Prepare for the GED® Math Test

About This Course

Master the skills required to successfully pass Test 5 in the GED® test series. You'll start off with a review of math basics and begin building the foundation you'll need to solve the types of math problems commonly found on the test. In the process, you'll develop hands-on experience with fractions, decimals, percents, proportions, statistics, algebra, and geometry.

Then, you'll get a chance to apply your knowledge by practicing with the same kind of questions you may encounter on the GED® test. By the time you finish this course, you'll be much more comfortable with your math skills, and you'll know how, when, and why to use each math concept you learn.

Important: Some GED® Testing Centers require proof that you have passed a GED® test preparation course or the official practice tests before you can take the official GED® tests. Before enrolling in this course, please check with the official GED® Testing Center where you intend to take your tests to make sure that this course will meet their requirements.

*GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education and may not be used without permission. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license. THIS WORK IS NOT AUTHORIZED, ENDORSED, OR LICENSED BY AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION OR GED TESTING SERVICE, AND ANY REFERENCE TO "GED" IN THE TITLE OR BODY OF THIS WORK IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO IMPLY AN AFFILIATION WITH, OR SPONSORSHIP BY, GED TESTING SERVICE OR ANY STATE OR ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE GED®-BRANDED GOODS OR SERVICES.

About The Instructor

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Barbara Rolston.

Barbara Rolston holds a master's degree and has been teaching GED® preparatory classes since 1975 in a variety of settings, including adult schools, community colleges, and large corporations. She also was responsible for administering the GED® exam in a correctional facility for two years.

Syllabus

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week 1

Wednesday - Lesson 01

Our first lesson will give you the inside look at what the GED® Math Test looks like. It's important that you become acquainted with the type of questions, the answer sheet, and just what kinds of questions you'll be expected to know for this test! Today, you'll find out the major math areas that are tested and I'll also show you how to fill in the special grids on the answer sheet. Did you know that you need to know how to use a specific type of calculator? We'll discuss that calculator in this first lesson so you can practice using it throughout your math preparation.

Friday - Lesson 02

In this lesson, you'll what I think is the single most important math concept you need to understand and master to be successful on the GED® Math Test: The order of operations. Once you know the specific order in which you must do the operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—when solving math problems, you're on your way to success!

Week 2

Wednesday - Lesson 03

With some math concepts under your belt, you're ready to address specific strategies for solving word problems on the GED® Math Test. Today, we'll also look at the formula guide provided for your use during the test. The formula guide is a great tool that students often overlook. It's a great resource and it's right in the test booklet, but you have to know how to use it!

Friday - Lesson 04

Many GED® Math books end with algebra topics. I like to introduce the algebra concepts early on so you can use algebra to help you solve other math problems. Don't panic if you've never studied any algebra, or if you think that we're starting with the most difficult topics! Understanding some beginning algebra will be a huge asset when you study all of the other math topics.

Week 3

Wednesday - Lesson 05

Today's topic is perhaps the most dreaded math subject of all time: Fractions. But they aren't really that bad, and there are only five things that you must be able to do with fractions on the GED® test: add, subtract, multiply, divide, and compare fractions. Once you know that, you'll realize that you can conquer this topic with no problem.

Friday - Lesson 06

If you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide money amounts, then you're halfway to success with decimals. After we cover the basic operations in today's lesson, we'll explore the relationship between decimals and fractions. You may be surprised at how closely they're related!

Week 4

Wednesday - Lesson 07

If fractions and decimals are related, then you'll soon see that percents are part of the family, too. Today, I'll show you how they all fit together after we look at a process that will help you conquer percent problems.

Friday - Lesson 08

Knowing about proportions can be a real lifesaver on the GED® Math Test. You can use them to solve percent, geometry, algebra, and ever statistics problems. You'll even find them useful for your everyday living! You'll find out how in today's lesson. We'll also talk about statistics, which will help you understand the world of probability and measures of central tendency. These concepts may sound scary, but I'll show you how to overcome them!

Week 5

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Angles and triangles are some of my favorite math topics to teach, so I always look forward to this lesson. With the different shapes and sizes, the problems are like fun puzzles! I've included lots of pictures in this lesson to help you visualize the problems. You'll get to put your knowledge of proportions to work in this lesson, too.

Friday - Lesson 10

Ever wonder how to figure out how much paint to buy to cover the walls of your living room? How about how many yards of carpet or how many feet of fence for your yard? Maybe you're lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your backyard? How much water do you need to fill it up? You'll find out how to find the answers to all of these questions in this lesson. It's a lesson that's guaranteed to help you with problems well after you've passed the GED® Math Test!

Week 6

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Coordinate geometry combines concepts from geometry and algebra. To answer these kinds of questions on the GED® Math Test, you'll need to be able to read and plot points on a coordinate plane. So today, you'll see the actual grid that's used on the answer sheets and learn tricks that will help you to read the coordinates. You'll use a variety of the math skills that you've learned in earlier lessons today, so it's a chance to evaluate how much you've learned so far!

Friday - Lesson 12

In our last lesson, we'll go through a quick review of solving equations as we look at a special equation called the inequality. There are a couple more formulas that are important to add to your bag of math skills, so we'll conclude the course with a look at scientific notation and some test-taking tips.

Requirements

Internet access, e-mail, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser. You should have the ability to read and write the English language at a high school level. You should also be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers. If you are testing in the United States, you should have an understanding of the English measurement system. If you're testing in Canada, you should be familiar with the metric system.