GED on TV
Adult Education Home
Examinee Resources Examiner Resources Educatior GED Research GED on TV Score Reports Special Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions
     

TIPS FOR TAKING THE GED TESTS


 For tests requiring reading comprehension, the following steps are helpful:

  • Scan the passage quickly to get the main idea.
  • Read the questions quickly to get an idea of the information required.
  • Read the passage slowly, carefully, and critically, paying attention to leading phrases and ideas.

In addition, you should:

  • Be sure to answer the questions on the basis of information given in the passage,  and not from outside information that you may have.
  • Notice whether a question refers to a specific line, sentence, or quotation from the  reading passage.
  • The answer to such a question is almost certain to be found in or near this reference  in the passage.
  • Be suspicious of words such as never, always, wholly, forever, in the answer choices.  Usually answers that use such categorical terms are incorrect.
  • Watch out for the "too easy" answer. Be especially careful when the question seems  to follow word-for-word the reference in the text. The wording in the question may have been changed slightly so that it has a different meaning from the text. This could be a test for alertness and attention to detail.
  • Choose the appropriate answer to the question. Often more than one answer seems to be correct.

REMEMBER TO:

  • Keep track of time so that the time for the test will not run out before you complete the test.
  • Leave the more difficult questions for last. Try to answer the easier ones first so that your  time may be spent thinking about the more difficult ones.
  • Guess if you can. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Only correct answers are counted.

Other Key Tips:

  • You do not have to take all 5 GED tests on one day.  If the testing center is open enough 
    for you to take tests at a rate of one or two a day, you are allowed to do so.
  • Hoping to get an easy version of the test is a waste of your time.  Two recent examinees who called me each took the math tests 3 times within 3 months.  They got the exact same  scores each time even though they took 3 different forms of the test. One examinee took the math test 8 months later and scored a bit worse. There is no easy version of the test.  What improves  your scores is something very simple --- more preparation.
  • If you have a history of learning disabilities from High School or from elsewhere, you are  entitled to (possibly) a few special accommodations.  Please check with the Chief Examiner at the site you are planning to test. Your taking advantage of special accommodations does not give you an advantage over other examinees. Rather it lifts up your opportunity to succeed to  their level.
  • Similarly, if you have physical or emotional disabilities, a few special accommodations may be available for you also.  Again, check things out with your Chief Examiner at a GED testing site.

Some GED page require the
free Adobe Acrobat Reader


USOE Home pageUEN home pageThis site brought to you through the partnership of Utah State Office of Education (USOE), Utah Education Network (UEN) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). Send questions or comments regarding this site to murray [dot] meszaros [at] schools [dot] utah [dot] gov (Murray Meszaros) . This page last updated December 19, 2007 .