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

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 Solving Emphasis 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 Assignment Expository Essay Assigned prompt Generate, organize, connect, and express ideas No required word count 37% to 40% of score for Language Arts, Writing Test

Sample Prompt Topic 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   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;  Knowledge  Comprehension  Application  Analysis  Evaluation  Synthesis

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 % 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 required to pass each subtest 450 average of the five subtest scores to pass the whole battery and earn a GED Certificate