How to Take the GED Exam

GED, which stands for General Educational Development (Graduate Degree in General Educational Development), is an exam administered by the American Council on Education (ACE) to decide if you have a similar level of knowledge. equivalent to high school or not. The GED is accepted by many universities, vocational schools, and companies in lieu of a high school diploma. Continue reading this article for information on how to prepare for the GED exam.

Table of Contents

Master the basics of GED

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Learn about the requirements for a GED where you live. Usually, you need to be 16 years old and not be in high school. Different regions will have different regulations.

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Know what the GED entails. The GED tests your knowledge in five areas: writing, math, social studies, history, science, and reading.

The writing test consists of two parts. The first part will check the usage of grammar, words, spelling and capitalization, and the next part will write essay prompts or specific questions.

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The math exam covers arithmetic, measurement, basic algebra, geometry, numerical relations, trigonometry, and data analysis graphs and graphs. This test is also divided into two parts.

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The exam covers social subjects including geography, civics, politics, and economics.

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The science exam includes life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences.

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The reading test tests sentence structure, reading comprehension, and language use.

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Be aware of the specific time period for each exam. The GED exam will last for 7 hours and 45 minutes. Depending on the test center you choose, you may be able to split the test into several small sections to take over several days, rather than trying to complete the entire test at once.

The first written test will consist of 50 questions that you must answer in 80 minutes, the second part will give you 45 minutes to plan, write and edit your essay.

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Each math section consists of 50 questions and has a time limit of 90 minutes.

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You have to complete 50 questions of social science in 70 minutes.

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Science has 50 questions that you must answer in 80 minutes.

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The reading test consists of 40 questions and has a time limit of 65 minutes.

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Understand the grading system. Scores for each subject will range from 200 – 800. To be able to pass, your total score must be 2250, and at least 410 points for each subject. The image above is for illustrative purposes only!

Prepare for the GED . exam

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Start studying. A few months before you plan to take the GED, it’s a good idea to start preparing for the exam using the GED test guide or from an online resource.

Conduct a test. This method will help you become aware of the areas in which you need to focus on further study.

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Maintain good study habits. This is the key to success on the GED exam. At the same time every day, you should sit in your familiar position and study hard!

Consider seeking outside help. Most communities that offer adult education often have contacts with a job search center or a center that administers a certificate or college degree exam.

In Vietnam, many English language centers or universities also offer GED preparation courses. The course will provide you with exam study tips, essential information, and practice tests. You can find more information about the exam preparation course here.

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If you can’t sign up for a GED in person, you can study online.

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Develop a test-taking strategy. Concentrating attention for 7 hours straight is not easy. You need to have a plan in place to complete the test before you enter the exam room.

Don’t stop practicing. Get used to what it feels like to sit down at your exam table and time yourself.

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Talk to someone who has taken the GED before and get their advice.

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Most importantly, you need to be prepared. If you’ve studied for each subject and done well on the mock test, your actual test day will go well.

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Exam for GED

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Register for the exam. You can search for a GED test center in your area and register for the exam at the right time.

You must take the GED test in person at the test center. You cannot take the exam online.

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You should remember to give yourself enough time to fully prepare for the exam. You should schedule your GED exam a few months in advance.
Usually, you can register for the exam online or download the form to your computer, print it out, fill it out, and then send it in.

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If you have a special need, you should state it in the application form. The test center will take care of your needs.

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Exam. Arrive early and use the technique you have practiced to complete the test.

If you have scheduled to take the test on different dates, you should remember to complete each section of the test.
Follow your manager’s instructions closely so you don’t get disqualified from the exam that day.

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Get results. Each test center will have a different method of reporting results. Sometimes you will have to contact the center to get your test scores, and in other cases, the test results will be sent home to you.

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Retest. If you do not pass, after a period of time, you can retake the test. You should check the requirements where you live and refer to the time when the test center will retake the test.

Advice

Arrive 10 minutes early before the exam; You won’t feel rushed and sometimes, the test center will be quite crowded.
Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, especially during exam week.
Read a variety of materials in your spare time, including novels, newspapers and magazines in English. They will help you improve your reading comprehension skills and general knowledge of English.
It’s a good idea to purchase the calculator you’ll be using on the GED exam and familiarize yourself with its functionality first.

Warning

Avoid taking the GED without studying first. You will not be prepared and will be disappointed with the results.

Things you need

GED Exam Study Guide
lined paper
pencil
electronic calculator like CASIO fx-260 solar powered (official calculator of GED exam)
Open mind

Steps