Mathematics Section
The test is divided into two parts, each of equal weight. These parts consist of 25 questions each and each allow the candidate 45 minutes of test-taking time. Test takers will be allowed to use Casio FX-260 calculators (provided by the testing proctors) on Part I of the mathematics test, but cannot use any calculator on Part II of the mathematics exam.
The Math section consists of the following four areas.
- Operations and number sense
- Measurement and geometry
- Data analysis, statistics, and probability
- Algebra, functions, and patterns
Science Section
Emphasize the physical sciences (physics and chemistry) and expand the area of earth science to include space science. Test questions measure the candidate's skill in understanding and interpreting concepts of life, earth, space sciences, physics and chemistry.
The test questions are based on the following three standards (given here with the corresponding percentage on the test).
- Physical Science (35 percent)
- Life Science (45 percent)
- Earth/Space Science (20 percent)
The science test presents questions based on two formats: test passages and visual test (e.g., graphs, tables, charts and diagrams). In other words, when answering the questions, you will be asked to reference a sentence, paragraph or visual to answer the question.
Language Arts-Reading Section
Contains multiple-choice questions that measure your ability to comprehend and interpret workplace and academic reading selections and apply those interpretations to new contexts. The test will have questions on literary text (poetry, drama and fiction) and questions on nonfiction (nonfiction prose, review of visual/performing arts and workplace and community documents). In addition, the test's excerpts and questions are arranged from easiest to hardest.
Part I of the Language Arts-Writing portion of the GED requires candidates to demonstrate the ability to revise and edit workplace and informational documents by answering multiple-choice questions, while Part II assesses the candidate's ability to write an essay.
The content of Part I of the Language Arts-Writing portion of the GED includes the following four items.
- Organization
- Sentence structure
- Usage
- Mechanics
These are the items you will be tested on. The context that the above items will be found on Part I involve several types of documents: workplace and community documents, 'how to' texts that provide instructions or directions and information texts.
There will be three major question types on the Part I exam. These question types are
- Correction (making corrections to a sentence, paragraph, etc.)
- Revision (finding errors in a sentence)
- Construction (changing sentence structure)
Part II of the Language Arts-Writing section of the GED measures the candidate's ability to write. Part II requires you to write an expository essay (one which will explain, clarify or inform readers about a subject). The single topic given will be general enough that you should have enough knowledge of the topic before going into the test to write the essay. Students have 45 minutes to write the essay.
The directions for the essay encourage you to do the following
- Plan your essay
- Make notes before beginning to write
- Revise and edit your final product
The essays are scored on a four-point scale—one (inadequate) being the lowest and four (effective) being the highest. A score of at least two (marginal) is required to pass the essay; however, a composite score (including Part I) of 410 is required to pass this section of the GED.
Social Studies Section
This test measures a candidate's skill in understanding and interpreting key history, geography, economics and civics concepts and principles.
All of the social studies test questions are multiple choice. The test covers the following four major areas (including percentage of area on the test).
- History (40 percent)
- Geography (15 percent)
- Government and Civics (25 percent)
- Economics (20 percent)
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