TEST ONE: WRITING SKILLS

TEST ONE: WRITING SKILLS


The GED Writing Skills Test has two parts. Part One
contains multiple-choice questions that require you to correct
or revise sentences that appear in a writing selection. Part
Two asks you to write an essay about a subject or an issue that
is familiar.


Test One, Part One: Multiple-Choice Questions


This section of the Writing Skills Test contains
paragraphs with numbered sentences followed by questions based
on those sentences. Each writing selection contains about 10 to
14 numbered sentences in one or more paragraphs.

Questions in this section cover sentence structure, usage,
and mechanics. You will be asked to identify and correct errors
that occur in sentences throughout the selection.


Directions and Sample Questions for Writing Skills, Part One


Directions: Choose the one best answer to each item.

Items 1 to 3 refer to the following paragraph.

(1) One of the lifelong memories many of us share are the
moment we obtained a driver's license. (2) If we were teenagers
at the time, these licenses signified our passage to adulthood.
(3) We clearly remember practicing to handle a car well in heavy
traffic and learning to parallel park. (4) We also prepared for
the test by studying the driver's booklet, memorizing rules, and
learning road signs. (5) Because we dreaded possible disaster,
the road test seemed worse than the written test. (6) While
conducting these difficult tests, the state driving inspectors
often seemed stern and unyielding. (7) Therefore, when all the
tests were finally over, we felt a real sense of achievement.
(8)Whether or not we have chosen to use our licenses since then,
they remain of enormous value to us. (9) They symbolize our
passport both to independence and to the open road.

1. Sentence 1: One of the lifelong memories many of us share
are the moment we obtained a driver's license.

What correction should be made to this sentence?

(1) change the spelling of memories to memorys

(2) insert a comma after memories

(3) change are to is

(4) change driver's to drivers

(5) no correction is necessary


Correct Answer: 3
Difficulty Level: Moderately difficult


About half of the questions in this section of the test
ask you to find and correct any errors in the sentence. Because
the subject of this sentence is One (not memorieS), the main
verb in the sentence, (are) must agree in number. Thus, the
correct answer is (3) "change are to is." Options 1, 2, and 4
introduce errors into the sentence, so none of these is the
best answer. Notice that this item type has an alternative (5)
"no correction is necessary." Choose this alternative when
there is no error.

2. Sentence 3: We clearly-remember practicing to handle a car
well in heavy traffic and learning to parallel park.

Which of the following is the best way to write the
underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the
original is the best way, choose option (1).

(1) traffic and learning

(2) traffic, but learning

(3) traffic, for learning

(4) traffic, so learning

(5) traffic because learning


Correct Answer: 1
Difficulty Level: Moderately difficult


This question asks you to select the best word to join the
two parts of the sentence. The best answer can be found by
determining which word makes the most sense. Only the word and
produces a sentence in which the meaning is clear: the two
things we remember are practicing to handle a car well and
learning to parallel park. Since the relationship between the
two parts of the sentence is one of addition, and is the best
choice. Note that in this question, the original wording is the
best of the choices given.

3. Sentence 7: Therefore, when all the tests were finally
over, we felt a real sense of achievement.

If you rewrote sentence 7 beginning with

Therefore, we felt a real sense of achievement
the next word should be

(1) or

(2) all

(3) when

(4) while

(5) but


Correct Answer: 3
Difficulty Level: Easy


Questions like this one require you to restate the
original sentence in a particular way, often using a different
type of sentence structure. The important point to remember
here is that the new version must retain the meaning of the
original sentence. In the case of question 3, the position of
the two parts in the sentence is switched. Only the word "when"
keeps the same meaning. Every other choice creates either a
nonsense sentence or one in which the meaning is different from
the original. In these types of questions, it is always useful
to try out each of the alternatives in the new structure. By
reading through the entire revised sentence, you will be better
able to see the effect of each of the options on the meaning of
the sentence.


Test One, Part Two: The Essay


This part of the Writing Skills Test measures your ability
to write an essay about an issue or situation of general
interest. No special or technical knowledge is required to
write on any of the topics. All of the topics used for this
part of the test require you to write an essay that presents
your opinion or explains your views about the topic assigned.


How the Essay Section Is Scored


All essays written for the GED Writing Skills Test are
scored by at least two trained readers who score the essays on
their overall effectiveness. They will judge how clearly you
make the main point of your composition, how thoroughly you
support your ideas, and how clearly and correctly you write.
That is, all of the elements that make up a piece of writing
are taken into consideration. The readers do not count every
spelling and grammar mistake, but a paper with many errors may
not receive a good score.

Essays must be written "on topic" to receive a score. Pay
attention to the topic and to the questions you are asked to
answer about the topic. Plan your essay carefully, and allow
yourself time to read it and make corrections.

After the readers have scored your paper, their combined
score is the total essay score that, together with the score
for the multiple-choice section, is the Writing Skills Test
composite score.


Sample Topic for the Writing Skills Test, Part Two


It always strikes me as a terrible shame to see young
people spending so much of their time staring at television. If
we unplugged all the television sets, our children would grow
up to be healthier, better educated, and more independent human
beings.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write a
composition of about 200 words presenting your opinion and
supporting it with examples from your own experience or your
observations of others.


Description and Sample of Essay


The following paper would receive a rating of 3 (highest
score is 6) based on the scoring guide. This typical paper has
a single purpose or point to make. The supporting ideas are
presented in clear sentences so that the reader understands
what the writer wants to say. The paper would have been
stronger if the writer had given the names of specific
television programs that are informational or entertaining. The
occasional mistakes in the conventions of standard written
English do not interfere with the reader's being able to
understand what is written. These mistakes would have been
corrected by a stronger writer.


Sample Essay


The question of whether or not television is a positive or
negative factor in grow of our children, can have its points
both ways. But I feel that the argument, that all the
televisions sets should be unplugged, so that our children will
grow up to be healthier, better educated, and more independent
human beings, is ridiculous there are many informative, and
educational and fun things to watch on television.

Television offers educational stations, which have very
informative shows and programs, people can learn many things
from some of the programs on television. The television is also
used to translate news and other information to people, without
the news you would not know about the world around you,
politics, big events, weather etc. Even the movies and comedies
provide entertainment and relaxation, and what better place
than in your own home. I agree that some of the television
today is none of the above, but the responsibility of what you
watch is all up to you. Our children can grow up with
television, but adults should help them learn how to choose
shows that are going to be good. Television can be a very
instrumental thing, it can provide fun and entertainment and
also educational shows, that promote learning.

While the person scoring your essay does not count
mistakes, these mistakes do influence the reader's overall
impression of the writing. For this reason, some of the errors
in the sample essay are identified below for you.

The first sentence of the essay is not clear because of
the use of grow for growth. The first sentence of any essay is
the most important one because it states what the rest of the
paper will say. This sentence should be very clear. In the
second sentence, there is no reason or rule for the commas
after "unplugged" and "beings." If you don't know a rule for
the comma, leave it out. Also in the second sentence, the use
of "fun things" is too casual or colloquial compared to the
rest of the words in the essay. Colloquial expressions may be
misunderstood by a reader, so don't use them. The next sentence
which starts with "Television offers" is actually two sentences
or complete ideas joined together by the comma after
"programs." This mistake shows that the writer is not sure
about what a sentence really is. Then are other mistakes like
these in the rest of the essay.

Everyone makes mistakes when they write quickly. Good
writers take the time to go over what is written and correct
mistakes. Your writing will show your best skills if you take
the time to plan what you say and review it to make any needed
corrections.

If you take the Official GED Practice Tests on your own,
we recommend that you ask an adult education teacher to help
you score your essay. The self-scoring answer sheet for Form CC
of the Official GED Practice Tests has an essay scoring guide.
See order information on the back page of this Bulletin.