Correcting misspelled words, commonly confused words, verb tense, and subject-verb agreement is important in the multiple-choice section of the test. While no dictionary is allowed, students must rely on other strategies to correct spelling errors. Commonly confused words, such as there, their and they're must also be selected correctly. Learners must also identify and use one verb tense, such as the past or present consistently.
Choose the best revision for sentence structure, word usage and mechanics. These skills involve using simple, compound, and complex sentences and correct punctuation. Also choose the best answer for shifting the construction of a piece of writing by combining and separating paragraphs, inserting sentences into a paragraph, and making changes to sentences so they will be more effective. For example, each paragraph has one topic sentence, or main idea. If there are two or more topics in one paragraph, the sentences should be separated.
Answer the writing prompt with a clear thesis, which must be the backbone of the essay. In addition, each topic sentence for the following supporting paragraphs must directly relate to the thesis. For example, if the topic is narrate a trip you have taken, an appropriate thesis would be "My family's visit to Florida will never be forgotten." This thesis should be supported with details that directly support the thesis, such as: spilled food on the airplane, the visit to an amusement park, and the visit with friends who were not seen for years.
Write the essay with complete sentences, which have a subject, verb, and express a complete thought. Be aware of subordinating conjunctions, which may make independent ideas dependent. In addition, the subject and the verb of each sentence must agree in number. For example, if the subject is "cats," which is plural, writers must use the plural verb form "meow." Each word that begins a sentence must be capitalized, as well as proper nouns, such as names: Tom, Sara and United States. In addition, there needs to be as few spelling errors as possible.
Review and use these writing skills to pass the writing test with a score of 410 or above. For more details, see the GED score conversion chart. This score is based on the number of correctly answered multiple-choice items out of fifty. Second, score at least a two out of four in the essay. This is accomplished by answering the prompt, organizing details, using edited American English and choosing effective words. Finally, practice using writing prompts that are available in tutoring centers, libraries, or the Internet.