According to the American Council on Education, the organization that gives the General Educational Development (GED) exam each year in more than 3,000 locations worldwide, more than 700,000 people take the test every year. Over 400,000 pass it in full. For students taking the Language Arts Writing section, either for the first time when taking the GED exam or as a second or third try to pass the sections, learning how to write and revise is critical for success. Learn where to find free printable sample GED exams and Language Arts Writing practice tests.
Sample GED and Practice Test
For information on studying for the entire test overall, GED Testing Service offers a video that described how the high school equivalency exam works. The GED has five subtests in academic subjects:
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Language Arts Reading
- Language Arts Writing
Students must pass the overall GED with a score of 2250 or more. Students must score a 410 or higher on each of the five subtests. The GED essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 4; a 2 or higher is a passing score.
For many students, the Language Arts Writing section is the most difficult, as it involves creating an essay and uses grammar, usage, spelling, and English composition skills.
Language Arts Writing GED
Unlike other sections of the test, which have only multiple-choice questions, the Language Arts Writing subtest involves creating an essay from scratch. Students have 45 minutes to craft an essay on the topic.
Language Arts Writing practice tests online include:
- GED Essay topics – taken from the American Council on Education GED prep materials, this site gives students a thorough study guide to prepare for the Language Arts Writing section. In addition, the site gives the rubric for the people who will grade the essay. A rubric is a set of grading standards. The essay score depends on whether students fulfill the rubric. Learning how to write to meet the rubric's rules is important to pass the GED essay.
- The GED Essay – created by Lexington One District Adult Education, this site walks students through the practice essay for the GED, and also offers additional resources to help with improving writing skills.
- GED Essay Writing – this slide show presentation by a Wisconsin Technical College faculty member at Wisc Online provides good advice on how to structure a GED essay and prepare mentally before taking the exam.
Each of these sites offer topics that can be printed, and in some cases outlines for helping GED students to prepare offline, writing between breaks at school, at work, or whenever students are on the go.
GED Essay and High School Equivalency
Always read the topic carefully; it's easy to miss important parts of the essay question. The best way to practice is to print free GED sample tests and write, write, write. The more essays a student writes, the better her chances of passing when the real test comes.
Look for practice chances whenever possible. Research and read about all study guides and prep materials, in newspapers, magazines and online. Read about every possible method to study to increase the chance of success.
The need to earn the GED is strong in today's economy, and job success or college entrance often hinges on passing the high school equivalency exam. No matter what, using practice tests to study for the Language Arts Writing section of the GED will boost scores and make getting this credential much easier.
Sources
"GED Testing Fact Sheet," American Council on Education, April 7, 2010.
To learn about study guides and free printable tests for preparing for the GED, please read the following articles:
Math – Printable Math GED Sample Test - Online Equivalency Exam Practice
Science – Printable GED Practice Test for Science - Free Study Guide
Social Studies – Free Printable GED Practice Test for Social Studies - Sample GED
Language Arts Reading – Language Arts Reading GED Printable Test - Free Guide and Samples
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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