More than 1 million people take GED tests around the world. About 70 percent of them pass. Three-quarters of all GED test takers are 19 and older, with 24 being the average age in America, 30 in Canada. Approximately two-thirds of students taking the test are working toward some type of degree. The exam measures competency in language arts, math, reading and writing skills, science and social science.
Taking preparation classes is recommended to get ready for a GED exam. By working with coordinators and teachers, students can build self-esteem, improve test-taking skills and gear up for the exam by taking practice tests. Students can also benefit from the one-on-one attention that a teacher is able to provide.
Teachers may use the GED Official Practice Test to assess students' skills in core subject areas and gear their curriculum accordingly. Consulting GED preparation books is also useful. Armed with that information, teachers can start with a simple warm-up activity involving the whole class before breaking into smaller groups.
Using a variety of reference materials, students can reinforce grammar and reading comprehension skills. Students should expect to see almanacs, dictionaries, globes and world maps in their classroom and get acquainted with calculator--which is the GED test's only direct measurement of technological skill. Teachers often augment use of these basic materials and GED textbooks with newspapers and magazines, whose articles can spark discussions about subjects that interest students.