The semicolon may not be as complicated as you may think; it’s simply misunderstood and often misused by students during the RLA test. In short, a semicolon is a mashup between a comma and a period. Comma + period = semicolon.

Teachers often recommend starting with the test subject that is least challenging, to wade in gently with topics that are in your comfort zone. This approach helps build confidence as you gear up for the tough stuff.

To begin, login to your account at GED.com to check out free study guides. You’ll get a sense of all four subjects, then decide which one is best for you to take first.

Social Studies

Social Studies is interesting because there are many visuals involved, such as graphs, maps and charts. These help you understand trends and gather clues through imagery. You won’t feel pressured to answer every question based only on text.

You won’t have to memorize a lot for Social Studies. It’s more about applying concepts that you know already and interpret info presented in the test.

Science

Science uses formulas and analytical thinking. You’ll be given reference sheets during the test, so there’s very little memorization. Practice questions are a great way to stay sharp for Science.

RLA

To make Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) flow smoothly, get used to absorbing info quickly by reading articles on major news sites. The average article contains 500 to 700 words. Here’s a hint: it typically takes less than a minute to read 100 words. So you’re looking at just a few minutes of reading per article. For example, the blog post you’re reading now is under 400 words long.

Writing is something we do everyday, like texting and posting to social media; but when it comes to long-form essays, it’s great to have a writing tutor help you along. This virtual expert will help you organize thoughts, make content flow, catch spelling errors and clear up grammar confusion…like when to use an ellipsis.

Math

Many students agree that Math is the toughest subject. By enrolling in a local class or taking online courses, you can learn the skills you need to pass, such as algebra. Also, practicing a little at a time makes Math easier to get through. In just a few minutes a day, try GED Flash for thousands of interactive questions at home or on-the-go.

Last but not least, here’s a tip for test day from Captain Obvious: “Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and stay hydrated.”

Have other study tips that you’d like to share with other GED students? Put them in the comments below.

The Reasoning through Language Arts portion of the GED contains an essay section, also known as the extended response, where you will be asked to use evidence-based writing. This section is 45 minutes long and 20% of your overall RLA score.

Benefits of the Extended Response Section

So why is it so important to prepare for this section if it only makes up 20% of your score? Here are a few reasons:

1. Evidence-based writing is not just a type of question. It’s a form of writing that everyone needs to be successful. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4% of employers want someone with strong written communication skills. It was also the third most desired quality overall, behind leadership skills and teamwork.
2. Writing in the workplace is all about facts, not opinion. You may have an opinion about how to fix a problem, but if you want to convince your boss to use this solution, you need evidence to back up your opinion. Writing prepares you with communication and thinking skills to help explain your ideas to others.
3. Lastly, the higher you score on this section, the more likely you are to pass the RLA test! As a bonus, you could score College Ready or College Ready + and receive credits for college!

The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) test assesses your reading and writing skills. Both of these skills are all about communication, something you’ve probably done plenty of in life.

Test Topics

The RLA section of the GED includes three different topics:

1. Reading for Meaning
2. Identifying and Creating Arguments
3. Grammar and Language

The RLA test assesses your ability to understand what you read and how to write clearly.

Format of the RLA Test

There are three sections on the GED Language Arts test. The entire test takes 150 minutes with a 10-minute break between sections two and three. There will be one written essay (extended response), which you will have 45 minutes to complete.

There are also different question types including multiple-choice, drag and drop, select an area and drop down.