SAMPLE GED PRACTICE TEST

All sample GED Questions taken from the

2002 Test of General Educational Development:
A Preview published by the GED Testing Service

This sample for self instructional purposes only

Actual GED questions vary. Remember you cannot
Take the official GED test online. For your local
GED test center call 1-800-62-MY-GED.

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Sample GED Test 1: Language Arts Writing, Part 1

Directions:

Choose the one best answer to each question.

Some of the sentences may contain errors in organization, sentence
structure, usage, or mechanics. A few of the sentences, however,
may be correct as written.

Read the sentences carefully and then answer the questions

based on the sentences you have just read.

For each question, choose the answer that would result in the
most effective writing of the sentence or sentences.

Sample Business Document

Jonathan Quinn, Employment Director

Capital City Gardening Services
4120 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Dear Mr. Quinn:

(1) I would like to apply for the landscape supervisor position

advertised in the Sunday, April 30th
edition of the Washington Post.
(2) My work experience and education combined with your need for
an experienced landscape supervisor has resulted in a relationship
that would profit both parties.
(3) In May, I graduated from Prince William Community College.
(4) Graduating with an Associate of Arts Degree in horticulture.
(5) My concentration within the program which was designing
gardens and choosing the plants for particular soils and regions.

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(6) In addition, I took a bunch of other tough courses in college that
my uncle thought were really, really hard and which forced me to
lose an awful lot of sleep.
(7) I have also had considerable experience in supervising.
(8) For several years, having worked with a local company, Burke
Nursery and Garden Center, and had been responsible for
supervising the four members of the planting staff.
(9) Our community know Capital City Gardening Services is a
company that does excellent work and strives hard to meet the
demands of its clients.
(10) As my references will attest, I am a diligent worker and have
the respect of both my coworkers and my customers.
(11) I will be, as a landscape supervisor
at your firm, able to put to use the skills and knowledge that I have
obtained and continue the tradition you have established.
(12) I have included a copy of my resume detailing my principal
interests education, and past work experience.
(13) Photographs of the landscape projects I have supervised as
well as drawings of proposed projects are also included.
(14) The opportunities that this position provides and the many
challenges that this position provides
are things that I am excited about in regards to this position.
(15) Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing
from you.

Sincerely,
Patrick Jones

3
Sample Test Questions

Test 1: Language Arts Writing, Part I

1. Sentence 2: My work experience and education combined with
your need for an experienced landscape supervisor has resulted
in a relationship that would profit both
parties.

What correction should be made to sentence 2?

(1) insert a comma after education

(2) change combined to combine
(3) change has resulted to would result
(4) replace profit with prophet
(5) replace parties. with party’s.

2. Sentences 3 and 4: In May, I graduated from Prince William

Community College. Graduating with an Associate of Arts
Degree in horticulture.

Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of the text?
If the original is the best way, choose option (1).

(1) College. Graduating

(2) College, I graduated
(3) College. A graduation
(4) College. Having graduated
(5) College with

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3. Sentence 5: My concentration within the program which was
designing gardens and choosing the appropriate plants for
particular soils and regions.

Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of the text? If
the original is the best way, choose option (1).

(1) which was designing gardens and choosing

(2) was designing gardens and choosing
(3) was designing gardens and to choose
(4) was to design gardens and choosing
(5) was designing gardens but also choosing

5. Sentence 6: In addition, I took a bunch of other tough courses

in college that my uncle
thought were really, really hard and which forced me to lose an
awful lot of sleep.

Which revision should be made to sentence 6?

(1) move sentence 6 to follow sentence 1

(2) move sentence 6 to follow sentence 7
(3) move sentence 6 to follow sentence 9
(4) remove sentence 6
(5) no revision is necessary

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5. Sentence 8: For several years having worked with a local
company, Burke Garden Center, and have been responsible for
supervising the four members of the planting staff.

What correction should be made to sentence 8?

(1) replace years having with years. I have

(2) remove the comma after company
(3) replace and having with also having
(4) change have been to having been
(5) no correction is necessary

6. Sentence 9: Our community know Capital City Gardening

Services is a company that does excellent work and strives hard
to meet the demands of its clients.

What correction should be made to sentence 9?

(1) change know to knows

(2) change is to are
(3) change does to do
(4) change strives to strive
(5) change its to it’s

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7. Sentence 11: I will be, as a landscape supervisor at your firm,
able to put to use the skills and knowledge that I have obtained
from my professional career and education.
If you rewrote sentence 11 beginning with
As a landscape supervisor at you firm,

(1) and able I will be

(2) I will be able
(3) putting and using with ability
(4) obtaining my professional career education
(5) able to put to use I will be

8. Which sentence below would be most effective at the beginning

of paragraph B?

(1) There are many companies in this community and Capital City
Gardening Services is one of them.
(2) A company such as yours is known for a lot of things, especially
the beautiful fountain, great billboard, and large parking area.
(3) Like carpet cleaning services, gardening services range in cost.
(4) A company is only as good as its reputation.
(5) Gosh, I don’t know where to begin when saying good things
about your company.

7
9. Sentence 12: I have included a copy of my resume detailing my
principal interests education, and past work experience.

What correction should be made to sentence 12?

(1) insert a comma after resume

(2) replace principal with principle
(3) insert a comma after interests
(4) replace past with passed
(5) no correction in necessary
10. Sentence 14: The opportunities that this position provides
and the many challenges that this position provides are things
that I am excited about in regards to this position.

The most effective revision of sentence 14 would begin with which

group of words?

(1) The opportunities and challenges, in regards to being excited,

(2) This position with challenges and this position with
opportunities
(3) Things of opportunities and things of challenges
(4) Things, opportunities, challenges, and position
(5) I am excited about the opportunities and challenges

11. Sentence 15: Thank you for your consideration, I look

forward to hearing from you.

Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of the text? If
the original is the best way, choose option (1).

(1) consideration, I look

(2) consideration, but I look
(3) consideration, and I look
(4) consideration, having looked
(5) consideration, in addition I look
8
12. Which revision would make the letter more effective?

Begin a new paragraph

(1) with sentence 3

(2) with sentence 5
(3) with sentence 8
(4) with sentence 10
(5) with sentence 13

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Answers to Sample Language Arts Writing Questions

1. 3
2. 5
3. 2
4. 4
5. 1
6. 1
7. 2
8. 4
9. 3
10. 5
11. 3
12. 1

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WRITING ESSAY GUIDELINES

Introduction – Paragraph One

Topic Sentence
State Your Position
Overview Main Points

The Body

Paragraph Two – Support for first main point

Paragraph Three – Support for second main point
Paragraph Four – Support for third main point

The Conclusion – Paragraph (Last Paragraph)

Restate Topic Sentence

Restate Your position
Conclude Your Essay

11
Test 1: Language Arts Writing, Part II
GED 2002 Essay Scoring Guide

GED scorers follow these guidelines in determing how to score your

essay. Read and understand the different levels so that you can
better include the factors that determine the highest levels. You will
gain significant advantage if you write an effective essay. With a bit
of planning and some practice writing sessions there is no reason
that your essay cannot be scored a Level 4. Essays are expected to
conform with the standards of Edited American English (EAE).
These standards hold that the essay writer is able to edit materials
for language usage errors in academic and real-life documents.

Level 4 writing is effective because the writer presents a clearly

focused main idea that addresses the prompt while controlling both
the language and sentence structure. The response establishes a clear
and logical organization and achieves coherent development with
specific and relevant details and examples. Word choice is varied
and precise, and there is consistent control of Edited American
English (EAE), although a few minor errors may be present.
As a result of these combined characteristics, the reader understands
and easily follows the expression of ideas in the response.

Level 3 writing is adequate because the writer uses the prompt to

establish a main idea and generally controls both language and
sentence structure. There is an identifiable organizational plan.
The writer incorporates specific focused detail, but the development
may be uneven. Word choice is appropriate, and the conventions of
EAE are generally correct; the errors that are present do not interfere
with comprehension. The reader of a Level 3 essay understands the
writer’s ideas.

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Level 2 writing is marginal because the writer addresses the
prompt but may lose focus or provide few specific details. The
response shows some evidence of an organizational plan and has
some development, but it may be limited to a listing, repetition, or
generalizations. There is a narrow range of word choice, sometimes
including inappropriate selections, and control of sentence structure
or the conventions of EAE may be inconsistent. As a result of these
combined characteristics, the reader of a Level 2 essay occasionally
has difficulty understanding or following the expression of ideas.

Level 1 writing is inadequate because the writer has little or no

success in establishing and developing a focus. The writer fails to
organize ideas or provides little development; the response usually
lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information. There
may be minimal, if any, control of sentence structure and the
conventions of EAE, or word choice may be ineffective and often
inappropriate. The reader of the Level 1 essay has difficulty
identifying or following the writer’s ideas.

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 GED ESSAY
After you have studied the factors in determining the Level 1-4
essay guidelines, write your essay on the following topic:

If you could make one positive change to your

daily life, what would that change be?

Be sure to include specific examples and details.

Read through your essay twice and determine which level your
essay may have been scored.

If you wish to be scored on your essay, email it to

myged@ymail.com

REMEMBER TO SPELL AND GRAMMER

CHECK YOUR ESSAY

14
Social Studies
Sample Test Questions

This passage was adapted from a variety of general sources and is

considered an excellent World History topic because it is
fundamental to both U.S. and Canadian high school curriculum and
experience, and examines events and concepts that relate to many
peoples all over the world.

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following interpretation of history.

The history of the world is filled with stories of people migrating.

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another as
they seek a new home. People who migrate are called immigrants.
Immigrants decide to leave their homes because of “push” and
“pull” forces. Famine, over population, few resources, war, and
religious and political persecution “push” immigrants to move to
another country. Hopes for employment and a better life “pull”
immigrants to new places.

Millions of people have migrated to North America since the 1600s.

The Spanish, French, English, and Dutch were the first European
settlers to establish colonies. They settled in lands originally
populated by native people from Asia. These Europeans came to
North America in search of gold, religious converts, and new places
to live and practice their beliefs. A large number of people from
Africa were driven from their homes, at this time, to be enslaved to
work in colonies in North America.

Throughout the 19th century, immigrants looking for employment

came to North America from Japan, China, and southeastern
Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s, Southeast Asians, Latin Americans,
and Caribbeans migrated to North America. Many of these
immigrants fled from war-torn countries, political persecution, and
economic difficulties.

15
1. Which of the following observations about migration to North
America is made in the presented interpretation?

(1) Immigrants no longer come to North America.

(2) Most immigrants were forced to migrate.
(3) Migration was not worth the trouble.
(4) Most immigrants came from similar cultures.
(5) Immigrants came from many countries.

2. The government of a country may restrict the number of

immigrants allowed to enter that country. These restrictions on
immigration are most likely based on what belief?

(1) An economy can support unlimited numbers of people.

(2) The “push” factors justify most immigration.
(3) Immigrants enrich the culture of a country.
(4) A country has a limited number of jobs and services.
(5) A government should not interfere with the migration of people.

3. Which is an opinion rather than a fact about immigrants to

North America related to the passage?

Immigrants
(1) traveled long distances to find a better life
(2) migrated to find employment
(3) learned to live in a foreign culture
(4) escaped from political persecution
(5) found a better life

16
4. Why did most Southeast Asian immigrants to North America
during the 1970s and 1980s leave their countries?

Because they were

(1) refugees fleeing from war in their countries
(2) people escaping from natural disasters
(3) wealthy business owners looking for new markets
(4) members of religious groups hoping to spread their beliefs
(5) people happy with conditions in their countries

5. Does the information in the interpretation presented support

the fact that the “push- pull” theory of immigration describes
why many groups of people immigrated to North America?

(1) No. Some groups forced Native Americans to give up their lands
in North America.
(2) Yes. Asians, Europeans, and Africans were attracted to North
America or forced to settle there.
(3) No. Famine and war caused many Europeans to emigrate from
North America or forced to settle there.
(4) Yes. Many groups decided to return to their homelands after
traveling to North America.
(5) No. The theory applies to a few immigrant groups, not most who
settled in North America.

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U.S. Geography
Sample Test Questions

This general map of agricultural regions illustrates an important

topic in U.S. high school curriculum – the spatial organizations of
key economic activities in a free enterprise economy.

Questions 10 and 11 refer to the following map of

agricultural regions in the United States.

6. In which U.S. region would manufacturers be most likely to

build cereal factories if they wanted to pay the lowest fuel costs
for transportation of grain to the factories?

(1) Rocky Mountain area

(2) Southwest
(3) New England
(4) Atlantic Coast
(5) Midwest

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7. The United States has enjoyed a high standard of living for
many years.

Which of the following statements best helps to explain this

historical development in the United States AND is supported by
information on the map?

(1) Different climates and soils produce a wide variety and surplus
of crops.
(2) The United States uses the Great Lakes for transporting farm
products.
(3) Some regions of the country receive more rain than others.
(4) The Northeastern states supply the country with a surplus of
grains.
(5) The United States is a large country with plenty of good land.

19
Answers and Explanations for Social Studies Questions

1. The answer is (5). This comprehension question requires the

examinee to restate an important idea from the passage about
immigrants that came to North America. The passage gives no
evidence for (1); gives some evidence of forced migration but does
not apply it to all groups (2); gives insufficient evidence for this
opinion (3); and clearly refutes (4).

2. The answer is (4). This application question requires the

examinee to focus on a universal immigration issue that is related to
the passage but newly introduced by the question. It is a
general case of a concrete situation, that is the regulation of
immigration to a country that faces all countries. The concept of
scarcity (4) is the only logical reason for restrictions among the
alternatives offered.

3. The answer is (5). (1), (2), (3), and (4) were all facts stated or
implied in the passage. (5) is what
many immigrants have hoped for, but whether they have found a
better life remains unknown.

4. The answer is (1). This analysis question requires the examinee to

know the reason for a group’s migration to North America.
Information in the passage implies, but does not directly explain, the
reason. Prior knowledge is required to choose the answer when
distinguishing between p0lausible alternatives (2), (3), and (4).
(5) does not qualify as an accurate reason for humans to migrate.

20
5. The answer is (2). This evaluation question requires the examinee
to determine if the information in the passage provides sufficient
detail to support the ideas that the “push-pull” theory of
immigration does apply to the history of North America.
The passage describes how most immigrants to the continent,
including Asians, Europeans, and Africans, were either “pushed” or
“pulled” to immigrate for a variety of reasons. Furthermore, the
passage describes how the immigration experience of Latin
Americans and peoples from the Caribbean fit into the theory.
(1) does not address the theory; (3)gives contradictory reasoning for
a “no” response, and supports the theory; (4) is not supported by the
passage; and (5) contradicts the information given in the passage.
Prior knowledge of immigration history will aid the student in this
question.

6. The answer is (5). This application question requires the

examinee to know the geographical regions of the United States and
understand the information on the map. Furthermore, the
examinee must use their understanding about the costs of producing
an agricultural product especially in relation to the costs of shipping
raw materials to refineries. Large-scale grain production takes place
in the Midwest (5) and savings on labor and fuel costs would occur
if cereal factories were located in that region.

7. The answer is (1). This evaluation question requires the examinee

to comprehend the concept “standard of living” and understand the
information in the agricultural regions map. The examinee must
recognize that one valid reason for the U.S. economic prosperity –
one that is supported by the information of the map – is its vast
natural resources (1). The map shows or implies transportation
options on the Great Lakes (2) and uneven distribution of
precipitation (3), but these facts lend little support to the
generalization about U.S. standard of living. (4) is not true, and
(5) does not provide the kind of important detail needed that
(1), the answer, does

21
Science - Biology
Sample Test Questions

The hemoglobin inside our red blood cells carries oxygen around the
body in our blood stream and releases this vital molecule into the
tissues of our bodies. Carbon monoxide, however reacts with
hemoglobin so it is not able to carry oxygen. This situation can
cause many illnesses to our bodies and can be fatal in some cases.
Freezing cold weather can also have a traumatic effect on us.

1. A driver is stranded in his car in a snowstorm in the

mountains of Northern Colorado. In developing a survival
strategy, the driver must cope with the possibility of freezing as
well as the toxic effects of carbon monoxide in the automobile
exhaust. Which of the following is the best course of action?

(1) Keep the windows closed and the motor running. Go to sleep.
(2) Open the windows, turn the motor off, and go to sleep.
(3) Keep the windows open and the motor running. Stay awake.
(4) Keep one window open and the motor running some of the time.
(5) Keep the windows closed and the motor running some of the
time. Stay awake.

2. Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that “Every

action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Which of the
following examples best illustrate this Law?

(1) A player kicks a soccer ball.

(2) A rower draws his oar back through the water and the kayak
moves forward.
(3) A rolling golf ball hits a rock and bounces into the rough.
(4) A softball remains in one spot.
(5) A skier “runs” into a tree on the downhill slope.

22
A pedigree indicates the inheritance pattern for a specific set of
traits in a group of living things. This pedigree chart shows the
inheritance pattern for three generations for human hair texture and
it appears to be an example of blending inheritance. When an
individual has one straight haired and one curly-haired gene, the
result is wavy hair, the intermediate trait.
The squares on the pedigree chart indicate the males and the circles,
the females.

3. In generation three (F2) how many wavy-haired males are

present?

(1) 0
(2) 1
(3) 2
(4) 3
(5) 4

A pedigree indicates the inheritance pattern for a specific set of

traits in a group of living things. This pedigree chart shows the
inheritance pattern for three generations for human hair texture and
it appears to be an example of blending inheritance. When an
individual has one straight haired and one curly-haired gene, the
result is wavy hair, the intermediate trait. The squares on the
pedigree chart indicate the males and the circles, the females.

23
4. If two wavy-haired people mate, what are the odds of their
child having wavy hair?

(1) 10%
(2) 25%
(3) 50%
(4) 75%
(5) 100%

24
Answers to Sample Science Test Questions

Question 1. Answer 4
Question 2. Answer 2
Question 3. Answer 3
Question 4. Answer 3

25
Language Arts, Reading
Sample Passages and Test Questions

Questions 1 through 6 refer to the following excerpt.

WHY IS A GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK SO IMPORTANT?

“Well,” said I, “at least the fellow (Mr. Partridge) was hospitable to
travelers.”

“I would not call it that.”

“We’re ten people. Nine of us and Mister Epps, and he fed and
housed us all, and he let us enjoy his fire and shelter our animals. I’d
call that hospitable, Father.” Though I did not like Mr. Partridge, in
those days I sometimes found myself feeling sorry for individuals
that the Old Man harshly condemned.

“You don’t know him as well as I.”

“Tell me, then. Tell me what you know about Mister Partridge that I
don’t. Beyond his marrying a homely woman for her property.”

“Trust me, Owen.”

“Father, I’m trying to!”

We walked in silence for a while, and then Father said, “You

remember when he came out to help me hitch the team to the
wagon, while the rest of you were tending the beeves and sheep, and
Ruth and Mary and the girls were inside the house?”

“I saw him out there, yes.”

26
“Well, the man came up to me and asked for payment for our food
and lodging. He presented me with an itemized bill, written out.” It
was an embarrassment to Father. Not because he had no money to
give Mr. Partridge, he said, but because he had not expected it. If he
had anticipated Mr. Partridge’s charges, he would have negotiated
an acceptable arrangement beforehand, and failing that, we would
have camped someplace alongside the river. Mr. Partridge had
surprised Father, and he found himself painfully embarrassed by
it…

“I must make a confession, Owen,” the Old Man went on. I said
nothing, and he continued. “It concerns Mister Partridge. The man’s
request for payment confused me. I told him that I could not pay
him with money, because I had none. I’m ashamed to say that I gave
him the instead the clock.”

“The clock? You mean grandfather’s clock?”

“Yes.”

I was astonished. Except for his chest of books, Great-Grandfather

Brown’s mantel clock was Father’s most valued household
possession. Made of cherrywood, it was a treasure that had been
entrusted to Father’s care years earlier by his own father; it was
perhaps his only family heirloom. It made no sense to me. How
could he have handed it over to Mr. Partridge so easily?
And in exchange for so little – a single night’s lodging.

Russell Banks, excerpted from Cloudsplitter (New York:

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1998).

27
1. Why does the narrator’s father state, “Trust me, Owen”
(line 10)?

He:

(1) is reluctant to reveal his decision

(2) frequently does not trust his son
(3) is too busy to explain to his son
(4) wants to be the only one in charge
(5) wants to protect his son from Partridge’s anger

2. What is the effect of Owen’s emphatic statement,

“Father, I’m trying to!” (line 11)?

The statement

(1) angers his father so much that he becomes silent

(2) shows his father that Owen is not interested
(3) persuades his father to tell Owen what has happened
(4) shows that Owen is easily angered
(5) reveals that Owen trusts his father completely

3. Why was the father embarrassed and confused by Mr.

Partridge’s itemized bill?

The father

(1) had already negotiated a fair price

(2) believed that Partridge was joking
(3) once helped Partridge
(4) had not expected to be charged at all
(5) had hoped to sell the clock at a later date

28
4. Which of the following best describes Owen’s father?

(1) modest
(2) impulsive
(3) stubborn
(4) reserved
(5) selfish

5. What is the best conclusion about the group of ten people

who are traveling together?

(1) They are a large religious group.

(2) They are a family riding in a horse-drawn wagon.
(3) They have only recently met.
(4) They are all good friends with Mr. Partridge.
(5) They all disagree about the value of the clock.

6. How might the events in the passage affect Owen’s future

dealings with his father?

Owen will probably

(1) be uninvolved with his father

(2) realize his father has weaknesses
(3) look to his siblings for support
(4) assume responsibility for the family
(5) criticize his father for his stupidity

29
Answers to Language Arts, Reading Sample Test Questions

Question 1. Answer 1
Question 2. Answer 3
Question 3. Answer 4
Question 4. Answer 4
Question 5. Answer 2
Question 5. Answer 2

30
Mathematics
AREA of a:
Square Area= side2
Rectangle Area= length x width
Parallelogram Area= base x height
Triangle Area= ½ base x height
Trapezoid Area= ½ (base1+ base2) x height
Circle Area= π x radius2;
π is approximately equal to 3.14
_________________________________________________________________________
PERIMETER of a:
Square Perimeter= 4 x side
Rectangle Perimeter= 2 x length + 2 x width
Triangle Perimeter= side1 + side2+ side3
__________________________________________________________________
CIRCUMFERENCE of a:
circle Circumference= π x diameter;
π is approximately equal to 3.14
_________________________________________________________________________
VOLUME of a:
Cube Volume= edge3
Rectangular solid Volume= length x width x height
Square pyramid Volume= 1/3 x (base edge)2 x height
Cylinder Volume= π x radius2 x height;
π is approximately 3.14
Cone Volume= 1/3 x π x radius2 x height
π is approximately equal to 3.14
_________________________________________________________________________
COORDINATE GEOMETRY distance between points= √(x2-x1)2 + (y2-y1)2
(x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are two points in a plane.
Slope of a line= y2-y1 ;
x2-x1
(x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are two points on the line.

_________________________________________________________________________
PYTHAGOREAN RELATIONSHIP a2 + b2= c2; a and b are legs and c the
hypotenuse of a right triangle

_________________________________________________________________________
TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS sin= _opposite_ cos= __adjacent_ tan= opposite
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent

31
_______________________________________________________________________
MEASURES OF CENTRAL mean= x1 + x2 + … + xn,
TENDENCY n
where the x’s are the values for which a
mean is desired, and n is the total number of
values for x.
median= the middle value of an odd number
of ordered scores, and halfway between the
two middle values of an even number of
ordered scores.
__________________________________________________________________
SIMPLE INTEREST interest= principal x rate x time

__________________________________________________________________
DISTANCE distance= rate x time

_________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL COST total cost= (number of units) x (price per unit)

32
Sample Mathematics Test Questions

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following information.

After several interviews, Dedra has narrowed her choices to two

jobs. She has used the table
below to organize data that will help her make the final decision.

Starting Salary Raises Transportation

Costs
Applied $26,000 per 4% after six 20 gallons of
Systems year months; gas per
6% of current month plus $50
salary per
after one year month for
parking
NetWorks $2200 per 10% after one Bus fare of $2
month year per
day plus
subway fare
of $4.50 per
day

1. If Dedra chooses the job at NetWorks, what would be her

ANNUAL salary after she had worked for them for one year?

(1) $ 2,420
(2) $22,000
(3) $24,200
(4) $26,400
(5) $29,040

33
2. What can Dedra expect her monthly cost for transportation to be
if she chooses to work for Applied Systems?

(1) $ 50
(2) $ 70
(3) $ 80
(4) $170
(5) Not enough information is given.

3. A painter mixes gallons of paint in a large cylindrical bucket so

that there will be no difference in color between individual gallons.
The bucket is shown below.

If one gallon of paint has a volume of approximately 8000 cm3,

what is the maximum number of whole gallons of paint that can be
poured into the bucket?

(1) 3
(2) 7
(3) 9
(4) 11
(5) 37

_______________________________________________________

34
4. A surveyor made the measurements shown in the diagram below.

In feet, what is the measure of AB, the straight-line distance across

the stream?

(1) 50
(2) 75
(3) 80
(4) 100
(5) 150

35
Questions 5 and 6 refer to the following information and graph.

Five people aged 40 to 50 who exercised regularly had their resting

heart rates recorded. The results are shown in the graph above.

5. Based on the graph above, which of the following would be a

reasonable resting heart rate for a person aged 40 to 50 who
regularly exercised for 20 minutes?

(1) 77
(2) 67
(3) 57
(4) 52
(5) 48

6. Which of the following statements is a reasonable conclusion

based on the data in the graph above?

(1) The resting heart rate of a person in this age group is not affected
by regular exercise.
(2) Regular exercise is likely to increase the resting heart rate of a
person in this age group.
(3) A person’s resting heart rate is related to the person’s age.
(4) Regular exercise by a person in this age group would likely
lower her or his resting heart rate.
(5) As a person gets older, her/his resting heart rate will increase.
36
7. Cabezos Construction Company has a clause in the contract for its
latest building that rewards the company for completing the project
early. The company will receive a bonus of $1000 if they are one
day early and an additional $1500 for each day more than one. The
formula is B = 1000 + 1500(d – 1), where B is the amount of the
bonus and d is the number of days they complete construction early.
If the company completes the project 10 days early, what will be the
amount of their bonus?

(1) $15,000
(2) $14,500
(3) $14,000
(4) $13,500
(5) $10,000

8. Shane is working with a spreadsheet on his computer. The

spreadsheet will calculate the cost of the wood trim around
rectangular windows based on the dimensions of the window and
the price of the wood. The following entries have been made.
Length of Width of Price per foot Cost of trim for
window in window in of window
feet feet wood trim
A7 B7 C7

Shane wants to enter a formula in the last column so that the

spreadsheet will calculate the final cost of the job. Which of the
following formulas should he enter? Helpful information can be
found on the Formula page at the beginning of this group of
questions.

(1) A7 x B7 x C7
(2) (2 x A7 + 2 x B7) x C7
(3) A7 + B7 + C7
(4) (A7 + B7) x C7
(5) A7 x B7 + C7

37
The following three questions are specific examples of items likely
to be found on the calculator portion of the new Mathematics Test.

9. Last month the balance in Tisha’s checkbook was $1219.17.

Since then she has deposited her latest paycheck of $2425.66 and
written checks for $850.00 (rent), $235.89 (car payment), and
$418.37 (credit card payment). What is the current balance in
Tisha’s checking account?

(1) $ 921.40
(2) $2140.57
(3) $3215.27
(4) $3929.92
(5) $5149.09

38
10.

1000 square feet

A farmer wants to plant a rectangular field that will cover an area of

1000 square feet. To minimize the amount of fencing around the
field, she knows the rectangle should be a square. To find the length
of a side of a square (s) when its area (A) is know, the following
formula is used: s = A. Rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot, what
would be the length of a side of the farmer’s square field if it
contains an area of 1000 square feet?

(1) 28.7
(2) 29.4
(3) 31.6
(4) 36.2
(5) 41.8

11. The warehouse is shipping 6832 calculators. If each box can

contain 28 calculators, how many boxes will be needed for the
shipment?

(1) 79
(2) 154
(3) 169
(4) 244
(5) 239

39
The following four questions are specific examples of alternate
format items.

12. Byron purchased a $5000 certificate of deposit (CD) at his local

bank. The CD will pay him 7% simple interest at the end of two
years. In dollars, how much INTEREST will Byron have earned
from his CD at the end of the two year period?

Mark your answer in the circles in the grid on your answer sheet.

13. To test the effect of a fertilizer, pea plants are measured each
week. If one pea plant measured 28.4 centimeters this week and 16.1
centimeters last week, by how many centimeters did it grow during
the last week?

Mark your answer in the circles in the grid on your answer sheet.

14. One ingredient in the sauce Kyle is preparing for tonight’s

dinner is ½ teaspoon of red pepper. If the recipe he is using is
designed to make enough sauce for 8 servings but Kyle is only
making 4 servings, what fraction of a teaspoon of red pepper should
he use?

Mark your answer in the circles in the grid on your answer sheet.

15. Show the location of the point whose coordinates are (3, -4).

Mark your answer on the coordinate plane grid on your answer

sheet.

40
 Coordinate Plane Grid Answer Sheet

12. 13. 14. 15.

41
Answers to Mathematics Sample Test Questions

1. 5 7. 1
2. 5 8. 2
3. 3 9. 2
4. 4 10. 3
5. 2 11. 4
6. 4

For the alternate format questions, the solution will be explained and
the grids completed in an acceptable manner.

12. The formula for simple interest is found on the Formula page in
the front of the GED Mathematics Test and at the beginning of this
group of questions.

simple interest = principal x rate x time

simple interest = $5000 x 0.07 x 2
simple interest = $700

To show that the answer can be right-, left-, or center-justified,

three acceptable griddings of this response are shown below.

0 0
700 0 0

42
13. The amount of growth is the difference between this week’s
measurement and last week’s measurement.
amount of growth = this week’s measure – last week’s measure
amount of growth = 28.4 – 16.1
amount of growth = 12.3 (centimeters)
One acceptable gridding of this response is shown below.
1 2 . 3

14. Since Kyle is serving 4 from a recipe designed for 8, he needs

4/8, or ½, the amount of each ingredient. One half of ½ teaspoon is
found by multiplying.

(1/2) x (1/2) = 1/4

This could be gridded using the decimal equivalent of ¼, namely

0.25, but the fraction is gridded below to illustrate the use of the
fraction bar.

1/ 4

43
NOTES:
In the last two examples, a decimal answer and a fraction were
gridded. Mixed numbers, such as 3 ½ CANNOT be gridded. They
must be changed to decimal or fraction form. In the case of 3 ½, the
answer could be gridded as 3.5 or 7/2. Answers for alternate-format
questions using the standard grid shown in the previous three
examples will NEVER be a negative number, such as –8, since the
grid does not accommodate negative numbers. Both of the points
mentioned above are included in the directions for alternate format
questions found on the actual test.

15. The coordinates in the ordered pair are listed with the x-, or
horizontal, coordinate first and the y-, or vertical, coordinate second.
The point (3, -4) is located in the lower-right, or fourth, quadrant of
the graph.

44