Study. Commit to studying on a regular basis, especially those topics which you need to review. As you make progress, you'll gain confidence in your abilities!
Practice, practice, practice. As you get closer to taking the test, be sure to take practice tests. Practice tests will help you know what areas you need to focus on when you study. They will also help you become more comfortable with the test format and what to expect.
Use a variety of resources for help. Work with a tutor at a GED Connect! session. Use online resources to study and practice. Use a GED preparation book available at libraries and book stores. Take a GED class. Use a GED phone app.
Read, read, read. Much of the test is all about reading. Even in the math section of the test, all of the questions are word problems. So developing your reading abilities will go a long way to helping you do well. Read a variety of materials: novels, the sports page, magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, etc. This can be an enjoyable way to spend time, improve your comprehension, and learn new vocabulary.
Have a positive attitude. Focus on your accomplishments! Even a 15 minute study session can bring a new skill, understanding, or familiarity with the test format.

There will be a few changes to the test beginning January 2014. Many of the changes are gradual and will take place over the next few years.

Important Information:

After January 1st, scores from previous tests will no longer count and cannot be combined with any new test scores.
If you have taken the test since January 1, 2002 and want your scores to count, you will need to pass the test before 2014.
The test will still be free in New York State.

For additional information, visit the New York State Department of Education website http://www.acces.nysed.gov/ged/.

GED Hot Topic

In every newsletter, we'll provide a quick lesson on a GED topic and offer online resources for additional review and practice. Topics will include study skills, grammar, math, reading comprehension, essay writing, and much more. Email us with suggestions for topics you'd like us to review!

This issue's hot topic is:

subject-verb agreement

Let's get started! Find the mistake in the following sentence:

The teacher go fishing every Saturday.

There is a subject-verb agreement error. For sentences in the present tense (when the action is happening now), subject-verb agreement means that singular subjects must be matched with the singular form of verbs, and plural subjects must be matched with the plural form of verbs.

In the example above, the "teacher" is the subject of the sentence, and because teacher is singular, the verb must be in the singular form:

The teacher goes fishing every Saturday.

Singular Subject Plural Subject

The cat jumps. The cats jump.

The athlete runs. The athletes run.

Notice that when the subject is singular, the verb ends in "s".

When the subject is plural, the verb does not end in "s".

Let's try more practice. Is there a mistake in the following sentence?

Maya and her mother cooks dinner together.

Yes, there is a subject-verb agreement error. This sentence is a little trickier because "her mother cooks" might sound correct. However, the subject in this sentence is actually "Maya and her mother." It is a compound subject (two subjects joined together with "and") and is thus plural. The verb should agree with the plural subject. The sentence should be:

Maya and her mother cook dinner together.

If the subject were just "her mother," for example, as in the sentence, "After work, her mother cooks dinner," then the verb would be "cooks."

Helpful hint: If you're not sure which verb form fits, try substituting a pronoun for the subject. A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun. For example, in the second sentence, we can substitute "they" for "Maya and her mother." Now it's a bit easier to see that "cook" is the correct form of the verb.

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Subject-verb agreement for the present tense - Note that the subjects, we, they, and you, all take the verb without "s".

Pronoun Verb form Example

I without s I eat, I run, etc..

we without s we eat, we run, etc.

they without s they eat, they run, etc.

you without s you eat, you run, etc.

he, she, it with s he eats, she runs, etc.

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Exception alert! Some verbs have irregular forms. The good news is you know a lot of them already! See the chart below for an example.

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Subject-verb agreement for the irregular verb "to be" in the present tense

Pronoun Verb form Example

I am I am tired.

we are We are tired.

they are They are tired.

you are You are tired.

he, she, it is She is tired.

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For more review and practice on subject-verb agreement, click on:

Subject-verb agreement lesson

Subject-verb agreement exercise

Additional grammar lessons and practice

If you ...

have a question
want feedback on a writing sample
think of a great idea to help other students

Please email us at:

GED@wlsmail.org

Lisa Kahn - GED Connect! - Westchester Library System - 914-231-3264