Tim Collins, PhD, has worked in the field of education for over 40 years, and has taught learners of all ages and backgrounds. For over 25 years, he has specialized in materials development for the GED^® test, and he has helped countless learners prepare for and pass this life-changing test.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

A Few Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 2

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with the GED Test 5

Chapter 1: A Quick Glance at the GED Test 7

What to Expect: The Testing Format 8

Reviewing the Test Sections 8

Reasoning through Language Arts test 9

Social Studies test 10

Science test 11

Mathematical Reasoning test 12

It’s a Date: Scheduling the Test 13

Determining whether you’re eligible 13

Knowing when you can take the test 14

Taking the GED Test When English Is Your Second Language 15

What You Have to Score to Pass the GED Test 16

Identifying how scores are determined 16

Knowing what to do if you score poorly on one or more tests 16

Chapter 2: The Ins and Outs of the Computerized GED Test 17

Familiarizing Yourself with the Computer 17

Typing on the keyboard 18

Clicking and dragging with the mouse 19

Recognizing What the Questions Look Like on the Computer Screen 21

Reasoning through Language Arts test 21

Social Studies test 27

Science test 30

Mathematical Reasoning test 31

Flag for Review button 35

Chapter 3: The GED Test’s Four Sections and You 37

Examining the Reasoning through Language Arts Test 37

The reading section 38

The grammar and language section 41

Handling the Social Studies Test 44

Knowing How to Grapple with the Science Test 45

Conquering the Mathematical Reasoning Test 46

Chapter 4: Succeeding on the GED Test 49

Leading Up to Test Time 49

Using Practice Tests to Your Advantage 50

Finding Out What to Take to the GED Test 51

Making Sure You’re Comfortable Before the Test Begins 52

Discovering Important Test-Taking Strategies 53

Watching the clock: Using your time wisely 53

Addressing and answering questions 54

Guess for success: Using intelligent guessing 54

Leaving time for review 55

Keeping Your Head in the Game 56

Part 2: Minding Your Ps and Qs: The Reasoning through Language Arts Test 57

Chapter 5: Preparing for the Reasoning through Language Arts Test 59

Grasping What’s on the Grammar and Language Component 60

Looking at the skills the Grammar and Language component covers 60

Understanding the format of the Grammar and Language component 62

Rocking the Reading Comprehension Component 62

Looking at the skills the Reading component covers 62

Understanding the format of the Reading component 63

Identifying the types of passages and how to prepare for them 63

Preparing for the RLA Test with Tactics That Work 65

Developing skills to read well 65

Improving your mastery of grammar and language skills 66

Learning about the format and content of each test section 67

Chapter 6: RLA Question Types and Solving Strategies 69

Tackling Grammar and Language Questions 69

Choosing Wisely in the Reading Component 72

Dealing with multiple-choice Reading questions 72

Dealing with drag-and-drop Reading questions 73

Dealing with questions with multiple passage sets 74

Chapter 7: Working through Some Practice RLA Questions 77

RLA Grammar and Language Practice Questions 77

The questions 78

The answers 84

RLA Reading Comprehension Practice 87

The questions 87

The answers 94

Chapter 8: Preparing for the Extended Response Component 97

Examining the Extended Response Item 97

Looking at the skills the Extended Response covers 98

Understanding the Extended Response format 98

Preparing to succeed on the Extended Response 99

Writing the RLA Extended Response 101

Managing your time 101

Putting together a winning essay 103

Chapter 9: Writing an Extended Response Item 105

Getting Familiar with RLA Extended Response 105

A Sample Extended Response Prompt 106

Evaluating Your Response 107

Checking Out a Sample Response 107

Part 3: Finding Your Way: The Social Studies Test 109

Chapter 10: A Graph, a Map, and You: Getting Ready for the Social Studies Test 111

Looking at the Skills the Social Studies Test Covers 112

Understanding the Social Studies Test Format and Content 114

Checking out the subject areas on the test 114

Identifying the types of passages 115

Examining Preparation Strategies That Work 115

Chapter 11: Social Studies Question Types and Solving Strategies 117

Answering Questions about Text and Visual Materials 117

Questions about text passages 118

Questions about visual materials 118

Acing the Social Studies Items 121

Choosing an answer from multiple choices 121

Coming up with an answer for fill-in-the-blank questions 123

Dragging and dropping answers where they belong 124

Choosing from a drop-down menu 125

Managing Your Time for the Social Studies Test 125

Chapter 12: Practicing Social Studies Questions 127

Social Studies Practice Questions 127

Answers and Explanations 145

Part 4: Peering at Your Specimen: The Science Test 151

Chapter 13: From Aardvarks to Atoms: Confronting the Science Test 153

Looking at the Skills the Science Test Covers 154

Understanding the Test Format and What Topics Are Covered 154

Examining Preparation Strategies That Work 156

Chapter 14: Science Question Types and Solving Strategies 159

Tackling the Science Test Questions 159

Questions about text passages 159

Questions about visual materials 160

Practicing with Sample Items 163

Multiple-choice questions 163

Fill-in-the-blank questions 164

Drag-and-drop questions 165

Drop-down menu questions 166

Managing Your Time for the Science Test 167

Chapter 15: Sampling Some Science Practice Questions 169

Science Practice Questions 169

Answers and Explanations 189

Part 5: Counting All the Possible Solutions: The Mathematical Reasoning Test 193

Chapter 16: Safety in Numbers: Facing the Mathematical Reasoning Test 195

Looking at the Skills the Math Test Covers 195

Understanding the Test Format 197

Revealing Some Helpful Prep Pointers 197

Chapter 17: Mathematical Reasoning Question Types and Solving Strategies 201

Perfecting Your Approach with Sample Questions 201

Making the most of multiple-choice questions 202

Providing the answer in fill-in-the-blank items 204

Answering other special item types 204

Using the Mathematical Reasoning Test’s Special Features 205

Solving questions with and without a calculator 206

Refreshing your memory with the formula sheet 206

Inserting special symbols 207

Managing Your Time for the Math Test 207

Chapter 18: Practicing Sample Mathematical Reasoning Problems 209

Mathematical Reasoning Practice Questions 210

Answers and Explanations 219

Part 6: Putting Your Skills to the Test: GED Practice Test 1 225

Chapter 19: Practice Test 1: Reasoning through Language Arts 227

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Reasoning through Language Arts 228

Extended Response 243

Chapter 20: Answers for Practice Test 1, Reasoning through Language Arts 247

Answers and Explanations 248

Sample Extended Response 252

Answer Key 254

Chapter 21: Practice Test 1: Social Studies 255

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Social Studies 256

Chapter 22: Answers for Practice Test 1, Social Studies 271

Answers and Explanations 272

Answer Key 276

Chapter 23: Practice Test 1: Science 277

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Science 278

Science Test 279

Chapter 24: Answers for Practice Test 1, Science 293

Answers and Explanations 294

Answer Key 298

Chapter 25: Practice Test 1: Mathematical Reasoning 299

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 1, Mathematical Reasoning 300

Chapter 26: Answers for Practice Test 1, Mathematical Reasoning 319

Answers and Explanations 320

Answer Key 328

Part 7: Getting More Test Practice: GED Practice Test 2 329

Chapter 27: Practice Test 2: Reasoning through Language Arts 331

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Reasoning through Language Arts 332

Extended Response 345

Chapter 28: Answers for Practice Test 2, Reasoning through Language Arts 351

Answers and Explanations 352

Sample Extended Response 356

Answer Key 357

Chapter 29: Practice Test 2: Social Studies 359

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Social Studies 360

Chapter 30: Answers for Practice Test 2, Social Studies 373

Answers and Explanations 374

Answer Key 378

Chapter 31: Practice Test 2: Science 379

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Science 380

Chapter 32: Answers for Practice Test 2, Science 395

Answers and Explanations 396

Answer Key 400

Chapter 33: Practice Test 2: Mathematical Reasoning 401

Answer Sheet for Practice Test 2, Mathematical Reasoning 402

Chapter 34: Answers for Practice Test 2, Mathematical Reasoning 417

Answers and Explanations 418

Answer Key 425

Part 8: The Part of Tens 427

Chapter 35: Ten Surefire Ways to Prepare for the GED Test 429

Strategizing Where and When You Will Test 429

Taking Practice Tests 430

Studying Subject-Matter Books 430

Enrolling in a GED Test Preparation Class 431

Setting a Time and a Place to Study 432

Getting Familiar with the Computer and Calculator 432

Preparing for the Test in Your Mind 433

Getting Good Rest the Week before the Test 433

Making Sure You Have Proper Identification 433

Setting Up Your Test Area or Getting to the Test Site 433

Chapter 36: Ten Tips for Surviving Test Day 435

Wear Comfortable Clothes 435

Arrive at the Test Site Early 436

Keep Conversations Light and Short 436

Arrange Your Work Area 437

Relax and Breathe 437

Stay Focused on the Task at Hand 438

Look at Only Your Test 438

Start with the Easy Questions 439

Write Clearly and Carefully 439

Do Your Best, No Matter What 439

Chapter 37: Ten Ways to Use Your GED After You Pass the Test 441

Getting a Job 441

Getting a Promotion 441

Updating Your Resume 442

Showing Others What You Can Achieve 442

Proving You’re Ready for Further Education 442

Setting an Example for Your Kids 442

Enhancing Your Wall Décor and Social Media 443

Making You Feel like Part of a Select Group 443

Motivating Yourself 443

Improving Your Self-Esteem 443

Appendix A: Practicing Basic Computer Skills for the GED Test 445

Using a Mouse 445

Making selections 446

Moving around the page 446

Editing your text 448

Using the calculator 448

Finding math formulas and symbols 449

Practicing Your Typing on a Keyboard 450

Index 453

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