THE GED TESTS continued...

TEST ONE: WRITING SKILLS

The GED Writing Skills Test has two parts. Part One contains multiple-choice questions that require you to correct or revise sentences that appear in a writing selection. Part Two asks you to write an essay about a subject or an issue that is familiar.

Test One, Part One: Multiple-Choice Questions

This section of the Writing Skills Test contains paragraphs with numbered sentences followed by questions based on those sentences. Each writing selection contains about 10 to 14 numbered sentences in one or more paragraphs. Questions in this section cover sentence structure, usage, and mechanics. You will be asked to identify and correct errors that occur in sentences throughout the selection. Directions and Sample Questions for Writing Skills, Part One Directions: Choose the one best answer to each item. Items 1 to 3 refer to the following paragraph.

(1) One of the lifelong memories many of us share are the moment we obtained a driver's license.
(2) If we were teenagers at the time, these licenses signified our passage to adulthood.
(3) We clearly remember practicing to handle a car well in heavy traffic and learning to parallel park.
(4) We also prepared for the test by studying the driver's booklet, memorizing rules, and learning road signs.
(5) Because we dreaded possible disaster, the road test seemed worse than the written test.
(6) While conducting these difficult tests, the state driving inspectors often seemed stern and unyielding.
(7) Therefore, when all the tests were finally over, we felt a real sense of achievement.
(8)Whether or not we have chosen to use our licenses since then, they remain of enormous value to us.
(9) They symbolize our passport both to independence and to the open road.

1. Sentence 1:

One of the lifelong memories many of us share are the moment we obtained a driver's license. What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of memories to memorys
(2) insert a comma after memories
(3) change are to is
(4) change driver's to drivers
(5) no correction is necessary
Correct Answer: 3

Difficulty Level: Moderately difficult

About half of the questions in this section of the test ask you to find and correct any errors in the sentence. Because the subject of this sentence is One (not memorieS), the main verb in the sentence, (are) must agree in number. Thus, the correct answer is (3) "change are to is." Options 1, 2, and 4 introduce errors into the sentence, so none of these is the best answer. Notice that this item type has an alternative (5) "no correction is necessary." Choose this alternative when there is no error.

2. Sentence 3:

We clearly-remember practicing to handle a car well in heavy traffic and learning to parallel park. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
(1) traffic and learning
(2) traffic, but learning
(3) traffic, for learning
(4) traffic, so learning
(5) traffic because learning
Correct Answer: 1

Difficulty Level: Moderately difficult

This question asks you to select the best word to join the two parts of the sentence. The best answer can be found by determining which word makes the most sense. Only the word and produces a sentence in which the meaning is clear: the two things we remember are practicing to handle a car well and learning to parallel park. Since the relationship between the two parts of the sentence is one of addition, and is the best choice. Note that in this question, the original wording is the best of the choices given.

3. Sentence 7:

Therefore, when all the tests were finally over, we felt a real sense of achievement. If you rewrote sentence 7 beginning with Therefore, we felt a real sense of achievement the next word should be
(1) or
(2) all
(3) when
(4) while
(5) but
Correct Answer: 3

Difficulty Level: Easy

Questions like this one require you to restate the original sentence in a particular way, often using a different type of sentence structure. The important point to remember here is that the new version must retain the meaning of the original sentence. In the case of question 3, the position of the two parts in the sentence is switched. Only the word "when" keeps the same meaning. Every other choice creates either a nonsense sentence or one in which the meaning is different from the original. In these types of questions, it is always useful to try out each of the alternatives in the new structure. By reading through the entire revised sentence, you will be better able to see the effect of each of the options on the meaning of the sentence.

Test One, Part Two: The Essay

This part of the Writing Skills Test measures your ability to write an essay about an issue or situation of general interest. No special or technical knowledge is required to write on any of the topics. All of the topics used for this part of the test require you to write an essay that presents your opinion or explains your views about the topic assigned.

How the Essay Section Is Scored

All essays written for the GED Writing Skills Test are scored by at least two trained readers who score the essays on their overall effectiveness. They will judge how clearly you make the main point of your composition, how thoroughly you support your ideas, and how clearly and correctly you write. That is, all of the elements that make up a piece of writing are taken into consideration. The readers do not count every spelling and grammar mistake, but a paper with many errors may not receive a good score.

Essays must be written "on topic" to receive a score. Pay attention to the topic and to the questions you are asked to answer about the topic. Plan your essay carefully, and allow yourself time to read it and make corrections. After the readers have scored your paper, their combined score is the total essay score that, together with the score for the multiple-choice section, is the Writing Skills Test composite score.

Sample Topic for the Writing Skills Test, Part Two

It always strikes me as a terrible shame to see young people spending so much of their time staring at television. If we unplugged all the television sets, our children would grow up to be healthier, better educated, and more independent human beings.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write a composition of about 200 words presenting your opinion and supporting it with examples from your own experience or your observations of others.

Description and Sample of Essay

The following paper would receive a rating of 3 (highest score is 6) based on the scoring guide. This typical paper has a single purpose or point to make. The supporting ideas are presented in clear sentences so that the reader understands what the writer wants to say. The paper would have been stronger if the writer had given the names of specific television programs that are informational or entertaining. The occasional mistakes in the conventions of standard written English do not interfere with the reader's being able to understand what is written. These mistakes would have been corrected by a stronger writer.

Sample Essay

The question of whether or not television is a positive or negative factor in grow of our children, can have its points both ways. But I feel that the argument, that all the televisions sets should be unplugged, so that our children will grow up to be healthier, better educated, and more independent human beings, is ridiculous there are many informative, and educational and fun things to watch on television.

Television offers educational stations, which have very informative shows and programs, people can learn many things from some of the programs on television. The television is also used to translate news and other information to people, without the news you would not know about the world around you, politics, big events, weather etc. Even the movies and comedies provide entertainment and relaxation, and what better place than in your own home. I agree that some of the television today is none of the above, but the responsibility of what you watch is all up to you. Our children can grow up with television, but adults should help them learn how to choose shows that are going to be good. Television can be a very instrumental thing, it can provide fun and entertainment and also educational shows, that promote learning.

While the person scoring your essay does not count mistakes, these mistakes do influence the reader's overall impression of the writing. For this reason, some of the errors in the sample essay are identified below for you.

The first sentence of the essay is not clear because of the use of grow for growth. The first sentence of any essay is the most important one because it states what the rest of the paper will say. This sentence should be very clear. In the second sentence, there is no reason or rule for the commas after "unplugged" and "beings." If you don't know a rule for the comma, leave it out. Also in the second sentence, the use of "fun things" is too casual or colloquial compared to the rest of the words in the essay. Colloquial expressions may be misunderstood by a reader, so don't use them. The next sentence which starts with "Television offers" is actually two sentences or complete ideas joined together by the comma after "programs." This mistake shows that the writer is not sure about what a sentence really is. Then are other mistakes like these in the rest of the essay.

Everyone makes mistakes when they write quickly. Good writers take the time to go over what is written and correct mistakes. Your writing will show your best skills if you take the time to plan what you say and review it to make any needed corrections.

If you take the Official GED Practice Tests on your own, we recommend that you ask an adult education teacher to help you score your essay. The self-scoring answer sheet for Form CC of the Official GED Practice Tests has an essay scoring guide.

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