8 Tips to Help You Get a High GED Test Score
What if the key to a higher GED test score was right in front of you all along?
Many people think it’s too hard to study and get a high score on the GED. However, the truth is that just a few quick tips can send your score sky high!
And the GED can be your ticket to a super-successful life. Just ask people like Surgeon General Richard Carmona!
Want to know what those tips are and how they can help? Keep reading to discover the answers!
1. Narrow Down the Math
Part of what makes getting a good GED score tough is knowing what to study. For instance, there are a lot of different mathematical skills you may need to brush up on!
The best thing to do is to focus on geometry and algebra. Not only will most of the math section focus on these skills, but these areas also give you a foundation for harder math.
If you have one handy, some old math textbooks can be a big help in studying. If not, you can concentrate on various practice exercises (more on this later).
2. Relaxation Time
It’s true that practice is important before you take the test. And getting the highest GED score possibly usually depends on doing a lot of studying.
However, it’s very possible for you to study too much and burn out. The best way to avoid this is to schedule some relaxation time.
The best time to relax is actually the night before the test. Give yourself the night off and take the time to get a good night’s sleep and make a nice breakfast when you wake up.
Of course, being able to do this means budgeting time wisely. Make sure you have given yourself sufficient time to study before the date of the test!
3. Reading To Study
Many people struggle with the reading portions of the GED. This section can be very difficult because lots of folks don’t understand how to improve their reading skills.
The only way to bolster reading skills is to read more. This becomes simple once you discover what you like to read.
This may mean diving into a new novel series or reading a favorite magazine. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to just sit there and read a lot of things that you hate.
However, make sure the reading challenges you on some level. Simply reading the same thing you’ve read a hundred times before may not build the new skills you need.
4. The Write Stuff
The writing section can be one of the most difficult sections of the GED. This is because once you are outside of the classroom, most people don’t regularly engage in writing.
Our advice is simple: either start writing in a private journal or start a private blog. Whichever option you take, make sure you practice writing every day.
You can use free tools online to check things like your grammar and the regular act of writing will help jog your memory of the different parts of a sentence.
5. Seek Out Accommodations
Sometimes, people struggle to get a good GED score because of documented disabilities. However, such people may be able to get special accommodations to help them succeed.
You can view the full list of accommodations provided on the GED website. The only “catch” to this is that the testing center cannot provide accommodations if you don’t let them know ahead of time about your needs.
If you will be getting accommodations, it is a very good idea to familiarize yourself with the testing center and its staff. That way, you’ll know exactly where to go and what to do on the day of the test!
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
Earlier, we mentioned the importance of practicing before you take the test. But do you know the best way to practice for a higher GED score?
While reading and writing exercises are good ways to buff up those skills, there is no real substitute for completing practice tests. Check out these language arts topics so that you can find the practice test that is best for your needs!
If possible, try to take multiple practice tests so that you are ready for different possible questions. You can always mix and match test books with online practice tests to cut down on costs!
7. Make Predictions
Another reason so many people struggle to get a good GED score is that they are purely reacting. That is, they will do something like read a long section of text and only at the end start thinking of the questions waiting for them.
A better strategy is to start making predictions as you read. And this is where all that practice testing starts paying off!
After enough practice tests, you will get a better idea of the kinds of questions you are likely to be asked. With that in mind, you can make predictions even while you are actively reading the text.
Not only does this help you complete sections faster and get a higher score, but it helps train you to become a more active reader.
8. The Elimination Game
The actual GED test follows the pattern of most standardize tests. That means that questions will have four multiple choice answers to choose from.
Ideally, you will know the correct answer right away. When this fails, though, you can fall back on the elimination game.
While you may not always know the right answer, you can usually identify answers that are clearly wrong. Most questions will have two answers that are clearly wrong and two answers that are potentially correct.
Once you eliminate the obviously wrong answers, you are left with only two remaining. So even if your answer is actually a guess, you have given yourself a 50% chance of guessing correctly.
And enough correct guesses can help you achieve the highest GED score!
Higher GED Test Score: The Bottom Line
Now you know how to get a higher GED test score. But do you know what steps to take next?
Many who complete the GED are on the fence about whether they should go to college. If you are undecided, check out our list of reasons you should go complete your studies!