General Education Development
About The GED Tests
The GED is primarily a multiple-choice test in each content area. The General Educational Development tests are in five subject areas similar to those of public high school areas of study: social studies, science, language arts (reading), writing skills, and mathematics.
* SOCIAL STUDIES:
- 70 minutes – 50 questions
- Economics 20%
- Geography 15%
- Civics & Government 25%
- Natural History 25%
- World History 15%
* SCIENCE:
- 80 minutes – 50 questions
- Life Science 45%
- Physical Science (Chemistry & Physics) 35%
- Earth & Space Sciences 20%
* LANGUAGE ARTS, READING:
- 65 minutes - 40 questions
- Literary Texts 75%
- Poetry
- Drama
- Prose Fiction
- Nonfiction 25%
- Prose
- Critical Reviews
- Workplace & Community Documents
* LANGUAGE ARTS, WRITING:
The writing test is divided into two sections: the first shows sentences that may or may not include errors that require correction. The second section is an essay assignment of about 250 words on one of several topics provided by the test makers. If a test-taker completes Part One in less than 75 minutes, he/she may go on to Part Two, the essay portion. If the essay is completed in less than 45 minutes, the test-taker may return to Part One.
- Part I: Multiple Choice (75 minutes) – 50 questions
- Mechanics 25%
- Usage 30%
- Sentence Structure 30%
- Organization 15%
- Part II: Essay (45 minutes)
- Plan, draft, revise and write an essay
* MATHEMATICS:
The Mathematics subtest includes assessments in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number relations, data analysis, statistics, probability and set-up questions where candidates must identify correct ways to solve problems. Approximately 20% of the mathematics questions are not multiple-choice.
- Part I (45 minutes) - 25 questions - Calculator Use
- Part II (45 minutes) - 25 questions - No Calculator
- Number Operations & Number Sense 25%
- Measurement & Geometry 25%
- Data Analysis, Statistics & Probability 25%
- Algebra, Functions, & Patterns 25%
- The testing center is located on the first floor of Mountlake Terrace Hall, Room 152 (near the espresso stand).
- The GED test costs a total of $75 for all five tests or $15 for each test. Tests can be paid for one at a time.
- Students must have current photo ID that shows their birth date to take their GED test; if they are under 19 years of age, they must have a release from their school district.
- To get more information about testing times and procedures, please call GED Testing at 425-640-1546 or refer to their web page.
**GED TESTING INFORMATION ALERT**:
Beginning October 1, 2012 the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has mandated a new GED testing fee of $150.00 for the increased cost of the complete battery of GED tests. This also means effective October 1, 2012, the price per test will go from $15.00 to $30.00.
In addition, please be advised that the GED tests will be computer-based beginning January 1, 2014. The $150.00 fee will continue when these tests are implemented. You will have until December 31, 2013 to complete the current test battery (paper and pencil tests) being used. If you do not complete the current battery by then, you will have to start all over by taking the computer-based tests.
To avoid the fee increase, we encourage everyone to begin testing before October 1, 2012. If you have already begun testing and paid the current total test fee of $75.00, you will not have to pay any more unless you fail a test and have to retest. In that case, you would pay the $30.00 retest fee if you do not complete your testing before October 1, 2012.
For more information about testing times and procedures, please contact the Testing Center at 425-640-1546.
