GED Exam

• You may be feeling anxious as the day of taking your GED test approaches. A little anxiety is not bad–it will keep you on your toes. But all in all, you should be feeling calm, composed and ready for the big day. After all, taking the GED test is an extraordinary feat. Passing it will open new doors of opportunities for you. So what will make your GED test day as superb as it can be?

Consider the following last-minute GED tips.

What To Do One Week Before Taking The GED

• Continue with your studying. If your test prep had been well-maintained, you should feel that you know all the information at this point. Carry on with your study habits, even for just 30 minutes a day. Take practice tests or run through some flashcards. Note that you need to keep your brain active so that you’ll be ready for your GED test.
• Focus on the subjects that you’re struggling in. There may be subjects in the GED test that you don’t particularly like. Thus, you may find it hard to keep up with them. Pay special attention to these topics. The point is for you to feel comfortable with these certain areas in the GED.
• Get enough sleep. Numerous write-ups about the GED say that learners have to get enough sleep only on the evening of their test. The fact, however, is that it doesn’t work. One cannot easily cram extra hours of sleep in a single night. What is more beneficial is to get enough and well-rested sleep for a few consecutive nights before the day of your test.

Check our GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Guide

What To Do On The Night Before Your GED Test

• Be calm and relaxed. Keep still so to speak, and steer clear of cramming during this time. According to research, learners can absorb information better by studying consistently, and not by cramming at the last hour. Don’t stress yourself by over studying, but instead focus on doing activities that’ll divert your attention from your test. Try going on a walk, hanging out with a friend or go watch a movie.
• Pack your bag with the things that you’ll need on your test day. Pack up on the night before your test. Load your backpack with your valid, government-issued photo ID, your optional TI-30XS hand-held calculator, and your snacks. Everything that you need for your test day should be taken care of at this time. Your focus should be solely on your GED test on the next morning. Try to sleep a little bit earlier than you usually do.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

What To Do On The Day Of Taking Your GED

• Eat a nutritious breakfast. Consume your breakfast within 30 minutes after waking up. It will boost your brain as well as your metabolism. Your morning meal actually sets your brain up, signifying that it is time to do some thinking.
• Bring with you all the things that you need and leave those that are unnecessary behind. Part of the services offered by the GED body is providing test-takers with erasable note boards. You can bring your own calculator, the approved type which is the TI-30XS hand-held calculator. Gadgets and other what-nots that are not allowed in the GED testing room are wallets, cellphones, backpacks, handbags, and keys. You can keep these items in the storage facility of your testing center.
• Arrive a bit early in your testing center. That’s at least 15 minutes before your test time. You’ll need time for checking in and acquainting yourself to your surroundings. Remember that if you arrive 15 minutes late, you might forfeit your privilege to take your test and lose your testing fee.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

What To Do While Actually Taking Your GED Test

• Go through the answer choices first. Your analytical skills will be challenged by the GED test. You must learn how to think critically and select the most appropriate answer choice. Reading the answers first will make it easier to respond to the question because you already have an idea of what it is looking for.
• Take time to re-read difficult sections. Preferably read them out loud because it will help you tone down on your pacing and allow you to concentrate on every word. You’ll have a deeper understanding of the test content by rereading. As a result, you can comprehend and analyze pertinent information that’ll enable you to answer your test.
• Be calm and composed mentally and physically pacing yourself. Keep in mind the time limit for every test subject:

Mathematical Reasoning (115 minutes with short breaks between parts)

Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 minutes with 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3, and 45 minutes for the essay test)

Social Studies (70 minutes without breaks)

Science (90 minutes without break)

Be aware of the time that you can allocate for every item in the test. Your pacing should be steady as you move on from one question to the other. Come break time, you can get up and drink some water. Walk around a bit because you’ve been sitting down for an extended time, and this tends to make your brain sleepy. The last thing you would want to happen is for you to feel tired in the middle of your test.

• Be positive and confident. On the day of your GED test, you’ll obtain the final payoff for all your days and weeks of test prep. Take confidence in the thought that you have prepared well, so focus on the test and know that whatever the outcome, you can always retake the GED test.

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• GED Social Studies Prep Guide
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• 4 Major Differences Between GED 2002 And GED 2014
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• Free GED Math Practice Test

Thousands of people from all over the world move to the US each year to study or find work. Some of them may be planning to pursue college studies or establish their careers here. To be able to do so, these applicants must secure their valid visas so that their stay would be legitimate and provide the appropriate proofs of their education and/or work experience.

What if you are a foreigner who wants to continue your studies in the US? Maybe you are looking for a job that earns well and wants to show your qualifications. Will your high school diploma in your own country be acceptable in the US? There are many factors to consider when it comes to this, such as the standard and quality of education in your former country along with the differences in the educational systems on the international level.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

As A Foreign Student, Is Your High School Diploma Acceptable In The US?

What if your high school diploma is not equivalent to a US diploma? You can rectify this particular circumstance by first having your secondary education diploma evaluated. If you are from another country and you want to pursue further education in the US, you have to present a solid proof of an educational equivalency. You can look for a credible agency that offers credential evaluation services. This tool is also helpful for those applying for work in the US. A primary proof that you have to comply with is being able to meet the standards required of high school graduates in the country.

You can have your high school diploma evaluated by hiring the services of a credential evaluation provider. Third party agencies such as these do the job for the government. Evaluating the educational credential of foreigners is not performed by the government in the US. Rather, individuals hire credential evaluation agencies to validate the diplomas and transcripts that they submit. Among the initial tasks that you should do is to contact the high school that you attended to request copies of these documents. They need to provide proof that you indeed went to that school and were able to finish their high school curriculum.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2019 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

What To Do In Order To Qualify For Work Or Study In The US

It is possible that your high school diploma will not be accredited because it is not on par with a US diploma. The education system in the US may not have the same standards as that of your home country. As a US immigrant, you have two options to remedy this situation. Your first option is to take the GED test. If you pass the said test, you will receive a high school equivalency certificate. Although a GED diploma is deemed to have lesser value than a high school diploma, it will suffice as a qualification for many jobs in the US. A GED certificate is also acceptable for enrollment in community colleges.

If your credential evaluation provider assesses that there are missing equivalencies in your high school diploma, your second option is to attend continued education classes and night classes. When you have completed your school’s educational requirements, you should again submit your continuing education classes credentials together with your diploma to your credential evaluator. Granting that everything works out, you will subsequently be rendered with a final documentation stating that your education complies with the high school standards in the US.

Check our Free GED® Classes Online for the GED® Exam

These said, don’t think that having your credentials evaluated means that the standard of education in your home country is inferior compared to the US. It simply has to do with the varying values placed by different countries about educational results. As they say, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, and so it is when you want to legitimately work, live and study in the US as well.

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Most people don’t make it right at the first time. In fact, mistakes often happen during the initial tries. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you did your best. Very few of them are actually fatal.

This thought applies to high school dropouts as well. It is not the end of the world if you are or were unable to finish high school. If you adopt a positive mindset and take control of your life early on, you will realize that you can do something to change your future.

One of them is by taking the GED, which is a high school equivalency test and credential. Although a GED certificate has a lesser value than a high school diploma, there have been numerous successful people who took it and made it big in life.

Who are some of these celebrities and famous personalities who passed the GED?

• Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s
• Michael J. Fox, famous Hollywood actor
• Richard Carmona, Arizona senator, and former U.S. Surgeon General
• Paris Hilton, American TV personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman
• Peter Jennings, a popular journalist and sole anchor of ABC News Tonight for over 22 years

We have Practice Test that you can use: GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts Practice Tests

Dave started to work in the restaurant industry at the early age of 12. His family constantly moved from one location to another, but Dave aimed for a more stable life. At 15, he separated from his parents and sought a part-time job at the Hobby House restaurant in the city of Fort Wayne. After deciding to work full time in the business, he dropped out of high school.

Dave served during the Korean War after which he worked at KFC. His diligence and business intelligence helped turn many of KFC’s failing franchises around. It was in 1969 when he made up his mind to sell his KFC franchise and began his own restaurant business in Columbus, Ohio. His named his restaurant after his daughter Melinda whose nickname was Wendy. Now, Wendy’s is a hugely popular burger chain- the third largest in America. It was only in 1993 when Dave enrolled at the Coconut Creek High School where he chose to earn his GED certificate because he wanted to set a good example for youngsters.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: GED Reading Practice Questions | Fiction 1960-Present

Michael’s father gave him $3,000 to set out and pursue a career in Hollywood at the age of 18. He was close to finishing high school in his native Canada but decided to drop out to go after his dream.

After years of hard work, Michael indeed made his name as a Hollywood actor and got married and had kids. The talented actor made it a priority to take the GED test, and he did so in 1995.

Check our  Free GED Practice Tests

Richard was born in New York and grew up in Harlem. He is of Puerto Rican descent. At the age of 16, he dropped out of Dewitt Clinton high school and joined the U.S. Army in 1967. It was during his time of enlistment in the army when he earned his GED. Following this undertaking, he became a member of the United States Army Special Forces. As a Vietnam veteran, Richard was combat-decorated. While in the Special Forces, he started his career in medicine as a medic.

We have GED Math Video Lessons

In her bio, it was stated that Paris spent her childhood in palatial houses located in the most expensive neighborhoods in both coasts of the country. Her experience with the educational system was brief where she went to study at Dwight School that was an ultra-exclusive institution. Paris dropped out from the said school and earned her GED certificate afterward.

Learn more: GED Science Study Guide

Peter’s father was a prominent radio broadcaster who worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He also pursued a career as the host of “Peter’s People” which was a CBC children’s program.

At the age of 9, Peter entered the broadcasting industry. While his father was attending to one of his assignments, Peter was chosen for the “Peter’s People” gig. His father was allegedly furious at CBC for hiring Peter primarily because he was the son of a broadcaster. While in school, Peter was a bad student but a talented athlete. For him, going to school was tremendously boring. After failing 10th grade, Jennings dropped out of school. He enrolled at Carlton University, but stayed there for only 10 minutes and left the institution. After his unsuccessful attempts at schooling, Peter worked at the Royal Bank of Canada but continued to harbor his dream of becoming a professional broadcaster.

These are five of the most successful GED stories throughout time, and if you look for more, you will find that there are numerous of these hardworking and lucky people who didn’t give up on completing their education as they found their way to wealth and fame. Setting a good example for young and adult learners, they are indeed worth emulating.

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The history of the GED test indicates that there have been five series of the high school equivalency exam. The first series was created in 1942 to 1977, the second within 1978 to 1987, the third in 1988 to 2001, the fourth series in 2002 to 2013, and the fifth and most current series was initialized in 2014 and is still being implemented up to the present. The most applicable series are those that were set up in 2002 and 2014 because they concern the current generation of GED diploma holders.

• What Are The Major Differences Between The 2002 And The 2014 Editions Of The GED Test?
• 2002 vs 2014 Changes In The GED Test Subjects
• 2002 vs 2014 GED Reasoning Through Language Arts
• 2002 vs 2014 GED Social Studies Test
• 2002 vs 2014 GED Science Test
• 2002 vs 2014 GED Math Test
• Why The GED Test Revised in 2014

Overall, you will see major differences between the 2002 and 2014 GED test in these areas:

1. Test format

In the 2002 version, the item types were composed of multiple choice, grid format, and essay questions while in the 2014 revision, test takers tackled multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, cloze, drag and drop, extended response, short answer and hotspot items.

Related Topic: GED 101: 2019 GED Practice Tests, GED Classes for GED Exam – 1 Stop GED Programs Guide

2. Test development and assessment

Bloom’s Taxonomy was used for development of the 2002 GED Test whereas the Common Core Standards and the Webb’s Depth of Knowledge model does the same in the 2014 release of the exam. Boom’s Taxonomy focuses on the activity of the test-taker while Webb’s Depth of Knowledge puts emphasis on the complexity of cognitive processes, according to The Ohio State University.

3. Test administration

The fourth series of the test was administered by paper and pencil but the most recent GED series still being used up to date is taken through a computer.

Related Topic: Online GED Classes

4. Price

The price of taking the GED increased by 100% from 2002 to 2014. Test takers used to pay $60 in 2002, but in 2014, they are required to pay $120.

These are some of the predominant changes in the earlier and newer versions of the GED exam as a whole.

Related Topic: GED Study Guide

In the past, the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test included a reading test as well as a writing test. Now, this section is composed of a reading comprehension and a writing component. Before, the Reading and Writing test is composed of 90 items that test-takers had to accomplish in 3 hours. At present, the number of items in the Reasoning Through Language Arts test varies and has to be done within 3 hours, but the test takers are allowed to have a 10-minute break throughout its duration.

The old GED Reading test used to feature passages with about 200 to 400 words while the new test has passages with 450 to 900 words. The text in the Reading test of the earlier GED test was mostly 75% literary, composed of prose, poetry, and drama while at present, 75% of the texts feature informational and non-fictional content and are in the context of the workplace. Poetry is not included in 2014 GED Reading test anymore, unlike in the 2002 version.

The earlier series of the GED Writing test required test-takers to compose an essay about a subject, which was familiar to them and it was written on paper. On the other hand, the present series of the test requires learners to extract evidence from an informational or literary text in order to support their reflection and analysis. Because it is taken on a computer, test-takers should also have basic computer keyboard skills while arranging their essays.

Related Topic: Free GED Practice Tests

The GED Social Studies test in 2002 was made-up of 50 items of multiple choice questions with a time limit of 70 minutes but in 2014, the number of questions varies and its time limit is set to 90 minutes. In the fourth series, only multiple choice questions were featured while the present series, an extended response item is included with passages each containing about 550 to 650 words.

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There were also changes to the topics included in the GED Social Studies Test:

2002 GED Social Studies Test Topics:

U.S. History content- 25%

World History content- 15%

Geography content- 15%

Civics and Government content- 25%

Economics content- 25%

2014 GED Social Studies Test Topics:

Civics and Government content – 50%

U.S. History content- 20%

Economics content – 15%

Geography and the World content – 15%

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There were differences between the 2002 and 2014 GED Science Test content areas:

In 2002, the content areas were:

Physical Science (including physics and chemistry) content- 35%

Life Science content – 45%

Earth and Space Science content – 20%

The test was designed with 50 multiple choice items and test-takers were given 80 minutes to accomplish it.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: GED Science Classes Online

From 2014, the GED Science test content areas are:

Life Science content – 40%

Physical Science content- 40%

Earth and Space Science content- 20%

The number of question items in the test varies and this test has to be completed in 75 minutes.

Start reviewing with our helpful contents: Free GED® Science Practice Test

Related Topic: GED Science Study Guide

There were 50 items of multiple choice questions in the 2002 GED Math test, which had to be accomplished in 90 minutes. In one of the couples of sections in the test, test-takers were allowed to use the Casio fx-260 Solar Scientific calculator and they were given a sheet that contained a list of commonly-used formulas.

We have GED Math Video Lessons

In the 2014 GED Math test, the number of test questions varies and the set time limit is 75 minutes. On-screen, candidates can access a Texas Instruments TI-30XS Scientific calculator along with a calculator reference tool and they can click to be able to view a formula sheet.

Related Topic: GED Math

The workforce and education landscapes have changed for over a decade since 2002, that’s why the GED test was revised in 2014. Many candidates claimed that the GED test has become more difficult and the standards for passing are now more stringent. Times may have changed especially as statistics has predicted that by 2024, 75% of jobs are bound to require more qualifications than a high school credential.

Whatever the case may be, it is recommended for candidates to use a complete GED test prep program with updated GED practice tests and online classes in order to pass it with flying colors and be a step closer to their academic and career goals.

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