for test retakers!

If you took the GED test between 2002 and 2013 and passed any of the 5 subject tests,
your passing scores
will count until the end of 2015!

Click below for past newsletters:

Fall, 2013

January, 2014

TASC Study Tips

People who have good study habits score higher on their tests than people who have not learned how to study. So studying really does pay off. Learning how to become a "study expert" means following these hints and tips:

1. Study in a quiet, well-lit and comfortable place. Find time when there are few distractions. Here's another hint: studying in bed will make you want to sleep. Find somewhere that keeps your mind awake.

2. Take short breaks every 20 minutes. Why? Studies have shown that your long-term memory is best at the beginning and end of these 20-minute study periods. Start and end your study sessions with the topics that need the most work.

3. If you study a set amount every day (say two 20-minute periods) for as many days as you need to cover everything, your long-term memory will kick in. Remember: it's your long-term memory that will help you develop the critical thinking skills you need for TASC test. Many small sessions of studying can add up over time.

4. Think about what you're reading, and really try to understand it. Talk about it with someone. Ask yourself questions about it. Get into it so the lessons can get into your head.

5. The human brain is not designed to multi-task. You can jump from your book to your phone to your music to the TV and back to your book. But this only distracts your mind from focusing on the intended task - studying. Learn to focus.

6. Have study materials handy. These materials include pencils and scrap paper for math, dictionaries, highlighter, etc.

7. Take advantage of the pre-tests and assessments that can let you know in advance what areas you most need to study. If you find out that you do well in social studies, but need a lot of work in the sciences, spend more time prepping and studying for the science section.

8. Make flash cards. Ask a question in your own words on one side of the card, and write the answer in a few words on the other side. You can make flash cards for multiplication facts, new vocabulary words, or important concepts. When you're ready to check your memory, shuffle the flash cards, read the questions out loud, and flip them over to quiz yourself. The questions you answer correctly can be set aside while you work on others. As you get closer to the test, put all the cards back into the deck to be sure you're prepared.

Read more!

And when you've mastered all five subjects, find out if you're ready for TASC test.

Taken from the CTB/McGraw Hill TASC website http://www.tasctest.com/test-taking-tips-for-test-takers.html.

Congratulations to Elena, who passed the test! Her advice:

For Spanish speakers, taking the test in Spanish will save them a lot of time.
The test prep book - I had plenty of time during the week to study.
Take the practice tests on the computer.
At this test center, the entrance is in the back of the school. (Get there early to deal with any surprises or delays.)
Bring a lunch so you don't get hungry.
Chew gum so you feel relaxed during the exam.

Help other students and win a $10 Dunkin' Donuts gift card!

Email us at TASC@wlsmail.org with a study tip or a link to a great website.

If we include it in our TASC Connect newsletter, you'll win a card!

TASC Hot Topic

Context Clues

Reading is important in all five subjects of the TASC. You can develop your reading skills by learning how to use context clues to understand unfamiliar words. Context clues are words within a sentence that can help you figure out what the unknown word means.

Here's an example of how to use context clues:

At a special ceremony, the police chief gave the officer a commendation for bravery.

Which of the following choices is the best definition of "commendation"?

a) an object designed to bring good luck

b) an award for an outstanding achievement

c) a lecture

Even if we don't know what "commendation" means, we can figure it out from the other words in the sentence. Since the reason they are giving the commendation is for the officer's bravery, which is usually considered a positive quality, we might reason that the commendation is an award for doing something good. Even if we can't figure out the exact meaning, we can usually get close, for example, commendation is something positive. While the other choice that might also be considered positive is an object to bring good luck, it is not really the best choice for this particular sentence.*

Sometimes, a writer will use a specific type of context clue:

Types of context clues**:

1) DEFINITION / RESTATEMENT clues - The writer might provide the actual definition in the sentence. Here's an example:

Our teacher received a small stipend, or payment, for giving travel lectures to local clubs.

Definition clues are often signaled by words or phrases like the word "or" above. If you notice the signal, you can then recognize a definition clue. Here are other typical definition clue signals:

which is also called

also known as

that is

in other words

2) RESTATEMENT clues are words or phrases that lead you to conclude a definition. For example:

The company did a lucrative business last year; sales and profits doubled.

In the last part of the sentence, the writer has restated what "lucrative" means because "sales and profits doubled" is another way of saying "profitable," which is what "lucrative" means.

3) EXAMPLE clues - By looking at the examples that the writer provides in the sentence, you can determine the category to which they belong or what they are examples of. For example:

The governor asked that farmers make use of all arable land such as corn and wheat fields.

To use the clue, ask yourself: What do the examples "corn" and "wheat" have in common? They are both crops that are raised in fields. "Arable land" probably then means "land that can grow crops." From that, you can determine that "arable" means "capable of growing crops."

Example clues are often signaled by words or phrases like the phrase "such as" above. If you notice the signal, you can then easily recognize that you are getting an example clue. Here are typical "example" clue signals:

for example

for instance

other

such as

this

these

especially

includes

4) COMPARISON clues - The author will make a comparison to something else in the sentence. Think about the person/thing in the sentence that you do understand and look for a characteristic that the writer is pointing out.

Some signals that can help you notice a comparison are

similar to

also

related to

likewise

in the same way

For example:

The tawny dog, as golden as a lion, startled us.

The writer is comparing a dog to a lion. The signal is the word "as." The dog's color must be gold like the lion's color. "Tawny" probably means "golden.

5) CONTRAST clues are used when the author is pointing out differences or contrasting

persons/ things in a sentence. Just as with the other context clues, there are signals that can help you recognize a contrast. Here are the typical "contrast" clue signals:

but

unlike

although

on the contrary

in contrast

even though

though

however

nevertheless

rather than

on the other hand

The judge was unwilling to give a harsh punishment to the defendant since he was so young; however, he was hesitant to give a punishment that showed too much clemency in the case.

The writer is contrasting two punishments. The first punishment mentioned is harsh.

The signal is the word "however." Therefore "clemency" must mean "mildness" or "compassion."

6) INFERENCE clues - Anytime you figure out something that isn't directly stated, you're using inference. For example, if a character in a story is alone late at night and weakly asks "Is anybody there?" when he hears a strange noise, you know he's scared even though the writer never directly states this.

Vocabulary inference clues work the same way. You add up all the details and draw a conclusion as to the meaning of the word. Here's an example:

While exploring the ancient pyramids in Egypt, the scientist discovered the mummy

of a king buried in a sarcophagus with elaborate designs.

Let's look at the details: Sarcophagus is a noun because the noun determiner "a" comes before it. It's probably a thing since a king was buried in it and because it has elaborate designs on it. Now, it was found in the ancient pyramids in Egypt with a mummy in it. That means it's old. Now let's add up the details: a sarcophagus must be a coffin used in ancient times for burying the dead.

Click here for practice with context clues.

More context clues practice 2

More context clues practice 3