Students who take the GED must understand and demonstrate basic mathematical skills such as addition, subtracting, multiplication, division, fractions, percents and decimals, as well as more complex subjects, including algebra, geometry and statistics.
Students taking the GED test must read English fluently and have read major written works of the past 100 years. Students should be able to apply their knowledge of English and grammar well enough to correct and revise writing samples provided in the test questions. Students also must write a basic, five-paragraph essay.
Students taking the GED test can expect to answer questions dealing with chemistry, biology, earth science, physics and possibly space. Students also need to be able to apply the scientific method to solve problems.
Students need basic knowledge of United States and world history, politics, government and geography to pass the test. Some content has a focus specific to a geographic area; for example, students living close to the Canadian border may find questions that require some understanding of Canadian history.
To pass the GED exam, students benefit from knowing how to read and interpret test questions and other test-taking strategies. For instance, students should know how long they have to take the test and the best course of action on questions for which they don't know the answer. GED preparation classes provide students with basic knowledge on subjects they'll see on the exam, and also focus on test-taking techniques.