GED Test Overview

Orientation to the General Educational Development

Exam (GED)

Five GED Tests

• Language Arts, Writing

• Language Arts, Reading

• Social Studies• Science• Mathematics

5

Test Length(minutes)

Numberof

QuestionsLanguage Arts,Writing

120 50 +Essay

Language Arts,Reading

65 40

Social Studies 80 50Science 80 50Mathematics 90 50

435

Measured Skills on GED Test

• Communication: Written and Visual Text

• Information Processing• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Test Design

• Communication: Written Text Informational texts Historical, political, social/cultural texts Texts representing different groups Different kinds of literature texts

Test Design

• Communication: Visual Text Graphs, charts, maps, photos, cartoons,

figures, diagrams, timelines 60% Social Studies Test 50% Science Test 50% Math Test

Critical Thinking and Problem SolvingEmphasis on Higher Order Skills

• Social Studies

Comprehension 20%

Application 20% Analysis 40% Evaluation 20%

• Language Arts, Reading

Comprehension 20%

Application 20% Analysis 30% Synthesis 30% (percentages are approximate)

Language Arts, Writing

• Multiple Choice Section - 50 questions

“How to” Documents

Informational Mailings

Memos, Letters

• Essay

Micro-Level Sentence Editing

• Reader evaluates the accuracy of the writer’s use of Standard Edited American English (SEAE) Sentence structure Usage Mechanics

Macro-Level Document Editing

• Reader evaluates the writer’s ability to communicate effectively with the reader Add, remove, or reposition a sentence Effective topic sentence Sequencing of paragraphs Transition of sentence among

paragraphs

Direct Writing AssignmentExpository Essay

• Assigned prompt• Generate,

organize, connect, and express ideas

• No required word count

• 37% to 40% of score for Language Arts, Writing Test

Sample PromptTopic F

If you could make one positive change in your daily life, what would that change be?In your essay, identify the one change you would make.Explain the reasons for your choice. Use your personal observations, experience, and knowledge.

Essay Scoring Rubric

• Holistic scoring based on the reader’s overall impression

• Four-point scale 4 Effective 3 Adequate 2 Marginal 1 Inadequate

Language Arts, Reading

• Literary Text (75%)

• Non-fiction Text (25%)

Literary Text (75%)

• Poetry• Drama• Fiction

Pre 1920 1920 - 1960 1960 - present

Non-fiction Text (25%)

• Non-fiction Prose• Biography, Critical Reviews of Fine

and Performing Arts• Workplace and Community

Documents

Social Studies

• History (40%) US/Canada Specific Global (world)

• Civics (25%)• Economics (20%)• Geography (15%)

American History

Major periods and development Colonization through

westward expansion Civil War Industrialization Armed conflict and

global economic depression

Postwar and contemporary United States

Enduring issues and current challenges

World History

• Major periods and development Early civilizations and

the great empires World religions Feudalism through

the era of expansion Global Age Revolutions Armed conflicts 20th century

Civics and Government

• Democracy, citizenship, and foreign relations Politics and

government The American

political system Relationship of

United States to other nations

Roles of citizens

Economics

• Economic theory and consumerism Economic reasoning

and choice Comparison of modern

economic systems Production and

consumers Financial institutions Government’s role in

the economy Labor Global markets

Geography

• The world in spatial terms Places and regions Physical systems Human systems Environment and

society Uses of geography

Science

• Life Science (45%) Biology and Health

• Earth and Space Science (20%)

• Physical Science (35%)

Chemistry and Physics

Science

• GED Science test is not based on Bloom’s Taxonomy of Critical Thinking;KnowledgeComprehensionApplicationAnalysisEvaluationSynthesis

National Science Educational Standards (NSES)

• Scientific Understanding and Skills• Unifying Concepts• Science as Inquiry• Science & Technology• Science in Personal and Social

Perspectives• History/Nature of Science

Life Science

• 45% Life Science and Biology

Life Science: Biology and Health

• Fundamental Understandings The cell Molecular basis of

heredity Interdependence of

organisms Matter, energy, and

organization in living systems

Earth and Space Science

• Fundamental Understandings Energy in the Earth

system Origin and evolution

of the Earth system Origin and evolution

of the universe

image courtesy of nasa.gov

Physical Science: Chemistry and Physics

• Fundamental Understandings Structure of the atom Structure and

properties of matters Chemical reactions Motions and Forces Interactions of

energy and matter

Mathematics

• Numbers, Number Sense, and Operations (20-30%)

• Data, Statistics, and Probability (20-30%)

• Geometry and Measurement (20-30%)

• Algebra, Functions and Patterns (20-30%)

Mathematics

• Two separate booklets - one score

• One answer sheet• 20% alternate format questions

Alternate Format

• Standard Grid• Six on Part I

Calculator Permitted

• Two on Part II• Answers can be

left, center, or right justified

Alternate Format

• Coordinate plane grid

• One on Part I Calculator Permitted

• One on Part II

Booklet One

• Scientific calculator permitted Casio fx-260

• 50% of the math questions (25)

• Alternate format: six standard grids and one coordinate plane grid

Booklet Two

• Estimation and mental math emphasized

• Calculator not permitted• 50% of the math questions (25)• Alternate format: two standard grids

and one coordinate plane grid

Scoring

• Raw scores on each section added and converted to standard score ranging from 800-200

• 410 required to pass each subtest• 450 average of the five subtest

scores to pass the whole battery and earn a GED Certificate