How to Succeed in GED Reasoning Through Language Arts

Understand the Structure of the GED RLA Test

The GED RLA test is composed of three main parts:

• Reading comprehension: Analyze both literary and informational texts.
• Extended response (essay): Write a clear, well-organized essay based on a prompt.
• Language conventions: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and word usage.

This section is approximately 150 minutes long, including multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop questions, and one extended response (essay). Familiarizing yourself with the structure is the first step toward success.

Improve Your Reading Comprehension Skills

The reading portion of the GED RLA assesses your ability to analyze a variety of texts, including literary works and informational pieces. You will need to comprehend both the explicit information and the underlying ideas presented in these texts.

Key Strategies:

• Active reading: Engage with the text by highlighting key points, unfamiliar words, and main ideas. This improves retention and comprehension.
• Identifying main ideas: Focus on the core themes and how the author presents them. Understanding this helps in answering comprehension questions accurately.
• Analyzing structure and tone: Pay attention to how the text is organized and the tone used by the author. Knowing whether a text is argumentative, narrative, or descriptive helps with understanding its purpose.

Practice: Regularly read a variety of texts such as news articles, essays, short stories, and reports. After reading, summarize the main points and reflect on the author's purpose and tone. Additionally, use GED reading practice questions to become familiar with the exam format.

Master the Extended Response (Essay)

The extended response portion of the GED RLA requires you to write an essay in response to a prompt. This part of the test evaluates your ability to craft a logical, well-organized, and clearly written essay that uses evidence from provided passages to support your points.

Key Strategies:

• Plan your essay: Before writing, take a few minutes to outline your argument and how you will structure your response.
• Thesis statement: Start with a clear thesis statement that defines your main argument.
• Use evidence: Support your argument with relevant quotes from the provided texts and explain how they reinforce your points.
• Organize logically: Structure your essay with clear paragraphs for each main idea, and ensure that your argument flows logically.
• Conclude strongly: Summarize your key points in a clear and concise conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

Practice: Write sample essays using GED prompts, focusing on structure, clarity, and argumentation. Time yourself to complete the essay in 45 minutes, just as you will need to during the actual test.

Sharpen Your Grammar and Language Skills

The language conventions part of the GED RLA tests your grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and word usage. Improving these skills is essential for both the multiple-choice questions and your essay.

Key Strategies:

• Review grammar rules: Revisit fundamental grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and sentence structure. Pay close attention to common errors like comma splices and run-on sentences.
• Recognize sentence structure: Practice identifying fragments and run-on sentences and learn how to revise them to create coherent sentences.
• Pay attention to word usage: Watch for homophones like their/there/they’re, and ensure proper word usage in context.

Practice: Use grammar exercises and online resources to practice correcting sentences. Focus on identifying punctuation, sentence structure, and word usage errors. Also, practice with GED language conventions questions to improve under exam conditions.

Time Management

The GED RLA section is lengthy, and time management is crucial to ensure that you complete each section within the given time limits. Here’s a breakdown of how to allocate your time effectively:

Time Breakdown:

• Reading comprehension: Spend about 1-2 minutes per question, ensuring you understand the text without wasting too much time on any single question.
• Extended response: Allocate 5-10 minutes to plan your essay, 30 minutes to write, and 5 minutes to review your work.
• Language conventions: For grammar questions, pace yourself to avoid spending excessive time on one question. Move on if you’re stuck.

Use Practice Tests to Your Advantage

Practice tests are one of the most effective tools to prepare for the GED RLA. By simulating the real test environment, they help you become familiar with the test format, question types, and time limits.

Key Strategies:

• Simulate test conditions: Take practice tests in a quiet environment and set a timer to match real test conditions. This will help you manage your time and stay focused during the actual exam.
• Review your mistakes: After completing each practice test, carefully review your incorrect answers and focus on improving areas where you struggled the most.