Tuesday, May 20 - Preparing for the Test- ELA and Social Studies
Please note, you have a choice to take either the HiSET or the GED. I do not recommend one or the other. Whichever you choose to take, you must take all of the subjects in that test. You cannot mix and match tests. A lot of the links you will see will be for the GED. This is because I was able to find more GED resources, not because I have a personal preference. The test-taking ideology works for either test.
I have included links that will help you, including links to practice tests, a PDF full of test-taking tips, tips for reading comprehension and videos on what to expect on the test. Going through all this material and taking the timed practice tests should take up all of your class time for the week, which is why you only have one lesson this week.
My NUMBER ONE TIP: READ
I know I keep saying this, but this is huge. The better you read, the faster you read, the better you will do on the test. If you have trouble with reading comprehension, read a short article, such as a piece in the local newspaper or msn.com or a local news website, then either write down as much as you can remember about the article or download a free recording app on your cell phone and "tell" what you remember. Then go back and check yourself. This will be huge in expanding your reading speed, comprehension and memory. If you want to pass, this will take 15 minutes and make a HUGE difference.
The Day of the Test
First off, we’re going to talk about preparing to take the test. You want to make sure you are well-rested and physically comfortable the day of the test so plan to:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Drink plenty of water the day before the test so you’re well hydrated and thinking well.
- Eat a good meal before the test so you’re not hungry.
- Go to the bathroom before the test.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the test so you don’t feel rushed.
- Check what you need to bring (and can’t bring the day before the test), so that you have everything you need and don’t have to worry about a lot of extra stuff you can’t have. Make sure you know what forms of ID are accepted and that you have one with you.
- READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU ARE ASKED.
Test-Taking Tips
As we’ve discussed several times, much of the test is a reading comprehension test. This is obviously true of the reading test and it’s very true of the social studies test as well. In fact, most of what you read on the tests will be non-fiction. So how can you prepare?
Here are some common test-taking strategies:
1. Focus on Concepts
Take a practice test and see if you regularly get any “types” of questions wrong, i.e., history questions, economics questions, poetry – and focus on looking at those concepts again
2. Read Questions Carefully
Make sure you understand what the question is asking before choosing an answer. Don’t assume you understand the question before you finish reading. Don’t complicate the questions either. This goes for answers, too. Some answers are similar and sometimes more than one answer will seem correct. Choose the best answer after reading them carefully.
3. Answer Easy Questions First – But Answer Every Question
If you get stuck on a question, don’t waste time on it. Skip questions you’re struggling with so you have time to answer the questions you do know. Once you complete the easier questions, go back and answer the questions you skipped. If you’re absolutely stumped, guess. You have nothing to lose. But before you guess, use the elimination technique below.
4. Use the Elimination Technique
When choosing answers, start with eliminating the answers you know are wrong. This creates a smaller pool to choose from so you can concentrate your efforts.
5. Don’t Second Guess Yourself
Trust your first instincts when answering questions. Once you’ve chosen an answer, move on so you don’t over-analyze your choices.
6. Practice to Test Situations
Practice taking the test in an atmosphere similar to the actual test. This means practicing without background noise like music. It also helps to practice taking the test with time limits.
7. Watch Your Time
If you practice with time limits, you’ll learn how to allocate your time during the test. Figure out how much time you need for each question.
9. Skim Passages
If you’re trying to watch your time, try skimming a passage. Get the main idea and a general overview of where in the article the information is located. Then, read the questions and be able to find the information in the article quickly. If you’re looking for main ideas, try looking at the title of the article. Read the topic sentence of each paragraph and skim the rest of the paragraph. Get the gist and know where you can find the details if you need them to answer a question. This may be helpful if you are a slow reader or if you have trouble retaining information.
10. Always look at the visuals.
If there is a chart, graph, map included with an article – most of your questions will relate to this. In that case, give the text a quick skim and focus on the visual.