Study for the GED

If you want to pass the GED after one try, you should have a good handle on the information needed in every content area included in the GED test. This is where a good study guide comes in.

You need a resource that will allow you to study for the GED test by sorting out all the materials for only those aspects you need.

An effective study guide can also help by discussing problem-solving techniques and example problems to look at.

What should I study for the GED test? Study the four main subjects involved in the GED test: mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts. Most study guides will allow you to focus on the possible questions falling under these content areas on the GED test.

Below, I will simplify the things that you need to study before taking the GED test. It may help you to ace the exam and pass it in one go. Check it out.

Four Main Subjects to Study for the GED Test

Here are the four main content areas that you need to focus on to take the GED test with ease:

Mathematics

The mathematics test of the GED is divided into two areas, namely, mathematical quantities and algebra.

To prepare for this test, you should hone your measurement and geometry skills, number operations and number sense, statistics and probability, data analysis, functions, algebra, and patterns.

While modern colleges require entering students to know only the basic mathematical concepts, they must fully understand them.

Expect the GED math test to consist of 55% algebra and 45% problem-solving on a quantitative basis. You can choose to use a digital calculator, a TI-30XS scientific calculator, or whichever works best for you.

However, you have to bring your own scientific calculator.

Here is a short description of the mathematical skills you should master before taking the GED test:

1. Measurement and Geometry – This math skill involves playing around with mathematical shapes and figures. So, you will need to master the Pythagorean theorem to solve such questions appearing on the test. You will also need to use measurements such as volume, area, time, and distances.


2. Number Operations and Number Sense – For this type of problem, you must be familiar with the numbers’ differences and similarities. The basic knowledge of multiplication, addition, division, and subtraction is required in this area. You should also have the skill to recognize numbers and know how to utilize them in number operations and their relative value.


3. Statistics and Probability – These two terms are part of data analysis. Statistics is characterized as the representation of the sets of random numbers. You can utilize it to prove one hypothesis to another. Meanwhile, probability shows how often an event is likely to occur.


4. Data Analysis – On the GED mathematical test, data analysis is among the key topics, as it covers critical thinking. You will encounter different data and polls in this area, so you’d better learn how to read them.


5. Functions – Another skill that you should learn is to solve mathematical functions. This includes the concept that a number’s relationship to another can determine one number.


6. Algebra – Problems in this area involve letters to present an unknown number. From the information given, algebra creates equations and helps to turn unknown numbers into known numbers.


7. Patterns – Predictable repetitions of any situation are patterns. Critical thinking is necessary to solve such mathematical problems. However, don’t expect that the GED test patterns will be as easy as 1, 2, 3. Study complicated patterns to have more advantages in the exam.

Social Studies

This part of the GED test will assess your comprehension of basic social studies concepts and how you consider them in real situations. Expect to answer a total of 50 questions in this content area of the test.

The questions will fall under the areas of civics, economics, U.S. history, and geography. The test will also likely include 15% questions about economics, 50% civics, 20% US history, and 15% geography.

Most of your answers must be justified using the reading passages provided to you.

Science

Another subject that you should study for the GED test is science. This content area will measure your knowledge about scientific concepts, so you’d better refresh your comprehension of such topics.

Take note that you need to know each basic science concept to ace this content area.

Every question appearing in this content area will cover three scientific subjects: astronomy and Earth science, biology, and physics.

These subjects are the most relevant in today’s world and the most common subjects taught in the U.S.

The science test will be composed of 20% questions about Earth science, 40% biological subjects, and 40% physics.

It is also worth noting that about half of this test involves some informational piece, such as a text passage, a picture, or something else. Along with the informational piece will be, at most, three questions related to them.

Here are most of the skills that you will need to study for this content area:

1. Science Claims and Evidence – This part of the test will present you with science passages and require you to find evidence to support a finding. You will also need to make sense of information that is different between varying science sources.


2. Science Terms, Vocabulary, and Phrases – Another skill you need to ace the GED test is mastering science terms, phrases, and vocabulary. For this test, you must understand and elaborate on information according to the passages and understand science symbols, phrases, and terms. You will be asked to use scientific words to express scientific information.


3. Science Investigations – You must know how to design a science investigation and identify and discuss dependent and independent variables, improve science investigation hypotheses, identify possible science investigation errors, correct science investigation errors, and spot the strengths and weaknesses of varying types of science investigations.


4. Using Evidence to Make Predictions or Draw Conclusions – Based on the data presented to you, you will be asked to make conclusions, make predictions, and decide whether data supports the conclusions you came up with.


5. Science Theories and Process – As the name suggests, you‘ll be asked to understand and apply the scientific process and theories.


6. Science Formulas and Statistics – Study how to apply science formulas and use statistics to describe science data. For instance, you might be asked about the range of high temperatures in the month, the median high temperature, the mean high temperature, or the mode high temperature according to the data set of temperatures presented to you.


7. Probability and Sampling in Science – Here, you might be asked to utilize a sample to answer science questions, implement counting to solve science problems, or determine the probability of something happening.


8. Presenting Science Information With Graphics, Numbers, and Symbols – Study how to use graphics, symbols, or numbers to present scientific information. Also, explain different ways to present scientific information.

Language Arts

This content area of the GED test is divided into two subsections: reading and writing. It aims to assess your contextual comprehension of English texts and language, as well as your reading and writing skills.

Expect that this subject will cover 25% prose and literature and 75% nonfiction. You must study American historical documents because they will frequently appear in this test’s nonfiction part.

The passages you will read in the test range between 450-900 words each. Meanwhile, the writing part of the test is similar to the social studies content area, which depends on your ability to back your answers with evidence from the provided texts.

The GED test wants to assess how well you write on a technological basis or how well you put your thoughts into words. It also tests your ability to employ evidence to support your answer.

Your answers will be scored based on three rules:

• How you organize and express your ideas.
• How you express your thoughts in English.
• How well you explain the readings and justify your answers.

The reading part of the test is the traditional reading and comprehension test. It will also determine how well you reach conclusions according to the evidence in the text.

Those who take the exam are expected to know how to utilize a sentence to determine the main concept of a piece, vocabulary definitions, and other elements.

Conclusion

The GED test is designed to assess your basic knowledge of four main subjects: mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts.

These four subjects are the most common subjects taught in U.S. high schools, which means you can acquire your high school equivalency only if you have a strong understanding of each of the aforementioned content areas.

For this reason, I greatly recommend that you concentrate on studying these four main subjects. If you do, you’ll definitely pass the exam in no time.

I also find it helpful to find an effective GED study guide to direct you on the right path.