Edward dropped out of high school at 16 when his mother became ill and could no longer work or take care of Edward and his younger brother. He began working full time and never finished high school. Rajesh came to America with the equivalent of a tenth-grade education from his native country. He dreamed of becoming a computer programmer but had to work full time. He often worked extra shifts to help make ends meet. Marie was a certified nurse in her native Caribbean country. But when she immigrated, she found out her nurs- ing certification was not valid in the United States. She could not apply to a U.S. nursing program without a high school diploma. T oday, after taking the GED and earning their high school diplomas, Edward, Rajesh, and Marie— like thousands of others who take the GED each year—are able to pursue the education and careers of their dreams. For more than half a century, the GED diploma has given millions of people the opportu- nity to find better employment, enroll in colleges and training programs, improve their standard of living, and feel better about themselves and their futures. 3 CHAPTER 1 All about the GED PLANNING TO take the GED? Here’s what you need to know to get started. This chapter covers the basic information about these important exams. You will learn how the tests are structured, how to register, and how the tests are scored.  What the Tests Are About The General Educational Development (GED) exami- nation is a series of tests covering the broad range of knowledge and skills students are expected to master in high school. They are tests for people who wish to earn a high school diploma but who have been unable to graduate in the traditional manner. Passing the GED cer- tifies that you have a high school level education and entitles you to a GED diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma. For hundreds of thousands of people each year, the GED is an important stepping stone to a better job and continued education. Did You Know? The GED was originally developed for veterans returning from World War II to help them complete their educations and earn their high school credentials. The first test was adminis- tered more than 60 years ago, in 1942. Since then, an estimated 15.2 million people have taken the GED. The GED is jointly administered by the General Edu- cation Development Testing Service, a program of the American Council on Education (ACE) Center for Adult Learning and Education Credentials, and the education department of each participating state or province. The GED exams are actually a battery of five tests that meas- ure knowledge in five content and skills areas: writing, reading comprehension (understanding literature), social studies, mathematics, and science. GED Components The GED examinations are actually a battery of five separate tests: ➧ Language Arts, Writing (Parts I and II) ➧ Social Studies ➧ Science ➧ Language Arts, Reading ➧ Mathematics (Parts I and II) The complete battery of GED exams takes a total of seven hours and five minutes. The level of difficulty is set so that only two-thirds of traditional high school seniors will pass. On average, at least two-thirds of adults who take all five exams earn their diploma, and many states report even higher pass rates. In Utah, for example, nearly three-quarters (74%) of GED test takers passed the exam last year. And Iowa boasts a remarkable 95% pass rate for 2001. In many testing centers, you can take the GED one test at a time until you complete all five exams. In others, you must take the entire battery of tests in one or two sessions. The questions on the GED are all multiple choice with two important exceptions. Part II of the Language Arts, Writing Test requires you to write an essay, and about 25% of math questions are “alternate format” questions that may include short written responses. You will learn details about each exam, including the specific material covered and the kind of questions to expect, throughout the rest of this book. GED Fact Box According to the American Council on Educa- tion, which oversees the GED Testing Service: ➧ Over 860,000 adults around the world take the GED tests each year. ➧ Test takers who pass the GED outperform 40% of high school seniors on the exam. ➧ Approximately 14% of the high school diplomas distributed each year in the United States are issued to adults who pass the GED. ➧ Over 95% of U.S. colleges accept students with GED credentials, and over 95% of U.S. employers offer GED graduates the same hiring, compensation, and promotion opportunities as employees with a tradi- tional high school diploma. ➧ Approximately 1 in 20 first-year college students are GED graduates. – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 4  Who Takes the GED—and Why The 860,000 people who take the GED each year are a very diverse group who come from a rich variety of back- grounds. As different as their situations and experiences may be, their main reasons for taking the GED are the same. Passing the GED: ■ enables them to apply to colleges and universities ■ allows them to apply for jobs or promotions that require a high school diploma ■ demonstrates to others the importance of education ■ is a significant accomplishment that improves self-esteem GED candidates range in age from 16 to over 60. The ACE’s publication Who Took the GED? reports that slightly over half the GED candidates in 2001 were between the ages of 20 and 39, with an average age of 25.2 years. Two-thirds of the test takers reported com- pleting tenth grade; one-third had completed their jun- ior or senior years. Nearly two-thirds of the test takers reported plans to pursue higher education after earning their GED diploma. More GEDs Than Ever 2001 was a record year for the GED—over one million people took all or part of the exams. The record number was partly due to the new GED 2002 test series. Test takers had to complete the old GED by December 31, 2001, or else begin all over with the new exam. Of the 979,829 adults who took all five exams, 669,403 (68%) earned their high school equiv- alency diplomas.  GED Eligibility Requirements GED candidates must first meet certain eligibility requirements set by the ACE and participating states and territories. You are eligible to take the GED if you meet the following conditions: 1. You are not enrolled in high school AND 2. You have not graduated from high school AND 3. You are at least 16 years of age AND 4. You meet the requirements of your state, province, or territory regarding age, residency, and the length of time since leaving school. Arkansas, for example, requires that you be a “legal resident” of the state, which means that you must spend most of your time in Arkansas, pay property taxes, and possess a valid Arkansas driver’s license or state-issued identification card. Kentucky’s eligi- bility requirements vary depending upon the can- didate’s age. Be sure to check with your state department of education or your local testing cen- ter for specific eligibility requirements.  Testing Centers and Registration There are approximately 3,400 GED testing centers around the world. These centers are typically operated by local school boards, community colleges, and/or centers for adult education. Test takers outside the United States, Canada, or their territories may be able to take the GED at a Thomson Prometric facility. Because test centers are run locally, registration pro- cedures, fees, and testing times vary. You need to contact the center where you would like to take the tests to find specific registration, fee, and test time information. If you live inside the United States, Canada, or their territories, you can find the testing center nearest you by: 1. Calling 1-800-62-MY-GED OR 2. Checking in the blue pages of your local tele- phone book (look for “GED Testing” under the state department of education listing) OR 3. Going to www.acenet.edu/clll/ged/area-contacts- TT.cfm. From there, select your specific area to find out how to contact your local testing center.  International Testing If you live outside the United States, Canada, or their territories, you can still take the GED through one of Thomson Prometric’s testing centers. Thomson Promet- ric, in partnership with the ACE, offers a computer-based GED and a high school diploma through the state of – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 5 Maine. If you reside outside the United States, Canada, or their territories and wish to take the online exam, you must be at least 17 years old. For more information on international testing for the GED, contact 866-776-6387 or Thomson Prometric, 1000 Lancaster Street, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21202. Ask for the Regional Registration Center in your country or province. Or visit their website at www. prometric.com. Thomson Prometric has testing centers available in the following regions: ■ Australia/New Zealand ■ China ■ Europe ■ India ■ Indonesia ■ Japan ■ Korea ■ Latin America/Caribbean ■ Middle East/North Africa ■ Pakistan ■ Southeast Asia ■ Sub-Sahara/Africa ■ Taiwan ■ Thailand  Spanish and French Versions of the GED In addition to the standard English version of the GED, there are also Spanish and French versions, initially devel- oped for Puerto Rico and Canada, respectively. These tests are now authorized for use throughout the United States but may not be available in all areas and are not available at international testing centers (international GED can- didates must take the English version). A new version of both the Spanish and French GEDs went into effect on January 1, 2004. Any partial scores from individual Span- ish or French exams taken prior to December 31, 2003, are invalid, and candidates must take the complete battery of new exams. The Spanish GED The structure and content of the Spanish GED is essen- tially the same as the English GED, with the important exception that the examples and test questions are based on Spanish language and culture. In the Language Arts, Reading Test, all excerpts are from Spanish-language writers with an emphasis on writers from the Caribbean and Central and South America. In the Language Arts, Writing Exam, grammar questions focus on issues spe- cific to the Spanish language, such as gender agreement and multiple-object pronouns. The essay is scored by readers whose first language is Spanish or who are sec- ondary or college-level Spanish instructors. The French GED The French GED also follows the English GED in format and structure. Like the Spanish GED, it draws its ques- tions and context from French language and culture. Most measurement questions use the metric system. Essays on the French exam are scored by readers whose first language is French or who have taught French at the secondary or college level.  Special Accommodations Special testing accommodations are available for GED candidates with documented disabilities that may affect their ability to pass the GED. These accommodations include: ■ testing in English-language Braille ■ testing by audiocassette ■ large-print test editions ■ extended time ■ frequent, supervised breaks ■ use of a calculator or scribe ■ private testing rooms Dictionaries and spell checkers are not permitted, nor is having someone read the questions aloud to the candidate. If you will need special accommodations to take the GED, request the appropriate form from your local test- ing center: ■ Form L-15 for learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ■ Form SA-001 for emotional and physical disabilities – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 6 Once you have completed the form and provided the necessary documentation, return the form to your GED testing center. Be sure to request and complete this form well in advance of your test date to allow sufficient time for processing.  GED Testing Fees Fees for the GED vary widely. In some states, you can take the GED exams at no charge; in others, all testing centers charge the same fee (usually between $20–$80); and in others, individual testing centers determine their own fees (also usually between $20–$80). In Pennsylva- nia, for example, the fee varies from $25–$55, depending upon the location of the center. In Georgia, the fee at any testing center is $55.  When the Test Are Offered Each test center determines when and how often it will offer the GED exams. Some centers may offer the tests only two or three times a year; others offer them much more frequently. The Paterson Adult and Continuing Education Center in Paterson, NJ, for example, offers the tests two or three times a month. The Aurora Public High School System in Aurora, CO, on the other hand, offers the tests every Thursday and two Saturdays each month. Contact your local testing center to see when the tests will be offered. If the dates and times are inconven- ient, check other centers nearby. Their offerings may bet- ter fit your schedule.  How the Tests Are Scored Each of the five GED tests is scored separately on a stan- dard scale of 200 to 800 points. Each correct answer is worth one point, but because the individual tests have different numbers of questions, the score for each test is converted to this 200–800 standard. This allows the scores on all five tests to be compared. The Language Arts, Writing Test score is a statistical combination of the scores for the multiple-choice questions and the essay, but a high score on Part I is no longer enough to pass the exam. Since 2002, candidates must pass both parts of the test in order to pass the Language Arts, Writing Exam. The GED score reflects an estimate of your skills and knowledge in each content area as compared to recent high school graduates. Your score will be reported in two ways: a number from 200–800 and a percentage. The percentage indicates how your score compares with the performance of graduating high school students. If your percentile rank is 85, for example, that means you have scored better than 85% of graduating high school sen- iors. Here’s a more detailed example: GED TESTS SCORE Language Arts, Writing 606 Social Studies 688 Science 490 Language Arts, Reading 621 Mathematics 552 Average Overall Score 591 Percentile Rank 81% What Is a Passing Score? The minimum score required to pass the GED and earn the GED diploma is set by individual states, provinces, and territories. The passing score is usually a combina- tion of both a minimum score per test and a minimum average score overall. Most testing jurisdictions use the passing score set by the GED Testing Service: ■ a minimum score of 410 on each test ■ a minimum average score of 450 overall If you answer approximately 60–65% of the questions correctly, you should receive a standard score of about 410 points per exam. – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 7 Enough to Pass In most states, you must score 410 on each exam and an average score of 450 overall in order to pass the GED. Getting Your Scores How and when you get your GED results will also vary from testing center to testing center. Most centers, how- ever, will mail your results for all tests except Language Arts, Writing in 2–4 weeks. Scoring of the essay part of the exam typically takes longer, so you may have to wait 4–6 weeks for those test results. Some centers may also post test scores or provide a number to call for test results. Getting Your Diploma Most states will automatically issue your diploma if you pass the GED. The names of candidates with passing scores are forwarded to the state department of educa- tion, and you can expect to receive your diploma in the mail in approximately 6–8 weeks. Retaking the GED Fortunately, if you do not pass the full battery of tests or would like to improve your score, you can retake the GED. Most states allow you to retake the tests two or three times within a specified time period. Often, you can retest only after you have completed all five exams. New Jersey, for example, allows GED candidates to retake the tests two times, with no additional fee, within six months of the initial testing date and no more than three times within one year. Georgia’s retesting policy, on the other hand, depends upon the candidate’s scores. If the candidate earned an average standard score of 430 or more, he or she may retake the tests at any time. If the candidate’s score was between 400–429, the candidate must wait three months or provide evidence of remedial study before retaking the exams. Candidates scoring below 400 must wait six months or present evidence of remedial study before retaking the tests. Check with your state or providence to find out the regulations regarding retesting. Also, be sure to check with your testing center regarding fees for retaking the exams. These fees are usually significantly lower than the initial exam fee, typically between $5–$30.  The Structure of the GED Each of the five GED tests contains 40–50 multiple- choice questions, with the exception of the mathematics exam, which also contains 25% “alternate format” ques- tions (this will be explained further in Chapter 40). The Language Arts, Writing Test also contains an essay sec- tion. The time allotted for each test varies from 45 min- utes (essay) to 90 minutes (math exam). The table on the next page describes the basic structure of the exams, including length, number of questions, and type of ques- tions. You will learn more about the kinds of questions on each exam as you read Parts II–VI.  The GED 2002 A new battery of GED exams went into effect on January 1, 2002. The tests were revised to include a greater emphasis on higher-level thinking skills such as critical analysis and to incorporate reading skills on all of the tests, especially the science and social studies exams. Other specific changes include: ■ more questions about interpreting graphics, espe- cially on the math, science, and social studies exams ■ inclusion of business documents and more com- plete documents (instead of excerpts) ■ revised scoring of the Language Arts, Writing Test, so that the essay is now scored separately, making writing skills essential for passing the GED ■ an increase in the percentage of questions about history on the social studies exam ■ allowing the use of calculators for Part I of the math exam (test centers supply all candidates with a Casio FX-260 Solar Calculator)—both parts of the test are weighted equally and both must be completed to pass the exam ■ inclusion of “alternate format” questions on the math exam (questions that require students to respond in a format other than multiple choice) ■ more questions about higher math concepts (stu- dents must know more than arithmetic to pass the math exam) You will find out much more about each of the GED exams in the chapters ahead. But first, it’s time to review study skills and create your study plan. – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 8 NUMBER OF GED TESTS QUESTIONS SUBTOPIC/TYPE OF QUESTION TIME LENGTH Language Arts, 50 Multiple choice: 75 minutes Writing, Part I 30% sentence structure 30% usage 25% mechanics 15% organization Language Arts, 1 Essay 45 minutes Writing, Part II Social Studies 50 Multiple choice: 70 minutes 40% history (25% national history, 15% world history) 25% civics and government 20% economics 15% geography Science 50 Multiple choice: 80 minutes 45% life science 35% physical science 20% Earth and space science Language Arts, 40 Multiple choice: 65 minutes Reading 30–35% analysis 30–35% synthesis 20% comprehension 15% application 75% literary texts 25% nonfiction Mathematics, 50 Multiple choice (80%) and 90 minutes Parts I and II alternate format (20%): (Note: A standard 75% calculations calculator is per- 25% set-up (determining the correct way mitted for Part I of to solve the problem) the math test. Cal- 20–30% geometry and measurement culators are provided 20–30% number operations and number sense at the test site. No 20–30% algebra, functions, and patterns calculators are per- 20–30% data analysis, statistics, and probability mitted for Part II.) Total: 240 + essay 7 hours, 5 minutes – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 9 . take the complete battery of new exams. The Spanish GED The structure and content of the Spanish GED is essen- tially the same as the English GED, with the. 1 in 20 first-year college students are GED graduates. – ALL ABOUT THE GED – 4  Who Takes the GED and Why The 860,000 people who take the GED each year