The Math test is probably the most difficult of the four GED exams. At the very least, it is the test that requires the most prior knowledge. If you have good reading comprehension skills, you may be able to pass the Science, Social Studies, and Reasoning through Language Arts tests without much preparation. For the GED Math test, however, there are some things you have to know ahead of time.
So what’s on the test? According to the makers of the GED, there are four main content categories: Basic Math; Geometry; Basic Algebra; and Graphing and Functions. Let’s take a look!
Basic Math
- Placing fractions and decimals in order: Least to greatest, or greatest to least. Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, or a mix.
- Multiples and factors: Can you find the lowest common multiple or the greatest common factor for a set of numbers?
- Exponents: You’ll need to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide them.
- Measuring distances on a number line
- Basic operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals: Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with all types of numbers.
- Working with squares, square roots, cubes, and cube roots
- Identifying undefined expressions: unfortunately, the makers of the GED don’t mean undefined expressions like “idk” and “whatevs,” they mean fractions with a denominator of zero, or the square roots of negative numbers
- Unit rates and scale factors, like miles per gallon or the 1 mile = 1 cm scale used on a map
- Solving multi-step problems that use ratios, proportions, and percents. Such problems might include concepts like simple interest; percent increase and decrease; gratuities; and commissions.
Geometry
- Finding the side lengths, area, and perimeter of two-dimensional shapes, including circles
- Using the Pythagorean theorem to find a side length in a right triangle
- Finding the volume and surface area of three-dimensional shapes
- Analyzing graphs: the GED may include bar graphs, circle graphs, dot plots, histograms, box plots, tables, scatter plots, and line graphs.
- Finding the mean, median, mode, and range of a number set.
- Counting techniques: combinations and permutations
- Probability
Basic Algebra
- Linear expressions: can you add, subtract, multiply, and divide them?
- Creating algebraic expressions to represent real-life situations
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and factoring polynomials, including the use of the FOIL method
- Expressing real-life situations as polynomials: it’s not as crazy as it sounds!
- Rational expressions: that is, expressions that include more than one polynomial
- Using linear equations to solve real-world problems: you never know when you might need a linear equation
- Solving inequalities and graphing the answer on a number line
Graphing and Functions
- Finding points and graphing linear equations on a coordinate plane
- Slope: finding it from two points or an equation
- Comparing equations and graphs
- Finding the equation of a line when given two points or the slope and a point on the line
- Functions: comparing them on tables, graphs, and equations
Whew! If it seems like a lot of information, well, unfortunately, it is. But we’re here to help. All of our GED Math lessons and practice tests are completely free. You can find the full list here. Just do a little bit every day, and soon you’ll be ready for your test. Good luck!
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