Here are 10 GED study tips for parents, tutors and students preparing for the GED® Tests, to help students prepare academically and build their test-confidence.
Three of Shirley’s own children have written the GED® as well as thousands of students who have enrolled with Online GED Prep™. Here are her top tips based on her experience with her own children and others whom she has supported through the process.
GED study tips
1. Develop skills not parrot-fashion learning
The GED® tests skills, especially reading comprehension and critical thinking, rather than rote-memory and knowledge of content. It is not like school where students must memorise facts and information. In each subject candidates need to read with comprehension and then use the information give to select the correct answers in a multiple choice format.
Students, don’t be surprised if you get questions on topics on the test that are not the same topics as the study programme. If you can read, you can find the answers you need in the given information, be it a text, a chart, a map, a graph or diagram. You may need to use some of the information provided to figure out or even calculate the correct answer to some questions. Our online GED® prep course will give you the necessary practice to develop these essential skills.
2. Study 2 hours per day – minimum
Students should study a minimum of about 2 hours per day, with breaks. The more you study, the faster you will complete the programme, but it is also important that your have time for other constructive activities and interests.
Parents, encourage your children to spend time out of doors, to do sport or exercise, to get enough rest and to take good care of themselves too. You are training them for independence one day!
3. Start early with English
Start early with English, especially if its not your home language. The Reasoning Through Language Arts section (English) has three component courses (Reading, Writing and Language) and therefore takes the longest to work through. However, it helps to develop and improve reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, which are vital for success in every subject. You must complete all three RLA courses before you book your RLA Test.
4. Focus on 2 subjects at a time
Focus on 2 subjects first and then write them off one by one and then tackle the next two. Start with a subject you enjoy, plus English. Science and Social Studies are the two shortest courses, so sometimes students are encouraged by doing one of those, completing it and then taking the exam. Maths has 3 levels in the course to be completed so it takes longer than the other subjects to complete. You can choose to take the tests in the order you prefer!
5. Aim for high scores on every lesson
Aim for high scores. Students should aim to get about 80% for a lesson before moving on to the next one, to make sure they have mastered each skill or concept. Check that they are not rushing, slap-dash through the lessons just to get them done as fast as possible. Encourage them to take ownership of their work and do it properly as if they master it once, they are likely to never have to repeat the lesson again! Only book your first test, when you have completed the course and scored well. Aim for well over 150 out of 200 on the study programme, even though the official pass mark is 145.
6. Improve touch-typing skills
Students should use a free online typing trainer to improve their touch-typing skills if their typing is not good. Although most of the test is multiple-choice and does not require much in the way of keyboarding skills, this is a vital skill for the workplace of the 21st century and you will feel less stressed about typing your essay in the exam if you know that you type reasonably fast and accurately. Most students don’t feel time-pressured as you get 45 minutes to type your essay.
7. Master essay writing early
Start improving and practicing essay writing skills early. The argumentative essay in the RLA test is usually the biggest challenge for most students but that is why I created the extra tutorial, Acing the Argumentative Essay (R250) and those who have used it all say it was most useful. It takes time and practice to improve your essay writing skills and to understand the nature of the question you need to tackle when you write your argumentative essay. It’s therefore important to start early and get plenty of practice to improve this skill.
8. Aim to finish all tests by September
If you start at the beginning of the year, then aim to complete all four GED® Tests by about September or October, if possible. This also means that you have results in time to apply to tertiary institutions for the next year. Test centres get booked up fast in November and December and it may be difficult to get a test booking at that time of year. You can still take tests the next year, even if your enrolment with Online GED Prep™ has ended. Enrolment runs for 365 days from date of activation. It is not linked to the school year or to the GED Testing Service’s exam system. There is no deadline for completing the exams in any given time frame.
9. Apply for accommodations
Apply for accommodations if you have learning difficulties. If a student has any professionally diagnosed learning difficulties, you can apply for accommodations. These are granted on a case-by-case basis. Usually students get extra time or extra breaks but other concessions can also be arranged where necessary. You need to apply at least a month before your first test. Tests booked with accommodations may not be rescheduled. Click here for information about accommodations and the necessary application forms.
10. Take a mock exam to boost your confidence
Take a mock exam – a GED READY® TEST – which you book and do at home via the GED Testing Service website before your first exam. You take the GED READY® test on your own computer. The format looks exactly like the official GED® Test but it is half the length. It will also tell you if you are likely to pass and it will build your self-confidence and lessen any exam anxiety if you do well on it. Here’s how: How to book a test. You can take a mock exam for each subject, but at the least, do one before your first test.
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