I have been teaching adults to pass the GED® tests since 1995 and have seen two revisions, one in 1998 and another in 2002. Soon, beginning in January 2014, I shall be teaching to the new computer based GED® test.
I recently attended the Wisconsin 2013 GED/HSED and Adult
Literacy Conference. It was just what I
needed to jump start my preparation for this new test. While the new 2014 GED® test will be
different from the 2002 GED® test in many ways, one thing remains the
same. Completing the GED®
continues to create opportunities for success.
There are many things I learned while at the
conference. Three of them include:
1. Learners will need to be comfortable with the
new calculator, Texas 30XS. There will
be a calculator reference sheet available on
most of the GED® Mathematical Reasoning Test.
I was able to practice using the Texas 30XS calculator during one of the
sessions, and while not too difficult to learn, I do think students will need
repetition to feel at ease. There are
tutorials and lesson plans on the TEXAS
Instruments site that will help when planning lessons. In addition, the GED Testing Service has a
great TI 30XS Demonstration Video.
2. Learners will need to be comfortable with the
keyboard. At one point during the
conference I was told that the recommendation was that learners should be able
to type at a speed of 35wpm. One site
you might want to check out is powertyping .com. This site offers typing lessons as well as
games that your students can use as they develop their typing skills.
3. Learners
need to know basic math for the new 2014 GED® math test, but it is not directly
assessed on the new 2014 GED® Test. The new test has 45% Quantitative
Problem Solving and 55% Algebraic Problem Solving. For more information, you may want to check out gedtestingservice.com
Check out this fun math
activity. This would be a great opening
activity for a math class.
Regardless of what number is chosen, the answer is always
5.
1.
Think of a number.
2.
Double it.
3.
Add ten.
4.
Divide it by 2
5.
Subtract your original number.
6.
Your answer should be 5.
