Wednesday, November 15, 2006

GED Math Tip: Understand Your Math Skills

GED Math Tip #2: Understand Your Math Skills
Now that you know a little about the GED math test, it is time to focus on YOU. How do you feel about math? When you think about having to solve a fraction, decimal, or percent problem.... do you have a feeling of intense frustration or helplessness? Do you feel confident or terrified?
  • Part of your frustration may come from not knowing what your math skills are. Learningtrends has a free pre-ged math assessment to help you determine what you know and also what you don't. Taking this assessment will NOT determine all that you need to study, but it will be a start. Click here to take now.
Math Anxiety: A feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about one's ability to do math. It is an emotional reaction to math based on past unpleasant math experiences. To help overcome math anxiety, you must have good learning experiences in math.
  • If you feel anxious about math, you may want to consider learning (or reviewing) it in what I call "slivers". Learn a little at a time with continuous review. Start with what you already know and build on that knowledge.
Find a good math book that starts with whole numbers and number sense.
Determine if you know your basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Click here to access learning Quia math facts activities.
If you find that you need review in basic math facts, check out Learningtrends free math flashcards to help.
  • Leave a comment or just give a Thumbs Up or Thumbs down.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

GED Math Tip: Know what is on the GED math test.


GED Math Tip #1: Know What Is On The GED Math Test
Are you a person who wants to take the GED Math test, but doesn't know where to even begin? Or, perhaps you have already taken the test...... and failed.... and you don't know where to start?
Are you discouraged, frustrated, angry, or even ashamed because you just can't seem to learn math, the math needed to pass the GED test?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are NOT alone! It has been my experience that math is perhaps the hardest of the GED tests to pass.
It is for this reason that you must know exactly what will be on the GED test.
GED TIP #1: KNOW WHAT IS ON THE GED MATH TEST
The GED Math Test contains 50 questions and is divided into 2 parts. Part one contains 25 questions and you may use a calculator. Part two also contains 25 questions, but you may not use a calculator. Each part is 45 minutes long, for a total of 90 minutes for the test.
Questions on the GED Math test are taken from:
  • Number, Number Sense, and Operations
  • Measurement and Geometry
  • Data, Statistics, and Probability
  • Algebra, Functions, and Patterns

Top 50 Math Skills for GED Success>>>click here.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

GED Math: What do I need to know?

GED Math Help: The GED math test is two parts. Part one is 45 minutes with 25 questions, and you can use a calculator. Part two is 45 minutes with 25 questions, and you can NOT use a calculator.

Check with your GED testing center regarding the type of calculator. In Wisconsin, we are required to use a fx-260.

The make-up of the test is as follows:

25% number operations & number sense
25% measurement & geometry
25% data analysis, statistics, and probability
25% algebra, functions, and patterns

The top 50 GED math skills are >>>

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Learningtrends GED Online Results

Have you taken the free Pre-GED math assessment that Learningtrends offers? It is a wonderful resource to determine where your math skills are. It also may guide you to a math book for review of your basic math skills.

Perhaps you are wondering how to access your results on-line. Good news! Immediately after taking your assessment, your score is shown to you. It also identifies the correct answer, if you got it wrong. With a little analyzing, you will discover which math areas you need to review.

Learningtrends will also send you an email with your results along with book suggestions. I would encourage you to visit our GED bookstore.

Keep in mind that this is only an assessment for Pre-GED math skills. Learningtrends is currently working on an assessment that will help determine your GED math skills.

Monday, April 17, 2006

How long does it take to prepare for your GED?

The length of time it takes to prepare for the GED tests vary from one person to the next. I have had some students take as little as 3 months to complete taking all 5 tests. These are students who have a pretty high reading level. Others, whose reading/math/writing levels are low may take as long as a year or more. Another factor is how much time a person can devote to studying. The more you study, the quicker you will complete.

Having good GED books is also a huge benefit! Purchase one book which contains all 5 GED areas, or purchase individual books for GED math, GED writing, GED science, GED reading, and GED social studies.

Check with your state to see if you can take one test at a time (my recommendation) or if you must take all 5 tests at once.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Basic Math Facts

Learning the basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are an important part of any math foundation. I am a firm believer that every student, whether a child or adult, needs to know their basic facts, without using their fingers, a chart, or a calculator. Having a solid foundation and a firm understanding in this area will better equip a student for learning fractions, decimals, percents, algebra, geometry, etc. If a student does not knows their math facts, they will struggle in math all the way through school.

When learning or reviewing these facts, use a variety of methods and resources. Flashcards are cheap or free. Usborne makes a great Learning Wrap-up that allows hands on learning and self correcting. Steck Vaughn has a wonderful Number Power book. Learningtrends has free worksheets that can be used for reinforcement. Also check out Learningtrends free Quia interactive math activities.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

"Gift Your Teacher" Teacher Appreciation Week- May 7th


The week of May 7th, 2006 is Teacher Appreciaton Week. Don't forget to "gift" your teacher or your child's teacher.

Here are some great gift ideas, and the best part is that they are great educational books or tools at a discounted price.


  • The Illustrated Dictionary of Math is a wonderful resource for teachers and parents who homeschool or help their children with their math. It contains over 500 definitions of the main mathematical terms and concepts. It includes more than 300 illustustrations and diagrams, along with over 100 worked examples! A must have for anyone learning math or helping someone learn/understand math.

  • Learning Wrap-Ups are a great way for both children and adults to learn their basic math skills. They allow students to work at their own pace and they are self correcting. Each set contains 120 basic facts. Use alone or combine them with Learningtrends basic skills math worksheets. Learningtrends has free math worksheets that you can download for FREE.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

GED Math Practice Test

If you haven't taken Learningtrend/GED Source's practice FREE Pre-GED math assessment, you may want to. If you have, good for you!

Although Learningtrend/GEDSource's Pre-GED math assessment was not written as a GED practice test for the "official" GED test, it is a good indicator of where you are in math. You will find questions on whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, and some basic algebra.

Learn more...
Do not be discouraged if you think you did not correctly solve as many of the math problems as you hoped you would. The assessment is designed to to find the right "starting spot" for you. No matter where you "landed", it's the right spot for you. In my 10+ years of teaching experience, probably 95% of my students needed some form of math help.... before they took their test. The majority of students started with fractions, decimals, and percents.

If you find that you score below 60%, you may want to consider a Pre-GED math work book and perhaps find a tutor or a GED Learning Center for assistance. First work through the Pre-GED book, then the full GED math workbook.

If you score over 60%, you probably have a good starting foundation of the math skills needed to pass the GED Math Test. However, based on experience, you still would benefit from a good GED math workbook which will take you into the higher level GED math along with using a calculator.

The time that it takes to work through each book varies from student to student. It depends on your math ability, whether you have a tutor, and how much time you can commit to studying and practicing. I recommend that you spend no less than 1 hour a day working on your math.

Learn more...

Once you have worked through the books, contact your local GED testing center. If they have a Learning Center, they should have actual GED practice predictor tests. Taking a math predictor test will give you an even better idea of how you will score when you take the "official" GED tests.

Below you will find three books that I use and would recommend you use to brush up on your GED math test.

They are not the cheapest GED books, but they are, in my opinion, some of the best in the market! They are NEW, never been used or written in. If you have kids or plan on taking further math classes, any of these books are a great resources to keep handy for when you need a quick "lookup" for solving a math problem.

These GED books are designed to be study-at-home books, and Contemporary's books even have a great internet learning site that you can access while you work through their book! It's amazing... and it's a free resource.

Click here to learn more about Contemporary's Pre-Ged (2002) *NEW* GED Prep.

**Order today and receive a free GED Skills Book (math) as a thank you gift (while quantities last). This is a $7.95 value... free... just for ordering!

Stock is limited so place your order today.

For more information and to check on availability of GED Skills thank you gifts, send an email request to instructors@learningtrends.com


Good luck on your journey to taking the GED math test!