Set aside time to practice writing. Practicing with GED sample prompts will help you to become better at organizing your thoughts quickly, which is critical to writing an essay in the allotted time. Find GED essay prompts at gedforfree.com.
Set a timer for 45 minutes---the allotted time for the essay portion of the GED writing test. Start the timer immediately after you select a prompt with which to practice.
Brainstorm writing ideas once you have read the prompt. Make a quick list of ideas that relate to the prompt. Choose one, and make a second list of your experiences, knowledge and observations that will help you write about the idea you have chosen. Do not spend more than five to 10 minutes on this activity.
Look carefully at what the prompt is telling you to do. Follow its directions exactly. If the prompt asks you to name a trip you'd like to take and tell the reasons why, be sure to tell about the place where you'd like to go. Write paragraphs about at least two of the reasons you'd like to take that trip.
Write a thesis statement on your scratch paper. Tell exactly what your essay will be about. For example, if you are writing about a trip, your thesis statement could be "Someday, I plan to visit China, because it is my ancestral home and has many artifacts I'd like to see." After writing your thesis statement, proceed to write your essay on what you stated. Include the thesis statement immediately after your introduction.
Expand on your idea and give your essay a clear focus. Do not be so afraid of making spelling and grammatical errors that you end up writing only a couple of paragraphs. According to the American Council on Education, essay scorers "do not look for specific errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics."
Write a conclusion. Do not repeat things that you have already stated in the paper. "The conclusion pushes beyond the boundaries of the prompt and allows you to consider broader issues, make new connections, and elaborate..." states the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina.
Review what you have written. Correct any obvious spelling and grammatical errors. Check to make sure that you addressed everything that the prompt asked you to address.