This course will help you analyze your strengths and weaknesses, so you can focus your studying on the areas that you need most. You will get the basics of what you need to know to succeed on the four GED® test modules: Reasoning Through Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematical Reasoning.
Some GED® Testing Centers require proof that you have passed a GED® test preparation course or the official practice tests before you can take the official GED® tests. Before enrolling in this course, please check with the official GED® Testing Center where you intend to take your tests to make sure that this course will meet their requirements. Not all states use the GED® test as their test for high school equivalency diploma.
Barbara Rolston holds a master's degree. Since 1975, she has been taught GED preparatory classes in a variety of settings, including adult schools, community colleges, and large corporations. She also was responsible for administering the GED exam in a correctional facility for two years. Math experience includes tutoring community college students on a wide range of math topics and serving as a math consultant for a nationwide adult student assessment system.
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
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Lesson 1
GED Basics and Reading Strategies: How many GED tests are there? How much time do you get for each test? Where do you go to take the GED test? Do you get to use a calculator on the math test? Do you need to know algebra? What if you can't spell perfectly? What kind of an essay do you need to write? In our first lesson, you'll learn the answers to all of these and a few more frequently asked questions about the GED test. After you're clear on what to expect, we'll brush up on your reading skills. Since reading is one of the most important skills you'll need for all five tests, this first lesson will provide you with strategies that will help you improve your reading comprehension.
Lesson 2
Today we'll focus on Part 1 of the Language Arts, Writing test. Part 1 will test your ability to find and fix problems in sentences and paragraphs, so in this lesson, you'll learn the grammar skills you need to edit and revise GED passages. You'll also get to see and practice with the three types of questions that you'll see on the multiple choice part of the Language Arts, Writing Test. With your newly sharpened grammar skills, you'll be ready for Part 1 of GED Language Arts, Writing Test.
Lesson 3
The most feared part of the entire GED battery of tests is undoubtedly the essay part of the Language Arts, Writing test! For that reason, we'll devote an entire lesson to helping you master this important topic. In this lesson, I'll illustrate a step-by-step process that will help you put your fears aside and enable you to write a top-notch essay.
Lesson 4
In our first Social Studies lesson, we'll focus on the history content area, plus I'll let you know what historical documents you may encounter on the GED Social Studies test. Since 40% of the test is related to history, you can see how important this lesson is. You'll get to go through some practice passages to give you a chance to experience the type of questions you'll encounter. And we'll outline the key events in United States and Canadian history so you'll know exactly what background knowledge is important to know.
Lesson 5
We'll continue with Social Studies today, but in this lesson, we'll shift the focus to the content areas of civics and government (both United States and Canada), as well as economics and geography. There's a lot to cover in this lesson! You'll be busy learning to understand, analyze, and evaluate information that will be presented to you in passages, graphs, cartoons, workplace materials, and maps.
Lesson 6
We'll kick off today's lesson with a discussion on using the scientific method to answer science questions in a logical manner. This is what scientists use to solve problems, so it only makes sense to give you the same tool. Then we'll use the scientific method to get acquainted with the life science topics, such as plant and animal cells and the systems of the human body.
Lesson 7
We'll cover more science topics in this lesson. We'll start with chemistry, which should get everyone warmed up for when we move on to the other content areas of physics and earth and space science. You'll find these science topics are closely related to your everyday living. Ever add sugar to your coffee? Then you used chemistry. Ever use a pry bar to lift a heavy object? Then you applied physics to a problem. Concerned about tomorrow's weather? Meteorology is part of the earth sciences, and it certainly applies to everyone every day!
Lesson 8
The first order of business to prepare for the Language Arts, Reading Test is examining ways to read and interpret fiction. This process begins with learning how to analyze the elements of fiction as well as applying these elements to the short story and the novel. Today we'll read sample passages that will help you practice locating these elements within fiction.
Lesson 9
Besides the short story and novel, you'll also need to be prepared to read poetry and drama, so in this lesson, I'll introduce you to these two forms of literature. On the GED Language Arts, Reading test, 25% of the questions you'll see will refer to nonfiction passages, so we'll conclude our study of Language Arts, Reading by examining three different categories of nonfiction.
Lesson 10
In this lesson, we'll take an overall view of the GED Math Test. To be successful, you not only need to know math, but you need to know how to answer the math questions using the special answer grids and the special GED calculator. We'll review those basics today, and then we'll begin math study by looking at notation, and I'll introduce you to a step-by-step approach you can use to solve word problems.
Lesson 11
Do fractions worry you? Don't be concerned! In this lesson, I'll help you gain control over those odd-looking numbers. Next, you'll see the best way to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals. We'll wrap up the lesson with a super simple way to figure out those pesky percent problems. Finally, I'll show you how fractions, decimals, and percents are all related.
Lesson 12
What is the probability that you'll be able to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle using the Pythagorean Relationship? Does this sound like Greek to you? After this lesson, you'll not only understand how to figure the probability of an event, but you'll know all about triangles, angles, and other geometric shapes. Algebra sounds tough, but you'll soon see why this very useful tool can help you with those geometry formulas. You may be surprised to discover that you already use many of the math concepts in this lesson in your everyday life!
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