THE GED TESTS continued...

HOW ARE GED SCORES REPORTED?

Separate scores are reported for each of the five GED Tests. GED Test results are reported on a standard score scale ranging from 20 (lowest possible score) to 80 (highest possible score). Your score on the GED Tests is not the number of correct answers or the percent correct. The Writing Skills Test score is a statistical combination of the number of questions answered correctly on the multiple-choice section with the score on the essay section (see "How the Essay Section Is Scored" on page 6). The score for all other tests in the GED battery is based only on the number of multiple-choice questions answered correctly.

WHAT SCORE DO I NEED TO PASS?

Passing scores for the GED Tests are established by the states, provinces, and territories that administer the GED Testing Program. In general, if you answer 60 percent of the questions correctly on each test, you will earn a passing score. Your local GED Testing Center or adult education program can tell you what the minimum required standard scores are for your area. Most current requirements are set so that GED examinees must earn scores higher than those of about 30 percent of today's high school graduates to earn a GED Diploma. Though the score requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another, most requirements are stated in terms of a minimum score for each test and/or a minimum average score for all five tests. For example, a common passing standard score required in any state, province, or territory is 35 on any one test and an average of 45 on all five tests. If this were the score requirement in your area, you would need to achieve a standard score of at least 35 on each of the five tests and a total of at least 225 for all five tests to achieve an average of 45.

HOW SHOULD I INTERPRET MY SCORES?

Your GED Test score is an estimate of your knowledge and skills in the areas tested as compared to the knowledge and skills of recent high school graduates. As with any test, the scores are not intended to be a complete and perfect measure of all you know and can do. Rather, the GED Tests provide an estimate of your educational achievements, as compared to those of high school graduates. In fact, if you take a different form of the test covering the same content areas with slightly different questions, it is likely that your score will be slightly different.

If you take the GED Tests and do not achieve the minimum passing score required by your state, province, or territory, contact your local adult education center for assistance in interpreting your scores so that you can improve your performance in the future.

If you are taking the GED Tests for college or university admission, check with the institution you plan to attend to find out the minimum scores required for admission.

WHAT CAN I DO BEFORE TAKING THE TESTS?

Familiarize yourself with the content of the tests. You can do this in two ways. First, review the content descriptions and sample test questions in this Bulletin. The questions included here are typical of the type and difficulty of questions you will find in the actual GED Tests. Second, take the Official GED Practice Tests, either through your local adult education program or by yourself. When you take the Practice Tests, be sure to follow the time limits given in the directions. In this way, you will be able to get an accurate sense of what taking the actual GED Tests will be like, what the questions will look like, and how much time you'll have to work on the questions. While working on the Official GED Practice Tests, try out some of the strategies suggested in this Bulletin.

• Spend time reading newspapers and news magazines. Many of the articles in these publications are similar to those used in the GED Tests.
• Don't worry too much. A little test anxiety is normal and may be a good thing, because it makes you more alert and motivates you to do your best. To keep anxiety from getting out of hand:
  • Become familiar with the content of the tests.
  • Prepare for the tests as fully as you can. When you have done all you can, relax; if you have prepared well, you will do well.
  • Remember that there are no "trick" questions on the tests so you don't have to worry about being "fooled" by the questions.
  • Remember that you don't have to answer every question correctly to pass.
• Come to the testing session physically and mentally alert.

The GED Tests are designed to measure skills acquired over a long period of time. "Cramming" the night before will probably not help.

WHAT CAN I DO WHILE TAKING THE TESTS?

Try using some of the following strategies to help you do your best while you are taking the GED Tests.

Test-Taking Strategies

• Answer every question. Scores are based only on the number of questions answered correctly; there is no penalty for guessing.
• Read the test directions carefully for each section of the test.
• Be sure you know what the question asks for before selecting an answer. Pay particular attention to any portions of the question that may be underlined or printed in capital letters.
• Briefly scan the text or figure that accompanies the question; then read the questions and options to see what information you will need. Next, return to the text or figure for a more careful reading.
• Draw figures or charts--or list key facts--on scratch paper.
• Use your time wisely. Budget your time so that you are able to finish the test within the time permitted. Skip difficult questions and return to them near the end of the testing period.
• Remember that you are looking for the one best answer.
• For the Essay Section of the Writing Skills Test:
  • Organize your essay as a direct answer to the topic assigned. Your essay should state your answer and then explain why you answered the way you did.
  • Be sure your explanation supports your answer. For example, if you were writing on the topic on page 6 in this Bulletin and your essay included the statement that too much television is bad for children, you should provide reasons and examples that show how television harms children.
  • Use details and examples that show the reader what, why, and how. The more convincing your essay is, the more effective it is. Whatever the specific subject of the essay question may be, think of your essay as an attempt to convince the reader of the correctness of your answer.
• For the Mathematics Test:
  • Look over the answer choices before beginning to figure out the answer. See how exact you need to be. For example, instead of an answer carried to three decimal places, the options may simply present whole numbers. This will save you time in arriving at a solution.
  • Check your answer to see if it "makes sense" in the context of the problem. For example, if your computation indicates that a one-pound bag of carrots will cost $25, you should recognize that you've made an error because the figure of $25 for a bag of carrots does not make sense.
  • Use the formulas page provided in the front of the Mathematics Test. You will need to determine which, if any, of the formulas to use to solve a problem, but you do not have to memorize the formulas.
  • Use your personal experience to help solve the problems. The settings used for the problems in the Mathematics Test are usually realistic. For example, in a problem that requires you to compute weekly earnings, ask yourself, "how would I figure my weekly earnings?"