What do you need to know for the GED® Science Test? To do well, you must have the skills to understand, interpret and apply scientific data.
You will need to read texts, diagrams, tables, graphs, maps or any combination of these and use your critical thinking and reasoning skills to interpret scientific information.
The test is 90 minutes, with no breaks and it focuses on three main categories:
1. Life Science (40%)
2. Physical Science (40%)
3. Earth and Space Science (20%)
Science often requires mathematical calculations. When necessary, an on-screen calculator will be provided and in the exam room, you will also have a white board and marker that you can use for calculations or any rough work you need to map out.
Unlike most other traditional school exams, you do not have to memorise information by heart or cram the night before your GED® tests. You don’t have to learn scientific laws, definitions or the periodic table by heart, but you do need to be able to recognise names, symbols and key elements. The GED® does not test memory skills, instead it focuses more on critical thinking and reasoning abilities.
Below is a summary of the focus on each of the three main categories:
Life Science includes the structure of cells and their processes and functions, human life and body functions, nutrition and energy intake, genetics and DNA, reproduction and heredity, evolution and natural selection, and the organization of ecosystems.
Physical Science topics include energy flows and conservation, work, motion and forces, atoms and molecules, properties and states of matter, chemical properties and reactions, waves, electricity, and magnetism.
Earth and Space Science focuses on the solar system and the universe, the geological structure of the earth, plate tectonics, geological cycles and processes, renewable and non-renewable natural resources, weather and climate, the relationship between the earth’s structure and living things etc.
GED Science Test Skills
In addition to evaluating your reading and understanding of scientific texts and graphics, the GED® Science Test will also test your comprehension of the process of scientific methods and investigation.
You will need demonstrate the following skills:
- Construct hypotheses and make predictions about a scientific investigation
- Use the scientific method to set up experiments
- Recognise potential sources of error in a study
- Interpret passages and explain data on graphs
- Apply scientific concepts, theories and formulas
- Use sampling techniques to gather answers about scientific questions
- Use statistics and probabilities in a scientific context
- Evaluate results, evidence and conclusions
- Express findings in text, graphs, numbers or symbols
- Determine the meaning of terms and symbols
GED Science Test Question Formats
- Multiple-choice questions have four possible answers and you must select the best one (A, B, C or D).
- Drag-and-drop questions will offer you a small image, words, or numerical expression. You must choose the correct answer and then drag and drop it in the in a specified location on the computer screen in order to answer the question correctly.
- Drop-down questions will provide various options and you will have to click on the correct response to complete a statement.
- Fill-in-the-blank questions will require you to type a word, phrase, or number in a box that appears on the screen.
- Hot-spot items consist of a graphic image or images. You will need to click on one or more “points” or graphics on the screen to select an area.
Using our Online GED Prep™ study programme you will get ample practice at these kinds of questions and they will help you to develop the skills that you need to succeed on the GED® Science test. Each lessons will give you scores, as well as quizzes and practice tests to further measure your progress. The system will indicate when you are test-ready and suggest that you should book your test. You can take as little or as much time as you need on each lesson to master the skills that you need to pass the test.
