How to Write & Pass a GED Essay

By: Jen Denton, Student Success Coach on January 3, 2023 at 3:21 AM

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The GED essay intimidates a lot of people. Writing a whole essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less can be tough, but it doesn't have to be. This GED essay writing guide will help you know what to expect and how to pass the written portion of the test. Learn all about the GED extended response with examples, tips, and a breakdown of everything you'll be graded on.

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What is the ged essay, example ged essay questions, example ged essay, ged essay practice, ged essay structure, how is the ged essay scored, 8 tips to help you pass the ged essay.

The GED test is made up of four subjects: mathematical reasoning, social studies, science, and reasoning through language arts (RLA). The RLA subject test includes two parts, one of which is the GED extended response, sometimes called the GED essay. You will have 45 minutes to complete the essay to the best of your ability. If you don’t finish in time, don’t worry! The essay is only worth 20% of your final RLA score, so you can still pass the test even if you don’t get a high score on the essay.

The extended response can be on a variety of topics, but it will always follow the same format. You will be given two different articles on the same topic, usually argumentative essays with a firm position. You will be asked to evaluate the two arguments and write your own argumentative essay determining which article presented the strongest position. The essay should be 3-5 paragraphs long, with each paragraph between 3-7 sentences.

All GED essay questions will ask you to read and evaluate two passages that take different stances on the same topic. Essays should determine which passage presents a stronger argument and back up that claim with analysis of evidence from the passages.

Here is an example GED essay question:

Analyze the arguments presented in the press release and the letter to the editor. In your response, develop an argument in which you explain how one position is better supported than the other. Incorporate relevant and specific evidence from both sources to support your argument.

Remember, the better-argued position is not necessarily the position with which you agree. This task should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. 1

1  "Extended Response Scoring - GED." https://ged.com/wp-content/uploads/extended_response_scoring.pdf . Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

The following is an example high scoring essay:

Both the press release and the letter to the editor offer positions that are supported by both fact and opinion. The press release seeks to exhort the new bill for expansion of Highway 17, while the letter argues that the passing of the bill could prove detrimental to the district. While both sides make an acceptable case, the latter provides a stronger argument.

One example of the letter’s stronger argument is the explanation that federal tax dollars pay for the road, as it will incorporate six different states, therefore eliminating this particular state’s ability to strike the bill down. This proves, with factual information, that the district did not have a fair say in the bill. The notion that few residents will use the road that their tax dollars are providing is an opinion. However, a resident and small-business owner in the town is more credible in the awareness of the town’s concern, as compared to a representative who attended a few meetings in the town hall.

Another example of the better supported argument in the letter is the reference to the construction jobs as temporary. The press release praises the new jobs created by the highway construction, as this is a valid point. However, the author of the letter is correct in the fact that the jobs will not create a boom in the district’s economy, or fill in the gap caused by the closures in the manufacturing plants, as the press release leads listeners to believe. The road construction does not solve the long-term issue of unemployment in the town. In addition, the author of the letter counters the argument that new motels, restaurants, and gas stations along the highway will create permanent jobs for the residents of the town. She explains that, “…only minimum wage jobs will remain.” This is a valid argument also, as unemployed residents that need enough income to support a household would not be much better off. Providing restaurant or motel jobs is very unlikely to feed or support an entire family. It will not pick up the laid-off employees of the manufacturing plants, who may have worked for many years towards promotions and a pension.

Another example of the letter’s stronger argument is the author’s explanation of the 2001 study. She concedes that the representative is correct in citing that bypasses are proven to reduce noise and traffic in town, but she argues that the study shows a negative effect on local businesses. This piece of the study was not mentioned by Representative Walls or the press release, and it is a proven fact. This draws more credibility to the argument in the letter. Also, although it is a speculation, it is more reasonable that traveler’s will stick to the main highway and not venture miles off their path into small town when chain gas stations, restaurants, and motels are conveniently located directly at the highway exits. It is less likely that old roads in the towns will become historical locations, attracting tourists and boosting small business sales.

Despite the argument and evidence given by the press release, it appears that the letter to the editor offers a stronger case. The author’s ideas are backed up by logical explanations and facts with a few speculations. Though the press release offers some fact, it is mainly specked with anticipations and hopes, driven to overshadow any doubts and quell any concerns. The letter is penned by a resident of the town and owner of a business, subject to firsthand opinions of the citizens of the district. The press release is pushed by an elected representative who, upon visiting the town a number of times and consulting a small percentage of the constituents, is convinced she understands the majority. Although both parties may very well have the best interests of the district in mind, and either position could be correct, it is clear that the letter provides a better-supported argument. 2

2  "Extended Response Scoring - GED." https://ged.com/wp-content/uploads/extended_response_scoring.pdf . Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

For GED essay practice, try writing your own essay based on the example above. Set a timer for 45 minutes and do your best to write an essay with your own analysis and ideas.

You can practice more writing skills with this free test or enroll today in the GED Academy to get access to more GED essay prompts and personalized feedback from GED Essay graders.

The structure for the GED essay can take a few different forms, depending on how you decide to organize your ideas. No matter what, it should include an introduction paragraph, 1-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. To receive a passing score, your essay must present a clear topic supported by details from both passages. Include your main idea in an introductory paragraph. In middle paragraphs, make connections between your details and your main idea. Your conclusion should also fit logically with the details.

The introduction should demonstrate your understanding of the overall topic based on the passages you read and a claim. The claim is a statement of your argument. It doesn’t need to go into detail, but should state your essay’s position on the questions presented.

The body paragraphs will go into more detail. They will include a combination of summary, analysis, and evidence to back up your claim. Be sure to include analysis of both passages.

The conclusion should explain the result of your findings and reinforce your original claim.

You can earn up to six points on the GED extended response. There are three main categories your essay is graded on, and you can earn up to two points for each.

Creation of arguments and use of evidence: Craft a strong claim and use analysis of the arguments and evidence from the passages to support it.

Development of ideas and organizational structure: Write a substantial essay with clear transitions between ideas, including a strong introduction and conclusion.

Clarity and command of standard English conventions: Use appropriate language and demonstrate strong language and grammar skills.

The extended response accounts for 20% of the total RLA score.

  • Read all the instructions. The most common reason people score low on the essay is because they misunderstand the prompt.
  • Make an outline. After reading the passages and the prompt, write down your ideas and organize them during your pre-writing.
  • Make a list of evidence. When you read the passages, take notes on the important details you want to remember later, so you don’t have to spend time searching for it later.
  • Write your introduction last. A lot of people get tripped up by how to start the essay. If that’s you, just skip this step and go back to it once you’ve written the rest of the essay.
  • Write first, edit later. You only have 45 minutes, so use your time wisely. Write your first draft of the essay before you start fine-tuning and editing it. Save that for your remaining time so you don’t turn in a half-written essay.
  • Use formal language. Avoid “I” statements like, “I think” or casual language like slang.
  • Don’t check the clock. Time always seems to go faster when you need it to go slow. Every time you look at the clock, that’s breaking your focus on your essay.
  • Practice! The only way to get better at writing essays is to write more essays. Practice using the GED Writing Practice Test , and remember to time yourself!

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GED Practice Test

GED Essay Writing Guide

What is the ged rla “extended response” question.

The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) section of the GED includes an Extended Response essay question. You will only have 45 minutes to complete this essay, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the nature of the prompt. Read through this guide to become more familiar with the prompt and how to write the best response possible.

If you follow the strategies and the template provided in this guide, you’ll be able to produce a high-scoring essay in the time allotted! 😀

GED Essay Overview

Since the GED Exam is administered on a computer, you will type your essay into a text box. You will first be presented with two Stimulus Passages and then you will be given an essay prompt. The Stimulus Passages will each have 4–5 short paragraphs that introduce an issue and take a stance on that issue, with one passage opposing the other. You will then be given the following prompt:

  ➤ Pro Tip: Remember that the 45 minutes includes the time you take to read the Stimulus Passages. Read the passages thoroughly, but quickly, and make note of any specific points that stand out to you so that you can easily reference them as you formulate your argument.

GED Essay Strategy

In order to maximize your 45 minutes, it’s important to decide ahead of time how much time you will spend on each step. We recommend following the guide below, but you should write some practice responses with a timer nearby to get a good understanding of how our guide can best serve you. Make sure you do not hand-write your practice essays, as it is always best to recreate test conditions as closely as possible when preparing.

Follow this strategy when writing your GED Essay:

Step 1 ► Read and Analyze the Stimulus Passages (5 Minutes).

Start by reading both of the passages. Make sure you understand the issue and the position that each passage is taking. Try to ignore your own personal feelings on the topic as you read. Ultimately, your job is to explain why one of the sides is better supported ; it is fine to completely disagree with the side you defend, so long as you adequately support your stance. You are not writing about who you agree with, you are writing about who supports their argument best .

Step 2 ► Select Your Position and Outline Your Ideas (5 Minutes).

Ask yourself: which side seems like it has more supporting details and/or examples? Your task with this essay is similar to that of a teacher grading an essay. It doesn’t matter if you agree with the position; it matters that the writer supported their position well.

Remember, “better-supported” does not necessarily mean “right.” You are not required to argue in favor of one of the positions; you only need to explain why one position is better-supported than the other position.

Passage 1 : argues that school lunches should be 100% vegetarian in order to improve the health of students and to tackle the obesity epidemic in schools. This passage provides:

  • statistics showing that vegetables are good for children.

Passage 2 : argues that animal protein is crucial for superior athletic performance and sustained energy levels in children. This passage provides:

  • quotes from a doctor who says that protein from meat keeps children alert in classes after lunchtime.
  • scientific research that supports this claim.
  • statistics from counties that switched to vegetarian lunches which show that test scores dropped after adopting vegetarian lunches.

Which side is “best supported?” Which side should you choose for your essay? If you said, Passage 2, you are correct. Even if you are a vegetarian, you should be able to see that there is more supporting evidence in the passages for the “pro-meat” side. You will not receive a bad score if you choose to support the side that has less evidence, but it makes your task harder.

You should spend approximately 5 minutes deciding your position and outlining your essay. You can simply type your outline at the top of the text box (and delete it after you finish your essay). We will discuss more specifics about how to outline our essay in the “Template” below!

Step 3 ► Write your Essay (30 Minutes).

At this point, approximately 10 minutes will have gone by. You have read the passages and outlined your position. Now, simply start with paragraph 1, and follow the outline you created. Remember to stop periodically and refer back to your outline at the top. Most GED Extended Response essays are between 4–7 paragraphs and each paragraph is composed of 3–7 sentences. We suggest that you aim for 5 paragraphs; doing so ensures that your argument is complete.

As you will see in the Template below, it’s okay if some paragraphs are shorter than others! Don’t feel like you have to write sentences to fill up space; always write with purpose. Once you’ve made your point in a given paragraph, add a concluding sentence and move on. You should spend approximately 30 minutes on your essay.

Step 4 ► Read Everything Over At Least Once (5 Minutes).

Proofreading can make a good essay great, and a great essay stellar, so don’t forget that you will need at least 5 minutes at the end to thoroughly read through what you have written. Go back to the outline and review your notes. Does the essay you wrote follow the outline? Is it well-organized? If you’re happy that you didn’t stray from your plan, delete your outline notes. This is very important! If you do not delete your notes, scorers will think it is part of your response and take points off.

If you have extra time, look for spelling and grammar errors. Do your verb tenses agree? Did you accidentally leave off the “s” on a plural noun? How are the transitions between paragraphs? Does the essay “flow?” Remember, you can re-type any sentences you dislike, and you can add additional sentences for clarity. This is a timed response, so it does not have to be perfect, but if you have the time to fix mistakes you’ll only be helping your chances.

GED Essay Template

In the four-part strategy above, you read about the importance of planning and making an outline for the position you selected. Your outline should follow this general format:

  • Paragraph 1 — Introduction
  • Paragraph 2 — Body Paragraph
  • Paragraph 3 — Body Paragraph
  • Paragraph 4 — Body Paragraph
  • Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

★ Paragraph 1 — Introduction

The introduction and conclusion are short paragraphs that “bookend” your essay. Your introduction should:

  • introduce the topic from the passage,
  • explain both sides of the issue (showing that you understood what you read),
  • and make a claim that one side is better-supported and thus, more convincing (this should be the final sentence of the introduction).

Below is a possible template for the introductory paragraph. When you are writing your essay, you can write a very similar introductory paragraph while replacing the underlined portions to fit the prompt that you are answering:

  ★ Paragraphs 2–4 — Body Paragraphs

The real strength of your essay lies in your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph must introduce and describe one reason why the position you chose is better-supported. There will be 3 reasons in total (if you follow the 5-paragraph format). Look for some of these common ready-made arguments when reviewing the passages:

Authority figure — Does the passage quote a reputable figure with specialized knowledge, such as a doctor, scientist, or other expert? Does the reference lend credibility to the overall argument?

History — Does the passage explain a historical event or a precedent to back up its claim?

Statistics — Does the passage provide any numbers or data? Does the data help the author’s position?

Logical reasoning — Is there a strong element of logic or “common-sense” to the argument, and is it presented in a clear, cohesive manner?

Ethics — Is a moral argument made? Does the author insist his or her position is correct because it is the “morally right” thing to do?

Emotion — Does the author appeal to the reader’s feelings? Does the argument evoke an emotional response?

Reasonable Assumptions — Does the author rely on assumptions to draw any conclusions? Are the assumptions reasonable?

Forceful Vocabulary — Does the author’s word choice add weight and importance to the argument?

Not all of these will be present in every passage, but you will only need 3, and it is likely that at least 2–3 of these will be used in each argument. If the passage you choose only has 2 of the above supports, consider writing more than one paragraph about each, using different support. Let’s look at how we can “plug” three of these examples into our thesis from above:

  When you outline your GED Essay, pre-write your thesis and decide on which three forms of support you will discuss to prove that your passage is better-supported. This will help you organize of the rest of your essay. Now that we have chosen our three examples, we can make a more specific outline:

  • Paragraph 1 — Introduction (why Position X is better-supported)
  • Paragraph 2 — Emotional Appeal
  • Paragraph 3 — Authority Figure’s Opinion
  • Paragraph 4 — Forceful Vocabulary
  • Paragraph 5 — Conclusion (why Position Y is not well supported)

Let’s look at how we can “plug” some of these ready-made arguments into a body paragraph:

  Notice how this body paragraph introduces the example in the first sentence (“logical reasoning”), and then cites 3 specific examples from the passage that employ this logical reasoning. The final sentence reiterates and emphasizes the overall idea of the paragraph. This paragraph is only 5 sentences (if you include a quote), yet it does a great job (1) introducing the superiority of the argued position, (2) giving examples from the passage to support a specific idea, and (3) concluding the paragraph.

In each body paragraph, you must defend your assertion that ONE position is better-supported with at least one specific reference showing this support. If you choose, “authority figures” as an example, but there is only 1 authority figure mentioned in the passage, it’s okay to spend the entire body paragraph discussing that one figure. You do not need to make up anything that is not in the passage—in fact, you shouldn’t!

★ Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

Finally, let’s look at how we can structure the conclusion:

GED Essay Scoring

Three separate scorers will grade your response based on each of the three traits of your essay: (1) Analysis of Arguments and Use of Evidence, (2) Development of Ideas and Structure, and (3) Clarity and Command of Standard English. Notice that if you follow the strategy and template provided above, all of these traits will be accounted for, and you won’t have to worry about them on Test Day! 😀

GED Essay Practice

Now you’re ready to write a practice essay. Try our GED Essay Practice Question .

how to write an essay to pass ged

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How To Write The GED Essay 2023 (Extended Response)

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GED Essay

Chief of Content At Gradehacker

  • Updated on August 2023

How to Write The GED Essay

The best strategy for writing the GED essay is:

  • Read the passages (5 minutes)
  • Analyze the data and create an outline (5 minutes)
  • Write your extended response (30 minutes)
  • Reread and edit your writing (5 minutes)

If you want a clear example of what your GED essay should like like, later in this blog you’ll find a sample.

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If you are planning on taking the GED test , you’ll eventually have to pass the GED essay .

Also known as the extended response, this assignment tests your evidence-based writing skills, and it’s where many students get stuck. However, writing the GED essay is easier than most people make it out to be .

It just takes practice and patience . And with these tips, you’ll be able to ace the test in no time!

Here at Gradehacker, we are the non-traditional adult student’s most trusted resource. Earning a GED diploma is necessary to enroll in college or access better job opportunities. We want you to be capable of writing an entire essay that will clearly show that you are up to the task .

This guide will teach you how to write a GED essay and share the best tips to make your text stand out and meet the passing score.

GED Essay

What Is The GED Essay?

The GED test consists of four sections:

  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • English Language Arts

The Reasoning Through Language Arts exam mainly consists of multiple-choice questions but also includes the Extended Response assignment, where you have to write an essay from scratch from two passages they give you.

You’ll have 45 minutes to analyze these two texts, choose which argument presents strong evidence, and explain why each piece of evidence supports your point.

While this part only represents 20% of your Reasoning Through Language Arts exam score (meaning that you can pass the Language Arts writing test even if you perform poorly in this section), it’s key that you know how to create a well-written GED essay.

Since they are testing your analysis of arguments and writing skills, it’s your opportunity to prove that you have mastered the core elements of the entire Language Arts section.

Plus, if you are planning on pursuing a college degree, where knowing how to analyze texts and write an essay response is important, passing the GED extended response is key.

GED Essay

GED Essay Prompt

To pass the essay portion, you’ll have to read two different passages that talk about the same issue but take an opposite stance about it. Your task is to determine which position presented is better supported.

It doesn’t matter if you disagree with that position; you must defend and explain your decision using multiple pieces of evidence from the texts.

Regarding length, the essay prompt suggests that your response should be approximately four to seven paragraphs of three to seven sentences each , which should be a 300-500 word essay.

While there is no essay length requirement regarding the number of words, we recommend writing between 400 and 500 .

GED Essay Sentence Structure

So, how do you write a GED extended response? Well, It has a structure similar to an argumentative essay.

  • Introductory paragraph:

This should be a primary and short thesis statement where you clearly address which of the two passages is better supported.

  • Body paragraphs: 

Consist of three or four body paragraphs where you formulate your thesis using the text’s information as your source.

  • Conclusion paragraph:

As a final step, briefly summarize your argument and reiterate its importance. If this is not your forte, there are many conclusion tips that can help you!

How to Pass The GED Essay

Now that you understand the GED Extended Response and what you need to do, here is our essay writing guide.

You’ll find multiple tips throughout it, but essentially, to write a cohesive, well-constructed essay, you’ll have to follow this four-part strategy:

  • Read the passages
  • Analyze the data and create an outline
  • Write your extended response essay
  • Reread and edit your writing

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Read the two passages (5 min)

The first step is to read both body passages thoroughly but quickly.

You need to understand what the topic is about, and while you read the text, highlight the statistics and factual data each author uses as support.

Remember that you can have differing views on your chosen side. Recognize which stance has better sources to defend your point, and explain why in your essay.

Analyze the data and create an outline (5 min)

Once you are done reading both texts and already highlighted all the essential information the authors use, you’ll need to analyze the evidence!

While ideally, you should recognize who supports their point better in the previous step , doing it in this part will be easier as you have all the factual data on sig ht.

Usually, the text with more information highlighted will be the one that defends its stance the best . 

So, the next thing you need to do is make an outline and write down your ideas. This way, you’ll have all the information organized to begin the most crucial part of the writing process.

Write your extended response essay (30 min)

And now, with evidence highlighted and an outline created, you are ready to start writing!

If you are going for the minimum and writing a 5-paragraph essay, you’ll need at least three major ideas to develop individually in separate paragraphs.

Stick to one idea per paragraph , and include one or two of your selected pieces of evidence from the texts to organize the information better and keep a good flow.

Remember to use connectors! However, nevertheless, furthermore, additionally, and more! These vital elements will help you introduce the reason for your argument at the beginning of each paragraph.

And just like with any essay, you must use formal and academic language , but remember to be concise and straightforward. It’s the content of what you write that’s important here, so choose your words wisely to show your English language knowledge.

Plus, remember that there’s no specific word count you need to meet.

Our own pro-tip here is to write the introductory paragraph last.

Because many students struggle and waste valuable minutes when trying to begin with the introduction, you can save extra time by explaining and defending your arguments first and writing the intro once you are done.

You’ll see how easy it will be to summarize the main issue and thesis statement once you’ve already developed your points.

Since the GED essay works very similarly to an argumentative paper, there are many more pro-tips you can learn in our guide on how to write an argumentative essay . So be sure to check it out!

Reread and edit your writing (5 min)

Before submitting your essay, you must read what you wrote, check for spelling errors, and ensure that your ideas are clearly understood .

Not editing your essay can be one of your most critical mistakes!

Remember they are testing your understanding of the English language and writing skills; handing in an essay with spelling mistakes, flawed evidence, or poorly structured text can make you lose valuable points.

For this part, it’s crucial you know the most common essay mistakes so you can avoid them!

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GED Essay Sample

Follow all of these tips, and you are guaranteed to pass the GED essay!

However, here you have a   GED Testing Service’s essay example that perfectly explains how this assignment should be completed:

GED Essay

Mastering the GED Essay

Now you know how to write the GED essay!

Remember to follow our essay-writing strategy to pass the Language Arts section by demonstrating mastery of your writing skills.

You are more than capable of completing the GED test with the highest score and then applying to the best colleges to continue your educational journey .

Once you make it happen, don’t forget that if you ever need assistance with your essays or classes , Gradehacker is always here to help!

And if you need more tips on how to improve your writing skills , check out these related blog posts:

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GED Essay

GED Essay: Everything You Need To Know In 2024

Learn all you need to know about the GED essay, its structure sample, topics, tips, and how it is scored in this post.

January 1, 2022

The GED essay is intimidating to many people. Writing an entire essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less may seem difficult, but it does not have to be. This GED essay writing overview will help you prepare for and learn about the written section of the exam . In this post, Get-TestPrep will show everything you need to know about GED essays , including their structure, sample topics, tips, and how they are stored .

What Is The GED Essay?

GED Essay

The GED exam consists of four subjects : Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts Reasoning (RLA ). The GED extended response , sometimes known as the GED essay, is one of the two portions of the RLA subject test. You’ll have 45 minutes to finish the essay to your best capacity. Don’t worry if you don’t finish on time! Because the essay accounts for just 20% of your ultimate RLA score, you can still pass the test even if you don’t receive a high essay score.

The GED extended response can cover a wide range of topics, but it will always be formatted in the same way. You will be assigned two articles on the same topic, which will typically be argumentative essays with a firm position. You’ll be asked to assess the two arguments and create your own argumentative essay based on which article delivered the more compelling argument. The essay should be three to five paragraphs long, with each paragraph including three to seven sentences.

GED Essay Structure

An introduction, a body, and a conclusion are included in every well-written GED essay. You have to write an argument or an argumentative essay. Keep in mind that you are not expressing your own view on the subject. You’re analyzing two of the author’s points of view and determining which one is more compelling. Keep in mind that the Extended Response (GED Essay) is graded by machine intelligence that has been designed to detect the right responses. So, instead of trying to be creative, simply be accurate. Also:

  • Make sure you’re using proper grammar and sentence structure.
  • Practice writing a 300-500 word essay.

Let’s take a look at the format of a GED Essay : an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

  • The introduction outlines your claim or thesis statement and explains the topic you’re writing about. Maintain your position.
  • The body of the essay includes facts and arguments to back up your claim. This section of the response should be at least two paragraphs long.
  • The concluding paragraph restates your claim and summarises your important points.

GED Essay Topic Examples

Here are a few GED Essay Topics to get you started:

Topic 1: An Analysis of Daylight-Saving Time

The article presents arguments from proponents and opponents of Daylight Saving Time, who disagree on the practice’s impact on energy consumption and safety.

Topic 2: Should the Penny Stay in Circulation?

Analyze the arguments offered and pick which one has the most support.

Topic 3: Is Golf a Sport?

Golf , according to proponents, satisfies the criteria of “sport.” Opponents argue that golf more closely resembles a “game” than a “sport.” Analyze both points of view to see which one has the most support.

Visit our website for more topics as well as full articles on each topic and take our free latest FREE GED practice test 2024 to get ready for your exam!

GED Essay Examples

Getting to know the GED essay sample  can assist you in planning your essay and determining which elements are most vital.

When reading the essay topic, you should truly take your time to collect your views. You will be able to articulate your views better on paper if you organize your thoughts properly. Concentrate on the standards that you learned in English class before you begin writing.

Pay attention to how you use the English language (grammar); you must use proper punctuation and capitalization, and you must use appropriate word solutions.

Tips For Writing Your GED Essay

Make sure you carefully read the stimulus and prompt.

Putting this into practice is an excellent idea. Examine each question carefully and set aside some time to determine the topic and the type of response that will be requested. It is critical to read the questions thoroughly. Students frequently skip past the stimulus and prompt and get right into writing, assuming that they will save time this way. 

This is, by far, the most uninteresting thing to do. Take a few moments to attempt to fully comprehend the questions so that you can reply accurately. If you like, underline the important words and phrases in the stimulus so you can go over it again later to make sure you’re on track.

Make a rough outline for the GED language arts essay

In general, planning your essay will only take a few minutes, but it is critical that you spend that time. Make an outline of the essay and follow it as soon as you have a complete understanding of the questions and have scribbled down some early ideas.

Make an outline for your introduction, body, and conclusion. Following this procedure will save you a lot of time and aid in the development of a logical thought process.

Keep your focus on the topic

To describe your evidence, each paragraph in the body of your response should explain why a piece of evidence supports your claim or disputes the opposing claim. You have the option of describing or restarting it. This demonstrates that you know exactly what it means and how it applies to your claim. Refer to the specifics or facts of a certain issue that you’ve discussed and tie them to your claim.

Include evidence from both passages in your response, and explain why strong evidence supports one thesis and why flawed evidence undermines the other.

Revision and proofreading

By the time you’ve finished writing your essay, you should go back to the beginning and reread it attentively, since you may easily have missed a comma or misspelled a term while doing so.

Pay great attention when rereading your essay to see if it has well-targeted arguments, is arranged properly, contains particular information and facts, has good sentence construction, and has no grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Learn more about how to practice GED essays as well as the whole Language Arts section in GED Language Arts Study Guide  

How To Write a GED Essay?

When writing the GED essay, you should allocate the time as follows:

  • 3 minutes to read the directions and the topic
  • 5 minutes of prewriting (freewriting, brainstorming , grouping, mapping, etc.)
  • 3 minutes to organize (create a thesis statement or controlling idea, and summarize important points)
  • 20 minutes to draft (write the essay)
  • 8 minutes to revise (go over the essay and make adjustments to concepts)
  • 6 minutes to edit (check for grammatical and spelling errors). 

How Your GED Essay Is Scored?

Smart machines that are designed to detect the right answers score your GED essay. So don’t try to be creative; just be accurate.

They will evaluate your essay based on five factors.

  • Organization : did you give a well-thought-out approach to writing your essay and were you clear on the main idea?
  • Clear and swift response: Did you deal with the matter appropriately, without straying from one emphasis point to another, with a clear and quick response?
  • Progress and specifics: instead of utilizing lists or repeating the same material, did you use relevant instances and particular details to expound on your initial notions or arguments?
  • Grammar Rules of English: Did you apply proper writing strategies such as sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar, and did you shape and revise your essay after you finished the initial draft?
  • Word choice : How well did you pick and use appropriate phrases to express your points of view?

Your 45 minutes will fly by, so focus on these key elements to get the best score possible. What is more important is to state unequivocally which side is more popular. Check that your phrases are clear and that your paragraphs are organized logically.

Each of the four modules (independent subtests) in Mathematical Reasoning (Math), Reasoning via Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies can be taken independently. To pass the subtest(s) for which you registered, you must study thoroughly and be efficient on test day. Consider taking our GED Language Arts Practice Test for the Language Arts section.

GED essay writing can be difficult, but you can keep a list of everything you need to know and switch to proper essay writing approaches before the exam. Simply practice a lot and you’ll notice that it gets better over time. So you’ve learned everything there is to know about writing the GED Essay .

How to write an essay for the GED?

  • Read through all of the instructions.
  • Create an outline.
  • Make a list of all the evidence.
  • Last, write your introduction.
  • Write first, then edit.
  • Make use of formal language.
  • Don’t look at the time.

Is there an essay portion on the GED test?

How is the ged essay graded.

The essay is graded on a four-point scale by two certified GED essay readers. The scores of the two GED readers are averaged. If the essay achieves a score of 2 or above, it is merged with the language arts multiple-choice score to generate a composite result.

Final Words

In conclusion, this guide on the GED essay provides valuable insights and strategies to help you excel in the GED essay section. By understanding the structure of the GED essay , practicing effective writing techniques, and familiarizing yourself with the scoring rubric, you can approach the GED essay with confidence and achieve a successful outcome. Remember to plan your essay, organize your thoughts, and support your ideas with relevant examples and evidence. Additionally, refining your grammar and punctuation skills will enhance the overall quality of your writing. With consistent practice and a thorough understanding of the expectations for the GED essay, you can showcase your writing abilities and earn a strong score on the GED essay.

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GED Essay-Topics, Samples, And Tips

This language Arts lesson is part of this website’s free online GED classes a nd practice tests, generously provided by the accredited comprehensive GED prep course created by Onsego.

Our free support is a great way to start out with your GED prep, and if you like these free practice tests and video lessons, you may easily switch to Onsego GED Prep’s full-scope, accredited course to earn your GED fast!

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One part of the GED Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) test is writing a GED Essay, also known as the Extended Response. You have 45 minutes to create your essay. The GED essay is an argumentative essay.

A common method for writing this type of essay is the five-paragraph approach.

Writing your GED® Essay is not about writing an opinion on the topic at hand. Your opinion is irrelevant. You are asked to determine and explain which of the arguments is better.

This lesson is provided by Onsego GED Prep.

Video Transcription

After reading the stimulus with two different arguments about a subject, your task is to explain why one of these arguments is better.

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Remember, when writing your GED® Essay, you are NOT writing your opinion on the topic. That’s irrelevant. You must write about why one argument is better than the other.

You are writing an analysis of the author’s two positions and explaining which argument is stronger. These two arguments are presented in the stimulus, so you don’t need to create any own examples.

So again, you only need to decide what argument is stronger and claim it and prove it. It is NOT about your opinion.

Since in your essay, you need to determine which argument is best supported, your claim should clearly state which of the two positions is stronger.

You will be provided with the stimulus material and a prompt.

The stimulus is a text that provides 2 opposing opinions about a certain subject. The prompt provides instructions and tells you what you need to do.

I’ll say it again because so many students make mistakes here, it’s NOT about your opinion on the topic but the subject that matters!

You need to analyze the arguments and determine which opinion is best supported throughout the text.

You are NOT asked which argument you agree with more, and you should NEVER respond with a personal opinion.

So, don’t use the word “I” such as “I think that…” “I agree because…” “In my opinion…”.

The GED essay is graded on a machine that uses algorithms to figure out your score.

So, no teacher will decide about the score in any way.

It’s very important that you remember this!

Let’s take a look at the structure, topics, and format of the GED Essay.

GED Essay Structure

Ged essay topics.

  • GED Essay Sample
  • GED Essay Scoring
  • GED Essay Writing Tips

Remember: you need to analyze which of the presented arguments is better and explain why it’s better.

Likewise, make sure your reasons come from the text – you aren’t making up your examples; you’re talking about the ones in the passages.

How should you prove that one argument is stronger? – Look at the evidence in the text.

Did the author use a relevant statistic from a reliable source, or did he/she assume something with a hypothetical anecdote?

Once you know which is better supported, you’re on your way.

Keep in mind: Don’t Summarize!

It’s easy to substitute a simpler task (summarize each side) for the more complex task of evaluating arguments. But if all you do is summarize, your response will be considered off-topic and likely will not receive any points.

The GED Essay should contain:

  • 4-7 paragraphs of 3 to 7 sentences each and 300-500 words in total.
  • An essay (or response) that is significantly shorter could put you in danger of scoring a 0 just for not showing enough of your writing skills.
  • As you read the stimulus material (text), think carefully about the argumentation presented in the passage(s). “Argumentation” refers to the assumptions, claims, support, reasoning, and credibility on which a position is based.
  • Pay close attention to how the author(s) use these strategies to convey his or her position.

Every well-written GED essay has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Your response will be an argument or an argumentative essay. Remember that you are NOT writing your opinion on the topic.

You are writing an analysis of two of the author’s positions and explaining which argument is stronger.

Things to keep in mind: the Extended Response (GED Essay) is scored by smart machines that are programmed to recognize correct answers. So, don’t try to be creative; just be correct. Also:

  • Use proper grammar and sentence structure.
  • Practice writing a 300 to 500-word essay.

Let’s look at the GED Essay structure: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

  • The Introduction introduces the topic you are writing about and states your claim or thesis statement. Stand your position.
  • The Body of the essay presents reasoning and evidence to support your claim. This is the longest part of the response and should be at least two paragraphs.
  • The concluding paragraph sums up your main points and restates your claim.

Here are a few examples of GED Essay Topics. Click on the title to read a full stimulus and a prompt.

An Analysis of Daylight-Saving Time

The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of Daylight-Saving Time who disagree about the practice’s impact on energy consumption and safety. Check here to read the full article.

Should the Penny Stay in Circulation?

Analyze the presented arguments and decide which one is better supported. Check here to read the full article.

Is Golf a Sport?

Proponents say that golf meets the definition of “sport.” Opponents say that golf better meets the definition of “game” than “sport. Analyze both opinions and determine which one is better supported. Check here to read the full article.

GED Essay Samples

Click here to access a sample of a GED essay with an explanation of the structure. Getting familiar with GED essay samples will help you plan your essay and understand what elements are important.

When reading the essay subject, you really should take the time to pull together your thoughts. By arranging your ideas rationally, you will be able to express your thoughts far better on paper. When you start writing, concentrate on the guidelines that you came to understand in English class.

Pay attention to English language usage (grammar); you must use the right punctuation and capitalization and decide on suitable word solutions.

Check here to read a GED Essay Sample with our comments.

Tips for Writing your GED Essay

1. Make sure you read the stimulus and prompt cautiously

It’s good to practice this carefully. Check out each question carefully and take a little time to figure out the topic and what kind of answer will be expected.

It is important to read the questions meticulously.

Usually, students simply run over stimulus and prompt and begin to write immediately, believing that they will save time this way.

Well, this actually the most undesirable thing to do. Take a short while and try to understand the questions completely in order to respond to them appropriately. If you wish, highlight the essential words and phrases in the stimulus to be able to look at it from time to time to be certain you stick to the topic.

2. Sketch an outline for the essay

In general, you will only need a few minutes to plan your essay, and it is imperative to take that time. As soon as you grasp the questions entirely, and once you have scribbled down some initial ideas, make an outline of the essay and follow that.

Plan an introduction, body, and conclusion. Following this process is going to save you a lot of time and it helps establish a rational development of thoughts.

3. Stick to the subject

Each paragraph in the body of your response should explain why a piece of evidence supports your claim or disputes the opposing claim to explain your evidence.

You can describe or restate it. This shows that you understand precisely what it means and how it relates to your claim.

Cite the mentioned details or facts of a specific point and relate them to your claim.

Your response should include evidence from both passages and explain what strong evidence supports one argument and why faulty evidence weakens the other argument.

4. Proofreading and Revision

By the time you completed writing your essay, you should go back to the beginning and read your essay carefully again, as you quite easily could have forgotten a comma or have misspelled a word while writing your essay. See also this post ->  Is the GED Language Arts Test Hard?

While rereading your essay, pay close attention to whether your essay provides well-targeted points, is organized clearly, presents specific information and facts, comes with proper sentence construction, and has no grammar or spelling mistakes.

How your GED Essay is Scored

Your GED essay is scored by smart machines that are programmed to recognize correct answers. So don’t try to be creative; just be correct.

They will be using five criteria to assess your essay.

  • Organization: were you clear about the essential idea, and did you present a well-thought strategy for composing your essay?
  • Clear and swift response: did you deal with the subject adequately, without shifting from one focal point to another?
  • Progress and details: did you apply relevant examples and specific details to elaborate on your original concepts or arguments, as opposed to using lists or repeating identical information?
  • Grammar Rules of English: did you use decent writing techniques like sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar, and did you shape and edit your essay after you penned the first draft?
  • Word choice: how far did you choose and employ suitable words to indicate your points of view?

Your 45 minutes will go quickly, so focus on these important points to get the best score.

What’s important is to make a clear statement about which position is better supported. Write clear sentences and arrange paragraphs in a logical order.

GED testing includes four modules (independent subtests) in Mathematical Reasoning (Math), Reasoning through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies that can be taken separately. You should study very well, be effective on test day, and pass the subtest(s) you registered for.

GED writing for essays may be a bit tricky, but you can store all this information for proper learning on a list and change to proper write essay techniques before test day has arrived. Just practice a lot, and you’ll see that it’ll be getting better and better. So now you know all about writing the GED Essay.

Last Updated on February 15, 2024.

GED Practice Questions

GED Essay Tips & Strategies

Most of the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) exam is multiple-choice, but there is also one “Extended Response” question. This question requires you to write a short essay in response to two passages of text. The passages will present two different viewpoints on a topic. You must read both of the passages and then decide which argument is best supported . Your essay should include evidence from both passages to prove that one of the authors crafts a better argument.

Please note that you are not being asked to write about which opinion is correct or which opinion you believe to be true. You are being asked to write about which passage best supports its claims. You will have 45 minutes total to read the prompt, read the passages provided, and to draft your essay.

Essay Quick Tips

  • Begin your paragraphs with topic sentences that separate your major ideas and keep your argument organized.
  • Utilize logical transition words/phrases to seamlessly move from one paragraph to the next.
  • Use correct spelling and proper grammar.
  • Vary your sentence structure and incorporate appropriate, advanced vocabulary words.
  • Stay on topic! Create an outline prior to beginning your essay to organize your thoughts.

Essay Scoring

Your GED essay will be evaluated across three areas:

  • Analysis of Arguments and Use of Evidence.
  • Development of Ideas and Organizational Structure.
  • Clarity and Command of Standard English Conventions.

The task may seem intimidating, but you more than likely already have these skills! Your essay will receive three scores—one for each of the listed areas.

Since you only have 45 minutes, you must make sure to effectively utilize your time. The best way to accomplish this is by practicing essays under the same 45-minute time limit.

Writing Guidelines

Rely upon these timing guidelines as you write your GED essay:

  • PLAN — Spend 10 minutes reading the source material and organizing your essay response.
  • PRODUCE — Spend 30 minutes writing your (ideally) 5-paragraph essay.
  • PROOFREAD — Save 5 minutes for re-reading what you wrote and making necessary changes and improvements.

Remember, since you are typing your essay on the computer screen, proofreading and editing can be done much more quickly than if you were reading over a handwritten essay! Five minutes may not seem like much, but you should be able to read the entire essay over at least once and correct any obvious spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Pro-tip: Don’t start writing until you have every paragraph planned out! Outlining your argument is the best method for producing a coherent and cogent response.

Since the GED RLA extended response is graded by the ACS (Automated Scoring Engine), it is relatively easy to score well if you rely on the organization of a good essay template. Here are a few quick tips regarding clarity to help you score as highly as possible on the GED RLA Extended Response:

Essay Template

Paragraph 1 — Introduction

Start with a 1-sentence general statement regarding the topic. Show that you understand the argument(s) by identifying the topic and its significance, and then present a bold and concise thesis statement; Consider the following example thesis:

Though the first passage highlights important considerations regarding (the topic of) ________, ultimately the second passage is better supported and more convincing.

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 — Body Paragraphs

When you plan your essay, you should formulate your thesis (choosing which side you found to be best-supported), and carefully lay out three major reasons why it is best-supported. Each of your body paragraphs should explore one of these ideas.

Use specific examples to support your point of view. Pull selections from the argument you are stating is best supported, and explain why they are good supporting examples, or why they make valid points of consideration.

Each body paragraph should only focus on one major idea, and the 1–2 selections from the passage that support that idea. Try to keep the paragraphs between 4–6 sentences so that they are succinct, direct, and clear. Avoid excessive wordiness; more is not always better!

Paragraph 5 — Conclusion

In 2–3 sentences, wrap up your thoughts, reiterate the accuracy of your thesis (why the argument you chose is better-supported), and leave the reader with an idea of WHY they should give more consideration to the topic. You can also use the conclusion to offer a degree of concession to the opposing argument, conceding that there are one or two good qualities of the other passage, before echoing that the passage you selected is ultimately better-supported and more convincing.

Finally, don’t worry about choosing the “wrong” side. It doesn’t matter which side you choose, just be sure that you can quote specific examples from the source texts to support your ideas!

Now, review our sample prompt and practice writing an essay!

GED Essay Prompt >>

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GED Essay: How To Write An Essay For GED

ged essay

Before launching into how to write an essay for GED, you need a basic understanding of what GED is and what it stands for. So, what is GED? GED stands for General Educational Development. It is simply referred to as GED on the website.

Then, what is GED test? GED test is a group of tests on four subjects that gives the test taker an equivalent certificate to a high school diploma. A Certificate of High School Equivalency is awarded to people who pass by the States and jurisdictions. It has some common features with Standardized College Admissions Test.

What is a GED Essay? The GED Essay is one of the tests in the GED Language Arts (RLA) tests. A GED Essay is also known as an Extended Response. Let’s look into how to write the essay, GED essay topics, sample, prompts, and tips on writing and passing the essay.

Structure Of A GED Essay

The GED writing practice test essay is written online only. You don’t have to be fast in typing to pass but a moderate speed is important as you would have only about 45 minutes to finish planning and writing the essay.

The structure of a proper GED Language Arts Essay is consistent. It is the basic structure of writing an essay. Your essay should be arranged as follows; the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The essay is an argumentative essay but not in the regular structure of an argumentative essay.

What you are expected to do when writing your GED test online is to present an analysis of both sides of the argument and explain which side of the argument is stronger. You don’t have to write a creative essay, you just have to ensure you write proper grammar. It is not a person that will mark your essay. You have to ensure you write your correct answers that the machines will recognize.

The acceptable standard is to write a five-paragraph essay that fits into this structure. Here is what is expected in the structure of your GED essay:

  • Introduction: The introduction is the first paragraph of the essay. At this point, you state your claim and thesis statement. State your position and stand by it.
  • The Body: In this part of the essay, you present your reasons and evidence. Usually the longest part of the essay, you should write at least two paragraphs.
  • Conclusion: This paragraph concludes your essay by emphasizing your standpoint. Restate the strongest points of your view.

Examples of Topics In A GED Essay

For writing your GED essay topic, you would be provided a stimulus and a prompt. The stimulus material is a text that gives you two opposing sides of an argument. The prompt is the instructions on what you need to do.

You can read through GED essay examples to know how the topics are written. A good GED essay example will also help you know the style and tone with which you are to write your essay. Some GED essays topics are:

  • An Analysis of Daylight-Saving Time
  • Should The Penny Stay In Circulation?
  • Is Golf A Sport?
  • What is the true meaning of honesty?
  • Is the current high school system sufficient to educate our country’s youth?

It is very important to not write the GED Essay unprepared. You can take a GED essay practice test online that will help you gauge your skills before the actual exam. There are also great GED essay samples that you should take your time to go through. Ensure that you practice as many samples as you can before the actual essay. Professional writers can help as well.

Tips On Writing A Good GED Essay

There is a methodology for everything and GED essays are not an exception. When you might not be able to predict your stimulus or prompt, certain things need to be in place in your mind to pass the essay. These GED Essay tips will ensure that you do not just pass your test but do so, excellently.

Some tips that should be at the back of your mind when writing a GED essay are:

  • Read your GED Essay Prompts and Stimulus Thoroughly: Take your time to meticulously read the questions ND figure out what it is about. Try to understand the topic and what is expected in your answers. Do not rush to answer the questions. You can even highlight certain words or phrases in the stimulus so you can always look back to confirm that you are on track.
  • Plan the Outline of your Essay: Plan how you would progressively move through the structure of your essay. From the introduction to the conclusion, ensure you know what you are going to write before you set the pen on paper. The outline will help you save time on thinking what next when writing. It also helps you progressively write the essay without losing sight of the goal.
  • Focus On The Subject: Every paragraph you write should either support your side of the argument or weaken the other end of the opponent. State your evidence, showing that you understand the claim you have chosen. Also, point out evidence in the stimulus that supports your claim.
  • Proofread and Revise Your Essay: Make sure you leave enough time for proofreading and revision. Mistakes are human, you might find that you have spelled a word incorrectly or forgotten to punctuate. Proofreading and revising your essay assures you that you have written an essay correctly and from a justified and clear view. Make sure to let others proofread your essay as well, and provide you with some essay homework help .

If you can follow these tips and prepare adequately for the essay, you are sure to pass well in your GED writing test.

How Are GED Essays Graded?

As you know, the GED Essay is written online and graded by machines. Since you cannot sway the marker’s opinion with creative writing or big words, it is important to know how it is the test is graded and type accordingly.

The machines are programmed to grade the essay according to five criteria. The criteria are:

Organization: How clear and presentable is your ideas and strategies in the essay? Clear and Swift Response: Did you answer the question without changing focal points? Progress and Details: Did you use relevant examples and go into specific details instead of just stating what is in the stimulus? Do your arguments follow progressively? Grammar Rules Of English: Do you have a good command of English writing techniques? Was your sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and grammar in place? Did you take the time to edit and proofread before submitting it? Word Choice: Did you use the right words to express your point of view?

Writing the GED Essay can be very easy with adequate practice and the right materials at hand. You just have to follow the right structure, read your stimulus and prompt well, and write to the best of your ability. GED is simple to pass if you just have the right knowledge and follow it.

GED Essay Preparation Help

Now that you have read about the GED essay you might still be wary of the challenge. It is not easy, but there are always alternative ways to improve. One of which is to get help from our online assignment help service. Our writers are total pros that will help you write and improve, and can do anything you ask. You will pass all your tests in no time.

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How to write a good GED essay for the RLA section 2023?

Many test-takers have found that GED essay questions, so-called “extended response questions”, are hard to get a high score on. However, if you take more time to prepare for your GED, you might understand what’s expected in this section of the GED Test, so how to write a good GED essay ?

The GED extended response question is one part of the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) exam. This question requires you to write a short argumentative essay in response to two passages of text which present two different viewpoints on a topic. 

Now, if you find GED Language Arts writing a bit tricky, please take notes on some key information about how to write a good GED essay. Don’t forget to apply them in your writing to better your performance on the GED test day. Let’s check it out! 

1. About The GED Extended Response (ER) Test

When you sit for your GED exam, you might encounter one essay question, aka extended response (ER) on the Reasoning through Language Arts subtest. 

For this question, you are typically required to read some passages which are non-fiction and between 450-900 words long and write a response within 45 minutes to evaluate what you’ve read. To decide which argument is best supported, you must read both of the passages 

An excellent extended response will include multiple paragraphs with a clear main idea or argument, supporting details, specific evidence from the passages to prove that one of the authors crafts a better argument and explain the connection between the evidence and your main idea. Additionally, your writing will need to be well-organized, with a beginning, middle, and end. 

Bear in mind that your 45 minutes will go quickly, therefore, please focus on these important points to get the best score. Again, these important points are to make a clear statement about which position is better supported and to write clear sentences as well as arrange paragraphs in a logical order. 

Last but not least, in the GED section, you are being asked to write about which passage best supports its claims rather than writing about which opinion is correct or which opinion you believe to be true. 

2. GED essay score criteria

how many points is the ged essay worth

Your essay’s grade on the GED test will become part of your Reasoning Through Language Arts test score.

You can get up to 6 points on the GED extended response. More specifically, there are three main categories your essay is scored on, and you can earn up to 2 points for each.

Your GED essay will be assessed across 3 main criteria following: 

2.1. Use of Evidence (Analysis of Arguments and Use of Evidence)

  • Did you apply relevant examples?

2.2. Ways of Expressing Meaning (Development of Ideas and Organizational Structure)

  • Were you clear about the essential idea?
  • Did you have specific details to elaborate on your original concepts or arguments, as opposed to using lists or repeating identical information?
  • Did you present a well-thought strategy for composing your essay?
  • Did you deal with the subject adequately, without shifting from one focal point to another?

2.3. Standard English Conventions and Usage (Grammar & Sentence Structure, Punctuation, Word Choice, Spelling)

  • Did you choose and employ suitable words to indicate your points of view?
  • Did you have decent writing techniques like sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar, 
  • Did you shape and edit your essay after you penned the first draft?

Take note: Because you only have 45 minutes to accomplish your GED essay, you must make sure to effectively utilize your time to respond to the given prompt 

3. GED Essay Structure

Every well-written GED essay has a breakdown of introduction, a body, and conclusion.

Remember that you are writing an analysis of two of the author’s positions and explaining which argument is stronger. Since your writing will be an argument or an argumentative essay, you are NOT writing your opinion on the topic. 

Let’s look at the GED Essay simple structure including a beginning, a middle, and an ending.

3.1. Beginning/ Introduction

The introduction states the main idea or position. It begins with a topic sentence/ thesis statement. The beginning restates the question and sets stage to answer the prompt. 

3.2. Middle/ Body Paragraph

  • You have to answer the question first
  • You should provide important information the author stated and meant. This is where you go to the text(s) and provide relevant examples/ evidence and important details to support the answer. 
  • Sample phrases to introduce each text reference include you might use: ….. stated; in the text…..; for example….
  • You’d better include background information as required through the prompt. 
  • This is the longest part of the response and should be at least two paragraphs.
  • Each body paragraph should only focus on one major idea, and the 1–2 selections from the passage that support that idea. 
  • You should keep the paragraphs between 4–6 sentences so that they are succinct, direct, and clear. 
  • You also need to avoid excessive wordiness

3.3. Ending/ Conclusion

You have to write a closing that summarizes the position taken, your main ideas or restates the thesis statement in a different way (why the argument you chose is better-supported) in 2-3 sentences. 

4. Some key notes when writing GED essay

After reading the stimulus providing 2 opposing opinions about a certain subject you are required to explain why one of these arguments is better. Here are some recommendations you should take into account when writing a GED essay: 

  • Don’t write your opinion on the topic. You have to divide and write about which argument is better and stronger than the other and why throughout the text.
  • Don’t need to create any own examples because you must analyze two arguments and evidence presented in the stimulus. 
  • NEVER respond with a personal opinion. Therefore, don’t use the word “I” such as “In my opinion…”, “I think that…” “I agree because…” 
  • Don’t worry about supporting the “wrong” side. It doesn’t matter which side you choose, just be sure that you can support your ideas well!

5. 7 Tips to help you get a maximum score on GED essay

Here are a few quick tips to help you score as highly as possible on your GED RLA Extended Response

tips for ged essay

5.1. Make sure you read the stimulus and prompt cautiously

Many test-takers who run over the stimulus and prompt so as to write their essay immediately leading to misunderstanding the prompt score low on the essay 

However, you should check out each question carefully and take a short while to understand the questions completely as well as find out the topic and what kind of answer will be expected in order to respond to them appropriately. You might highlight the key words and phrases in the stimulus in order for you to stick yourself to the topic

5.2. Sketch an outline for the essay (Pro-tip)

You only spend a few minutes to brainstorm and outline your essay to organize your thoughts and follow later as soon as you grasp the questions entirely.

Start with planning an introduction, body, and conclusion. After that, your essay should stick to this outline so as to save a lot of time and help establish a rational development of thoughts.

Outlining your argument is the best way to create a coherent and cogent response. Therefore, until you have every paragraph planned out,  don’t start writing.

5.3. Make a list of evidence

Take notes on the important details you want to remember later when you read the passages.

5.4. Stick to the subject

It should be noted that each paragraph in the body should explain why evidence you choose supports your claim or disapproves of the opposing claim. Remember that your essay should comprise evidence deriving from both passages and explain what strong evidence supports one argument and why faulty evidence weakens the other argument.

5.5. Use formal language

Bear in mind that you should avoid first person point of view “I” such as statements like, “I think” or informal language like slang and abbreviation. 

5.6. Don’t check the clock very often

You only have 45 minutes to write your essay. If you always look at the clock, you might find that time goes faster when you need it to go slow. Furthermore, you cannot focus on your essay completely. Thus, you should check the clock one or two times to keep track of the time. 

5.7. Proofreading and Revision

After you complete your essay, let’s go back to the beginning and read your entire essay over at least once to ensure that you haven’t forgotten a comma or misspelled a word while writing your essay.

Besides, when you review your essay, let’s place more emphasis on whether your essay provides well-targeted points and facts, comes with proper sentence construction, gets well-organized, presents specific information and has no grammar or spelling mistakes.

5.8. Vary your sentence structure and advanced vocabulary words

You will get highly appreciated when using various sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. Additionally, be certain that you use correct spelling and proper grammar. Furthermore, let’s utilize logical transition words or phrases to make your move from one paragraph to another one smoothly. 

Take note:  you can visit GED Testing Service for more tips found in GED video tutorials  about extended response questions

6. GED successful plan

Here is our proposed 45-minutes plan for a successful GED essay. Let’s check it out

  • Read directions and topic:  3 minutes
  • Prewriting (freewriting, brainstorming, clustering or mapping, etc.): 5 minutes
  • Organize (write a thesis statement or controlling idea and outline main ideas): 3 minutes
  • Draft (write the essay): 20 minutes
  • Revise (read through the essay and make changes to ideas): 8 minutes
  • Edit (check for correctness in grammar and spelling): 6 minutes

7. The ultimate GED sample essay by Estudyme

GED Essay Directions:

The articles below present arguments from supporters and critics of police militarization. In your essay, analyze both articles to determine which position is best supported. Use relevant and specific evidence from both articles to support your response. You should expect to spend up to 45 minutes planning, drafting, and editing your response.

Passage 1: The Militarization of Police: Harming Civil Liberties, Impacting Children, and Creating War Zones.

News reports frequently show police wearing helmets and masks, wielding assault rifles, and riding in mine-resistant armored vehicles. These are not isolated incidents—they represent a nationwide trend of police militarization. Federal programs providing surplus military equipment have equipped police officers with firepower that is far beyond what is needed for their jobs as protectors of their communities. Sending a heavily armed team of officers to perform routine police work can dangerously escalate situations that never needed to involve violence in the first place.

Throughout the United States, heavily armed SWAT teams are raiding people’s homes in the middle of the night, often just to search for drugs. Military-style police raids have increased dramatically in recent years, with one report finding over 80,000 such raids last year. It should enrage us that people have needlessly died during these raids, that pets have been shot, and that homes have been ravaged. Sometimes children are in the crossfire—often with deadly results.

Our neighborhoods are not warzones, and the police should not be treating us like wartime enemies. And yet, every year, billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment flows from the federal government to local police departments. The main beneficiaries of this militarization are military contractors who now have another lucrative market in which to sell their products. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Blackhawk Industries are making record profits by selling their equipment to local police departments that have received Department of Homeland Security grants.

Police departments use these wartime weapons in everyday policing, especially to fight the wasteful and failed drug war, which has unfairly targeted people of color. According to a recent ACLU report, “of all the incidents studied where the number and race of the people impacted were known, 39 percent were Black, 11 percent were Latino, 20 were white.” The majority of raids that targeted blacks and Latinos were related to drugs—another metric exposing how the “war on drugs” is racist to the core.

(adapted from https://www.aclu.org/feature/war-comes-home)

Passage 2: The Truth about Police Militarization

(by David Hagner)

Over the last few years the role of police in American society has increasingly drawn harsh criticism. Much is made of the militarization of police, from their acquisition and use of surplus military equipment, their training with and adopting similar tactics to the military, and intrusive search procedures. These criticisms are disproportionate and do not take into account the everyday facts of policing, including:

The nature of the threat has changed: Terrorist attacks on American soil have risen in frequency. Though none have been as destructive as those of 9/11, many more recent attacks have occurred at the local level and have to be confronted by police. When these incidents occur, officers need the best available equipment in order to neutralize heavily armed opponents before they can inflict serious harm on civilians.

There is little evidence that new procedures have increased casualties: Statistics of police killings of civilians do not show any significant increase, while deaths of officers in the line of duty are at an all-time low, indicating the newer procedures have helped save lives.

The vast majority of police-civilian interactions are peaceful: Criticisms about the overuse of SWAT teams and officers decked out in military gear ignore the fact that most officers patrol the streets in standard uniforms and interact peacefully with multiple civilians during a given day. Rates of violent crime are down in most parts of the country. Violent confrontations are the exception, not the rule.

Taking valuable tools away from police officers endangers lives: The stability of police shootings of civilians, the decline in violent crime, and the decline in police officer fatalities all suggest that current procedures are working. If officers lose the tactics and equipment they have come to rely on, these trends could be adversely affected and officers could be put in harm’s way without adequate protection.

Police exist to serve their communities, and while accusations of over-militarization are exaggerated, officers do still need to focus heavily on community outreach and dialogue. The only way misconceptions can be corrected is through transparency, so civilians can see and understand why certain approaches are warranted.

7.1. Outline

This essay is organized into 5 paragraphs and its layout includes the following 5 paragraphs:

  • Paragraph 1 –  Introduction – (Explain why the ACLU position is better-supported)
  • Paragraph 2 –  Reason 1 – Statistics (2 supporting examples given from passage)
  • Paragraph 3 – Reason 2 – Ethics (1 supporting example given from passage)
  • Paragraph 4 – Reason 3 – Diction (2 supporting  examples given from passage)
  • Paragraph 5 – Conclusion  – (Restate which argument is better) 

7.2. GED Sample Essay

These days, the militarization of the police is a contentious issue. While some contend that criticizing police behavior interferes with their capacity to perform their duties, others contend that the police frequently overstep their bounds and do more harm than good. Both sections deal directly with this issue, but the ACLU’s condemnation of police militarization has the strongest foundation and ultimately the strongest case.

The second sentence doesn’t include any exact statistics, but according to the ACLU, there were 80,000 police raids on military installations last year. This is unexpected and reinforces the notion that military-style incursions have permeated society too widely. The author then draws attention to the fundamental flaw in these raids by noting that, “of all the events investigated where the number and ethnicity of the people impacted were known, 39 percent were Black, 11 percent were Latino, and 20 were White.” African-Americans have been disproportionately affected by police militarization, demonstrating the harm it causes to society.

The ACLU’s case is also better substantiated than Hagner’s since, in contrast to Hagner’s piece, it speaks directly to ethical corruption. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Blackhawk Industries are raking in record profits, according to the ACLU, by selling their equipment to local police agencies that have received funding from the Department of Homeland Security. According to the ACLU, the militarization of the police is being done for financial gain; if this is the case, there is no practical necessity for this. Police militarization presents an ethical dilemma because private firms are ultimately created to generate money, not assist the police.

Finally, because the ACLU’s argument employs considerably more powerful language than Hagner’s argument, it is far more convincing. The seriousness of this situation is highlighted by the bluntness with which the drug war is described as “wasteful and failed.” Readers, who are most likely taxpayers, have a stake in the government not wasting their money. Because “heavily armed SWAT teams are entering people’s homes in the middle of the night,” the author continues, “the reader might not be safe.” The tone of this essay is considerably more passionate than the tone of the second, which helps to elicit an emotional response from the reader.

In conclusion, the ACLU’s argument is stronger because it contains more evidence, claims of ethical corruption, and persuasive language that grabs the reader’s attention. Hagner’s argument has some validity because it does an excellent job of organizing arguments with a numbered list, but it ultimately has a too dry tone and lacks evidence to support its claims. The case put forth by the ACLU ultimately succeeds in persuading readers that we should all be concerned about the militarization of the police.

8. GED Language Arts Practice Tests by Estudyme

“Practice makes perfect”, therefore, you should take as many RLA practice questions as possible to be familiar with the question types and know how to answer them appropriately. GED Test Pro is one of the online leading practice platforms where you can find a myriad of GED Language Arts Practice Tests . Now, start your GED journey with us.

How to Pass the GED Essay Exams

Ashan r. hampton.

GED essays are critical to the total test score.

The essay is a critical component of the General Educational Development or GED exam, since it accounts for 35 percent of the total language score. On a grading scale of one to four, a two is required to pass the writing section. Candidates not attaining a two or higher on the essay must successfully retake the multiple choice language and writing sections before earning GED certification. Although points are not deducted for every grammar or usage error, test takers must actively prepare for the GED essay to ace the exam.

Explore this article

  • Review Practice Questions
  • Boost Basic Writing Skills
  • Develop Details
  • Practice and Proofread

1 Review Practice Questions

The GED essay exam employs a variety of topics requiring specific techniques to effectively respond to the prompt. The question could require a description, process, cause and effect, narration or argument essay response. For example, the question “Why should people stop smoking?” calls for the writer to take a position, which is essentially an argument. An efficient response for this prompt would discuss at least three sound reasons why smokers should break the habit. Understanding the prompt is critical to test takers, since off topic responses will not receive credit.

2 Boost Basic Writing Skills

GED essay graders look for clearly focused, well-written responses to the prompt. Poor language skills affect the overall quality of the writing, which could reduce the essay score. Numerous misspellings, sentence fragments or punctuation errors demonstrate enough writing deficiencies to warrant a low score. Therefore, GED test takers must boost their writing skills by reviewing the rules for good sentence structure, completing grammar exercises and playing vocabulary games to improve their essay score, before taking the exam.

3 Develop Details

Development of details is an essential component of the GED essay scoring rubric. Successful GED essays not only include an effective introduction, body and conclusion, but also well supported paragraphs. Most paragraphs contain five to seven sentences that explain and expand the writer’s ideas. However, the most highly rated essays incorporate interesting, sensory details whenever possible. For example, instead of the general statement, “My trip to the dentist was scary,” a more specific approach such as, “My heart pounded like a boxer’s right jab as I nervously entered the dentist’s office,” provides a level of insight and development that the previous statement lacks. Balancing general and detailed sentences within each paragraph increases the quality of the writing and the overall essay score.

4 Practice and Proofread

GED test takers receive 45 minutes to express their ideas in writing on a particular topic. Although paper based testing is provided on a limited basis, most essays are typed on computer. Candidates should practice under similar conditions to bolster their confidence in successfully completing the GED writing task. Enlisting a proofreader to review the practice essay for clarity, grammar, usage and punctuation allows the candidate to identify writing challenges and areas of improvement before taking the actual exam.

  • 1 Education.com: Writing an Effective Essay: GED Test Prep
  • 2 Education Portal: GED FAQs: How Is the GED Scored?
  • 3 McGraw Hill: GED Scoring Guide
  • 4 McGraw Hill: Preparing for the GED Essay

About the Author

Ashan R. Hampton is an instructor, multimedia specialist, author and commercial radio broadcaster/producer. She has earned certificates in information technology multimedia and instructional design. Hampton also holds an M.A. in English and is completing a doctorate in higher education administration.

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how to write an essay to pass ged

Why the Extended Response Matters

The Reasoning through Language Arts portion of the GED contains an essay section, also known as the extended response, where you will be asked to use evidence-based writing. This section is 45 minutes long and 20% of your overall RLA score. 

Benefits of the Extended Response Section 

So why is it so important to prepare for this section if it only makes up 20% of your score? Here are a few reasons: 

  • Evidence-based writing is not just a type of question. It’s a form of writing that everyone needs to be successful. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4% of employers want someone with strong written communication skills. It was also the third most desired quality overall, behind leadership skills and teamwork. 
  • Writing in the workplace is all about facts, not opinion. You may have an opinion about how to fix a problem, but if you want to convince your boss to use this solution, you need evidence to back up your opinion. Writing prepares you with communication and thinking skills to help explain your ideas to others.
  • Lastly, the higher you score on this section, the more likely you are to pass the RLA test! As a bonus, you could score College Ready or College Ready + and receive credits for college!

Tools to Help you Study

When you begin studying for the extended response section, log in to your GED.com and head to the extended response section . There you can find an abundance of video tutorials that offer the best tips and tricks for writing.

Additionally, GED Marketplace offers a writing tutor product designed to prepare you for the essay section. Using practice writing prompts and over 75 online lessons, GED Writing Tutor will create a personalized learning plan designed to improve your writing skills quickly.

Start Preparing for the Essay Portion Today

While it may seem like the obvious choice not to prepare for the essay section, you will need these skills later on. So get started now. For more information, log in to your GED.com account and go to the RLA extended response section.

I teach GED classes. Recently, no matter how good our writers have been, none of their results are showing that they have passed the essay. They HAVE passed the RLA GED, however.

Our principal has determined that the essay is not important.

Can anyone shed some light on this issue?

Hi Bobbie! We sent you an email with some helpful information. Thank you!

My name is Ngun Thawng, I love education and I want to pass GED-ready tests and real tests. But I can’t pass my test because my weakest subject is RLA, Language Arts.

Comments are closed.

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IMAGES

  1. The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay

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  2. How To Pass The Ged Essay

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  3. How To Pass The Ged Essay

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  4. How to Pass the GED Writing Test: Video 3

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  5. A Real GED Writing Example to Help You Pass GED Language Arts!

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  6. How To Pass The Ged Essay

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VIDEO

  1. How to Write The GED Essay in 4 Steps (2024 Tutorial)

  2. How to Easily Beat the GED Language Arts Extended Response Essay in 2024!

  3. Write a 5 Paragraph Essay with Me

  4. How To Pass the GED Writing Test: Video 4

  5. Reviewing a Real GED Essay Example with Writing Tips Pt 9

  6. How to Write the GED Essay: Extended Response

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write & Pass a GED Essay

    7 min read How to Write & Pass a GED Essay By: Jen Denton, Student Success Coach on January 3, 2023 at 3:21 AM The GED essay intimidates a lot of people. Writing a whole essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less can be tough, but it doesn't have to be.

  2. GED Essay Writing Guide

    Step 1 Read and Analyze the Stimulus Passages (5 Minutes). Start by reading both of the passages. Make sure you understand the issue and the position that each passage is taking. Try to ignore your own personal feelings on the topic as you read.

  3. How To Write The GED Essay 2023 (Extended Response)

    best strategy for writing the GED essay Write your extended response (30 minutes) Reread and edit your writing (5 minutes) If you want a clear example of what your GED essay should like like, later in this blog you'll find a sample. If you need help with an entry essay, submit your request and get an original paper that helps you enroll in college!

  4. GED Essay: Everything You Need To Know In 2024

    Blog GED Essay: Everything You Need To Know In 2024 Go to Practice Test The GED essay is intimidating to many people. Writing an entire essay from scratch in 45 minutes or less may seem difficult, but it does not have to be. This GED essay writing overview will help you prepare for and learn about the written section of the exam.

  5. How to Write the GED Essay-Topics, Sample, and Tips

    Get Started One part of the GED Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) test is writing a GED Essay, also known as the Extended Response. You have 45 minutes to create your essay. The GED essay is an argumentative essay. A common method for writing this type of essay is the five-paragraph approach.

  6. Extended Response

    Language Arts Extended Response Use these free videos, guidelines and examples to prepare and practice for the essay section of the Language Arts test. Videos: How to write a great GED extended response Overview of the GED Extended Response Format (1:28) How to Pass the GED Extended Response (3:14)

  7. GED / HiSET Essay 2023

    I've mastered the HiSET and GED Essay writing process. In this video, I teach you exactly how to write the essay and pass your exam. Subscribe: https://bit.l...

  8. GED Essay Tips & Strategies

    Writing Guidelines Rely upon these timing guidelines as you write your GED essay: PLAN — Spend 10 minutes reading the source material and organizing your essay response. PRODUCE — Spend 30 minutes writing your (ideally) 5-paragraph essay. PROOFREAD — Save 5 minutes for re-reading what you wrote and making necessary changes and improvements.

  9. PDF Preparing for the GED Essay

    To write a good GED essay, you need several skills. You need to know how to express yourself clearly on paper—how to make a point, support it with specific examples, organize your ideas logically, and link them smoothly.

  10. PDF Extended Response Answer Guidelines

    Be sure to read through the passage(s) and the prompt. Then think about the message you want to convey in your response. Be sure to plan your response before you begin writing. Draft your response and revise it as needed. Fully answering an ER prompt often requires 4 to 7 paragraphs of 3 to 7 sentences each - that can quickly add up to 300 to ...

  11. GED Essay: Test Writing Tips For Students

    Restate the strongest points of your view. Examples of Topics In A GED Essay For writing your GED essay topic, you would be provided a stimulus and a prompt. The stimulus material is a text that gives you two opposing sides of an argument. The prompt is the instructions on what you need to do.

  12. How to write a good GED essay for the RLA section 2023?

    How is the GED essay scored? Your essay's grade on the GED test will become part of your Reasoning Through Language Arts test score. You can get up to 6 points on the GED extended response. More specifically, there are three main categories your essay is scored on, and you can earn up to 2 points for each.

  13. How to Write the GED Essay: Extended Response

    How to Write the GED Essay: Extended Response - YouTube 0:00 / 20:48 How to Write the GED Essay: Extended Response Dr KoolKat 1.29K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 256 Share 19K...

  14. GED Essay-- Tips, Tools, and What to Expect on the 2024 Test

    0:00 / 11:31 • Intro GED Essay-- Tips, Tools, and What to Expect on the 2023 Test David Cohen 27.3K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 68K views 4 years ago * You can find more resources on the...

  15. How To Pass the GED Writing Test

    Understand What the Test Covers The GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) covers three main topics: Reading for Meaning, Identifying and Creating Arguments, Grammar, and Language. It takes 2...

  16. PDF Ged Educator

    — Watch our helpful videos on how to write a great essay on the GED test and share with your students. — To grade a student's GED Ready essay, use our free scoring tool. • Math ... students who pass the GED test have the skills to excel on the job or in the classroom. Keep reading to learn more about the GED test, including:

  17. Write a GED & HiSET Essay with Me!

    Let me walk you through the GED and HiSET essay writing process as we actually write an essay together. SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/2Uy4MshWriting a GED essay ...

  18. How to Pass the GED Essay Exams

    The essay is a critical component of the General Educational Development or GED exam, since it accounts for 35 percent of the total language score. On a grading scale of one to four, a two is required to pass the writing section. Candidates not attaining a two or higher on the essay must successfully retake the ...

  19. Pass the HiSET or GED Essay!

    In this video, I teach you EXACTLY how to PASS the HiSET ESSAY!SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/2Uy4MshThe essay or writing portion of the HiSET language test does ...

  20. PDF Strategies for Essay Writing

    understand why it's worth writing that essay. A strong thesis will be arguable rather than descriptive, and it will be the right scope for the essay you are writing. If your thesis is descriptive, then you will not need to convince your readers of anything—you will be naming or summarizing something your readers can already see for themselves.

  21. Why the Extended Response Matters

    Additionally, GED Marketplace offers a writing tutor product designed to prepare you for the essay section. Using practice writing prompts and over 75 online lessons, GED Writing Tutor will create a personalized learning plan designed to improve your writing skills quickly. Start Preparing for the Essay Portion Today. While it may seem like the ...

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    #GED #GEDtest #GEDRLA How do you ace the GED Language arts extended response portion aka the GED essay? Hi, I'm Parker from Test Prep Champions, I've worked ...