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PROGRAMS & SERVICES:
ADULT EDUCATION & LITERACY:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GED

   
PREPARING FOR THE TESTS
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  Pre-tests
Students are encouraged to take the GED Pre-test, which is offered at no charge at
adult education and literacy centers throughout Vermont. Students are encouraged to use the results to assess their readiness to test and/or need for further study and tutoring assistance. Study and tutoring assistance is available without charge from adult education and literacy centers, as well as at some youth service programs, homeless shelters, community refugee programs, and community correctional centers.
   
 

Practice Tests
If you are interested in seeing sample GED test questions, go to the
GED practice test site This link will take you off the VT DOE Web site.and try taking one or several practice tests. Sample tests include 15 to 18 questions in each of the following five categories:

  • Language arts (writing)
  • Language arts (reading)
  • Social studies
  • Science
  • Mathematics

NOTE: Before you can access the practice tests, you will need to log in on the site. See "Directions for Getting Started" at http://www.gedpractice.com.This link will take you off the VT DOE Web site.

   
  Sample Questions and Suggested Study Strategies
General information about the GED testing program, the new 2002 Series GED tests, sample questions, and suggested study strategies is available in the General Information Bulletin (2002), a 16-page tabloid-style brochure published by the American Council on Education (ACE). A
Web version of the bulletin is available to view or download as a PDF* file (under "Additional Information").This link will take you off the VT DOE Web site.
   
COMPOSITION OF THE GED TESTS
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  The GED tests include five exams which are described in greater detail below. Test questions require general knowledge and thinking skills. With the exception of language arts (writing), which requires you to write an essay, and the mathematics test, which has open-ended questions, all of the GED test questions are multiple choice with five possible answers given. The questions range in difficulty from easy to difficult, and cover a wide range of subjects.
   
 
  • Language Arts (Writing) (This is a two-part test)
   
  Part I: 50 questions (75 minutes)
Part I is multiple choice and measures proofreading skills for errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and sentence structure.

Part II: 200-word essay (45 minutes)
This part of the test requires candidates to write about a specific topic. It must be about 200 words or a page and a half.
   
  • Language Arts (Reading)
    40 questions (65 minutes)
    Almost all the questions on this test can be answered by reading an poem, play excerpt, excerpt from literature or essays and non-fiction.
   
  • Social Studies
    50 questions (70 minutes)
    Most of this test's questions can be answered using information found in short articles, graphs, charts and maps. The subjects covered on this test are:
   
 
  • History
  • Geography
  • Economics
  • Political science
  • Behavioral science
   
  • Science
    50 questions (80 minutes)
    Most of the questions can be answered by using the information found in the included articles, definitions and illustrations. There is an increased focus on environmental and health topics and on science's relevance to everyday life, with emphasis on problem solving, conceptual understanding and information portrayed graphically. The subjects covered on this test are:
   
 
  • Life science,
  • Earth and space science
  • Physical science
   
  • Mathematics (This is divided into two, equally weighted test)
   
  Part I: 25 questions (45 minutes)
This portion of the test covers questions related to algebra and geometry; a calculator MAY be used for solving problems. Seven of the 25 questions are answered using standard and coordinate plan grids; the rest are multiple choice.


Part II: 25 questions (45 minutes)
This part of the test covers basic arithmetic A calculator MAY NOT be used for any of the 25 questions.
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Candidates do not need to memorize complicated algebraic formulas to pass this test, but they must be prepared to complete word problems. The four major areas tested are:

  • Number operations and number sense
  • Measurement and geometry
  • Data analysis, statistics and probability
  • Algebra, functions and patterns
   
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GED?
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  For general questions about the GED (e.g., testing, transcripts, etc.) contact Bev Willey at (802) 828-5161 (after the greeting, press #2 to leave a message and have your call returned) or bev.willey@state.vt.us .
   
   

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