About Our Authors
About Research & Education Association
Acknowledgments
Introduction
About This Book + Online Tests
Whats on the GED® Test?
The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) Test
The Mathematical Reasoning Test
The Science Test
The Social Studies Test
Timing and the GED® Test
What Score Do I Need to Pass the GED® Test?
When Should the GED® Test Be Taken?
When and Where is the Test Given?
How Do I Register for the Test and Is There a Registration Fee?
Can I Retake the Test?
Accommodations for Test-Takers with Disabilities
Setting Up Your Study Plan
Official GED® Practice Tests
Test-Taking Tips
Before the Test
The Day of the Test
After the Test
REASONING THROUGH LANGUAGE ARTS
Diagnostic Test for Reasoning Through Language Arts
Chapter 1: A Guide to the GED® Tests Reasoning Through Language Arts Section
The Ability to Read Closely
Central Ideas and Supporting Ideas
Explicit Details and Main Ideas in a Text
Summary of Details and Ideas in Text
Inferences about Details that Support Main Ideas
Implied Ideas in Paragraphs or Whole Texts
Identify a Theme in a Text
Make Evidence-Based Generalizations
Synthesis of Multiple Main Ideas in Text
Chapter 2: Interpreting Text
How Individuals, Events, and Ideas Develop and Interact
Order Sequences of Events in Text
Plot/Sequence of Events, Characters, Settings, or Ideas in Texts
Analyze Relationships within Texts
Relationships between Ideas in a Text
Role of Details in Complex or Informational Texts
Chapter 3: Interpreting Words and Phrases
Words in Context - Cognitive and Figurative Meanings
Determine Meaning of Words and Phrases in a Text
How Meaning or Tone is Affected by the Replacement of One Word
Impact of Specific Words—Focus on Authors Intent
Chapter 4: Analyzing the Structure of Texts
Relationship of Specific Sentences or Paragraphs and the Whole
Contribution of Sentence, Paragraph, Chapter to Development of Ideas
Structural Relationship between Adjacent Sections of a Text
Transitional Language or Signal Words
How Structure Shapes Meaning and Supports Authors Purpose
Chapter 5: Authors Purpose
Authors Point of View Shapes Content and Style
Authors Point of View or Purpose
How Author Distinguishes Her/His Position
Authors Implicit and Explicit Purposes
Rhetorical Techniques to Advance Point of View
Chapter 6: Evaluate the Argument and Claims
Argument and Specific Claims in a Text
Specific Steps of Authors Argument
Evidence Used to Support Claims or Conclusions
Relevance and Sufficiency of Evidence
Claims Supported by Reasons and Evidence — or Not
Valid Reasoning vs. Fallacious Reasoning
Underlying Premise and Logical Support and Evidence
Chapter 7: Analyze Similar Themes or Topics
How Two or More Texts Address Similar Topics
Specific Comparisons between Two Texts
Similarities and/or Differences of Two Similar Passages
Two Argumentative Passages on Same Topic
How Data Supports an Authors Argument
Two Passages in Different Genres or Formats to Evaluate Differences
Two Passages in Different Genres or Formats to Synthesize Information
Chapter 8: The Writing Standards (Part I)
The Ability to Write Clearly
The Conventions of Standard English Grammar and Usage
Errors Involving Confused Words, Homonyms, and Contractions
Subject-Verb Agreement
Pronoun Usage
Non-Standard or Informal Usage
Dangling or Misplaced Modifiers
Parallelism and Subordination and Coordination
Wordiness or Awkward Sentence Construction
Chapter 9: The Writing Standards (Part II)
Conventions of Standard English Capitalization and Punctuation
Correct Use of Capitalization
Run-On Sentences, Fused Sentences, or Sentence Fragments
Use of Apostrophes with Possessive Nouns
Correct Use of Punctuation
Chapter 10: Written English in Context
Use of Standard Written English in Context
Details, Logical Inferences, Valid Claims with Texual Evidence
Analytic Response
Sufficient Command of Standard English Conventions
MATHEMATICAL REASONING
Diagnostic Test for Mathematical Reasoning
Chapter 1: Operations with Real Numbers
The Real Number System
Operations with Real Numbers
Signed Numbers
Absolute Value
Exponents
Order of Operations
Scientific Notation
Practice Questions
Chapter 2: Fractions, Percents, and Decimals
Fractions
Operations with Fractions
Decimals
Comparing Fractions and Decimals
Percents
Simple Interest Problems
Practice Questions
Chapter 3: Algebraic Expressions and Equations
Introduction
Terms and Expressions
Order of Operations
Expressions with Like Terms
Expressions with Undefined Terms
Equations
Multi-Step Equations
Equations with Multiple Variables
Solving a System of Equations
Using Equations in Word Problems
Inequalities
Square Roots and Cube Roots
Simplifying Square Roots
Multiplying and Dividing Square Roots
Cube Roots
Equations with Exponents and Square Roots
Mixed Practice
Quadratic Expressions and Equations
Factoring Quadratic Expressions
Quadratic Equations
The Quadratic Formula
Practice Questions
Chapter 4: Ratios and Proportions
Definition of a Ratio
Applications of Ratios
Proportions
Applications of Proportions
Percents as Proportions
Practice Questions
Chapter 5: Linear Equations and the Coordinate Plane
Relations
Functions
Functional Notation
The Coordinate Plane
Slopes of Lines
The Slope-Intercept Form of a Line
Deriving the Equation of a Line
The Point-Slope Form of a Line
Linear Inequalities
Graphing Linear Inequalities
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Applications of Linear Models
Quadratic Functions
Graphing Quadratic Functions
Practice Questions
Chapter 6: Measurement and Geometric Figures
Units of Measure
The U.S. System
The Metric System
Geometry: Points, Lines, and Planes
The Distance Formula
The Midpoint Formula
Angles
Special Angle Pairs
Parallel Lines
Triangles
Angle-Side Relationship
Exterior Angles
The Pythagorean Theorem
Quadrilaterals
Circles
Arcs of a Circle
Practice Questions
Chapter 7: Area, Surface Area, and Volume
Area
Surface Area
Volume
Similarity
Practice Questions
Chapter 8: Statistics and Data Analysis
Measure of Central Tendency
The Mean
The Median
The Mode
The Range
Data Analysis
Probability
The Counting Principle
Combinations and Permutations
Practice Questions
SCIENCE
Diagnostic Test for Science
Chapter 1: Life Science
Human Body and Health
Body Systems and How They Work Together
Homeostasis and Effects of Change
Sources of Nutrients
Disease and Pathogens: Transmission, Effects, and Prevention
Relationships between Life Functions and Energy Intake
Energy for Life Functions
Conservation of and Sources of Energy in Ecosystems
Flow of Matter in Ecosystems
Carrying Capacity
Symbiosis
Disruption of Ecosystems and Extinction
Organization of Life
Essential Functions of Life and Cellular Components
Cell Theory, Specialized Cells and Tissues, Levels of Organization
Mitosis and Meiosis
Molecular Basis for Heredity
Molecular Biology, Inheritance, and Chromosomes
Genotypes, Phenotypes, and Traits
New Alleles; Environmental Altering of Traits
Evolution
Common Ancestry and Cladograms
Selection and Requirements for Selection
Adaptation, Selection Pressure, and Speciation
Practice Questions
Chapter 2: Physical Science
Conservation, Transformation, and Flow of Energy
Heat, Temperature, Flow of Heat
Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions
Types of Energy and Transformations between Types of Energy
Sources of Energy and Relationships between Different Sources
Types of Waves, Electromagnetic Radiation, Uses and Dangers
Work, Motion, and Forces
Speed, Velocity, Acceleration, and Collisions
Force, Newtons Law, Gravity, Acceleration, Mass and Weight
Work, Simple Machines, Mechanical Advantages, and Power
Chemical Properties and Reactions Related to Living Systems
Structure of Matter
Physical and Chemical Properties, Changes of State, and Density
Balancing Chemical Equations, Conservation of Mass
Practice Questions
Chapter 3: Earth and Space Science
Interactions between Earths Systems and Living Things
Interaction of Matter between Living and Non-Living Things and the
Location, Uses, and Dangers of Fossil Fuels
Natural Hazards: Their Effects and Mitigation
Extraction and Use of Natural Resources, Renewable vs. Non-Renewable
Earth and Its System Components and Interactions
Characteristics of the Atmosphere
Characteristics of the Oceans
Interactions between Earths Systems
Interior Structure of the Earth
Structures and Organization of the Cosmos
Sun, Planets, Moons, Earths Motion, and Interactions within the Solar System
The Age of the Earth
Practice Questions
Chapter 4: Science Practices
Comprehending Scientific Presentations
Understand and Explain Scientific Presentations
Determine the Meaning of Symbols, Terms, and Phrases in Scientific Presentations
Investigation Design (Experimental and Observational)
Reasoning from Data
Evaluating Conclusions with Evidence
Working with Findings
Expressing Scientific Information
Practice Questions
SOCIAL STUDIES
Diagnostic Test for Social Studies
Chapter 1: Civics and Government
Definition of Government
Eight Parts of the Constitution
Bill of Rights
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Executive Branch of the U.S. Government
Classifying
Electoral College
Practice Questions
Chapter 2: United States History
Building Vocabulary Skills
Landmark Documents
Strategies to Understand Historical Documents
New Deal
Significance of Wars
Major Movements in the United States
Identifying Sources
Facts and Opinions
Recognizing Bias
Point of View and Frame of Reference
Extended-Response Questions
Identifying the Historical Sequence
Strategy for Analysis of Documents
Practice Questions
Chapter 3: Economics
What is Economics?
Graphs, Charts, and Tables
Types of Economic Systems
Personal Finances and Banking
Average Budget for a Typical American Home
Supply and Demand
Global Economy
Main Idea and Details to Support Conclusions
Predicting an Outcome
Practice Questions
Chapter 4: Geography and the World
The Five Themes of Geography
Environmental Issues
Practice Questions
Practice Tests
Reasoning Through Language Arts Test 1
Answer Explanations
Reasoning Through Language Arts Test 2
Mathematical Reasoning Test 1
Answer Explanations
Mathematical Reasoning Test 2
Science Test 1
Answer Explanations
Science Test 2
Social Studies Test 1
Answer Explanations
Social Studies Test 2
Appendix
GED® Assessment Targets for Practice Tests
Index