how to write a ged essay

GED Essay Writing Guide

What is the ged rla “extended response” question.

The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) section of the GED includes an Extended Response essay question. You will only have 45 minutes to complete this essay, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the nature of the prompt. Read through this guide to become more familiar with the prompt and how to write the best response possible.

If you follow the strategies and the template provided in this guide, you’ll be able to produce a high-scoring essay in the time allotted! 😀

GED Essay Overview

Since the GED Exam is administered on a computer, you will type your essay into a text box. You will first be presented with two Stimulus Passages and then you will be given an essay prompt. The Stimulus Passages will each have 4–5 short paragraphs that introduce an issue and take a stance on that issue, with one passage opposing the other. You will then be given the following prompt:

  ➤ Pro Tip: Remember that the 45 minutes includes the time you take to read the Stimulus Passages. Read the passages thoroughly, but quickly, and make note of any specific points that stand out to you so that you can easily reference them as you formulate your argument.

GED Essay Strategy

In order to maximize your 45 minutes, it’s important to decide ahead of time how much time you will spend on each step. We recommend following the guide below, but you should write some practice responses with a timer nearby to get a good understanding of how our guide can best serve you. Make sure you do not hand-write your practice essays, as it is always best to recreate test conditions as closely as possible when preparing.

Follow this strategy when writing your GED Essay:

Step 1 ► Read and Analyze the Stimulus Passages (5 Minutes).

Start by reading both of the passages. Make sure you understand the issue and the position that each passage is taking. Try to ignore your own personal feelings on the topic as you read. Ultimately, your job is to explain why one of the sides is better supported ; it is fine to completely disagree with the side you defend, so long as you adequately support your stance. You are not writing about who you agree with, you are writing about who supports their argument best .

Step 2 ► Select Your Position and Outline Your Ideas (5 Minutes).

Ask yourself: which side seems like it has more supporting details and/or examples? Your task with this essay is similar to that of a teacher grading an essay. It doesn’t matter if you agree with the position; it matters that the writer supported their position well.

Remember, “better-supported” does not necessarily mean “right.” You are not required to argue in favor of one of the positions; you only need to explain why one position is better-supported than the other position.

Passage 1 : argues that school lunches should be 100% vegetarian in order to improve the health of students and to tackle the obesity epidemic in schools. This passage provides:

• statistics showing that vegetables are good for children.

Passage 2 : argues that animal protein is crucial for superior athletic performance and sustained energy levels in children. This passage provides:

• quotes from a doctor who says that protein from meat keeps children alert in classes after lunchtime.
• scientific research that supports this claim.
• statistics from counties that switched to vegetarian lunches which show that test scores dropped after adopting vegetarian lunches.

Which side is “best supported?” Which side should you choose for your essay? If you said, Passage 2, you are correct. Even if you are a vegetarian, you should be able to see that there is more supporting evidence in the passages for the “pro-meat” side. You will not receive a bad score if you choose to support the side that has less evidence, but it makes your task harder.

You should spend approximately 5 minutes deciding your position and outlining your essay. You can simply type your outline at the top of the text box (and delete it after you finish your essay). We will discuss more specifics about how to outline our essay in the “Template” below!

Step 3 ► Write your Essay (30 Minutes).

At this point, approximately 10 minutes will have gone by. You have read the passages and outlined your position. Now, simply start with paragraph 1, and follow the outline you created. Remember to stop periodically and refer back to your outline at the top. Most GED Extended Response essays are between 4–7 paragraphs and each paragraph is composed of 3–7 sentences. We suggest that you aim for 5 paragraphs; doing so ensures that your argument is complete.

As you will see in the Template below, it’s okay if some paragraphs are shorter than others! Don’t feel like you have to write sentences to fill up space; always write with purpose. Once you’ve made your point in a given paragraph, add a concluding sentence and move on. You should spend approximately 30 minutes on your essay.

Step 4 ► Read Everything Over At Least Once (5 Minutes).

Proofreading can make a good essay great, and a great essay stellar, so don’t forget that you will need at least 5 minutes at the end to thoroughly read through what you have written. Go back to the outline and review your notes. Does the essay you wrote follow the outline? Is it well-organized? If you’re happy that you didn’t stray from your plan, delete your outline notes. This is very important! If you do not delete your notes, scorers will think it is part of your response and take points off.

If you have extra time, look for spelling and grammar errors. Do your verb tenses agree? Did you accidentally leave off the “s” on a plural noun? How are the transitions between paragraphs? Does the essay “flow?” Remember, you can re-type any sentences you dislike, and you can add additional sentences for clarity. This is a timed response, so it does not have to be perfect, but if you have the time to fix mistakes you’ll only be helping your chances.

GED Essay Template

In the four-part strategy above, you read about the importance of planning and making an outline for the position you selected. Your outline should follow this general format:

• Paragraph 1 — Introduction
• Paragraph 2 — Body Paragraph
• Paragraph 3 — Body Paragraph
• Paragraph 4 — Body Paragraph
• Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

★ Paragraph 1 — Introduction

The introduction and conclusion are short paragraphs that “bookend” your essay. Your introduction should:

• introduce the topic from the passage,
• explain both sides of the issue (showing that you understood what you read),
• and make a claim that one side is better-supported and thus, more convincing (this should be the final sentence of the introduction).

Below is a possible template for the introductory paragraph. When you are writing your essay, you can write a very similar introductory paragraph while replacing the underlined portions to fit the prompt that you are answering:

  ★ Paragraphs 2–4 — Body Paragraphs

The real strength of your essay lies in your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph must introduce and describe one reason why the position you chose is better-supported. There will be 3 reasons in total (if you follow the 5-paragraph format). Look for some of these common ready-made arguments when reviewing the passages:

Authority figure — Does the passage quote a reputable figure with specialized knowledge, such as a doctor, scientist, or other expert? Does the reference lend credibility to the overall argument?

History — Does the passage explain a historical event or a precedent to back up its claim?

Statistics — Does the passage provide any numbers or data? Does the data help the author’s position?

Logical reasoning — Is there a strong element of logic or “common-sense” to the argument, and is it presented in a clear, cohesive manner?

Ethics — Is a moral argument made? Does the author insist his or her position is correct because it is the “morally right” thing to do?

Emotion — Does the author appeal to the reader’s feelings? Does the argument evoke an emotional response?

Reasonable Assumptions — Does the author rely on assumptions to draw any conclusions? Are the assumptions reasonable?

Forceful Vocabulary — Does the author’s word choice add weight and importance to the argument?

Not all of these will be present in every passage, but you will only need 3, and it is likely that at least 2–3 of these will be used in each argument. If the passage you choose only has 2 of the above supports, consider writing more than one paragraph about each, using different support. Let’s look at how we can “plug” three of these examples into our thesis from above:

  When you outline your GED Essay, pre-write your thesis and decide on which three forms of support you will discuss to prove that your passage is better-supported. This will help you organize of the rest of your essay. Now that we have chosen our three examples, we can make a more specific outline:

• Paragraph 1 — Introduction (why Position X is better-supported)
• Paragraph 2 — Emotional Appeal
• Paragraph 3 — Authority Figure’s Opinion
• Paragraph 4 — Forceful Vocabulary
• Paragraph 5 — Conclusion (why Position Y is not well supported)

Let’s look at how we can “plug” some of these ready-made arguments into a body paragraph:

  Notice how this body paragraph introduces the example in the first sentence (“logical reasoning”), and then cites 3 specific examples from the passage that employ this logical reasoning. The final sentence reiterates and emphasizes the overall idea of the paragraph. This paragraph is only 5 sentences (if you include a quote), yet it does a great job (1) introducing the superiority of the argued position, (2) giving examples from the passage to support a specific idea, and (3) concluding the paragraph.

In each body paragraph, you must defend your assertion that ONE position is better-supported with at least one specific reference showing this support. If you choose, “authority figures” as an example, but there is only 1 authority figure mentioned in the passage, it’s okay to spend the entire body paragraph discussing that one figure. You do not need to make up anything that is not in the passage—in fact, you shouldn’t!

★ Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

Finally, let’s look at how we can structure the conclusion:

GED Essay Scoring

Three separate scorers will grade your response based on each of the three traits of your essay: (1) Analysis of Arguments and Use of Evidence, (2) Development of Ideas and Structure, and (3) Clarity and Command of Standard English. Notice that if you follow the strategy and template provided above, all of these traits will be accounted for, and you won’t have to worry about them on Test Day! 😀

GED Essay Practice

Now you’re ready to write a practice essay. Try our GED Essay Practice Question .

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How To Write The GED Essay 2024 (Extended Response)

Santiago mallea.

• Career Planning , Non-Traditional Students , Writing Tips

Chief of Content At Gradehacker

• Updated on May, 2024

How to Write The GED Essay

The best strategy for writing the GED essay is:

• Read the passages (5 minutes)
• Analyze the data and create an outline (5 minutes)
• Write your extended response (30 minutes)
• Reread and edit your writing (5 minutes)

If you want a clear example of what your GED essay should like like, later in this blog you’ll find a sample.

Struggling with GED prep? We’re here!

Book a free call for personalized support and a strategic plan to excel in your GED essay and studies.

If you are planning on taking the GED test , you’ll eventually have to pass the GED essay .

Also known as the extended response, this assignment tests your evidence-based writing skills, and it’s where many students get stuck. However, writing the GED essay is easier than most people make it out to be .

It just takes practice and patience . And with these tips, you’ll be able to ace the test in no time!

Here at Gradehacker, we are the non-traditional adult student’s most trusted resource. Earning a GED diploma is necessary to enroll in college or access better job opportunities. We want you to be capable of writing an entire essay that will clearly show that you are up to the task .

This guide will teach you how to write a GED essay and share the best tips to make your text stand out and meet the passing score.

What Is The GED Essay?

The GED test consists of four sections:

• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• English Language Arts

The Reasoning Through Language Arts exam mainly consists of multiple-choice questions but also includes the Extended Response assignment, where you have to write an essay from scratch from two passages they give you.

You’ll have 45 minutes to analyze these two texts, choose which argument presents strong evidence, and explain why each piece of evidence supports your point.

While this part only represents 20% of your Reasoning Through Language Arts exam score (meaning that you can pass the Language Arts writing test even if you perform poorly in this section), it’s key that you know how to create a well-written GED essay.

Since they are testing your analysis of arguments and writing skills, it’s your opportunity to prove that you have mastered the core elements of the entire Language Arts section.

Plus, if you are planning on pursuing a college degree, where knowing how to analyze texts and write an essay response is important, passing the GED extended response is key.

GED Essay Prompt

To pass the essay portion, you’ll have to read two different passages that talk about the same issue but take an opposite stance about it. Your task is to determine which position presented is better supported.

It doesn’t matter if you disagree with that position; you must defend and explain your decision using multiple pieces of evidence from the texts.

Regarding length, the essay prompt suggests that your response should be approximately four to seven paragraphs of three to seven sentences each , which should be a 300-500 word essay.

While there is no essay length requirement regarding the number of words, we recommend writing between 400 and 500 .

GED Essay Sentence Structure

So, how do you write a GED extended response? Well, It has a structure similar to an argumentative essay.

• Introductory paragraph:

This should be a primary and short thesis statement where you clearly address which of the two passages is better supported.

• Body paragraphs: 

Consist of three or four body paragraphs where you formulate your thesis using the text’s information as your source.

• Conclusion paragraph:

As a final step, briefly summarize your argument and reiterate its importance. If this is not your forte, there are many conclusion tips that can help you!

How to Pass The GED Essay

Now that you understand the GED Extended Response and what you need to do, here is our essay writing guide.

You’ll find multiple tips throughout it, but essentially, to write a cohesive, well-constructed essay, you’ll have to follow this four-part strategy:

• Read the passages
• Analyze the data and create an outline
• Write your extended response essay
• Reread and edit your writing

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Read the two passages (5 min)

The first step is to read both body passages thoroughly but quickly.

You need to understand what the topic is about, and while you read the text, highlight the statistics and factual data each author uses as support.

Remember that you can have differing views on your chosen side. Recognize which stance has better sources to defend your point, and explain why in your essay.

Analyze the data and create an outline (5 min)

Once you are done reading both texts and already highlighted all the essential information the authors use, you’ll need to analyze the evidence!

While ideally, you should recognize who supports their point better in the previous step , doing it in this part will be easier as you have all the factual data on sig ht.

Usually, the text with more information highlighted will be the one that defends its stance the best . 

So, the next thing you need to do is make an outline and write down your ideas. This way, you’ll have all the information organized to begin the most crucial part of the writing process.

Write your extended response essay (30 min)

And now, with evidence highlighted and an outline created, you are ready to start writing!

If you are going for the minimum and writing a 5-paragraph essay, you’ll need at least three major ideas to develop individually in separate paragraphs.

Stick to one idea per paragraph , and include one or two of your selected pieces of evidence from the texts to organize the information better and keep a good flow.

Remember to use connectors! However, nevertheless, furthermore, additionally, and more! These vital elements will help you introduce the reason for your argument at the beginning of each paragraph.

And just like with any essay, you must use formal and academic language , but remember to be concise and straightforward. It’s the content of what you write that’s important here, so choose your words wisely to show your English language knowledge.

Plus, remember that there’s no specific word count you need to meet.

Our own pro-tip here is to write the introductory paragraph last.

Because many students struggle and waste valuable minutes when trying to begin with the introduction, you can save extra time by explaining and defending your arguments first and writing the intro once you are done.

You’ll see how easy it will be to summarize the main issue and thesis statement once you’ve already developed your points.

Since the GED essay works very similarly to an argumentative paper, there are many more pro-tips you can learn in our guide on how to write an argumentative essay . So be sure to check it out!

Reread and edit your writing (5 min)

Before submitting your essay, you must read what you wrote, check for spelling errors, and ensure that your ideas are clearly understood .

Not editing your essay can be one of your most critical mistakes!

Remember they are testing your understanding of the English language and writing skills; handing in an essay with spelling mistakes, flawed evidence, or poorly structured text can make you lose valuable points.

For this part, it’s crucial you know the most common essay mistakes so you can avoid them!

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GED Essay Sample

Follow all of these tips, and you are guaranteed to pass the GED essay!

However, here you have a   GED Testing Service’s essay example that perfectly explains how this assignment should be completed:

Mastering the GED Essay

Now you know how to write the GED essay!

Remember to follow our essay-writing strategy to pass the Language Arts section by demonstrating mastery of your writing skills.

You are more than capable of completing the GED test with the highest score and then applying to the best colleges to continue your educational journey .

Once you make it happen, don’t forget that if you ever need assistance with your essays or classes , Gradehacker is always here to help!

And if you need more tips on how to improve your writing skills , check out these related blog posts:

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Santiago Mallea is a curious and creative journalist who first helped many college students as a Gradehacker consultant in subjects like literature, communications, ethics, and business. Now, as a Content Creator in our blog, YouTube channel, and TikTok, he assists non-traditional students improve their college experience by sharing the best tips. You can find him on LinkedIn .

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GED Essay: Everything You Need To Know In 2024

Learn all you need to know about the GED essay, its structure sample, topics, tips, and how it is scored in this post.

January 1, 2022

The GED essay is intimidating to many people. Writing an entire essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less may seem difficult, but it does not have to be. This GED essay writing overview will help you prepare for and learn about the written section of the exam . In this post, Get-TestPrep will show everything you need to know about GED essays , including their structure, sample topics, tips, and how they are stored .

What Is The GED Essay?

The GED exam consists of four subjects : Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts Reasoning (RLA ). The GED extended response , sometimes known as the GED essay, is one of the two portions of the RLA subject test. You’ll have 45 minutes to finish the essay to your best capacity. Don’t worry if you don’t finish on time! Because the essay accounts for just 20% of your ultimate RLA score, you can still pass the test even if you don’t receive a high essay score.

The GED extended response can cover a wide range of topics, but it will always be formatted in the same way. You will be assigned two articles on the same topic, which will typically be argumentative essays with a firm position. You’ll be asked to assess the two arguments and create your own argumentative essay based on which article delivered the more compelling argument. The essay should be three to five paragraphs long, with each paragraph including three to seven sentences.

GED Essay Structure

An introduction, a body, and a conclusion are included in every well-written GED essay. You have to write an argument or an argumentative essay. Keep in mind that you are not expressing your own view on the subject. You’re analyzing two of the author’s points of view and determining which one is more compelling. Keep in mind that the Extended Response (GED Essay) is graded by machine intelligence that has been designed to detect the right responses. So, instead of trying to be creative, simply be accurate. Also:

• Make sure you’re using proper grammar and sentence structure.
• Practice writing a 300-500 word essay.

Let’s take a look at the format of a GED Essay : an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

• The introduction outlines your claim or thesis statement and explains the topic you’re writing about. Maintain your position.
• The body of the essay includes facts and arguments to back up your claim. This section of the response should be at least two paragraphs long.
• The concluding paragraph restates your claim and summarises your important points.

GED Essay Topic Examples

Here are a few GED Essay Topics to get you started:

Topic 1: An Analysis of Daylight-Saving Time

The article presents arguments from proponents and opponents of Daylight Saving Time, who disagree on the practice’s impact on energy consumption and safety.

Topic 2: Should the Penny Stay in Circulation?

Analyze the arguments offered and pick which one has the most support.

Topic 3: Is Golf a Sport?

Golf , according to proponents, satisfies the criteria of “sport.” Opponents argue that golf more closely resembles a “game” than a “sport.” Analyze both points of view to see which one has the most support.

Visit our website for more topics as well as full articles on each topic and take our free latest FREE GED practice test 2024 to get ready for your exam!

GED Essay Examples

Getting to know the GED essay sample  can assist you in planning your essay and determining which elements are most vital.

When reading the essay topic, you should truly take your time to collect your views. You will be able to articulate your views better on paper if you organize your thoughts properly. Concentrate on the standards that you learned in English class before you begin writing.

Pay attention to how you use the English language (grammar); you must use proper punctuation and capitalization, and you must use appropriate word solutions.

Tips For Writing Your GED Essay

Make sure you carefully read the stimulus and prompt.

Putting this into practice is an excellent idea. Examine each question carefully and set aside some time to determine the topic and the type of response that will be requested. It is critical to read the questions thoroughly. Students frequently skip past the stimulus and prompt and get right into writing, assuming that they will save time this way. 

This is, by far, the most uninteresting thing to do. Take a few moments to attempt to fully comprehend the questions so that you can reply accurately. If you like, underline the important words and phrases in the stimulus so you can go over it again later to make sure you’re on track.

Make a rough outline for the GED language arts essay

In general, planning your essay will only take a few minutes, but it is critical that you spend that time. Make an outline of the essay and follow it as soon as you have a complete understanding of the questions and have scribbled down some early ideas.

Make an outline for your introduction, body, and conclusion. Following this procedure will save you a lot of time and aid in the development of a logical thought process.

Keep your focus on the topic

To describe your evidence, each paragraph in the body of your response should explain why a piece of evidence supports your claim or disputes the opposing claim. You have the option of describing or restarting it. This demonstrates that you know exactly what it means and how it applies to your claim. Refer to the specifics or facts of a certain issue that you’ve discussed and tie them to your claim.

Include evidence from both passages in your response, and explain why strong evidence supports one thesis and why flawed evidence undermines the other.

Revision and proofreading

By the time you’ve finished writing your essay, you should go back to the beginning and reread it attentively, since you may easily have missed a comma or misspelled a term while doing so.

Pay great attention when rereading your essay to see if it has well-targeted arguments, is arranged properly, contains particular information and facts, has good sentence construction, and has no grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Learn more about how to practice GED essays as well as the whole Language Arts section in GED Language Arts Study Guide  

How To Write a GED Essay?

When writing the GED essay, you should allocate the time as follows:

• 3 minutes to read the directions and the topic
• 5 minutes of prewriting (freewriting, brainstorming , grouping, mapping, etc.)
• 3 minutes to organize (create a thesis statement or controlling idea, and summarize important points)
• 20 minutes to draft (write the essay)
• 8 minutes to revise (go over the essay and make adjustments to concepts)
• 6 minutes to edit (check for grammatical and spelling errors). 

How Your GED Essay Is Scored?

Smart machines that are designed to detect the right answers score your GED essay. So don’t try to be creative; just be accurate.

They will evaluate your essay based on five factors.

• Organization : did you give a well-thought-out approach to writing your essay and were you clear on the main idea?
• Clear and swift response: Did you deal with the matter appropriately, without straying from one emphasis point to another, with a clear and quick response?
• Progress and specifics: instead of utilizing lists or repeating the same material, did you use relevant instances and particular details to expound on your initial notions or arguments?
• Grammar Rules of English: Did you apply proper writing strategies such as sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar, and did you shape and revise your essay after you finished the initial draft?
• Word choice : How well did you pick and use appropriate phrases to express your points of view?

Your 45 minutes will fly by, so focus on these key elements to get the best score possible. What is more important is to state unequivocally which side is more popular. Check that your phrases are clear and that your paragraphs are organized logically.

Each of the four modules (independent subtests) in Mathematical Reasoning (Math), Reasoning via Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies can be taken independently. To pass the subtest(s) for which you registered, you must study thoroughly and be efficient on test day. Consider taking our GED Language Arts Practice Test for the Language Arts section.

GED essay writing can be difficult, but you can keep a list of everything you need to know and switch to proper essay writing approaches before the exam. Simply practice a lot and you’ll notice that it gets better over time. So you’ve learned everything there is to know about writing the GED Essay .

How to write an essay for the GED?

• Read through all of the instructions.
• Create an outline.
• Make a list of all the evidence.
• Last, write your introduction.
• Write first, then edit.
• Make use of formal language.
• Don’t look at the time.

Is there an essay portion on the GED test?

How is the ged essay graded.

The essay is graded on a four-point scale by two certified GED essay readers. The scores of the two GED readers are averaged. If the essay achieves a score of 2 or above, it is merged with the language arts multiple-choice score to generate a composite result.

Final Words

In conclusion, this guide on the GED essay provides valuable insights and strategies to help you excel in the GED essay section. By understanding the structure of the GED essay , practicing effective writing techniques, and familiarizing yourself with the scoring rubric, you can approach the GED essay with confidence and achieve a successful outcome. Remember to plan your essay, organize your thoughts, and support your ideas with relevant examples and evidence. Additionally, refining your grammar and punctuation skills will enhance the overall quality of your writing. With consistent practice and a thorough understanding of the expectations for the GED essay, you can showcase your writing abilities and earn a strong score on the GED essay.

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How to Write a GED Essay

April 25, 2024 · 9 min read

The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) section of the GED includes an Extended Response essay question, which requires you to write a short essay in response to two passages of text.

 These passages present different viewpoints on a topic, and you must decide which argument is better supported. With only 45 minutes to complete this essay, it is crucial to understand the nature of the prompt and develop strategies to craft a well-supported response. 

This article will provide you with essential tips, techniques, and a GED study guide to help you succeed in writing a compelling GED essay, from understanding the prompt to organizing your thoughts and using effective language and style. 

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your essay is clear, coherent, and well-structured, ultimately helping you achieve a high score on the GED RLA Extended Response question.

What is the GED Essay?

The RLA section of the GED tes t includes an Extended Response essay question. This essay question presents a unique challenge, as it requires you to read and analyze two passages that offer different perspectives on a given topic, and then write an essay explaining which argument is better supported.

What Does the GED Essay Question Look Like?

The GED essay question typically consists of two parts:

• Passage 1: This passage presents one side of the issue, outlining the arguments and evidence in support of a particular viewpoint.
• Passage 2: This passage presents the opposing perspective, providing a counterargument to the position outlined in Passage 1.

Both passages are usually around 200-300 words long and are written at a level appropriate for college-bound high school students.

You will be required to read and analyze two passages presenting different viewpoints, evaluate which argument is better supported, and write a 3-5 paragraph essay explaining your reasoning using evidence from both texts.

You will have 45 minutes total to read the prompt, read the passages provided, and to draft your essay.

NOTE: You are not being asked to write about which opinion is correct or which opinion you believe to be true. You are being asked to write about which passage best supports its claims.  

How the GED Essay is Scored

Organization

The scoring evaluates whether you clearly presented the essential idea and had a well-structured strategy for composing your essay. This includes having a coherent thesis statement, topic sentences that support the main argument, and a logical flow between paragraphs.

Clear and Focused Response

The scorers assess whether you addressed the prompt directly without shifting between different focal points. Your essay should demonstrate a clear, concise, and consistent response to the given task.

Development and Details

The scoring criteria examine if you provided relevant examples and specific details to elaborate on your original concepts or arguments. Using concrete evidence to support your points is important, rather than just listing information or repeating the same ideas.

Grammar and Mechanics

Your use of proper English writing techniques, such as sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar, is evaluated. The scorers also look at whether you edited and polished your essay after the initial draft.

Word Choice

The scoring considers how effectively you selected and employed appropriate words to convey your perspective and ideas. Using precise, sophisticated vocabulary can enhance the quality of your essay.

It’s crucial to remember that your GED essay is scored by automated systems, not human graders. So focus on providing a clear, well-organized, and substantive response that directly addresses the prompt. 

Avoid trying to be overly creative – just aim to demonstrate your ability to write a coherent, well-supported essay within the 45-minute time limit. 

Consistent practice with a GED test prep program will help you achieve the best possible score on the GED writing test.

Preparing for the GED Essay

Understand the prompt (5 minutes).

Effectively preparing for the GED essay prompt requires carefully reading and interpreting the instructions. Here are some tips to help you understand the prompt:

Read Carefully

Take your time to thoroughly read through the prompt. Do not skim or rush this step, as fully comprehending the topic and task is crucial.

Identify Key Terms

Highlight or underline any important keywords or phrases in the prompt. This will help you identify the central issue, the perspectives presented, and the specific requirements of the essay.

Some key terms to look for include:

• The topic or issue being discussed
• Language indicating the type of essay required (e.g. “analyze the arguments”, “explain which is better supported”)
• Specific instructions about what the essay should accomplish

Understand the Task

Determine exactly what the prompt is asking you to do. Is it a persuasive essay where you need to argue for a particular position? An analysis where you evaluate the strength of different arguments? Or something else?

Identify the specific elements the essay should include, such as:

• Analyzing the arguments presented in two passages
• Explaining which argument is better supported
• Using evidence from the passages to support your analysis

Developing a Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the central argument of your GED essay. It is crucial that you develop a strong, well-supported thesis that clearly communicates your position. Here are some key techniques for crafting an effective thesis statement:

State Your Position

Your thesis statement should clearly state your stance on the issue presented in the prompt. Be unambiguous about which argument you believe is better supported. 

Try to ignore your own personal feelings on the topic as you read. Ultimately, your job is to explain why one of the sides is better supported; It’s acceptable to disagree entirely with the side you defend, as long as you justify your position thoroughly.

Include the Topic

Make sure to mention the specific topic or issue that the essay prompt is addressing. This helps provide context for the reader and ensures your thesis is directly relevant to the task.

Be Specific

Avoid vague or general statements in your thesis. Be as specific as possible about the reasons why you believe one position is better supported.

Use Evidence

Incorporate references to specific evidence or examples from the passages to support the reasons you provide for your thesis. This demonstrates your understanding of the texts and strengthens your overall argument.

Planning (5minutes)

• Write down all your ideas without worrying about grammar or spelling.
• List all the points you can think of related to the topic.
• Organize your ideas visually using diagrams.
• Create an outline to structure your essay.

Writing the GED Essay (30 minutes)

The GED essay requires you to demonstrate your ability to craft a well-structured, persuasive response within a 45-minute time frame. Here are some key tips for effectively writing each section of the essay:

Introduction

Your introduction should accomplish three main goals:

• Hook the Reader: Start with an engaging hook, such as a thought-provoking question, surprising statistic, or vivid description, to capture the reader’s attention.
• Provide Background : Briefly introduce the topic and context of the two passages you are analyzing. This helps orient the reader.
• Present Your Thesis: Clearly state your central argument – which position you believe is better supported and why. This thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introduction.

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on developing a specific aspect of your argument:

• Topic Sentence: Begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
• Supporting Details: Provide relevant evidence and examples from the two passages to support your claims. Analyze how this evidence strengthens your argument.
• Explanation: Thoroughly explain how the details you’ve provided support your overall thesis. Don’t just present the evidence – make sure to interpret it for the reader.

Remember to stop periodically and refer back to your outline at the top. 

Transitioning Between Paragraphs

Use effective transitions to guide the reader smoothly from one idea to the next. Some useful transition words and phrases include:

• “In addition…”
• “Furthermore…”
• “On the other hand…”
• “In contrast…”
• “Specifically…”
• “For example…”

Transitions help maintain the flow and coherence of your essay.

Your conclusion should effectively summarize your essay. You can rephrase your main argument to emphasize your stance and briefly recap the key points from your body paragraphs that support your thesis. Conclude with a thought-provoking final statement or a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

Reviewing and Editing (5 Minutes)

After writing your essay, refer back to your outline to ensure your response adheres to the planned structure. Check that your thesis statement is clear, each body paragraph follows a logical flow, and your conclusion effectively summarizes your main points.

Check for Coherence and Organization

Evaluate whether your essay is well-organized and the ideas flow coherently from one paragraph to the next. Ensure your transitions between paragraphs are smooth and your overall argument is easy for the reader to follow.

Proofread for Spelling and Grammar

Thoroughly review your essay for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Correct any mistakes in verb tenses, plural markers, and sentence structure. Rewrite any unclear or awkward phrasing to improve clarity.

If you have extra time, carefully proofread your entire essay. This final review allows you to catch any lingering issues and make last-minute improvements.

NOTE:  Delete your outline notes to avoid confusion in your final response.

Check Out: Colleges the Accept GED Credential

Essay Practice Question 

Instructions

• Read two texts presenting different views on the same topic.
• Both writers argue that their position on the issue is correct.
• Analyze the two texts to determine which writer presents the stronger case.
• Develop your own argument in which you explain how one position is better supported than the other.

Include relevant and specific evidence from both sources to support your argument

I have been studying the subject of school-uniform requirements and have finally come to a conclusion based on what I have found. According to the literature and studies that I have read, it is wise to require schoolchildren to wear uniforms so that the playing field will be level for all students.

The studies I have read show that when children are required to wear an issued uniform, they all look basically alike. If a uniform is not required, some children will wear more expensive clothes and others will wear hand-me-downs. Studies show that these differences in dress lead to divisions among the students.

Children whose clothes are similar —both the well-to-do and the poorer children—will seek each other out. Children in one group will not associate with children in another group. The resulting class-conscious division can be detrimental to the future of a child’s development. That is the conclusion that I have come to after thinking long and hard about this subject.

I believe in my heart that children should be allowed to express themselves. Even at a young age, being allowed to select the clothes they wear helps children to develop their sense of individualism and identity. This is why I am opposed to requiring uniforms in schools.

Simply dressing children in the same way will not keep some children from associating exclusively with peers who are most like themselves socially and economically. Uniforms just make children feel lost because they do not have the ability to show who they are or who they would like to be.

Requiring uniforms would nip in the bud any sense of creative spirit and would only cause resentment in children who might not feel that way otherwise. I feel it is un-American to require school uniforms and I am opposed to it completely. This is not something that we should be doing to our children!

The truth is that uniforms do not make children equal, as some educators believe; they just stunt their growth.

Essay Response

After reading both passages, I believe Passage A presents a stronger case for the importance of school uniforms in learning institutions. The author incorporates empirical evidence to support their argument. By referencing these studies, Passage A proves the role of uniforms in leveling the playing field among students by eradicating noticeable variations in clothing. The incorporation of empirical evidence adds credibility to the author’s argument, providing a solid foundation for the passage’s claims.

Moreover, Passage A utilizes logical reasoning, allowing the author to explain the various benefits of uniform requirements. As such, the author contends that uniforms can help mitigate social divisions among learners, promoting unity by creating a common identity among them. Furthermore, the passage associates the requirement of uniforms with numerous positive outcomes in student development and interactions. The logical progression reinforces the passage’s overall argument, presenting a clear rationale supporting the use of uniforms in learning institutions.

Further evaluation of the passage reveals that the author recognizes possible counterarguments and addresses them effectively. In this case, Passage A acknowledges the concern among various stakeholders that uniforms may play a role in stifling the individual learners’ expression. However, the passage counters this assertion by highlighting the benefits of social cohesion and equality derived from the utilization of school uniforms. Therefore, by considering and responding to the potential criticisms, Passage A establishes a profound understanding of the issue and concerns in the use of school uniforms, strengthening the author’s point of view.

Lastly, it is evident that Passage A presents the author’s ideas clearly and cohesively. In this case, the passage lays out the justifications for uniform requirements, contending that their utilization is beneficial for students. The author presents these reasons in an organized and logical fashion, enhancing the passage’s coherence and clarity. Accordingly, the presentation of ideas simplifies the readers’ ability to follow and understand the author’s argument, improving its persuasiveness.

Why the Response Earned a Good Score

Clarity of Argument

The essay has a clear thesis statement that directly addresses the prompt: “After reading both passages, I believe Passage A presents a stronger case for the importance of school uniforms in learning institutions.” This thesis is supported throughout the essay with specific examples and reasoning.

Use of Evidence

The response cites several key pieces of evidence from Passage A to support its argument, including:

• The reference to empirical studies showing uniforms help level the playing field among students.
• The explanation of how uniforms can mitigate social divisions and promote unity among students.
• The acknowledgement and effective rebuttal of the counterargument that uniforms stifle individual expression.

Citing these specific examples from the passage strengthens the response’s argument.

Local Organization

The essay is well-organized at the paragraph level. Each body paragraph focuses on a specific piece of evidence or reasoning from Passage A. The paragraphs flow logically from one to the next, with clear transitions. This organization makes the argument easy to follow.

Objectivity

The response maintains an objective, analytical tone throughout. It avoids moralizing language and directly compares the arguments in the two passages. The author acknowledges the counterargument from Passage B but effectively rebuts it using evidence from Passage A. This objectivity enhances the persuasiveness of the argument.

Writing Quality

The essay is well-written with few grammatical or spelling errors. Sentences are clear and concise. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic essay. The author’s voice comes through clearly. The high quality of writing makes the argument more compelling.

You can access more essay questions and answers in the GED Language Arts Practice test . 

How to Write a Good Essay in GED?

To write a strong GED essay, focus on understanding the prompt, developing a clear thesis, providing relevant examples, organizing your thoughts logically, and proofreading carefully. Maintain a formal tone, vary your sentence structure, and manage your time effectively during the exam. 

With practice and preparation, you can craft a compelling essay that demonstrates your critical thinking and writing skills.

How Many Paragraphs Should a Ged Essay Have?

The GED essay typically requires a 5-paragraph structure, including an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on a distinct point that supports your thesis. 

Aim to write a concise, well-organized essay that addresses the prompt thoroughly within the time constraints of the exam.

Is the Ged Essay Handwritten or Typed?

For the GED exam, the essay portion is completed using a computer-based testing format. Candidates are provided with an on-screen text editor to type their essay response. This allows for efficient writing, editing, and formatting during the timed exam. 

The ability to type the essay, rather than hand write it, can be beneficial as it enables faster composition and the flexibility to easily revise and polish the final product.

 Familiarizing yourself with the computer-based essay format is an important part of GED preparation to ensure a smooth and successful test-taking experience.

How Is a Ged Essay Graded?

The GED essay is graded on a scale of 1-4 based on criteria like development of ideas, organization, language use, and conventions. Scorers assess how well you address the prompt, support your points, and demonstrate writing proficiency.

 To earn a passing score, you’ll need to craft a coherent, well-structured essay that showcases your critical thinking and communication skills.

Can Prepsaret Help Me with Grammar and Punctuation in My Ged Essays?

Prepsaret provides guidance on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to help you write clear and error-free essays. It covers common grammatical mistakes and offers tips for improving sentence clarity and coherence.

Does Prepsaret Offer Practice Essays and Feedback for Improvement?

Yes, Prepsaret provides practice essay prompts similar to those in the GED exam. You can submit your practice essays for feedback and constructive criticism to identify areas for improvement in your writing skills.

GED Essay Example – How to Write a Great Essay for the GED Test

• May 16, 2024

For many GED test-takers, the essay portion of the exam can be a daunting task. However, with the right approach and preparation, crafting a strong essay can become a manageable endeavor. In this guide, we’ll delve into the essentials of understanding the GED essay, provide key tips for writing effectively, and offer sample prompts to help you practice.

Understanding the GED Essay

The GED essay assesses your ability to express ideas clearly and cohesively within a limited time frame. It requires you to analyze a given prompt, formulate a coherent argument, and support your ideas with evidence and examples. Your essay will be evaluated based on its clarity, organization, development of ideas, and use of language conventions.

Key Tips for Writing a Strong GED Essay

• Analyze the Prompt Carefully: Before diving into your essay, take time to thoroughly understand the prompt. Identify the key components, such as the main idea, instructions, and any specific requirements. Pay close attention to the task you are being asked to accomplish, whether it’s analyzing a situation, expressing your opinion, or providing a solution to a problem.
• Create a Well-Structured Essay Outline: Organize your thoughts and arguments by creating a clear and concise outline. Begin with an introduction that introduces your topic and thesis statement. Follow with body paragraphs that each present a distinct idea or argument, supported by evidence and examples. Finally, conclude your essay with a summary of your main points and a restatement of your thesis.
• Use Evidence and Examples Effectively: Support your arguments with relevant evidence and examples to strengthen your essay. Draw from your own experiences, observations, or knowledge to illustrate your points. Be sure to cite specific examples or data to back up your claims and demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

Sample GED Essay Prompts

Essay 1: Technology in Education

In the modern era, technology has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives, including education. The integration of technology into classrooms has sparked debates regarding its impact on learning and its role in shaping the future of education. While some argue that technology enhances educational experiences, others express concerns about its potential drawbacks.

One undeniable impact of technology in education is its ability to enhance access to information and resources. With the internet and digital tools, students can explore vast repositories of knowledge, engage with multimedia content, and collaborate with peers across geographical boundaries. Additionally, technology facilitates personalized learning experiences, allowing educators to tailor instruction to individual student needs and preferences.

Furthermore, technology has revolutionized the way students engage with course materials and participate in learning activities. Interactive learning platforms, virtual simulations, and educational games offer immersive experiences that captivate students’ interest and foster active learning. Moreover, digital assessment tools enable educators to provide timely feedback and track student progress more efficiently.

Despite these benefits, concerns about the overreliance on technology in education persist. Critics argue that excessive screen time may lead to decreased attention spans, hinder social interactions, and exacerbate inequalities in access to technology. Moreover, the rapid pace of technological advancements poses challenges for educators in keeping pace with evolving tools and platforms.

Retrospectively, in shaping the future of education, technology will undoubtedly play a pivotal role. As society continues to embrace digital innovations, educators must harness the potential of technology to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By striking a balance between traditional pedagogical approaches and innovative technological tools, educators can create dynamic learning environments that empower students to thrive in the digital age.

Essay 2: Overcoming Challenges

Life is replete with challenges, each presenting opportunities for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. One significant challenge I faced was navigating the transition to a new country and adapting to a different cultural and educational environment. Moving to a foreign land presented myriad obstacles, including language barriers, cultural differences, and feelings of isolation.

Upon arriving in the new country, I encountered the daunting task of learning a new language and acclimating to unfamiliar customs. Communication became a formidable challenge as I struggled to express myself effectively and comprehend the nuances of everyday interactions. Additionally, the academic rigor of the new educational system posed challenges as I grappled with unfamiliar curriculum standards and teaching methodologies.

Despite the initial hurdles, I approached the challenge with determination and resilience. I sought out resources and support systems to aid in my adaptation process, including language classes, cultural immersion programs, and mentorship from peers. Moreover, I embraced opportunities for cultural exchange and intercultural learning, recognizing the value of diversity in enriching my worldview.

Over time, I began to overcome these obstacles through perseverance, hard work, and a growth mindset. I immersed myself in language study, dedicating countless hours to mastering grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Additionally, I actively engaged in academic pursuits, seeking out opportunities for intellectual growth and academic achievement.

Through this journey of overcoming adversity, I gleaned valuable lessons that have shaped my personal and academic growth. I learned the importance of resilience in the face of challenges, the power of perseverance in achieving goals, and the transformative potential of stepping outside of comfort zones. Moreover, I developed a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and a heightened sense of empathy for individuals navigating similar challenges.

In conclusion, overcoming challenges is an integral part of the human experience, offering opportunities for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. My journey of adapting to a new country and educational environment taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, resilience, and cultural adaptation. By embracing challenges with courage and determination, we can emerge stronger, wiser, and more compassionate individuals.

Crafting a great essay for the GED tes t is within reach with the right preparation and practice. By understanding the essay requirements, employing key writing strategies, and practicing with sample prompts, you can approach the essay portion of the GED test with confidence. Remember to analyze the prompt carefully, create a well-structured outline, and use evidence effectively to support your arguments. With dedication and perseverance, you can excel in the essay portion of the GED test and showcase your writing skills effectively.

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How to Pass the GED

Extended Response: Example 1

Basics The second section of Reasoning Through Language Arts evaluates your ability to integrate reading and writing by way of a 45-minute Extended Response. GED guidelines specify that you will be asked to write an essay about the best-supported position—the most persuasive side of an argument—presented in two passages with opposing points of view.  Accordingly, you will need to produce evidence supporting the most convincing position from either Passage I or Passage II.  Attention to specific details within the passages will help you find the necessary pieces of evidence.

GED.com has excellent resources to help prepare for the Extended Response as follows: • poster • videos • guidelines – english • guidelines – spanish • quick tips – english • quick tips – spanish • practice passages – english • practice passages – spanish

Here, at HowtoPasstheGED.com, a five-paragraph essay will be used as a framework for writing an Extended Response.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Outline Paragraph 1:  Introduction of your position with three supporting points. Paragraph 2:  Discussion of first point. Paragraph 3:  Discussion of second point. Paragraph 4:  Discussion of third point. Paragraph 5:  Summary and Conclusion of your position and its three supporting points.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write) • Read Passage I and Passage II. • Choose the best-supported position. • Select three points supporting this position.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Beginner Level (You’re Up and Running!) • Write the first sentence of each of the five paragraphs. • In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points. • In paragraph 2, put down the first point. • In paragraph 3, put down the second point. • In paragraph 4, put down the third point. • In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Intermediate Level (You’re Adding On!) • In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points. • In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Advanced Level (Polish Your Essay If You Have Time) • In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points. • In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side. • In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.

The example below goes over the process of writing a five-paragraph essay as an Extended Response to Passage I versus Passage II.

Passage I Working from Home is Beneficial

Some experts say there’s no going back now that both employers and workers have learned that telework can be effective.

“The pandemic has radically changed how we view telework or remote work,” said Timothy Golden, a professor of management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “Many individuals and companies have realized that we can work remotely effectively. And so, I think remote work is here to stay.”

“We are going to err on the side of letting more people work remotely for longer periods of time,” said Ravi Gajendran, chair of the Department of Global Leadership and Management in the College of Business at Florida International University.

“When that’s not working as well,” added Gajendran, “the pendulum will sort of swing slightly back towards the office. It’s not going to come back to what it was previously, but what we’re going to find is, as new employees join, as new teams form, and as people who have not worked together before are now working remotely, things are not going to be as smooth.”

But, said Golden, “We know that many employees have been highly productive during the pandemic and have been able to carry on their work in a fashion that was consistent with their productivity before the pandemic.”

According to Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist at Thrive Leadership, remote work has led to more authentic moments between co-workers who’ve ended up meeting a colleague’s pets or families online, as the pandemic provided a virtual window, and therefore greater insight, into a co-worker’s personal side than working at the office ever did.

“You’ve seen many large companies, and in different industries, make announcements about the future of their workforce in how it is likely to be hybrid. And some workers will be working remotely on a permanent basis, and others will be in a hybrid form,” pointed out Golden. “Companies that do this right and do this in the right way, will have a competitive advantage over those who do not.”

Increased telework could free employees from having to live close to where they work. That could also benefit employers who won’t have to be limited to the local talent pool. More jobs could go to places with lower costs of living and ultimately, overseas.

“It could go to Asia or Africa or South America,” said Gajendran.

With more employees working remotely from home, employers could reduce their costs further by cutting back on office space. – adapted from VOA (04/09/2021, 04/12/2021, 04/29/21)

Passage II Working from Home is Harmful

The benefits of working from home—including skipping a long commute and having a better work-life balance—have been well documented, but employees are literally paying for the privilege, according to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research.

“People need to dedicate space to work from home,” said Christopher Stanton, an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School who co-authored the study. “For many folks who lived in small apartments or houses before the pandemic, working from home wasn’t a a realistic long-term solution unless they could upgrade to larger apartments or houses.”

The researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau to reach their conclusions. They found that between 2013 and 2017, households with at least one teleworker spent on average more of their income on rent or a mortgage to pay for the extra room needed to work from home.

“A household that was spending about $1,000 a month on rent would be spending around $1,070 on rent. So, it’s about a 7% increase, on average, across the income distribution,” Stanton said.

The researchers estimate that about 10% of people who worked in an office before the pandemic could permanently transition to working from home full time. A recent Upwork survey suggests that 36 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025—an 87% increase over pre-pandemic levels, and these workers could potentially take on the additional costs.

The added expense is easier for high-income households to bear but puts an increased burden on workers who earn less money.

“You might have gotten an increase of 20-ish percent in housing expenses for lower-income households with remote workers compared to lower-income households without remote workers,” Stanton said. “That’s a pretty big chunk of expenditure for those households in the bottom half of the income distribution.”

Kristen Carpenter, chief psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State University, added that at-home, remote work causes more work to be performed outside normal business hours, so it’s hard “to draw a boundary that prevents work from being ever-present,” including nights and weekends.

Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist at Thrive Leadership, also pointed out that when people work from home, “they kind of get stuck in this little place,” whereas going back to the office leads to more interpersonal interaction and innovation. – adapted from VOA (04/09/2021, 04/12/2021, 04/29/21)

Prompt Passage I finds working from home to be beneficial; Passage II finds working from home to be harmful. In your response, analyze the positions presented in Passage I and Passage II to determine which passage is best supported. Use relevant and specific evidence to back your choice. You have 45 minutes to plan, type, and edit your response.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write) • Read Passage I and Passage II. • Choose the best-supported position. In this example, Passage I is chosen as the best-supported position. • Select three points supporting this position. (1) Working from home is productive. (2) Working from home improves employee interaction. (3) Working from home saves money.

Passage I is the best-supported position because working from home is productive, improves employee interaction, and saves money.

Working from home is productive.

Working from home improves employee interaction.

Working from home saves money.

In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because working from home is productive, improves employee interaction, and saves money.

Working from home is productive.  Passage I uses the pandemic to make the relevant observation that individuals and companies realized they could work remotely effectively.  Many employees have been highly productive this way and can stay this way.  Passage II admits in its very first sentence that the benefits of working from home have been well documented. 

Working from home improves employee interaction.  Passage I is persuasive when it notes that remote work has led to “more authentic moments” between co-workers.  However, workers still have the option of working at the office, as well as at home, in a hybrid form.  Thus, Passage II is incorrect when it claims remote workers get stuck in one place.

Working from home saves money.  Passage I makes a convincing argument for freedom.  It asserts that remote work frees employees from having to live close to office buildings.  It also frees employers from having to pay for as much office space.  Passage II says employees need to spend some money to outfit a home office, but this is less costly than commuting.

In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because working from home is productive, improves employee interaction, and saves money.  In conclusion, there is no place like home.

Working from home is productive.  Passage I uses an authority—Timothy Golden, a professor of management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute—to make the following relevant observation: “The pandemic has radically changed how we view telework or remote work.  Many individuals and companies have realized that we can work remotely effectively.  We know that many employees have been highly productive during the pandemic and have been able to carry on their work in a fashion that was consistent with their productivity before the pandemic.  And so, I think remote work is here to stay.”  Passage II admits that at least some of what Golden said is true by stating in its very first sentence “the benefits of working from home—including skipping a long commute and having a better work-life balance—have been well documented.” 

Working from home improves employee interaction.  Passage I effectively uses another expert—Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist at Thrive Leadership—to state that remote work has led to “more authentic moments between co-workers who’ve ended up meeting a colleague’s pets or families online, as the pandemic provided a virtual window, and therefore greater insight, into a co-worker’s personal side than working at the office ever did.”  Although Passage II says people who work from home “kind of get stuck in this little place,” Golden affirms that workers aren’t really stuck, because some will be working in a hybrid form, meaning partly at home and partly in an office.

Working from home saves money.  Passage I makes a convincing argument for freedom.  Remote work saves money by freeing employees from having to live close to office buildings and freeing employers from having to pay for as much office space.  According to Christopher Stanton (Associate Professor at Harvard Business School) in Passage II, employees need to spend some money to outfit their apartments or houses with a home office, but this is a small price to pay compared to avoiding a costly daily commute.

In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because working from home is productive, improves employee interaction, and saves money.  In particular, Passage I leads to the conclusion that working from home is beneficial in that it leaves nobody out: Both employers and employees stand to gain.

Remember, the RLA Extended Response is based on what YOU determine to be the best-supported position presented in either Passage I or Passage II. In order to demonstrate that YOU have room to maneuver, the example below goes over the process of writing a five-paragraph essay as an Extended Response to Passage I versus Passage II with a different choice.

Prior to the pandemic, about 5 million Americans worked remotely. But COVID-19 forced U.S. employers to allow telework on a massive scale, resulting in an estimated 75 million people working from home over the past year.

Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write) • Read Passage I and Passage II. • Choose the best-supported position. In this example, Passage II is chosen as the best-supported position. • Select three points supporting this position. (1) Working from home is unproductive. (2) Working from home hampers employee interaction. (3) Working from home costs money.

Passage II is the best-supported position because working from home is unproductive, hampers employee interaction, and costs money.

Working from home is unproductive.

Working from home hampers employee interaction.

Working from home costs money.

In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because working from home is unproductive, hampers employee interaction, and costs money.

Working from home is unproductive.  Backed by facts, Passage II is able to make a strong statement when it says working in small setups at home ultimately ends up in fatigue and less productive employees.  In fact, fifty-four percent of home workers feel overworked and 39% are exhausted.  Passage I has no numbers to back up its claim that people can work remotely effectively.

Working from home hampers employee interaction.  Passage II cleverly notes that when people work from home, they get stuck.  Going back to the office leads to more interpersonal interaction and innovation.  Passage I even admits that working from home doesn’t always work well, meaning that people end up back in the office.

Working from home costs money.  Passage II convincingly has money in mind when it states that households with at least one teleworker have to spend some of their income to pay for the extra room needed to work from home.  Lower-income households need to spend even more of their income to set things up at home.  Passage I offers no solutions for employees paying out of pocket to work from home.

In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because working from home is unproductive, hampers employee interaction, and costs money.  In conclusion, there are places other than home.

Working from home is unproductive.  Passage II comes out swinging with Christopher Stanton, an Associate Professor at Harvard Business School, who asserts having nonergonomic setups in small places [at home] ultimately ends up “leading to fatigue and wear and tear and less productive employees in the long run.”  In fact, “fifty-four percent of people who’ve worked from home this past year feel overworked, and 39% say they’re downright exhausted.”  Although Timothy Golden (professor of management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) claims in Passage I that “many individuals and companies have realized that we can work remotely effectively,” he has no real numbers to back him up.

Working from home hampers employee interaction.  Passage II cites another authority—Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist at Thrive Leadership—to point out that people who work from home “kind of get stuck in this little place.”  She goes on to convincingly argue that “going back to the office leads to more interpersonal interaction and innovation.”  In Passage I, Ravi Gajendran, chair of the Department of Global Leadership and Management in the College of Business at Florida International University, even admits that working from home doesn’t always work well, such that “the pendulum will sort of swing” back towards the office.

Working from home costs money.  Passage II hits home with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which found that “between 2013 and 2017, households with at least one teleworker spent on average more of their income on rent or a mortgage to pay for the extra room needed to work from home.”  Stanton adds that “you might have gotten an increase of 20-ish percent in housing expenses for lower-income households with remote workers compared to lower-income households without remote workers, a pretty big chunk of expenditure for those households in the bottom half of the income distribution.”  Passage I offers no solutions for employees “literally paying for the privilege” of working from home.

In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because working from home is unproductive, hampers employee interaction, and costs money.  In particular, Passage II leads to the conclusion that working from home can be so harmful that it never stops, becoming an “ever-present” task performed outside normal business hours without a boundary.

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Language Arts Extended Response

Videos: how to write a great ged extended response.

Overview of the GED Extended Response Format (1:28)

Video 1 of 8: How to Pass the GED Extended Response (3:14)

Video 2 of 8: How to Determine Which Position is Best Supported (2:49)

Video 3 of 8: How to Write a Well-Supported Argument (4:21)

Video 4 of 8: How to Make a Plan and Write an Introduction (3:25)

Video 5 of 8: How to Write the Body and Conclusion (4:47)

Video 6 of 8: How to Write a Fully Supported Response (3:34)

Video 7 of 8: How to Check and Revise Your Response (2:58)

Video 8 of 8: Understand How Your Response is Scored (3:14)

Extended Response Resources

Extended response.

Answer Guidelines

Example of a Perfect Score

GED Sample Essay

The following is an example of a high-scoring essay response to our free practice GED Essay Prompt. Below our GED sample essay is a brief analysis justifying its perfect score.

Police militarization is a hot-button topic these days. Some believe that criticizing the actions of the police hurts their ability to do their job, while others argue that the police are overstepping their authority and often cause more harm than good. Both passages address this issue head on; however, the critique of police militarization published by the ACLU is the best-supported and ultimately the most convincing argument.

While the second passage lacks specific statistical data, the ACLU states that there were 80,000 military raids by police last year. This is surprising and supports the idea that military-style raids have become too commonplace in society. The writer then highlights the inherent problem with these raids: “of all the incidents studied where the number and race of the people impacted were known, 39 percent were Black, 11 percent were Latino, 20 were white.” Police militarization has disproportionately impacted African-Americans, further supporting how detrimental police militarization is to society.

Another reason why the ACLU’s argument is better-supported than Hagner’s argument is because it directly discusses ethical corruption, unlike Hagner’s essay. The ACLU states, “Companies like Lockheed Martin and Blackhawk Industries are making record profits by selling their equipment to local police departments that have received Department of Homeland Security grants.” The ACLU implies that the reason for this militarization is profit; if this is true, then there is no actual real-world need for the militarization of the police. Private companies are ultimately designed to make money, not help the police, so police militarization poses an ethical problem.

Finally, the ACLU’s argument is much more convincing than Hagner’s argument because it uses much more impactful diction. The forcefulness of calling the drug war “wasteful and failed” highlights the high-stakes nature of this issue. Readers, most likely taxpayers, have a vested interest in not having their money wasted by the government. The author goes on to imply that the reader may not be safe, since “heavily armed SWAT teams are raiding people’s homes in the middle of the night.” The tone of this essay is much more impassioned than the tone of the second, helping to draw engage the reader on an emotional level.

Sample Essay Analysis

This essay is very well-organized. It uses 5 paragraphs and lays out the structure in the following manner:

• Paragraph 1 — Introduction (why the ACLU position is better-supported)
• Paragraph 2 — Reason #1 — Statistics (two examples given from passage)
• Paragraph 3 — Reason #2 — Ethics (one example given from passage)
• Paragraph 4 — Reason #3 — Diction (two examples given from passage)
• Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

In the introduction, the author thoughtfully presents the topic of police militarization and explains why it is relevant in today’s society. Both arguments are introduced, and the thesis is clearly placed at the end of the paragraph so they are easy for the reader to find. The thesis clearly states which argument the author believes is better-supported, and the language is confident.

Each of the next three body paragraphs is well-organized, starting with transitional words or phrases and including at least one example that supports the thesis. The body paragraphs cite specific examples from the passage, and then explain how those examples support the overall argument. The author uses three different examples: statistics, ethics, and vocabulary, to prove why the ACLU’s argument is better-supported. These diverse examples show that the author understands what makes an argument weak or strong.

Finally, the concluding paragraph makes a minor concession to the opposing side, praising the numbered list that appears therein, before reiterating the thesis from the Introduction.

The essay avoids any grammar or spelling errors and the sentence structure is clear and varied with the appropriate usage of commas and other punctuation. Clear command of the English language is demonstrated. As a result, this essay would earn a perfect score.

GED Practice Questions >>

33 min read

Ged reading & writing study guide 2024 [ged academy].

By: Teresa Perrin on January 3, 2023 at 3:45 AM

Welcome to the Reading & Writing Study Guide part of our GED study guide series to help you better prepare for taking the GED test.

Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions about the Reading & Writing Test What is language arts and why it is important? Is the GED language arts test hard? Is GED reading hard? Is GED writing hard? What to Expect on the GED Language Arts Test How Many Questions are on the GED Language Arts Test and How Long Does the Test Take? The Reading Questions The Writing Questions Part I: Reading, Writing, and Essay Part II: Reading and Writing How Can I Pass my Language Arts Test? 1. Reading 2. Writing (Language) 3. GED Essay, or Extended Response Where Can I Take the GED Language Arts Practice Tests? What GED Language Arts Books Should I Study? Essential Skills Workbooks Steck-Vaughn GED: Test Prep 2014 GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Spanish Student Workbook (Spanish Edition) GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Study Guide 2018–2019 Are There GED Language Arts Worksheets to Help Me Study? Reading Worksheets Writing Worksheets Is There a GED Language Arts Cheatsheet to Help Me Understand the Test? What to Expect on the GED Language Arts Test GED Reading Test GED Writing Test Grammar and Language GED Essay, or Extended Response 10 GED Language Arts Tips and Tricks: How to Study for the Test 1. Study Reading First 2. Take GED Language Arts Practice Tests 3. Study More Quickly and Effectively, Here Is How! 4. Read for Pleasure! 5. Make Time and Space to Study 6. Answer Reading Practice Questions 7. Write Practice Essays! 8. Have Someone Read Your Writing 9. Say It Out Loud! 10. Review What You Need to Know to Pass the GED Language Arts Test (Checklist) Reading for Meaning Relationships Purpose and Point of View Words and Phrases Structure Comparisons Identify and Create Arguments Main Idea and Details Conclusions Arguments and Evidence Comparisons Grammar and Language Essay 10 Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension Eight GED Essay Tips Online GED Reading and Writing Classes

Reading and writing for the GED can seem hard, and even confusing! The good news is, with the right kind of preparation, any student can pass the test. This guide will help you understand what you need to study to learn the skills you need quickly and easily.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Test—the reading, writing, and language portion of the GED Test. The GED Test gives you one test for both reading and writing because these skills are closely connected. If you want to get a personalized idea of where you are now and what you need to learn, try taking a GED Reading Practice Test or a GED Writing Practice Test . When you’re done, you can always come back here to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Reading & Writing Test

What is language arts and why it is important.

Put simply, language arts is reading and writing. The GED tests your ability to understand what you read and to write clearly and effectively. In other words, it’s about communication. Can you read an email from your boss? Can you write a letter asking for a refund? Can you read and understand a news article or get the point of a story? Can you express your thoughts on a topic? These everyday skills are the core of the language arts test.

Is the GED language arts test hard?

The GED language arts test is one test that covers both reading and writing. It doesn’t have to be hard, with the right preparation.

Is GED reading hard?

The reading test will ask you to read a few passages that are 400 to 900 words long, and then you’ll answer 6 to 8 questions about each passage.

About 25% of the passages will be stories—literary passages. The language won’t be too hard or complicated, but you’ll need to understand the characters, theme, and plot. What’s going on?

The other 75% of the passages are informational. The main topics are workplace, science, or social studies. The whole idea of these passages is to give you real-world letters or articles, and see if you understand what you read. They might include diagrams or graphics.

The basic idea is, can you read a short passage and understand what it says? Can you find details? Can you get the main idea? Can you compare what two passages say? With a little bit of practice, you can easily get the skills you need.

Is GED writing hard?

The writing part of the test will have two types of question. First, along with the reading passages, you’ll have some writing passages. For these questions, you’ll need to make edits or corrections to the passages. The readings will be mostly workplace documents, like letters and memos. The passages will be short, around 450 words. You’ll need to make choices to make sure the grammar and punctuation is correct. What is the right word to use? What’s the best punctuation? Where should a sentence end, and another one begin? Most learners need to brush up on their language skills a little, but luckily, these skills are easy to learn.

Second, you’ll need to write an essay. The essay is called the extended response, and it combines your reading and writing skills. You’ll need to read two passages with two different points of view about a topic. Then you’ll need to write a response that talks about the arguments in each passage. What points do the authors make? Which one has better evidence? Which is the strongest argument? The essay can seem hard, but it doesn’t have to be. To be successful, you need to know what to expect. You need a structure to follow, with a beginning, middle, and end. If you try to answer the question with details from the passage and write a full essay with a beginning, middle, and end, then you’ll do well. It doesn’t have to be perfect!

What to Expect on the GED Language Arts Test

The GED Reading Test is about 80% of the test and consists of:

• What order do things happen in?
• What inferences can you make about what you read?
• What are the relationships between ideas, people, or events?
• What are the details, and why are they important?
• What’s the author’s point of view or purpose?
• How does the writer use words and phrases?
• What is the structure of the text, and why is it organized that way?
• How do two passages compare?
• What are the details and evidence?
• What’s the main idea?
• What inferences or conclusions can you make about what the author is saying?
• How are details used to support the main idea?
• How good is the evidence or support for an idea?
• How do two arguments compare?
• The other 20% of the test is writing.
• They’re between 400 and 900 words.
• They cover science, social studies, work texts, and stories.
• There are 6 to 8 questions about each passage.

The GED Writing Test is about 20% of the language arts test and consists of:

• Can you edit to fix commonly confused words?
• Can you fix problems with word usage, like the wrong verb form or the wrong pronoun?
• Can you fix confusing language or make the language clearer?
• Can you fix capitalization?
• Can you fix run-on sentences, fragments, or connecting words?
• Can you use apostrophes correctly?
• Can you use punctuation correctly?
• This essay question tests your reading and writing skills!
• Read two passages.
• Write an essay that compares the two arguments. Which has better evidence? Why?

How Many Questions are on the GED Language Arts Test and How Long Does the Test Take?

The GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test is one reading and writing test, so you’ll take it all at one time. You’ll have one 10-minute break.

• You’ll take the test on a computer at a testing center.
• The whole test is 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• There are about 50 questions, plus 1 essay.
• The test is scored from 100 to 200 points.
• You need 145 to pass the test. (In New Jersey, you need to score 150.)

The Reading Questions

• Expect about 40 reading questions and 5 or 6 passages.
• Expect 1 to 2 literary passages, and 4 or 5 science, social studies, or workplace passages.
• Expect 6 to 8 questions per passage.
• Reading questions could be on Part I (before the break) as well as Part II (after the break).
• Most questions are multiple choice.
• Some questions are drag-and-drop.

The Writing Questions

• Expect about 10 editing (language) questions and about 2 passages to edit.
• Most questions will be a drop-down in a sentence, so you’ll choose the best way to complete the sentence.
• Editing questions could be on Part I or Part II.
• 1 essay question is on Part I. You’ll need to read two passages and compare them.
• The essay is called the extended response.

Part I: Reading, Writing, and Essay

• You’ll have 3 minutes to read the instructions.
• Part I is 72 minutes.
• Part I will have a set of questions plus the essay, or extended response.
• After Part I, you’ll have a 10-minute break.

Part II: Reading and Writing

• Part II is 65 minutes.
• You’ll answer most of the multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and drop-down questions in Part II.

How Can I Pass my Language Arts Test?

To pass GED language arts, you should study three things:

Reading questions are about 80% of the test. You should be able to read and understand passages on a wide variety of everyday topics, including stories, science, social studies, and workplace documents like letters, instructions, or memos. Here are some good steps to take:

• Take a practice test to find out what you need to study. You can take a free reading practice test here .
• Study with a workbook, an online course, or on your own.
• Start by reading easier passages and answering questions. What’s the main idea? What are the details? Then, start reading harder passages. Can you compare them? What’s the author’s point of view.
• A good online course like GED Academy can help lead you through, step by step.

2. Writing (Language)

Writing questions are about 20% of the test. You should be able to edit workplace documents like emails, letters, and memos to fix errors or make the meaning clearer:

• Take a practice test to find out what you need to study. You can take a free writing practice test here .
• The questions for this section are editing questions, so make a list of topics you need to study, like subjects and verbs, punctuation, or pronouns. If you use an online course, it can make this list for you.
• Study with a workbook, an online course, or on your own. Try to focus on the specific topics that you need help with. Ask yourself: What are common errors or mistakes? Can you edit a sentence to make it error-free?

3. GED Essay, or Extended Response

• You’ll read two different points of view about a topic that make an argument and use evidence.
• You’ll compare the two points of view. Which one has better evidence? Which one is better supported?
• You’ll use details from the reading in your written response.
• Learn about arguments, so you can compare two arguments and their evidence.
• Learn about essay structure, so you can write an essay with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Practice writing extended responses with GED-type essay questions.
• Make sure you write 300 words or more, with a beginning, middle, and end!

Where Can I Take the GED Language Arts Practice Tests?

A good practice test is a great place to start! You can find out what types of questions you’ll see on the GED test and figure out what you need to study. You can take a free online practice test for the GED Reading Practice Test and for the GED Writing Practice Test .

What GED Language Arts Books Should I Study?

For many people, studying with a written workbook is the best way. Here are some good workbooks to try.

Essential Skills Workbooks

For the reading portion of the language arts test, try Essential Reading Skills . This workbook is easy to use and targets the types of questions on the GED Language Arts test. In this book, you’ll:

• Read science, social studies, literary, and workplace texts.
• Answer questions about GED topics like point of view, main ideas, themes, and details.
• Learn to read about arguments and support, to help with both writing and reading.

For the writing portion of the test, including the extended response essay, try Essential Writing Skills . This workbook focuses on practical editing and writing GED extended response essays. You’ll get a wide range of practice that will help you score well on writing.

Steck-Vaughn GED: Test Prep 2014 GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Spanish Student Workbook (Spanish Edition)

If you’re planning to take the Reasoning Through Language Arts test in Spanish, Steck-Vaughn provides a complete Spanish-language prep workbook that can help you prepare. This workbook covers both reading and writing in Spanish for the GED test.

• A simple, repeated structure takes you through lessons on both reading and writing for the GED
• Includes practice questions and tips

GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Study Guide 2018–2019

If you’re looking for a quick, short study guide, this book by Inc. Exam Prep Team Accepted gives a brief overview of the GED and three quick preparation guides:

• Grammar and Sentence Structure

The preparation section is only about 65 pages long, and provides a practice test at the end. For students seeking a quick refresher, this book might suit your needs.

Are There GED Language Arts Worksheets to Help Me Study?

Here are some free GED worksheets to help you refresh your skills!

Reading Worksheets

Try this sample Essential Reading Skills chapter with sample questions and exercises to learn about text structure. Use these worksheets while you read to improve your reading comprehension and understanding:

• Are the Ideas Clear?
• How Sentences Develop a Claim
• Outline by Paragraph or Section

Writing Worksheets

• Use this Paragraph Writing Worksheet to help organize your paragraphs.
• Learn about Fallacies in this worksheet, to help you evaluate arguments in your GED essay.

Is There a GED Language Arts Cheatsheet to Help Me Understand the Test?

Check out our GED Reasoning Through Language Arts cheat sheet below to get a quick overview of the test and what you need to know.

Before you take the test, it’s important to know what to expect on the GED Language Arts test. If you’re prepared, then you’ll score better. It’s that simple!

The Reasoning Through Language Arts test can be confusing because it combines reading and writing in one test. That includes:

• Reading: Multiple choice and drag-and-drop reading questions
• Language: Multiple choice and drop-down language questions
• Writing: An essay question, called the extended response

These aren’t separate tests or even really separate parts of the test. When you take the test, it will have two parts, with a 10-minute break in between. Part I will include some reading and/or language questions and the writing essay. Part II will be more reading and language questions. What’s important is that you know what to study for the three subject areas of the test. Here’s a closer look.

GED Reading Test

About 80% of the test is reading. For these questions, you’ll read a short passage and then answer 6 to 8 questions about it. So, what are the passages like?

• The passages are 400 to 900 words long. That’s about 1 to 2 single-spaced typed pages. They’re not very long, but they’re long enough to give a good amount of details.
• 75% of the passages are informational. Some of them will be workplace documents, like instructions, emails, memos, or letters. Some of them will be science or social studies articles.
• 25% of the passages are literary. These passages are short stories with characters, themes, events, and details.

What are the questions like? Well, here are the topics on the GED Reading portion of the test.

Reading for Meaning questions make up about 35% of the test. The questions ask whether you understand the structure of the text, the use of words, the point of view, and the development of ideas, relationships, and events. In short, what’s going on? Try a sample question!

Read this passage and answer the question that follows.

Buffalo Bill in Show Business

William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was an accomplished Indian scout and buffalo hunter when E.Z.C. Judson, a writer who went by the name of Ned Buntline, met him in the summer of 1869. Judson wrote western stories and what were known as "dime novels" (small paperback books that sold for 10 cents.) He helped create "Buffalo Bill" and made him the hero in a number of his books. These stories made Buffalo Bill famous in the East and when he went to New York for a visit, he saw a play based on his adventures.

After his trip to New York, Buffalo Bill went home to Nebraska but decided to try his hand at show business. Ned Buntline adapted the play and together they produced the show, The Scouts of the Plains. Although some critics thought the show was ridiculous, Buffalo Bill was praised because his acting was based on genuine experience. The following year Buffalo Bill organized his own troop of players, called the Buffalo Bill Combination. In 1883, he came up with the idea for the Wild West show. It was an outdoor spectacle designed to educate and entertain. When Buffalo Bill's Wild West show came to town, it was a big deal. There would be a parade, like the one in this film, which included cowboys, Indians, soldiers on horseback, and horse-drawn carriages.

In 1887, Buffalo Bill's show performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City with 100 Indians, Annie Oakley, trick riders, ropers, and shooters as well as many different wild animals. The show was four hours long and included Indian war dances and an "attack" on a stagecoach. The show even went on tour to England and Europe. It was such a success that Queen Victoria saw it three times. Even after Buffalo Bill died in 1917, the Wild West shows continued.

Source: “Buffalo Bill in Show Business” by America’s Library. Available at: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/cody/aa_cody_business_1.html

What does the writer mean by saying that Judson “helped create ‘Buffalo Bill’”?

• Judson helped William F. Cody create the nickname “Buffalo Bill.”
• Judson helped make “Buffalo Bill” popular by writing stories about him.
• Judson created a fictional character in his books called “Buffalo Bill.”
• Judson created the idea of “dime novels,” which inspired “Buffalo Bill.”

Answer: Judson helped make “Buffalo Bill” popular by writing stories about him. When the writer says Judson “helped create ‘Buffalo Bill,’” he or she means the popular stories about and popularity of “Buffalo Bill.” Judson wrote stories about William Cody that helped make him popular as “Buffalo Bill.”

Identifying Arguments questions make up about 45% of the test, although part of this 45% is the essay. The questions ask about the main idea and details of an argument the writer is trying to make. What evidence does the writer use? How strong is the evidence? Can you compare two arguments and their evidence? Try a sample question about an argument!

To: General Manager From: Anna Garcia, Human Resources Subject: We Need a New Workplace Policy

After last week’s office party, it is clear that the workplace needs a clear policy about decorations. Currently, the employee handbook contains no policy about decorations in the office. Decorations, both permanent and temporary, can cause damage to the office walls and cubicles. I am proposing a new policy, with the following wording:

All temporary office decorations for holidays, parties, or other events should be put in place using non-damaging, removable wall adhesives. Permanent decorations for your cubicle may use non-damaging, removable adhesives or thumbtacks applied to cubicle walls. Any decorations that cannot be hung without damage require approval from human resources. Non-damaging wall adhesive tape will be made available in the supply closet.

The main reason for this policy is the use of nails, tacks, and tape in the conference room walls to hang decorations for last week’s party. These temporary decoration caused damage to the paint and walls of the conference room, which is used for client meetings. The repairs took most of a week and cost the company $200.

I understand that our supply budget is low, but the cost of non-damaging tape will be far less than the potential cost for repairs after future events. Please see the attached spreadsheet for details.

Thank you for your attention, Anna Garcia

Which piece of evidence would help support Anna Garcia’s argument?

• After one employee’s last day, the company found that water from a plant had damaged her desk.
• After one employee’s last day, the company found that her cubicle wall was torn by hanging a photo.
• When one employee started, employees in nearby cubicles complained about the bright colors of her decorations.
• When one employee started, employees in nearby cubicles complained about the noise caused by nailing pictures to the wall.

Answer: After one employee’s last day, the company found that her cubicle wall was torn by hanging a photo.

This is an example of hanging decorations causing damage to the office. This problem would be solved by hanging the photo with a non-damaging material.

GED Writing Test

About 20% of the test is language or editing questions, and the writing portion also includes the GED essay, or extended response, which covers both reading and writing skills.

Grammar and Language

Language or editing questions might be multiple choice or drop-down. A drop-down question will ask you to complete a sentence with the correct word, phrase, or punctuation. For this section of the test, you’ll need to:

• Write clearly and eliminate wordy or awkward language
• Fix commonly confused words
• Edit errors in verbs, pronouns, informal language, or misplaced modifiers
• Use parallel sentence structure
• Use transition words and phrases and connecting words
• Use correct sentence structure
• Use correct punctuation, capitalization, and apostrophes

Try a sample question!

One group of employees ____________ meeting in the conference room right now.

• will have been

Answer: is The sentence should read: “One group of employees is meeting in the conference room right now.” The words “right now” show that the verb should be present tense. The subject is singular, “group,” so the verb needs to be singular, too. The phrase “of employees” is a distraction that can sometimes lead to mistakes. Try eliminating any phrase between the subject and the verb to see what sounds best! “One group is meeting in the conference room” sounds right, but “one group are meeting…” doesn’t!

GED Essay, or Extended Response

The GED essay is only one question on the test, but often it’s the one that students worry about the most. Keep in mind that the essay is only one part of the test. If you write a complete essay with a beginning, middle, and end that answers the question, you’ll do great. Try this technique:

• What is the main position of each side?
• Which point of view has better support or evidence?
• What are some general reasons why one is better?
• What is one piece of evidence that’s strong from the best argument? What does it mean? How does it support the argument? Why is it strong?
• What is one piece of evidence that’s weak from the worse argument? What does it mean? How does it hurt the argument? Why is it weak?
• What are two pieces of evidence that you can compare in the two arguments? How do they compare? Which is stronger? Why?
• How would you summarize the evidence in the two arguments?
• What other information would be helpful to know?
• Which point of view has better support?
• Why is this issue important?

Download this sample essay prompt to try your skills!

10 GED Language Arts Tips and Tricks: How to Study for the Test

The best way to study for GED Language Arts is to spend some time, separately, on reading, writing, and language. Although they are on the same test, you can study these three different skills separately.

1. Study Reading First

Reading is a great place to start for the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test! Reading is about 80% of the test, and bumping up your reading skills will help you with the essay, too.

2. Take GED Language Arts Practice Tests

Taking a practice test is the best way to start studying and improve your score. A good practice test shows you what the test is like. It also shows you what you need to study. You can start with our free, online reading and writing practice tests. You’ll find practice questions just like the ones on the GED Test.

3. Study More Quickly and Effectively, Here Is How!

The language arts test can be tough because reading and writing are big subjects. How can you learn quickly? Use these techniques every time you study! To learn to read better, use this easy technique:

• Ask yourself questions before you read. Skim through the title, the beginning, and the end. Then ask questions about what you’ll read.
• Think about the questions and make notes while you read. Did you find the answers? Do you have more questions? What seems important?
• Review and organize your notes after you read. What conclusion can you come to about what you read?

To learn to write better, use a writing process:

• Plan before you begin to write. What is your main idea? What details will you use? What will go in your conclusion?
• Draft a complete essay with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Revise and edit what you’ve written. Make it clearer. Give it more details. Fix any errors.

4. Read for Pleasure!

What do you like? What are you interested in? Find short, easy books or stories that are interesting to you, and read them for fun. Read newspapers or magazines or websites. Get a library card for access to free books. With most library cards, you can check out free ebooks from the Libby app or Overdrive . Read about something that is important to you! This is a great way to improve your reading. It doesn’t matter what you read, but reading more will help!

5. Make Time and Space to Study

Make a study space that’s organized and has everything you need. Schedule a regular time to study every day and stick to it!

• Study a little every day before you go to sleep. What you learn will stick with you better!
• Stick with studying. Keep a tracker and mark off every day that you study. After a whole week, give yourself a reward!

6. Answer Reading Practice Questions

Here’s how to approach a reading question when you study or on the test!

• Read the question or questions first. The question tells you what to look for in the text! If you know what you need to answer, you can pay attention to the right part of the text.
• Read the text carefully. Find the part that’s relevant to the question, and slow down. Check your understanding of what you read. Do you get the meaning?
• Read the answer choices. Eliminate any answer that you know is wrong. Most of the questions will be multiple choice, so you can increase your chances by removing wrong answers!
• If you know the right answer, great! If not, have a strategy for guessing. After taking away all the answers you know are wrong, guess either the first or last answer. This can help you improve your test score! Don’t leave any answers blank.
• For practice questions, make sure you understand! Read or listen to the feedback on your answer so that you understand the right answer and learn more.

7. Write Practice Essays!

Here are some practice GED writing prompts from the GED Testing Service to help you get started. Make sure you write a complete essay, at least 300 words, with a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Answer the question: Which passage makes a better argument? Why? Be sure to use details from the text!

8. Have Someone Read Your Writing

Have a friend, teacher, or family member read what you wrote. Are some parts confusing? What good points did you make? Can they tell what your main idea is? Can they tell that you have a beginning, middle, and end? Some feedback from a reader will help improve your writing!

9. Say It Out Loud!

Reading out loud can help with reading, writing, and language.

• Try reading a section of text out loud to see if it helps you understand better. Go slow, and go back to check your understanding.
• When you’re writing, try reading your own writing out loud! Does it make sense? How would you say it to a friend? Revise your writing to sound more like someone talking.
• When you answer a language question, read the answer choices out loud in the full sentence. Which choice sounds right? While a few rules might be tricky, for the most part, what sounds right is right. Don’t overthink. Trust your ear when you’re not sure!

When you sit down to study, review what you went over the previous day. A quick review will help yesterday’s learning stick and make your next learning task a little easier. At the end of a week, do a whole-week review to go over what you’ve learned.

What You Need to Know to Pass the GED Language Arts Test (Checklist)

The GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test covers reading, writing, and language in one test. Here’s what you need to know.

Reading for Meaning

Relationships.

• You need to know how to put events in a text in the order that they happened.
• You need to know how to make inferences about the events, people, setting, relationships, or ideas in what you read.
• You need to know how to analyze relationships between people, ideas, and events, and their roles in the text.

Purpose and Point of View

• You need to be able to identify details and their purpose in a text.
• You need to figure out the writer’s point of view or purpose, even if it’s not stated outright in the text.
• You need to analyze the specifics of a writer’s point of view and how a writer response to other people with different opinions.

Words and Phrases

• You need to know how to analyze how a writer uses rhetorical techniques, like repetition or analogies.
• You need to figure out the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative language and connotations.
• You need to know how the writer’s word choice impacts the meaning and tone of the text, and analyze why the author uses specific words.
• You need to know how sentences, paragraphs, chapters, or sections fit into the structure of the text. What purpose do they serve? How do they support the author’s purpose or create meaning?
• You need to look at the relationships between two nearby sections of a text.
• You need to know how to analyze the author’s use of transition or connecting words and phrases.

Comparisons

• You need to compare texts that have similar themes or topics but different formats or genres.
• You need to know how to find similarities and differences in perspective, tone, style, structure, purpose, or impact.

Identify and Create Arguments

Main idea and details.

• You need to understand the main idea and details in what you read and be able to summarize them or make inferences about them.
• You need to know how to make inferences about the main idea and details.
• You need to understand how the details support the author’s purpose, ideas, or point of view.
• In a story, you need to know how to find the theme and support for the theme.

Conclusions

• You need to know how to make generalizations, hypotheses, or conclusions based on one or more ideas or pieces of evidence in what you read.
• You need to know how to apply or extend what you read.

Arguments and Evidence

• You need to know the parts of an author’s argument and how they work together.
• You need to identify whether a claim is supported by evidence and identify specific evidence that the author gives.
• You need to know whether the author gives enough good evidence to support a claim, including identifying fallacies or problems with the writer’s logic.
• You need to evaluate data, charts, graphs, or images and whether they support an author’s ideas.
• You need to compare two arguments on the same topic or two similar ideas or themes in different genres or formats.

You need to know how to:

• choose the correct word among commonly confused words or words that sound alike but are spelled differently.
• correct errors involving verbs, pronouns, informal language, and modifiers.
• use parallel structure.
• use good sentence structure, including independent and dependent clauses, avoiding run-ons and fragments.
• edit to eliminate wordiness or awkward sentences.
• use transitional and connecting words and phrases.
• use capitalization, punctuation, and apostrophes correctly.

You need to:

• write a clear and well-organized essay that compares two texts.
• compare two different arguments about the same topic, citing specific evidence from the text.

10 Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is a big part of the GED Language Arts test. Here are some easy ways to improve your ability to understand what you read.

• Identify what you don’t understand. Try reading slowly and asking, do I understand what I just read? When you don’t understand, go back and check. What’s giving you a problem? Is it a long sentence that you can break apart? Is something else confusing you? Can you figure it out?
• Identify words you don’t know. Sometimes, you can guess the meaning of a sentence without all the words, but it helps to find the words you don’t know. Then, find the definition. Go back and try to understand the sentence or paragraph again. Does the meaning of the word help you understand it better?
• Make an outline. A good way to understand what you read is by making an outline. What’s the main idea? What are the important points? Which details are important, and where are they? Make the outline while you read, and then revise and reorganize it after.
• Make and organize notes. You don’t always need to make a formal outline. Sometimes, it’s helpful to just make notes about what’s important. The difference here is that you can ask questions and put down your own thoughts. Try writing your thoughts and questions in different colors to keep track! Then, when you’re done reading, reorganize your notes. That will help you understand and remember better.
• Identify the structure. Figuring out the structure of a text helps you understand it better. Does it talk about cause and effect? Does it give a problem and then explain a solution? Does it give events in order by time? Does it make a claim and then give reasons?
• Ask questions. Try asking questions before you read, while you read, and after you read. Asking questions makes you think about what you’re reading.
• Make a diagram. Try making a diagram or chart to compare ideas or show relationships in the text.
• Predict. Ask yourself: what do you think will happen next? What’s the writer going to say? Predicting helps you understand what you read.
• Visualize. If you’re reading a story or a description, try to imagine what you’re reading about. Creating pictures in your mind will help you understand.
• Summarize. Write a summary of the important ideas in the text. If you can pick out the most important ideas and details, you’ll understand the reading better.

Eight GED Essay Tips

The GED essay can seem tough, but it’s not really that hard. Use these tips to write a high scoring essay!

• Read the Passages First. Your writing prompt will have two passages. Start by reading through them. What’s the point of view of each writer? What evidence do they give?
• Write a Good Beginning. Start by explaining the issue that you read about. Then say which of the two arguments is stronger. Give a general reason why.
• Quote from the Text. Find 2 to 3 pieces of evidence or support in each passage that you read. In your essay, quote the evidence and tell which passage it is from. Explain how the writer uses it. Then, tell whether it’s strong or weak and why. Does it help prove the writer’s argument? Why is it good or bad?
• Tell Which Passage Has the Most Evidence. Sometimes a writer doesn’t have enough evidence. The passage with more evidence might be stronger.
• Point Out Problems. Does one of the passages have flaws or problems? Is the reasoning not logical? Can you think of a way the argument isn’t true? If you don’t agree, point it out! (And be sure to tell why!)
• Write a Conclusion. In your conclusion at the end of the essay, restate which passage has a better argument. Summarize your evidence and details.
• Write Clearly. If you have trouble writing, don’t try to make it too complicated. Write simple sentences, and make sure it’s easy to understand.
• Write Enough. If you have a beginning, a middle with quotes and details, and a conclusion, then you’ve probably written enough. But make sure! Write about 5 paragraphs, with at least 300 words. Otherwise, you need more detail.

Remember to practice using these tips by writing practice essays! Here’s a good way: Find two newspaper articles that disagree about a topic, and write about them for practice.

Online GED Reading and Writing Classes

Are you looking for easy online classes to help you get ready fast? GED Academy provides a quick and easy way to get prepared. GED Academy has three language arts courses:

• The GED Reading course is filled with lessons that help you read and understand GED-style passages and answer the kinds of questions you’ll find on the GED exam.
• The GED Language lessons teach you all the grammar and language you’ll need to know for the language questions.
• The GED Writing course prepares you to write the GED essay. You’ll take easy-to-understand writing lessons and write practice GED essays. You’ll learn everything you need to know in a quick and easy course.

Everyone starts out their GED prep at a different level. GED Academy finds out what you need to know and then gives you the exact lessons that you need to prepare. Our online GED language arts prep course can take as little as three or four weeks. With directed learning, you can be ready to take your GED language arts test right away.

Try studying an hour every night. With short, easy lessons, you can move forward through the GED Academy course quickly. After about 15 or 20 hours of language arts study, you could be ready for the test. Some people need a little more or a little less study, but no matter what your level, GED Academy has the right lessons for you.

GED Academy starts out by giving you a practice test or self-assessment to see what you need to study. Then it gives you a personalized learning plan that leads you through every lesson you need. It’s like having a personal tutor who can recommend the lessons and quizzes that you need right now to get ready quickly.

Are you ready to get started? Take a look at how GED Academy works.

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Below are an essay topic and four sample essays with the holistic scores they received from the GED Testing Service. Readers may use these samples as they familiarize themselves with the Essay Scoring Guide. Notice that there is no required minimum number of words. The essays with higher scores have are a clear organization of ideas and contain correct sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and word choice. The reader can understand what the writer is saying and can follow the development of ideas. The essays with lower scores are more difficult to understand and do not contain developed or supported ideas. What is one important goal you would like to achieve in the next few years? In your essay, identify that goal. Explain how you plan to achieve it. Use your personal observations, experience, and knowledge to support your essay. Topic reprinted with permission of the GED Testing Service. GED Essay Sample This an example of the GED Essay written for the topic of the Benefits of Daylight Saving. Make sure you read our  comments that are highlighted in a yellow color.  Keep in mind that Underlined Words are not part of the essay. They are our comments and are added to help you understand the structure of the essay. Online GED Classes A simple and easy way of getting your ged diploma.. Our comments and underlined words show you how each part of the essay is structured for getting maximum points. This the essay introduction This article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of Daylight Saving Time who disagree about the practice’s impact on energy consumption and safety. Both sides provide good support for their position, but the argument against Daylight Saving Time is stronger and more complete. It responds to points made in the argument in favor of Daylight Saving Time and also incorporates arguments of its own.    (Our comment: Following the best practices, this introduction introduces the topic and gives a summary of the two positions and then clearly states the claim. This claim is based on the facts included in the stimulus. It is not the writer’s opinion.)  Onsego GED Prep Get a ged diploma quickly. it doesn’t matter when you left school., easy lessons | practice tests | add-ons. Get Started This the body of the essay. One of the arguments used by supporters of Daylight Saving Time is that because there is more sun at the end of the day, there is less need for electricity and thus energy costs are lowered. A statistic is provided claiming Daylight Saving Time saves “about 1% per day in energy costs”. However, that information is from research conducted in the 1970s, which today is fairly outdated. The supporting argument presents data from other research findings on the subjects of car crashes and crime rates, saying Daylight Saving time reduces the number of accidents and instances of crime. These findings are again suspect because the dates of the research are not clearly stated. The accident data is pulled from “three decades of research”; the identities of these decades are unknown. The crime studies are not dated at all.  (Our comment: In this part of the body of the essay, the writer explains that the arguments for supporting the Daylight Saving are weak because they are outdated so not reliable)  The argument against Daylight Saving Time is much more credible. For example, it provides the results of a much more recent (2007) study in California. The study showed that Daylight Saving Time “had little or no effect on energy consumption that year”, thus countering the argument that Daylight Saving Time lowering energy use. Also, the results of “recent” research provide evidence against the supposed safety aspect of the yearly switch to and from Daylight Saving Time; more pedestrians were killed by cars “immediately after clocks were set back in the fall” and significantly fewer were killed the week before Daylight Saving Time ended than the following week. This is the conclusion of the essay. The best-supported position in this article is the position against Daylight Saving Time. The argument in favor of Daylight Saving Time contains data from outdated research experiments and does not provide any counterarguments to the points made by the other position. The argument against Daylight Saving Time contains more credible evidence, and it also does a solid job of countering arguments made by Daylight Saving Time supporters.  (Our comment: The essay conclusion wraps up the argument by repeating the claim and reasons. Overall, the response generates a strong argument, cites specific evidence, evaluates that evidence, and makes reasonable inferences.)    Our final advice Try to stay concentrated from start to finish and benefit from the provided stimulus as helpful information. It is important to indicate your main points and move forward. Don’t continue writing about a topic only to fill in some white spaces on your working sheet.   This article includes pro and con arguments and instructions that tell you what you need to do. Remember, your essay should demonstrate your capability to think rationally and clearly. It’s not about your point of view. Your GED credential (diploma or certificate, depending on your state) is your ticket to higher education and will definitely lead to better job opportunities. BestGEDClasses’ free practice tests and lessons will help you decide if online learning is right for you and get you started on your GED journey. If an online course works for you, we recommend you register with Onsego GED Online Prep, an engaging, accredited, and affordable GED Prep Course. 5 Common Mistakes When Listing a GED on a Resume (And How to Avoid Them) When it comes to listing your educational background on a resume, how you present your credentials can make all the difference. If you’ve earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate instead of a traditional high school diploma, it’s essential to know how to position it properly. Even though a GED holds the same value as a high school diploma in terms of academic equivalency, some individuals may feel uncertain about how to present it on their resume in a way that reflects their skills and qualifications effectively. In this blog post, we’ll discuss five common mistakes that people often make when listing a GED on a resume and offer actionable tips on how to avoid these pitfalls. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to present your GED as a valuable educational achievement, enhancing your professional image and improving your job prospects. 1. Failing to Place the GED in the Right Section One of the most common mistakes people make is not listing their GED in the appropriate section of their resume. This can cause confusion and make your educational background harder for employers to find and understand. Mistake: Many individuals incorrectly place their GED in sections labeled “Certifications” or “Achievements.” While the GED is a significant accomplishment, it is not a certification; it is an educational credential that should be grouped with other academic qualifications. Solution: Always place your GED under the Education section of your resume, just as you would with a high school diploma, associate degree, or any higher education credential. This makes it clear to employers that your GED represents the completion of a formal academic program. Here’s how to list a GED on a resume properly: Education General Educational Development (GED) State of [Your State] — Month, Year By placing the GED in the Education section, you ensure that hiring managers can easily find and understand your qualifications without having to guess its significance. 2. Using Informal or Unprofessional Language Another mistake people often make is describing their GED in a way that lacks professionalism. The language you use to describe your educational background on your resume should always be formal and focused on presenting your accomplishments clearly. Mistake: Some job seekers might use casual language to describe their GED, such as, “I got my GED after dropping out of high school,” or, “I finally completed my GED.” Solution: Use professional, concise language to communicate your educational achievement. Avoid personal stories or informal phrases that detract from the significance of your GED. Keep the focus on the fact that you completed an academic credential equivalent to a high school diploma. Example: “Successfully earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, demonstrating a commitment to completing my education.” By using professional language, you communicate to potential employers that you take your educational background seriously, helping to elevate your overall image. 3. Not Highlighting Skills and Achievements Related to the GED A GED reflects more than just academic equivalency; it shows persistence, dedication, and sometimes a commitment to overcoming personal challenges. One of the most common mistakes is not using your GED to showcase these qualities. Mistake: Simply listing the GED without offering any context or additional information about the process, your scores, or the effort you put into earning it. Solution: Consider highlighting aspects of your GED achievement that demonstrate your strengths. If you excelled in specific subjects (like math, science, or writing), mention your high scores. If your journey to obtaining your GED involved overcoming challenges, briefly allude to this while maintaining professionalism. Education General Educational Development (GED) State of [Your State] — Month, Year – Earned high scores in Mathematics and Social Studies. – Demonstrated persistence by completing GED while working full-time. This approach not only showcases your academic qualifications but also highlights soft skills such as perseverance, time management, and problem-solving, which are valuable in any workplace. 4. Focusing Solely on the GED and Neglecting Work Experience or Skills While earning a GED is an important milestone, it’s only one part of your resume. Many job seekers make the mistake of relying too heavily on their GED to demonstrate their qualifications, ignoring other critical sections like work experience, skills, or relevant certifications. Mistake: Placing too much emphasis on the GED and failing to include other important sections, such as work history, skills, or professional achievements. Solution: Balance your resume by emphasizing your GED along with your relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications. If you have work experience or certifications that relate to the job you’re applying for, make sure to highlight them. If you lack formal work experience, consider adding volunteer work or internships that demonstrate your capabilities. Experience Sales Associate XYZ Retail — City, State Month Year – Month Year – Assisted customers in locating products and answered questions regarding store merchandise. – Processed transactions efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction. – Developed strong communication and problem-solving skills. Skills – Excellent written and verbal communication – Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite – Strong organizational and time management abilities By creating a well-rounded resume, you show employers that while the GED is a key part of your educational background, you also have relevant experience and skills that qualify you for the position. 5. Not Tailoring Your Resume to Specific Jobs The final mistake that many job seekers make is submitting a generic resume for every job application without tailoring it to the specific position they are applying for. This can make it seem like you’re not putting in the effort to align your qualifications with the employer’s needs. Mistake: Using the same resume for every job application without adjusting it to highlight the most relevant qualifications and experiences. Solution: Take the time to customize your resume for each job application. Review the job description carefully, and identify keywords, skills, and qualifications that the employer is seeking. If the position requires strong communication skills, leadership abilities, or technical expertise, emphasize these areas in your resume. Additionally, consider the role your GED plays in demonstrating your qualifications for the specific job. For example, if the job values resilience and problem-solving, use your GED as an example of how you’ve demonstrated these traits. Example: If you’re applying for a job that requires strong communication skills, you might revise your resume to emphasize how your GED experience helped develop this skill: Education General Educational Development (GED) State of [Your State] — Month, Year – Developed strong communication and written skills while preparing for GED exams in Language Arts and Social Studies. Experience Customer Service Representative XYZ Company — City, State Month Year – Month Year – Communicated effectively with customers to resolve inquiries and provide product information. – Recognized for excellent customer service and problem-solving skills. By customizing your resume for each application, you can better align your qualifications with the specific needs of the employer, improving your chances of landing an interview. Presenting Your GED on a Resume with Confidence Listing a GED on your resume doesn’t have to be a stumbling block. In fact, when presented correctly, it can be a valuable asset that highlights your determination, academic achievements, and personal resilience. By avoiding common mistakes like misplacing the GED, using unprofessional language, or failing to emphasize your skills and experience, you can present a well-rounded resume that stands out to employers. Whether you’re looking to boost your career prospects or simply want to enhance your resume with an authentic-looking GED certificate, ValidGrad has you covered. We offer high-quality replica and fake GED certificates that can help you present your educational background with confidence. With ValidGrad, you can take control of how your qualifications are viewed by potential employers, ensuring you always make a strong first impression. Explore our wide range of certificates today and enhance your resume the smart way! Leave a comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 438 IMAGES How To Write The GED Essay 2024 (Extended Response) How To Write The GED Essay 2024 (Extended Response) How to write a ged essay bestservicewrit essay services 012 Essay Example Writing Ged Practice Test Extended Response Guide ~ Thatsnotus GED Essay: Test Writing Tips For Students GED Language Arts Essay E1 VIDEO phil's lesbian witch journey 🔮🕯️ How to Write the GED Extended Response Introduction What to Avoid When Writing Your Essay Essay details for the Language Art Writing for the GED Fastest Way to Get Your GED/HiSET! GED essay ကို ထိရောက်စွာရေးနည်း COMMENTS How to Write & Pass a GED Essay For GED essay practice, try writing your own essay based on the example above. Set a timer for 45 minutes and do your best to write an essay with your own analysis and ideas. You can practice more writing skills with this free test or enroll today in the GED Academy to get access to more GED essay prompts and personalized feedback from GED ... GED Essay Writing Guide Learn how to write a GED essay in 45 minutes by following a four-step strategy and a template. Analyze the stimulus passages, select your position, outline your ideas, and write your essay with relevant evidence and examples. How To Write The GED Essay 2024 (Extended Response) The best strategy for writing the GED essay is: Read the passages (5 minutes) Analyze the data and create an outline (5 minutes) Write your extended response (30 minutes) Reread and edit your writing (5 minutes) If you want a clear example of what your GED essay should like like, later in this blog you'll find a sample. How to Write the GED Essay-Topics, Sample, and Tips Here are a few examples of GED Essay Topics. Click on the title to read a full stimulus and a prompt. Topic 1. An Analysis of Daylight-Saving Time. The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of Daylight-Saving Time who disagree about the practice's impact on energy consumption and safety. Extended Response Use these free videos, guidelines and examples to prepare and practice for the essay section of the Language Arts test. Videos: How to write a great GED extended response. Overview of the GED Extended Response Format (1:28) How to Pass the GED Extended Response (3:14) GED Essay: Everything You Need To Know In 2024 The GED essay is intimidating to many people. Writing an entire essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less may seem difficult, but it does not have to be. This GED essay writing overview will help you prepare for and learn about the written section of the exam.In this post, Get-TestPrep will show everything you need to know about GED essays, including their structure, sample topics, tips, and ... How to Write a GED Essay Create an outline to structure your essay. Writing the GED Essay (30 minutes) The GED essay requires you to demonstrate your ability to craft a well-structured, persuasive response within a 45-minute time frame. Here are some key tips for effectively writing each section of the essay: Introduction. Your introduction should accomplish three main ... PDF Preparing for the GED Essay The essay portion is 35 percent of the total score of the GED Language Arts, Writing Test. Candidates need to score higher than 1.5 on a scale of 4 to pass the test. In order to write a good essay in 45 minutes, it helps to follow the four steps of the writing process—gathering ideas, organizing, writing, and revising. GED Essay Example For many GED test-takers, the essay portion of the exam can be a daunting task. However, with the right approach and preparation, crafting a strong essay can become a manageable endeavor. In this guide, we'll delve into the essentials of understanding the GED essay, provide key tips for writing effectively, and offer sample prompts to help ... GED Essay There are is now an extended response (essay) question on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Test (RLA). You are given 45 minutes to type your GED Essay on the RLA test. Read through our tips and strategies, use our sample prompt to write out a practice essay, and then examine our essay examples to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. Extended Response: Example 1 Here, at HowtoPasstheGED.com, a five-paragraph essay will be used as a framework for writing an Extended Response. Five-Paragraph Essay - Outline. Paragraph 1: Introduction of your position with three supporting points. Paragraph 2: Discussion of first point. Paragraph 3: Discussion of second point. How to Write the GED Essay: Extended Response A detailed tutorial about how to write the new GED Essay (Extended Response) 2022! How to Write The GED Essay in 4 Steps (2024 Tutorial) In this video, you'll find the ultimate strategy to write the GED essay.If you are about to take the GED Exam to access better colleges or job opportunities,... GED Essay Tips & Strategies GED Essay Tips & Strategies. Most of the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) exam is multiple-choice, but there is also one "Extended Response" question. This question requires you to write a short essay in response to two passages of text. The passages will present two different viewpoints on a topic. You must read both of the ... Exhibit 8-PROCEDURES FOR THE PAPER BASED ESSAY GED ® candidates write an original essay on an assigned topic. Part II of the Language Arts, Writing Test directly measures a dimension of writing skills not tested by the multiple-choice questions. 1. ESSAY TOPICS. The essay topics present issues or situations of general interest about which adults would be expected to have some knowledge ... Language Arts Extended Response Use these free videos, guidelines and examples to prepare and practice for the essay section of the Language Arts test. Videos: How to write a great GED extended response. Overview of the GED Extended Response Format (1:28) Video 1 of 8: How to Pass the GED Extended Response (3:14) GED Sample Essay GED Sample Essay. The following is an example of a high-scoring essay response to our free practice GED Essay Prompt. Below our GED sample essay is a brief analysis justifying its perfect score. Police militarization is a hot-button topic these days. Some believe that criticizing the actions of the police hurts their ability to do their job ... How to Easily Beat the GED Language Arts Extended Response Essay in #GED #GEDtest #GEDRLA How do you ace the GED Language arts extended response portion aka the GED essay? Hi, I'm Parker from Test Prep Champions, I've worked ... GED Reading & Writing Study Guide 2024 [GED Academy] The GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test is one reading and writing test, so you'll take it all at one time. You'll have one 10-minute break. You'll take the test on a computer at a testing center. The whole test is 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes. There are about 50 questions, plus 1 essay. Contemporary's GED Language Arts, Writing Sample GED Essays. Below are an essay topic and four sample essays with the holistic scores they received from the GED Testing Service. Readers may use these samples as they familiarize themselves with the Essay Scoring Guide. Notice that there is no required minimum number of words. The essays with higher scores have are a clear organization ... GED Essay-- Tips, Tools, and What to Expect on the 2024 Test * You can find more resources on the RLA extended response, including some really good videos, here: https://ged.com/en/curriculum/language_arts/extended_res... GED Essay Sample It is not the writer's opinion.) This the body of the essay. One of the arguments used by supporters of Daylight Saving Time is that because there is more sun at the end of the day, there is less need for electricity and thus energy costs are lowered. A statistic is provided claiming Daylight Saving Time saves "about 1% per day in energy ... 5 Common Mistakes When Listing a GED on a Resume (And How to Avoid Them) When it comes to listing your educational background on a resume, how you present your credentials can make all the difference. If you've earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate instead of a traditional high school diploma, it's essential to know how to position it properly. Even though a GED holds the same value as a high school diploma in terms of academic equivalency ... Pass the HiSET or GED Essay! In this video, I teach you EXACTLY how to PASS the HiSET ESSAY!SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/2Uy4MshThe essay or writing portion of the HiSET language test does ... assignment homework phd report resume review speech thesis