Resources to Help You Pass the GED Math Test
The following details most of the skills you'll need to learn to pass the GED Math Test. Look further below for a list of the best free GED math sites I've found. Remember, the test is only 50 questions but you'll need to draw on some key skills to complete the problems. While you're studying for the ged math test online, try not to use a calculator. You should use a pencil or pen with some scrap paper instead. This must be a rule if you're working on things like multiplication, division, sutracting decimals, or anything of that nature. Once you're confident you've mastered them, you can bring out the calculator to help speed your learning. You will have to do some math on the non-caculator portion of the GED test where the only tool you'll have is scrap paper. It's not surprising that many people forget the proper way to do long division!
Some of the links here could be useful for home school students, but aren't a substitute for some solid one on one.
What to Learn First
When using the sites below, you should look to learn the following sets of skills first so that you can understand the somewhat harder math. Don't worry, as once you've got down the basics the 'hard' math isn't so hard. I'm mainly producing this list so that you can have a battle plan. I'll provide commentary on each type of math and what you should learn.
Multiplication and Division: Get to work on memorizing those times tables because knowing them helps in most areas of math. Make sure you can divide on paper and get an answer with a remainder, or preferably, a decimal.Fractions: Many, many people lack skills in fractions. Study fractions because they can help in later forms of math. The first site below has a link to a page called 'visual fractions' that will help you understand them.
Decimals and Percents: You should learn to convert decimals to percents and vice versa, and be capable of performing multiply, divide, and add, subtract with decimals. Decimals and percents can also both be changed to fractions, so they all work together.
Integers: These are nothing more than working with positive and negative numbers, and they aren't actually difficult to learn. Negative numbers don't have to be a problem. You won't have to deal with fractions or decimals with integers, because integers are only whole numbers. You should learn to multiply, divide, add and subtract integers.
Ratios and Proportions: Once you've learned these, they have some practical use in life from time to time. They can be used to find a missing number. Along with this will come the rule of similar triangles, which you will probably see on the test.
Order of Operations: Learn the order of operations. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, which means Parentheses, then Exponents. Then perform all multiplication and division problems from left to right, and finally all addition and subtraction problems from left to right. It really helps to re-write the problem as you work it. Remember, Parentheses first, and while working inside them follow the rule that exponents go first. Some of the sites below have excellent problems you can work, along with detailed lessons.
The Finishing Touches
Angles: Learn to find the third angle in a triangle with only two of the angles, along with learning to find the missing angles in crisscrossed lines. There is only one major rule to remember, and that is that there are 180 degrees in both a triangle and a straight line.Combining Like Terms: You may come across a problem such as, 15xy + 2x - 3xy = ? and need to answer it. In this case, the answer would be 12xy + 2x because x and xy are not the same. These really are easy to learn once you understand that concept.
Algebraic Expressions: Once you figure out that 'x' is just a filler for another number, this won't be as intimidating. You'll need to learn to plug in numbers for x in an equation, and understand how equations work (the order of operations will be a big help here).
Geometry: Learn to get the volume of shapes by using formulas, learn to love pi and find the area of circles. Squares, rectangles, triangles and some shapes you've maybe never heard of could also be needed. Thankfully, the GED Test has the formulas in the front of the math book, so all you need to do is learn how to interpret them. Be sure to have a firm understanding of what a raidus and circumference are.
Slopes and Coordinates: Learn how to interpret coordinates and be able to show where a shape or missing dot should be placed on a grid. Knowledge of X (across) and Y (up/down) is needed, but you really shouldn't go too in depth.
Probability: Learn to determine the odds that something will happen. For example, what are the odds that someone would roll a 2 on a six-sided die three times in a row.
The Pythagorean Theorum: This mathmatical theorum allows you to find a missing side on a right triangle (that is, one with a 90 degree angle). You'll need to master this formula (it's available in the front of the GED Math Test book). On the real GED test, you'll need to use it in a way that shows you'd know how to write out the formula to find the third side, rather than doing the actual math. If you ever do have to do this math without a calculator on the test, I imagine the numbers will be quite low because you'd have to figure out the square root. It's ok to use a calculator on these problems for that reason, as most are tailored for their use. Get used to story problems that use the pythagorean theorum. If they give you two dimensions in a story problem, and are looking for a third, try to draw it on scrap paper to visualalize it. You'll often find this makes it easier to understand which side you'll need to find using the Theorum.
The Best Free GED Math Sites
Math Expression
This site features video lessons of fractions, a highly valuable tool for people who hate trying to learn math by reading. Once you're done with the videos, there are several worksheets available to help you along. Check here for some good geometry help, as well, although it's not a comprehensive resource for all things shape-related, it can help get you started. Additionally, Math Expression offers help with coordinates and slopes!
Shoreline Community College
It looks like their GED program came up with a nice list of sites to check out for various types of math. The up-side to this is that there are many different sites, and what they link to isn't usually all the site offers. There are many sites that are linked to here that want you to buy products. I've seen CDs for $50. Still, there's a lot of good content to be found. For total beginners in fractions, try the Visual Fractions link there.
Math.com
Simply named, this site celebrates Math and its power to help in everyday life. They have great tutorials on everything from multiplication to calculus. Thankfully, you own't need the latter. They have a great setup here, but I had difficulty getting some of their features to work in Firefox 3. Under Internet Explorer, I found the site to be powerful and able to provide plenty of problems and show step by step how to complete them.
Algebra.com
To get around this site, pick a subject from the first page, then click Lessons. Stick with lessons in the pre-algebra and geometry categories, as Algebra I and Algebra II may scare you away. I didn't see anything under either of those categories that was really necessary. I learned some of that stuff in College! There are multiple lessons on most of the subjects, which is good because you may understand some descriptions of how to complete the sample math problems better than others. Look here for great lessons on Proportions, Exponents and everything else to do with Algebra.
Printable Times Tables
If you don't have your multiplication tables memorized, this is the place to go. They offer a 10x10 and 12x12 grid picture that you can right click to print. Study these in your spare time and try to quiz yourself. Many people who need to learn their times tables find it to be difficult, but don't realize that they often already know most of them. Learning up to twelve can be useful, but you mainly need to know everything up to nine to help with multiplication, division and fractions.
Math Videos Online
This site is owned by one Ms. Popovici, an accredited teacher. She offers math videos, completely free. Offerings include invaluable lessons on calculating simple interest and compound interest (see the 'Money Math' section). Under Geometry is an excellent video on the Pythagorean Theorum, which will help you learn to find the third side of a Triangle. Ms. Popovici explains things slowly so you won't get too lost. Video sites like this are nice because you can pause and rewind as you go if you missed something or need some time to wrap your mind around the concepts.
Youtube
If you like Ms. Popovici's videos, they're on Youtube, along with dozens of others to aid you in all manner of GED math. I found several teachers who were offering lessons at the blackboard. Use the terms I've provided above to find information on most topics!
Contemporary's Practice GED Test
This is owned by mcgraw-hill, who publish the Contemporary line of GED textbooks. They're really quite good books! They provide this test as part of their student resources. Take this test and obey the calculator rule when you think you're ready to see how you do!
The Study Guide Zone Practice Test
Don't scroll down on this page, or you'll see the answers. Work these out on paper just like you would on the GED test. I'll forewarn you this is mostly algebra, but could be a solid tool to test your skills at combining like terms. Thankfully, the author gives some pointers along with the Answers. Try to work them, even if you miss them, so that you can see how to get the right answer.