GED Test Overview

1
GED Test Overview

• Orientation to the
• General Educational Development Exam (GED)

2
Five GED Tests

• Language Arts, Writing
• Language Arts, Reading
• Social Studies
• Science
• Mathematics

• 5

3
(No Transcript)
4
Measured Skills on GED Test

• Communication Written and Visual Text
• Information Processing
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

5
Test Design

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

6
Test Design

• Communication Visual Text
• Graphs, charts, maps, photos, cartoons, figures,
  diagrams, timelines
• 60 Social Studies Test
• 50 Science Test
• 50 Math Test

7
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)

8
Language Arts, Writing

• Multiple Choice Section - 50 questions
• How to Documents
• Informational Mailings
• Memos, Letters
• Essay

9
Micro-Level Sentence Editing

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

10
Macro-Level Document Editing

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

11
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

12
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.

13
Essay Scoring Rubric

• Holistic scoring based on the readers overall
  impression
• Four-point scale
• 4 Effective
• 3 Adequate
• 2 Marginal
• 1 Inadequate

14
Language Arts, Reading

• Literary Text (75)
• Non-fiction Text (25)

15
Literary Text (75)

• Poetry
• Drama
• Fiction
• Pre 1920
• 1920 - 1960
• 1960 - present

16
Non-fiction Text (25)

• Non-fiction Prose
• Biography, Critical Reviews of Fine and
  Performing Arts
• Workplace and Community Documents

17
Social Studies

• History (40)
• US/Canada Specific
• Global (world)
• Civics (25)
• Economics (20)
• Geography (15)

18
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

19
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

20
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

21
Economics

• Economic theory and consumerism
• Economic reasoning and choice
• Comparison of modern economic systems
• Production and consumers
• Financial institutions
• Governments role in the economy
• Labor
• Global markets

22
Geography

• The world in spatial terms
• Places and regions
• Physical systems
• Human systems
• Environment and society
• Uses of geography

23
Science

• Life Science (45)
• Biology and Health
• Earth and Space Science (20)
• Physical Science (35)
• Chemistry and Physics

24
Science

• GED Science test is not based on Blooms Taxonomy
  of Critical Thinking
• Knowledge
• Comprehension
• Application
• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Synthesis

25
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

26
Life Science

• 45 Life Science and Biology

27
Life Science Biology and Health

• Fundamental Understandings
• The cell
• Molecular basis of heredity
• Interdependence of organisms
• Matter, energy, and organization in living systems

28
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
29
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

30
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)

31
Mathematics

• Two separate booklets - one score
• One answer sheet
• 20 alternate format questions

32
Alternate Format

• Standard Grid
• Six on Part I Calculator Permitted
• Two on Part II
• Answers can be left, center, or right justified

33
Alternate Format

• Coordinate plane grid
• One on Part I Calculator Permitted
• One on Part II

34
Booklet One

• Scientific calculator permitted Casio
  fx-260
• 50 of the math questions (25)
• Alternate format six standard grids and one
  coordinate plane grid

35
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

36
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