Going to get my GED :( - Any idea how hard it is?

[Viper GTS]

I have avoided getting my GED for quite a while now, I liked the fact that I had an Associates without any high-school. I want to go back to school, though, & not having any high-school equivalent could become a problem. So I'm going to go take the test.

Any idea how hard it is? I've been out of school for three years, but I was taking 200's level engineering, physics, calculus, & writing classes... Should I have any problem with the test? I don't want to make myself look like a moron by not preparing for it & then failing it.

Are there any sample tests out there to give me some idea what I need to be ready for? According to PCC's web site:

The GED Test
The GED test battery includes five parts:

1. Writing skills: This test is divided into two sections. Part I includes sentence structure, usage and mechanics. Part II requires you to write an essay on a topic about which adults would be expected to have general knowledge.

2. Social studies test: Content includes history, economics, political science, geography and behavioral science. Skills that will be tested include comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation.

3. Science test: Content includes life science, biology and physical sciences, earth science, physics and chemistry. Skills that will be tested include comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation.

4. Interpreting literature and the arts: Content includes popular literature, classical literature and commentary about literature and the arts. Skills assessed include comprehension, application and analysis.

5. Mathematics: Content includes arithmetic (measurement, number relationships and data analysis), algebra and geometry. Skills that will be tested are problem solving abilities and higher level thinking skills.

Doesn't sound so bad...

Any thoughts?

Viper GTS

 

[NoreagaCNN]

Dropped out of school????

-Nore

PS: It's not hard, my friend took it and passed it and I'm sorry to say that he's pretty dumb, lol

 

[Viper GTS]

More like burned out. I was 16 years old, & had just completed my 13th straight term (no terms off, not even summer). I had a two year degree, & was halfway through an engineering transfer. And I was hating school, life, & everything else.

So I quit school, started working full time, paid rent, etc. Been that way ever since. But now I want to go back.

My boss has been prodding me to get my GED so that it won't be a problem applying for schools, so I'm going to go ahead & do it.

Viper GTS

 

[ratkil]

I honestly don't know how hard it is, but I commend your desire to obtain it and feel pretty confident you won't have a problem doing it.

 

[NoreagaCNN]

According to him it's sort of like taking the SAT. If I remember right, SATs were real easy. They have those questions like:
I hate stupid people. Then they make you pick another word for hate
Loathe, don't like, etc.
The rest is pretty easy, hehe.

-Nore

 

[woodie1]

When I took the GED tests it seemed anyone who completed the 8th grade could have answered the questions.

It is an easy set of tests.

Good luck.

 

[Elita1]

Don't know how difficult it may be, but best of luck to you, Gregg, I'm sure you'll do fine

 

[amnesiac]

A friend of mine took her GED and passed with flying colors; she wasn't even all that smart. You should be able to ace it.

 

[Aves]

The GED Test
The GED test battery includes five parts:

1. Writing skills: This test is divided into two sections. Part I includes sentence structure, usage and mechanics. Part II requires you to write an essay on a topic about which adults would be expected to have general knowledge.

2. Social studies test: Content includes history, economics, political science, geography and behavioral science. Skills that will be tested include comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation.

3. Science test: Content includes life science, biology and physical sciences, earth science, physics and chemistry. Skills that will be tested include comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation.

4. Interpreting literature and the arts: Content includes popular literature, classical literature and commentary about literature and the arts. Skills assessed include comprehension, application and analysis.

5. Mathematics: Content includes arithmetic (measurement, number relationships and data analysis), algebra and geometry. Skills that will be tested are problem solving abilities and higher level thinking skills.

This is pretty much right on.

If you could, the best bet would be to see if there are any FREE GED classes in your area and go take their TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) test. The TABE only takes a couple of hours to take and it will let you know where you stand. If they have the TABE-PC program on computer it will give you your projected GED scores. The instructors will try to convince you to stay and take classes no matter how high you score because it looks good for them, but you can just take the practice exam and say later, and never come back.

When I took the GED tests it seemed anyone who completed the 8th grade could have answered the questions.

It is an easy set of tests.

I wouldn't say they're that easy but they aren't too bad. Just be sure to take it soon because the exam will be getting harder next year. In the unlikely envent that you fail some parts, you only have to retake the parts you failed.

If you're wondering how I know all this, I work for the Adult Education department at a local college.

Good luck Viper.

 

[vi edit]

Viper, going by your posts on the board here, writing, grammar, and mathematics will NOT be a problem. You have shown to be very proficient in those areas.

Since you've been out of school for a while though, and I don't know what your home schooling covered, I would suggest that you really go over the History and Literature parts of the test.

If you can swallow your pride for a moment, I'd go to my local high school and see if you can borrow/buy a junior and senior level history and literature books.

The literature books in particular are pretty important. They will cover most "famous" authors and go over the more influential writings throughout history. Be sure to learn English and American authors.

Besides that, maybe set up a time to meet with a local high schools guidance counselor to see if he/she can give you any additional info on the GED program.

 

[pulse8]

If you have half a brain, which we all know you do, you should do just fine.

 

[ATLien247]

How does one get an Associate's degree without having a HS diploma? Isn't it a prerequisite? Regardless, I would think that all that college credit would count towards your diploma. Maybe you should go talk to a local HS administrator. They might be able to waive everything, and you would be able to forego the GED.

Then again, the GED isn't all that hard... so you should be all set either way.

 

[Johnlee]

Super easy dude. I helped and old gf study for one once. She passed easily and..uh..was not the sharpest pencil in the box.

 

[hungrypete]

it's cake. I took it when I was 16, took me 5 hours and I got some scholarships because of my score. Seriously, brush up on some math and english rules, and throw yourself a party afterwards, cuz you're gonna pass!

 

[Viper GTS]

vi

I had three terms of US History my first full-time year at PCC. How much do I remember? Couldn't honestly say, I was 14-15 at the time. My home-schooling had a fair amount of literature/poetry/etc. I'm most worried about the grammar & math portions. My day to day grammar is fine, but depending on how in-depth they go I could be screwed. At one time I could diagram sentences & label every word in the sentence as to what it was, but I couldn't do that now to save my life. Math has always been my weak point, I managed to struggle my way through three terms of calculus & then had to drop out of differential equations twice. My math scores have always been lower than my others, so that's probably the area I'd be most worried about.

By the looks of this, though, I should be OK. I just don't want to go in over-confident & not pass.

Viper GTS

 

[brtspears2]

They dont call the GED the Good Enough Diploma for nothing...

 

[jonMEGA]

i taken my GED test a feuw yearz ago. My teacher learned me; so i passed ok.

LOL

The test is pretty easy. I did well on it. Viper like the other guy said before you should have no problem.

Good Luck!!

 

[Tauren]

From what I can tell, by what you post here, you will breeze through it!

 

[Helpless]

I heard all the answers are going to be 'C' this year, so go with 'C' and you'll get an 'A'

 

[atom]

I wouldn't sweat the history portion too much. It's not like they are gonna ask you some really specific question like, "During the battle of Gettysburg, pick the Lt. General of the confederate army from the list below." Really basic stuff.............

The GED caters to the lowest common denominator, so advanced courses such as Calculus are never on the test.

 

[Russ]

Viper,

You could go without sleep for a week, drink three fifths of vodka and smoke an entire four finger lid right before sitting down to take it, and still pass.

You will have no trouble at all.

Russ, NCNE

 

[mrCide]

I'm PRETTY sure it's really f'ing easy. If you're intelligent enough to do the work you do I'm sure you can pass some simple tests.

 

[Red Dawn]

<< smoke an entire four finger lid right before sitting down to take it, and still pass. >>

What's a four fingered lid?

If more people new how easy it was they'd skip the last two years of Highschool and take it.

 

[Tauren]

ViperGTS - They may give you a load of crap about mandatory classes prior to taking the test. Just come up with a good excuse on why you can't, because they are a load of bullsh*t. You won't learn ANYTHING new from them. I used joining the Marines as an excuse. (I couldn't because I have Scoliosis, but worked to get out of the classes)

 

[Helpless]

>>What's a four fingered lid?<<


A bag of reefer that four people pinched from