Extended Response
The essay portion of the RLA exam, requiring argumentative writing.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
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Scaled Score
An adjusted score that accounts for differences in test form difficulty.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Informational Text
Passages presenting facts, data, or explanations (e.g., articles).
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Literary Text
Passages from fiction, poetry, or drama.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Passing Score
The minimum score needed to pass a GED subject test (145 for RLA).
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
College-Ready
A score of 165-174, indicating readiness for college-level courses.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
College-Ready + Credit
A score of 175-200, potentially earning college credit.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
GED RLA Exam Overview: Format, Scoring, and Time
Think 'RLA: Read, Learn, Argue!' This reminds you of the core skills: reading comprehension, learning from texts, and arguing your point in the essay.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
GED RLA Exam Overview: Format, Scoring, and Time
The GED RLA exam requires you to 'analyze and evaluate arguments and use evidence to support claims.' Pay close attention to how authors build their arguments and what evidence they use, as this is central to both reading comprehension and the Extended Response.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
GED RLA Exam Overview: Format, Scoring, and Time
Spending too much time on early multiple-choice questions and running out of time for the Extended Response essay.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
GED RLA Exam Overview: Format, Scoring, and Time
Not understanding the different scoring levels beyond just 'passing,' which can impact future educational opportunities.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
GED RLA Exam Overview: Format, Scoring, and Time
Skipping the optional break, leading to mental fatigue during the critical essay section.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Time Management
Strategically allocating time to complete all exam sections.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Process of Elimination
Ruling out incorrect answer choices to find the correct one.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Extended Response (ER)
The essay portion of the RLA exam, requiring text analysis.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Inference
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Pacing
Maintaining a consistent speed to complete tasks within time.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Thesis Statement
The main argument or claim of an essay.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Evidence-based Argument
Supporting claims with facts, quotes, or data from texts.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Boost Your Score: GED RLA Test-Taking Strategies
For the essay, remember P.L.A.N.: P-lan your argument, L-ocate evidence, A-rrange your points, N-ail the conclusion!
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Boost Your Score: GED RLA Test-Taking Strategies
On the GED RLA exam, the Extended Response essay requires you to analyze which of two provided arguments is better supported by evidence from the text, not to state your personal opinion. You must use direct quotes or paraphrases from the source texts to support your analysis.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Boost Your Score: GED RLA Test-Taking Strategies
Spending too much time on one difficult question, leaving insufficient time for others or the essay.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Boost Your Score: GED RLA Test-Taking Strategies
Not reading the entire question or all answer choices carefully before selecting an answer.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Boost Your Score: GED RLA Test-Taking Strategies
Writing the Extended Response essay based on personal opinion rather than evidence from the provided texts.
Getting Started: Understanding the GED RLA Exam
Main Idea
The central message or point of a text.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Supporting Details
Facts, examples, or reasons that explain the main idea.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Topic Sentence
A sentence stating the main idea of a paragraph.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Summarizing
Condensing a text to its main points in your own words.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Concise
Giving a lot of information clearly and briefly.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Main Ideas, Details, and Summarizing Texts
Imagine a 'SUM' of all the 'KEY' ingredients: SUMmary = KEY details + Main idea!
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Main Ideas, Details, and Summarizing Texts
The GED RLA exam frequently tests your ability to 'determine the main idea or primary purpose of a text' and 'summarize a text' by selecting the best statement from multiple choices. Look for keywords like 'main point,' 'central idea,' 'best summarizes,' or 'author's primary purpose.'
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Main Ideas, Details, and Summarizing Texts
Confusing a detail for the main idea.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Main Ideas, Details, and Summarizing Texts
Including personal opinions or outside information in a summary.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Main Ideas, Details, and Summarizing Texts
Making a summary too long or too short, or not covering the main points.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Implicit
Implied or suggested without being directly stated.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Explicit
Stated clearly and directly, leaving no room for doubt.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Author's Purpose
The main reason an author writes a particular text.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
To Inform
Author's purpose to present facts, explain, or educate.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
To Persuade
Author's purpose to convince the reader of a viewpoint.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
To Entertain
Author's purpose to amuse or tell a story.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Assumption
A belief taken for granted without proof; differs from inference.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Making Inferences & Understanding Author's Purpose
P.I.E. helps remember author's purpose: Persuade, Inform, Entertain. If the author wants you to eat a slice of P.I.E., they're trying to get you to do something!
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Making Inferences & Understanding Author's Purpose
The GED RLA exam will ask you to 'make inferences and draw conclusions' and to 'determine the author's purpose.' Pay attention to signal words, tone, and the overall structure of the text to identify these. Questions often use phrases like 'The author implies...' or 'What is the most likely reason...'
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Making Inferences & Understanding Author's Purpose
Confusing an inference with an assumption: An inference is evidence-based; an assumption is not.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Making Inferences & Understanding Author's Purpose
Choosing an inference that is not directly supported by textual evidence.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Making Inferences & Understanding Author's Purpose
Misidentifying author's purpose by focusing on a minor detail rather than the overall intent.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Text Structure
How information is organized in a written passage.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Point of View
The perspective from which a story or argument is told.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Tone
The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Chronological
Text structure presenting events in time order.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
First-person POV
Narrator is a character using 'I' and 'me'.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Third-person POV
Narrator is outside the story, using 'he,' 'she,' 'they'.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Omniscient
Third-person narrator knowing all characters' thoughts.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Bias
A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Analyzing Text Structure, Point of View, and Tone
For POV, think 'I' for First-person, 'They' for Third-person. For Tone, think 'Words show Attitude.'
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Analyzing Text Structure, Point of View, and Tone
The GED RLA exam often includes questions asking you to identify the author's purpose in using a particular text structure, or how a specific word choice contributes to the author's tone. Pay attention to signal words for structure (e.g., 'first,' 'then,' 'however,' 'because') and emotionally charged vocabulary for tone.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Analyzing Text Structure, Point of View, and Tone
Confusing tone (author's attitude) with mood (reader's feeling).
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Analyzing Text Structure, Point of View, and Tone
Assuming a first-person narrator always tells the truth; they can be unreliable.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Analyzing Text Structure, Point of View, and Tone
Not looking for signal words when identifying text structure, leading to misinterpretations.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Context Clues
Hints within text that help define unfamiliar words.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Synonym
A word that has the same or similar meaning as another word.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Antonym
A word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Compare
To identify similarities between two or more things.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Contrast
To identify differences between two or more things.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
For 'Compare and Contrast': Think 'C' for 'Common' (similarities) and 'D' for 'Different' (differences).
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
The GED RLA test requires you to 'determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings.' For comparing texts, expect questions that ask you to 'analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.'
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
Guessing word meanings without looking for clues.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
Reading only one of two comparison texts thoroughly.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
Confusing similarities with differences when comparing.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary & Comparing/Contrasting Texts
Bringing outside knowledge into text comparison questions.
Mastering Reading Comprehension
Sentence Fragment
An incomplete sentence missing a subject, verb, or complete thought.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Run-on Sentence
Two or more independent clauses incorrectly joined without proper punctuation.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Independent Clause
A group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Dependent Clause
A group of words with a subject and verb that does not express a complete thought.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Subject
The noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described in the sentence.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Verb
A word that describes an action, state, or occurrence in a sentence.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Subordinating Conjunction
A word that introduces a dependent clause (e.g., because, although, when).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Coordinating Conjunction
A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank (FANBOYS).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Sentence Structure: Fragments, Run-ons, and Clauses
For run-ons, remember 'STOP! Go, Semicolon, or FANBOYS!' (Stop with a period, Go with a new sentence, use a Semicolon, or use a Comma and FANBOYS).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Sentence Structure: Fragments, Run-ons, and Clauses
The GED RLA exam often presents sentences and asks you to identify the best way to combine or correct them. Look for options that eliminate fragments, run-ons, and comma splices while maintaining the original meaning. Pay close attention to subordinating and coordinating conjunctions.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Sentence Structure: Fragments, Run-ons, and Clauses
Treating a dependent clause as a complete sentence.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Sentence Structure: Fragments, Run-ons, and Clauses
Joining two independent clauses with only a comma (comma splice).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Sentence Structure: Fragments, Run-ons, and Clauses
Forgetting to include both a subject and a verb in a complete sentence.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject and verb must match in number (singular/plural).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Antecedent
The noun that a pronoun replaces or refers to.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Modifier
A word or phrase that describes or qualifies another word.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Misplaced Modifier
A modifier separated from the word it intends to modify.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Dangling Modifier
A modifier whose intended subject is missing from the sentence.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Collective Noun
Noun referring to a group; can be singular or plural.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers
SPAM: Subject-Pronoun-Agreement-Modifiers. Remember to check for all four when reviewing your sentences!
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers
The GED RLA exam often includes questions that require you to identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, and modifier placement. Look for sentences where the subject and verb don't match, pronouns don't align with their antecedents in number or gender, or descriptive phrases are awkwardly placed, making the meaning unclear. Keywords like 'which sentence is grammatically correct' or 'choose the best revision' often signal these types of questions.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers
Forgetting that indefinite pronouns like 'everyone,' 'anyone,' 'each,' and 'neither' are singular and require singular verbs and pronouns.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers
Allowing prepositional phrases or clauses between the subject and verb to confuse the actual subject, leading to incorrect verb choice.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers
Placing descriptive phrases too far from the word they modify, creating confusing or illogical sentences (dangling/misplaced modifiers).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Comma
Punctuation mark indicating a pause or separation.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Semicolon
Punctuation mark connecting related independent clauses.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Apostrophe
Punctuation mark showing possession or contraction.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Quotation Marks
Punctuation marks enclosing direct speech or titles.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Contraction
A word formed by shortening two words, with an apostrophe.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Possessive Noun
A noun that shows ownership, usually with an apostrophe.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Punctuation Power: Commas, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks
Think of 'CAPS' for the main punctuation types: Commas, Apostrophes, Periods (and Semicolons), Quotation marks, and Spaces (for clarity).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Punctuation Power: Commas, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks
The GED RLA exam frequently tests your ability to correctly use commas in complex sentences, especially with introductory phrases, nonessential clauses, and compound sentences. Look for questions asking you to identify sentences with correct punctuation or to revise sentences for clarity.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Punctuation Power: Commas, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks
Using a comma to separate two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction (this creates a comma splice).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Punctuation Power: Commas, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks
Confusing 'its' (possessive) with 'it's' (it is) or 'your' (possessive) with 'you're' (you are).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Punctuation Power: Commas, Semicolons, Apostrophes, Quotation Marks
Incorrectly placing punctuation marks (especially periods and commas) outside of closing quotation marks for direct quotes.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization
Using uppercase letters for specific words.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Proper Noun
Specific name of a person, place, or thing.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Common Noun
General name for a person, place, or thing.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Homophone
Words that sound alike but have different spellings/meanings.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Word Usage
Choosing the most appropriate word for context.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Clarity
Writing that is easy to understand.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Conciseness
Using few words to express an idea.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Proofread
Reviewing text for errors before final submission.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization, Spelling, and Effective Word Usage
For 'affect' vs. 'effect': RAVEN (Remember Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun).
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization, Spelling, and Effective Word Usage
The GED RLA exam tests your ability to 'demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.' This includes correct capitalization of proper nouns and the first word of a sentence, accurate spelling of commonly confused words (homophones), and precise word choice to convey meaning and maintain tone. Look for errors in these areas in multiple-choice questions and ensure your extended responses are free of them.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization, Spelling, and Effective Word Usage
Forgetting to capitalize proper nouns like names of cities, states, or specific organizations.
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization, Spelling, and Effective Word Usage
Confusing homophones (e.g., 'their' for 'there,' 'your' for 'you're').
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Capitalization, Spelling, and Effective Word Usage
Using a word that sounds similar but has a different meaning (e.g., 'then' instead of 'than').
Language Conventions and Usage Essentials
Prompt
The instructions and question for the essay, outlining the task.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Source Texts
The two passages provided for analysis in the Extended Response.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Main Argument
The central claim or thesis an author is trying to prove in a text.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Evidence
Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions used to back up an argument.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Reasoning
The logical connections an author makes between evidence and their claim.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Argumentative Essay
An essay that takes a stance on an issue and supports it with evidence.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Understanding the Argumentative Essay Prompt and Sources
P.A.S.S. the Prompt: P-Prompt, A-Analyze, S-Sources, S-Support. Remember these steps to break down your essay task!
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Understanding the Argumentative Essay Prompt and Sources
The GED RLA Extended Response requires you to 'determine which position is better supported' by the provided texts. This means your essay must clearly state which argument is stronger and why, using evidence from both sources.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Understanding the Argumentative Essay Prompt and Sources
Arguing your personal opinion instead of evaluating the sources' arguments.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Understanding the Argumentative Essay Prompt and Sources
Summarizing the sources without analyzing which argument is better supported.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Understanding the Argumentative Essay Prompt and Sources
Ignoring one of the sources or only using evidence from a single source.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Essay Structure
The organizational framework of an essay (intro, body, conclusion).
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Evidence
Facts, statistics, examples from sources used to support claims.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Analysis
Explanation of how evidence supports a claim or argument.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Transition
Words or phrases that connect ideas and paragraphs smoothly.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Developing a Strong Thesis and Organizing Your Essay
Think of your THESIS as a 'THIEF' that steals the main idea from the prompt and runs away with it, leading your essay on a clear chase!
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Developing a Strong Thesis and Organizing Your Essay
The GED RLA Extended Response evaluates your ability to 'create a well-developed argument' and 'organize ideas logically.' Your thesis must be clear and your essay's structure must show a 'logical progression of ideas.' Look for keywords in the prompt like 'analyze,' 'argue,' or 'evaluate' to guide your thesis.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Developing a Strong Thesis and Organizing Your Essay
Writing a vague thesis that doesn't take a clear stance or simply restates the prompt.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Developing a Strong Thesis and Organizing Your Essay
Failing to organize body paragraphs with clear topic sentences, evidence, and analysis.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Developing a Strong Thesis and Organizing Your Essay
Not using transitions, making the essay feel disjointed and hard to follow.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Claim
A statement that presents an arguable position or opinion.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Source Text
The passages provided on the GED RLA exam for your essay.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Signal Phrase
Words or phrases introducing quoted or paraphrased evidence.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Integration
Smoothly incorporating evidence into your own writing.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
EAT: Evidence, Analysis, Thesis. Always ensure your Evidence is followed by Analysis, which connects back to your Thesis!
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
The GED RLA exam specifically asks you to 'develop your argument and support it with evidence from the provided source texts.' You must use evidence and explain how it supports your points.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
Dropping quotes without introduction or explanation.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
Summarizing evidence instead of analyzing its relevance.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
Using personal opinions or outside knowledge as evidence.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis
Providing too much evidence without enough analysis, or vice versa.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Coherence
The logical and smooth flow of ideas in an essay.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Conventions
Standard rules of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Revision
The process of re-evaluating and improving the content and structure of an essay.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Proofreading
Carefully checking an essay for errors in conventions.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Transition words
Words or phrases that connect ideas and paragraphs smoothly.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Refining Your Essay: Clarity, Conventions, and Revision
CRAP: Check for Clarity, Review for Relevance, Adjust for Accuracy, Polish for Punctuation! This helps you remember the key steps of revision.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Refining Your Essay: Clarity, Conventions, and Revision
The GED RLA Extended Response specifically assesses 'Development and Organization' (worth 40% of the score) and 'Language Conventions' (worth 20% of the score). Revision directly impacts both by improving the logical flow, evidence use, and error-free writing. Look for keywords like 'clarity,' 'cohesion,' 'grammar,' and 'spelling' in the scoring rubric.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Refining Your Essay: Clarity, Conventions, and Revision
Only proofreading for spelling errors and ignoring deeper issues like argument strength or organization.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Refining Your Essay: Clarity, Conventions, and Revision
Not allocating enough time for revision and proofreading, especially on test day.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response
Refining Your Essay: Clarity, Conventions, and Revision
Reading your essay only once and assuming it's perfect, missing obvious errors.
Crafting a High-Scoring Extended Response