GED Practice: Question Strategies

Understanding charts and tables
- What is being shown in the data?
-Can any trends be detected?
-Is there anything remarkable about any of the data points?

When vagueness is clear
-Example: When the x- or y-axis only lists a few data points, the question will most likely be quite vague

Avoiding definites
-Answer choices that make definite statements with no 'wiggle room' are wrong (e.g highest, most, etc.)

Using common sense
-Questions aren't intended to trick you
-Questions are fairly obvious

Instincts are right
DON'T OVERTHINK

No fear
-Don't get overwhelmed
-Don't be extra (e.g Memorizing facts)

Memorizing changes
-Anything odd is likely to be asked about
-Take notes on differences

Quick checks
-Questions focus on differences, extremes, outliers, etc.

Looking for matches
-Questions with long answers will often give away the right answer choice
-Use process of elimination

Info is provided for a reason
-Look for the correct answer choice too include the new info in some form
-Example: Burrowing animals create spots of bare earth. One would predict that over several years, the wildflowers would...
A: Grow in the meadow and repreoduce in the cleared areas created by animals

Watching for similar rewording
-Questions may have extra vocab, don't let it fool you!

Don't get thrown off by new info
-Don't get distracted by new info that doesn't answer the question

Narrowing the search
-Whenever 2 answers are direct opposites, the correct answer is usually one of the 2

What about the opposite?
-Consider would the answer be correct, incorrect, or not matter if they were the direct opposite
-Example: The images did/did not turn black
-Sometimes this will make it easier to determine which answers are wrong

You're not expected to be Einstein
-Outside knowledge isn't usually needed
-If you'd need to know any outside knowledge to answer a question, it's usually wrong

Identifying the key component
-Think about what the key component the answer choice must have

Fulfilling the requirements
-Before you submit your answers, glance back over the question and confirm that you've satisfied all the requirements

When it doesn't make sense, check again!
-Make sure you didn't make a mistake

Math-solving method
-Look for key words
-Remember order of operations
-Keep in mind the properties of operations
-Eliminate incorrect choices