Of the five GED tests, one of the most difficult would be the GED Writing tests. Most of the students that I work with will say that they need help with the GED Writing test. Even students who write at work will comment that they need HELP!

There are different ways to approach studying for the GED Writing test. My preferred way is to find a good grammar/mechanic book and work through it with the student. In addition, teach the 5-paragraph essay format.

As the student learns how to brainstorm and write the essay, you can take the opportunity to reteach some of the grammar and mechanics.

If the student cannot come and study with you, they should get a good GED book. I personally like the Steck Vaughn series.

A compound sentence is a sentence that is made up of two sentences joined together with a comma and a word like and, but, or, yet.

Each sentence has it's own complete thought with a subject and verb.

Example: Samantha went to the store. Samantha saw her best friend Sally at the store.

Join them together and you have............

Samantha went to the store, and she saw her best friend Sally.

Another Example: Grandfather Fred quit smoking. Grandfather Fred ate healthy.

Join them together and you have...........

Grandfather Fred quit smoking, and he ate healthy.

When you take the GED Writing test, know that it is two parts.

Part Two is the essay. You will be given a topic and will write a 200-250 word essay.

When you write the essay, you will need to "keep on topic". If your topic is about teaching someone a skill, you need to effectively describe how to do something. If you decide to write about why you need money..... you are off topic and you will be given a "0". And... you will have to take the test over.

Don't be put in that situation.... find a GED tutor and let them help you!

GED Writing Sentence Basics: Identifying Sentence Fragments

What is a sentence fragment? A group of words that does not have a subject that tells whom or what the sentence is about is a fragment. If a group of words does not express a complete thought, it is a fragment. Also, if a group of words does not have a predicate that tells what the subject is or does is a fragment.

Examples:
In many homes, the stove. (fragment)
When dogs bark at ducks. (fragment)
In many homes, the stove is in the kitchen. (sentence)
When dogs bark at ducks, the ducks fly away. (sentence)

The GED Writing test is two parts. Part one is multiple choice and will focus on your ability to use clear and effective English.

Part Two is the essay. You will be given a topic and will write a 200-250 word essay.

Total time for the Language Arts, Writing test is 2 hours.

There are 5 GED tests. They are Language Arts Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts Writing. It is the GED math and GED writing tests that give most students problems.

If students are comfortable with the writing process, I will recommend that they at least take a practice test and write one or two essays.... before they attempt the offical test.

If students are NOT comfortable, they I encourage them to partner with a GED tutor. They may need a review of the basics such as sentence structure and combining. They will also need to review the basics of writing the GED essay. For some, this may take a week.... for others a couple of months.