longer study sessions. Still, the most important practice is to make study a frequent habit.
Exercise Thinking Skills
Make sure your preparation involves a lot of thinking skill practice, to develop or improve critical thinking skills. The GED test requires that you show what you understand – not what you should know. So critical thinking is the most important skill measured by the GED. The test will call for you to analyze material, evaluate it and make inferences, deductions and judgments. Unlike the memorization skills so many students use in high school, the GED measures ‘application of knowledge’ skills, or the ability to use knowledge to solve problems. Consider ways you solve problems every day, and determine ways to use those same skills in study sessions and for the GED test.
Determine Readiness
Once you feel you’ve mastered new knowledge and skills — and strengthened existing skills — assess again. Five Official GED Practice Tests are available, and include all test areas: Mathematics, Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing, Science, and Social Studies. Like your first assessment, your scores on these tests will reflect an actual test score so you’ll know if you’re really ready to pass the test, or if you need more instruction, application, and further work and study to build knowledge and improve thinking skills.
Once you’re ready for the GED test, you’ll take it at an official GED Test Site since the actual GED test is not given online. To find your test center or test site, Click Here for an official list of contacts by state, for military members and corrections, and for Canada, US territories and other jurisdictions:
Preparing for the GED is a major undertaking. By using these easy and essential steps, you’ll learn exactly what you need to earn this important education and career credential.
More Resources
? For additional study tips, test information and resources for adult GED programs, visit http://www.passGED.com.
? Visit the official website for GED testing information, delivered by the American Council on Education: www.gedtest.org.
? Contact your local Volunteer Center to learn about learning resources and tutors or local agencies that offer volunteer support or local learning resources. For a center directory, visit the Points of Light Foundation at http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
Most adult learners and GED students want to know what to expect on the GED test, and whether the test 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 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 a passage on the GED, 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 test 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 test structure: 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 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 Test.
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.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Michael Ormsby
One of the challenges of getting a GED is paying for classes, study materials or the test. And many students can’t afford the cost of childcare or transportation to attend classes. Or, students simply can’t go to classes on a regular basis because of family and job responsibilities.
There are solutions. Though resources for adult learners vary, no-cost or low-cost classes and study materials for self-guided programs are readily available in most communities. There’s also help available online for GED students working on their General Education Development credential.
Here’s a quick guide to help you find resources and support — it’s easier to get started and stay focused on your education if you have the learning materials, student or family support you need.
1. The GED Academy offers a free, more detailed Resource Guide that includes additional contacts, resources and contact information to help adult learners access free and low-cost learning materials and community support. Request a Guide to Resources.
2. Your Public Library should have many of the study guides and GED lesson plans available for loan, and may also have videos and CD ROM GED testing study courses as well. In some communities, the library even sponsors free GED classes and adult education programs. Some libraries may even offer childcare and storytelling classes for children while parents attend classes. Some libraries offer online resources. Visit libraries on the web through Web Junction.
3. Most Community Colleges offer free or affordable GED courses or classes in basic skills, which will apply to a GED study program. The cost of these GED courses will vary from area to area, but generally they’re either free, or not expensive. If classes are fee-based, check with the community college Financial Aid Office and Student Support offices. You may be eligible for free classes and support services. Online College Directory
4. In many communities, even childcare costs and transportation are available for GED students. Talk to local GED instructors. They’re probably very familiar with local resources. Also, check with the community college Student Support Services.
5. Community-based nonprofits, Volunteer Centers, Family Support Agencies or Family Resource Centers are excellent sources for GED students. Contact local nonprofit agencies and volunteer centers. Ask about classes, materials and other needs related to your educational goal such as childcare, transportation or adult education classes or grants. Many of these agencies and centers also provide student tutoring and mentoring services. Learn about your local volunteer center through a member directory at The Points of Light Foundation.
6. Your local Public School District or University may have continuing education courses or adult education courses. There’s often grant money available to school districts and higher education providers that sponsor programs and classes for adult learners. Give them a call to see if they have the material or services you require for the GED test. You’ll probably want to check with the Central Office of the public school district, the nearest High School and with the Adult Education Office or Career Services office at the university.
7. Don’t forget about the local branch of your State Unemployment Office and local Department of Social Services or Family Services. Both of these agencies may have funds or resources available through programs related to job training, workforce development, job readiness or a DSS family support or welfare-to-work program.
8. If you’re employed, your workplace is an excellent resource for adult education. Your employer may already sponsor a program, or be willing to sponsor a program or costs since your goal is a good one. Check with your employer or supervisor directly, along with the Workforce Development, Personnel or Human Resources officer or department. You may find you need to ask a variety of people in the workplace to find the answer you need. If your workplace doesn’t sponsor a program, ask for one. Essential Education / The GED Academy provides free guides to GED students, adult learners and their employers or supporters to get GED programs and adult education going in the workplace. Request a Smart at Work Guide from The GED Academy.
9. Your local PBS television station broadcasts GED courses that you can take. PBS also offers some online courses for basic skills required for the GED test. They’re free. Check local television listings.
10. The GED Academy was created to provide free support and low-cost help for GED Test candidates. Lots of free information, test advice and study guides are available, along with financial aid for an online GED program.
11. You may also want to check with the American Council on Education, GED Testing Service. This organization provides free and official information about testing, official test sites, GED scores and transcripts. The website is www.gedtest.org. Or, your official state test site and administrator may have information about resources or support available to you. Here is a complete listing of test sites and contacts.
(c) 2006 Essential Education Corporation / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
For today’s 39 million adults in the US who didn’t graduate from high school, the GED credential is probably the best alternative ‘diploma’ to demonstrate skills and proficiency levels that are necessary to progress in education or career.
Developed in 1942, the first GED Tests were designed to help military veterans finish their basic education. Military service members are still eligible for the General Education Development test. However, the GED credential is awarded to others who can pass the full test series that measures knowledge and skills in science, social studies, math, reading and writing.
Who’s eligible to take the GED test? As a rule, you’re eligible if:
? You aren’t currently enrolled in high school;
? You haven’t graduated from high school;
? You are at least 18 years old or older. A few states will allow testing at 16 and 17 years.
? You meet state, provincial, or territorial requirements regarding age, residency, and the length of time since leaving school.
What other circumstances apply to GED test candidates?
? Some candidates elect to take the test when they have a high school diploma from an unaccredited high school or they’ve been home-schooled.
? Candidates who graduated from a non-US high school are eligible to take the GED test if they meet all other state and federal requirements.
? US citizenship is not a requirement to take the GED test. Adults who aren’t US citizens can take the GED test.
Is the GED test given online?
No, the GED is not available online. The GED is administered by the American Council of Education, which develops and distributes tests. Official GED tests are ONLY given at designated test centers throughout the U.S., U.S. Territories and Canada. To locate official testing centers, visit http://www.passGED.com/test_state.php. International testing is also available.
What makes a GED credential equivalent to a high school diploma?
The GED test is rigorous 7.5-hour exam, equal to or exceeding high school proficiency. Tests are standardized and normed using a national random sample of graduating high school seniors. To pass the GED tests, a candidate must demonstrate a level of skill that meets or exceeds that demonstrated by 60% of graduating high school seniors. This means that 40% of graduating high school seniors wouldn’t pass the GED tests.
Approximately 97 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S., and 95 percent of employers accept the GED credential.
More GED Resources:
? Free resources and information on GED testing, official testing sites, financial aid and student support are available at http://www.passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. In addition, information on test scores and official test sites are available.
? The American Council on Education and most local libraries and community colleges will also have additional resources designed specifically for GED students and adult learners. Visit the ACE’s GED Testing Service at www.gedtest.org, or call 202.939-9490.
? Contact you local public school district, community college, public library or university and ask about GED and adult education programs. Local family resource centers or volunteer centers are also good resources to find programs and support services for GED students and adult learners. Browse listings of Volunteer Centers, provided by the Points of Light Foundation: http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm
? Does your community have Communities in Schools program? Or YouthBuild USA? If so, you can probably find information on local GED resources, and even other support services for families who want to focus on their education.
Learn more about CIS at: http://www.cisnet.org/intro.html.
Learn more about Youth Build at: http://www.youthbuild.org/
More Resources
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
The majority of GED students want to know what to expect on the GED test and what programs, strategies and resources are available to help students earn the credential the first time they take the GED test.
Without question, nearly every GED candidate can benefit from GED classes. Classes and GED preparation programs are designed for adult learners and focus specifically on the knowledge and information needed for the test. Classes are readily available, providing students a no-cost or low-cost learning solution. In most cities and towns, GED classes are sponsored by local community colleges, public school districts, university adult education programs or through nonprofits, by volunteers and through family resource centers. Even some employers offer classes through workplace development and job readiness programs.
But many students can’t take GED classes because of family, job or budget obligations. Or transportation issues and lack of childcare interfere with a student’s ability to attend class regularly. These students can benefit from support services provided by education systems or nonprofits. Or, they may need to access test strategies and study resources that enable them to prepare for the GED on their own schedule.
Whether students and adult learners attend classes or need to design a self-guided program, Essential Education Corporation and PassGED recommend the following GED test strategies and resources to help candidates prepare for and earn the General Education Development credential:
1. Explore the Test: Review the testing requirements; understand what knowledge and information is needed for the science, social studies, math and Language Arts reading and writing. Determine the scoring requirements for your community’s official GED test site center.
2. Understand the Test: Get acquainted with the GED test structure — become familiar and comfortable with essay requirements and how test passages and questions are presented. Understanding the test will also help you learn the best way to find the right answer among five multiple-choice options to increase your score.
3. Practice First: Take some GED practice tests to increase your familiarity and comfort level with the test. Practice tests also determine skill weaknesses and strengths. Use the information from your practice tests scores to plan a self-guided study course or decide which GED classes you need most. You can also determine how much time you’ll need to prepare for the GED.
4. Explore Online Resources: If class attendance isn’t an option, or you need extra classes to sharpen skills, consider using the plethora of online resources available, or enrolling in an online GED program designed for self-guided study. While free resources are available, a fee-based program may be necessary for complete GED readiness. But be sure to shop wisely; compare programs and read the fine print. Lots of online companies offer fake diplomas or promise results that they can’t deliver. And the GED cannot be taken online!
5. Get Motivated! What motivates you? There are many reasons adult learners work on their GED. For some, it’s a higher-paying job, a new career or the stepping-stone to educational opportunities. For others, it’s simply completing an educational milestone or being a role model for their own children. Regardless of your reason, it’s reason enough to motivate you. You’ll want to clearly identify your motive and visualize the benefits of achievement.
Motivation is essentially based on a single premise: how bad you want something. If you really want it to happen, it will. If you really want to pass the GED, you will. It’s that simple; it’s the cornerstone of your GED program, whether you opt for a classroom experience, an online program or create a self-guided study course.
So, when preparing for the GED, prepare through small, well-planned steps. Ask for the help you need. Accomplish each step; build upon them. Then use these accomplishments as additional benefits and motivators to move you closer to the final achievement —the GED.
6. Get Support: Find a community-based support group, study group or online learning community of GED students and instructors. You may also find volunteer tutors and other supports through nonprofits, family resource centers or community-based self-sufficiency programs and support groups. Even your workplace may sponsor continuing education programs, or be willing to sponsor one for you and other co-workers interested in education. Ask! Get support, and be a support. Likely, you also have knowledge and know about resources that will benefit others.
You’ll want support and also test advice, test-taking tips, learning materials and most importantly — encouragement from people who want you to achieve your educational and career goals. If a local study group is unavailable, PassGED offers an open online learning community.
More Resources
? The American Council on Education and most local libraries will also have additional resources designed specifically for GED students. Visit www.gedtest.org, or call 202.939-9490.
? PBS television offers broadcast classes; check local listings.
? Is there a Volunteer Center in your community? Browse member listings of the Points of Light Foundation
? You may learn about other resources by contacting your local library, school system, or United Way. For a directory of United Ways, visit http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/.
? Free resources and information on GED testing, official testing sites, financial aid and student support are available at http://www.passGED.com. The website also provides information on financial aid, links to agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs.
? Contact your official GED Test Site Center or administrator. For a listing, visit GED Test Sites.
More Resources
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Michael Ormsby
The GED is the General Education Development credential, the adult learner’s alternative to a high school diploma. But many people don’t understand the difficulty and value of the GED test, the testing requirements or even the process of taking it.
The first GED tests were developed in 1942 to help military war veterans finish their basic education and high school study program. Today, the GED credential is a worthwhile goal for the 34 to 38 million US adults who never graduated from high school. A GED enables adults to complete an educational milestone, to progress at work or in a career, and opens the door to advanced training and higher educational opportunities. People with a GED make an average of $385,000 more in their lifetime than people who do not have a GED or high school diploma.
WHAT DOES THE GED TEST INVOLVE?
The GED is a set of five tests, a cumulative 7.5-hour exam that measures knowledge of math, science, social studies, reading and writing ability.
For the science, social studies and reading tests, questions determine ability to make inferences, evaluations and deductions from material presented in short passages. The multiple-choice math test requires knowledge of basic number operations, basic algebra and geometry and algebra and data analysis. Part of the math test requires use of a calculator to perform number operations.
The writing test has two parts. The first is a multiple-choice test about the mechanics of English usage. The second part of the test is a 45-minute essay, based on a given prompt.
The GED tests are given at official test centers in all major cities across the U.S. and Canada. Even though some companies claim to offer the GED online, it’s not possible. The GED is not given online, only at official test centers. International testing is also available.
HOW DOES THE TEST COMPARE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES?
The GED test has gleaned the most essential knowledge and skills acquired during a high school education. The emphasis in the GED tests is not on memorization, but on the application of practical knowledge and critical-thinking skills in the context of given information.
WHAT’S A PASSING SCORE ON THE GED TEST?
The standard scores for the GED tests range from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 800 on each test. To pass, 60% is required. This translates to a score of at least 410 on each GED test to pass it, and an overall average score of 450 for the five-test battery. The score for any single test cannot be below 410, but if some are lower, other GED tests need to be well above 410 so that the scores for all five GED tests average out to at least 450.
HOW DIFFICULT IS THE GED TEST?
In terms of difficulty, consider that an average of only 60% of high school graduates can pass the test. For some people, GED testing can seem more difficult than high school because it’s easier to just memorize information than to know how to use it. For people who haven’t had much experience in making inferences, analyzing data, and making judgments, the GED test can seem very difficult.
However, a solid GED study program goes a long way toward reducing the difficulty level and increasing scores. Test familiarity — understanding the way test questions are given — helps. So GED practice tests go a long way in preparedness.
WHAT SHOULD A GED STUDY PROGRAM INCLUDE?
Taking GED preparation classes is a good way to outline a path of study. Some employers offer GED prep programs or basic skills classes as part of a workforce development program. In addition, most communities offer low-cost or even no-cost classes through a local high school, family resource center, community college or university.
But for many adult learners, classes aren’t a viable option. Research shows that GED on-site classes often compete with schedules, job and family commitments, and that many students have little or no access to childcare and transportation. For these adult learners, e-learning or distance learning are options, through an online study at home program. Preparation books, study guides and GED practice tests are also readily available.
These materials and online study at home programs enable an adult learner to create a self-guided study course and pre-test to determine the most critical study areas. Other benefits of self-guided study are affordability; flexible scheduling and self-pacing, since many adult learners report a history of negative classroom experiences.
However, lots of companies do business online that promise bogus diplomas and costly learning solutions. When purchasing programs or classes online, it pays to shop, compare and to read the fine print.
More Resources
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
Getting ready for the GED test can be overwhelming. For adult learners enrolled in a GED class, it’s often difficult to find the time or motivation to study outside the classroom, engage in the classroom experience or to measure the effectiveness of study sessions. And for adult learners who manage their own study program, test prep may seem even harder.
Planning, perseverance and motivation are the keys to effective, successful GED test preparation, the most important thing a test candidate can do to pass the GED test. Using these keys will reduce challenges and ensure that test prep is worthwhile.
Explore the GED test areas.
The official GED test is a set of five tests, which measures knowledge of math, science, social studies, reading and writing. Determine which test area you’ll probably score best in, and study that area first. Successful and enjoyable experiences with your GED preparation early will help motivate you and ready your brain for more difficult material later.
Measure test readiness.
Use official GED practice tests as part of your test preparation and as a study guide to help you determine skill strengths and weaknesses. Test scores on practice tests will indicate the skill areas where you’ll need the least and most work, and will help you outline a study plan.
Official practice tests also serve another purpose. They’ll give you familiarity with the test structure and timing. Understanding the way the test asks you to apply knowledge, and how the test is paced is a good way to improve your score.
Develop a study plan.
Study guides and study plans are available, but it’s important to adapt these models to your own needs. A study plan that you develop yourself or center around yourself will go a long way toward helping you reach your goal. Develop a realistic plan that’s established according to your needs and schedule, and complements the way you learn. This allows you to stick to your study plan and learn at your own pace, which contributes to the learning process.
A good study plan will include frequent short study sessions of 30 minutes to an hour, along with periodic longer sessions – two to four hours — to help prepare you for the marathon 7.5-hour official GED test. Be sure to include your weekly study objectives and measure them. Then you’ll clearly see what you’ve accomplished and it will motivate you further. The key is consistency.
Enhance learning with test prep materials.
If you’re an adult learner enrolled in a GED class, your GED program probably includes test prep materials. If needed, you can supplement these with additional materials that may be better designed for the way you learn. Libraries often have GED test prep materials for loan, and local bookstores should also have a range of offerings. Materials, study guides, practice tests and interactive courseware are also available online. Shop wisely though; be sure that study materials are authentic and will enhance your GED study program.
What motivates you?
There are many reasons adult learners work on their GED. For some, it’s a higher-paying job, a new career or the stepping-stone to educational opportunities. For others, it’s simply completing an educational milestone or being a role model for their own children. Regardless of your reason, it’s reason enough to motivate you. You’ll want to clearly identify your motive and visualize the benefits of achievement.
Motivation is essentially based on a single premise: how bad you want something. If you really want it to happen, it will. If you really want to pass the GED, you will. It’s that simple; it’s the cornerstone of your GED program, whether you opt for a classroom experience, an online program or create a self-guided study course.
So, when preparing for the GED, prepare through small, well-planned steps. Accomplish each step; build upon them. Then use these accomplishments as additional benefits and motivators to move you closer to the final achievement — the GED.
More Resources
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
For today’s student, distance learning can provide a valuable and affordable way to work toward a GED, the best way for an adult to demonstrate the skills learned by the average high school graduate. But there are a growing number of companies and schools who aren’t really in the business of education. Instead, they’re in the education business — their biggest business is selling quick and easy programs or simple online tests that come with worthless transcripts and fake diplomas.
In most cases, the GED — the term for General Education Development credential — is the only official ‘diploma’ that has value and is meaningful for adults who never completed their high school education. There are exceptions. But as a rule most transcripts and diplomas ordered or obtained from online high schools are worthless. Unfortunately, students and adult learners are often misled — and easily misled — by these diploma factories or diploma mills. Here’s a recent letter from a new GED student, who learned about one education business the hard way:
“I paid $250 and got this paper in the mail, but it didn’t help me get a better job. It was a ripoff. It wasn’t till my boss told me that I found out it wasn’t a real high school. It wasn’t even a real high school diploma, just something somebody made on a computer. But it looked like a real school. With a real test.”
This student’s story is typical and more common every day. Many adult learners fall victim to diploma scams, usually paying $200 to $800 in tuition, testing, and transcript or diploma fees. But because the school or program isn’t accredited, the diploma has no value … it’s meaningless. When it comes to employers, job training programs, tech school, community colleges and universities, bogus diplomas are useless.
But a GED credential is useful. For today’s 39 million or more adults in the US who never graduated from high school, passing the GED test is a passkey to both career and educational opportunities. Approximately 95 percent of employers and 97 percent of US colleges and universities accept the GED because it really is an official, accredited ‘diploma.’ It’s meaningful, and it has real value.
When choosing an education program, a student’s best bet is a GED solution, whether enrolling in a local class, an online preparation program or managing self-guided study through the selection of quality study materials. If online learning or distance learning is the best solution for you, look for a program, class or choose materials that include all the components needed to prepare for the GED test.
Here are some guidelines for choosing a real online GED program provider and avoiding bogus schools or fake diploma scams:
The American Council on Education (ACE), GED Testing Service, has tight guidelines for the GED. The test covers science, social studies, language arts reading and writing, and math – including algebra, geometry and data analysis. Find a program that includes all testing areas; avoid any solution or school that doesn’t include all test areas or information about test areas and ACE requirements. Learn more at www.gedtest.org.
GED Practice Tests are available online and are a good way for a student to determine what to study to get ready for the test. But the real GED test cannot be taken online! The test is only given at official test sites. So avoid any company that claims to offer the official GED test or a quick online version for a diploma. For a listing of official test sites and state contacts, visit.
More Resources
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation. / www.passGED.com
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By Leonard Williams
The GED is the General Education Development credential. For adults who never finished high school, statistics show it’s adult learners’ best alternative to a high school diploma.
The first GED Tests were developed in 1942 to help war veterans finish their basic education. Today, there are more than 39 million adults in the US who don’t have a high school degree. For them, the GED is the best solution to advance in education, a job or career, and to build financial security.
But many people don’t understand the GED and the process of how to get it. As a GED instructor, curriculum developer and volunteer online forum moderator with Essential Education Corporation and PassGED, I’ve answered hundreds of questions from students. It’s likely their most common questions and answers will be helpful to people who need more information about the test and the testing process.
WHAT DOES THE GED ACTUALLY TEST?
The GED is a set of five tests, which measures knowledge of math, science, social studies, reading and writing. For the science, social studies and reading tests, you need to be able to read a short passage, and then answer questions that show you understand the information that’s given.These tests mostly measure your ability to make evaluations and inferences in the material.
The math test requires knowledge of basic number operations, very basic geometry and algebra and some data analysis. You’ll also want to know how to use a scientific calculator, since part of the test allows you to use one.
The writing test has two parts. The first is a multiple-choice test about the mechanics of English usage. The second is an essay test, and you’ll write based on your background and experiences.
WHAT’S A PASSING SCORE ON THE GED?
That’s the big question, right? The standard scores for the GED tests range from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 800 on each test. To pass, you must score about 60% on each test, which translates to a score of at least 410 on each GED test to pass it, and an overall average score of 450 for the five-test battery. This means that your score for any individual GED test cannot be below 410, but if you get some that low, you need other GED tests to be well above 410 so that the scores for all five GED tests average out to at least 450.
Each question on the GED test equals one point. You can miss one out of three questions, and still pass the GED.
The essay portion of the test is scored differently, and readers score it based on your writing ability to use language and your word choices.
WHAT’S THE PASS/FAIL RATE?
On average, two out of three people who take the GED Test pass. The better prepared you are for the test, the greater your chances of doing well.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE PASS EASILY, AND OTHER PEOPLE FAIL?
Some people seem to pass the GED test the first time they take it, without studying. It’s likely that they are good test-takers, and they can remember lots of knowledge from high school. But since one out of three people don’t pass, this is the exception to the rule. To pass the first time, most people really need to spend some time getting ready for the test.
HOW DO I INCREASE MY CHANCES OF PASSING?
The best advice is to study as much as possible for the GED test. The biggest reason people don’t pass it the first time is that they don’t prepare well enough. What this means is that you’ll probably need to spend time relearning some of the skills and knowledge you’ve forgotten since high school. But don’t panic. If you do a little studying in the right areas, you can pass it.
It’s also a good idea to get familiar with the test, so you know what to expect and to increase your test-taking skills. Taking some GED practice tests is a good idea. It will show you how the test works, give you an idea of a score and help you identify areas where you most need to study.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO STUDY?
Taking some classes is always a good idea. Most communities have classes through their local high schools, community colleges or universities. But often it’s hard to fit them into your schedule, especially if you have job and family obligations. And lots of my students have problems with childcare and transportation. If going to a class is a problem, you can find some GED study-at-home programs and online GED classes that allow you to work at your own pace, on your own schedule. Just make sure the online education you choose is the real thing - lots of companies are out there that promise bogus diplomas after simple online tests.
You can also get preparation books, study guides and GED practice tests, which will help you get ready for the GED test. Many are available online, but your local library or community college may offer GED materials through loan programs at no charge. You may also find materials in your local bookstore. Chances are, stores that sell used books, or even thrift stores will also have some GED test prep books.
WHERE DO I TAKE THE GED TEST?
The GED tests are given at official test centers in all major cities across the U.S. and Canada. Even though some companies or schools claim you can get your GED online, you can’t. The GED is not given online, only at official test centers. International testing is also available.
MORE RESOURCES
For additional GED study tips, test information and free resources on the GED test, including financial aid and student support, visit passGED.com. The website also provides links to federal agencies and nonprofits that serve GED students, instructors and workforce development programs. For a list of official GED testing sites and administrative contacts, visit Test Sites.
©2006 Essential Education Corporation / www.passGED.com
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