It’s easy to feel intimidated by math. Many people are, because it’s sort of like a foreign language. But with practice and great resources, anyone can understand it and master it.

Studying for a test is much easier when you know what will be on it, especially when you can break it down into understandable parts. You can then study each part separately.

The math section will challenge your skills in basic math, geometry, algebra, and graphs and functions. Once you study each of these areas long enough, you’ll be confident that you can pass.

General Tips: GED Math Section

Tip #1:

You don’t have to memorize formulas before the math test. You’ll need some experience using them, but will be given a formula sheet during the test.

Tip #2:

You should also practice general math questions along with common measurements and real-life applications.

Tip #3:

The exam questions will come in several types: multiple choice, drag-and-drop, drop-down, fill-in-the-blank, and others. That means the listed answers could give you some clues, but they could also mislead you. Make sure you can solve the problems on your own, but if you are struggling, you can use the process of elimination to narrow down the answer.

Tip #4:

You’ll only need to use a calculator in section two of the test. That means you’ll need to understand math ideas well, not just know how to use a calculator.

The GED and the military have a closer relationship than you might think. In fact, the GED was originally created in 1942 for veterans and members of the military to find good jobs. So if you’re interested in knowing if, and how, you can get into a branch of the military with a GED, keep reading to find out more.

Can You Join the Military With a GED?

Yes! You can join the military with a GED. The military often requires a high school diploma, but it is still very possible for you to become a member of the armed services after you earn a GED.

No matter which branch you are looking to serve in, you still must meet the age, citizenship, height and weight, and legal requirements in order to join the military.

Each branch of the military has tiers for recruits and classifies all of their recruits into one of three categories. Tier 1 recruits have earned a high school diploma or have completed 15 credits (one semester) of college. Tier 2 recruits have a GED. Tier 3 recruits have neither a GED or high school diploma.

Tier 3 Recruit

There are almost no Tier 3 recruits. It is rare for Tier 3 recruits to join the military. If you are looking to join the military and you do not have a GED, it is highly recommended that you study and pass your GED exam.

You can get help with earning your GED with practice tests online. They can help you feel prepared for earning your degree so you can have a better chance of entering into the armed forces.

Tier 2 Recruit

If you have a GED and are looking to get into the military, you have to know that each branch sets its own limits. For example, less than 1% of the annual recruits for the air-force are Tier 2, while roughly 5% of the USMC are Tier 2. One of the biggest ways to help you get into that small percentage of Tier 2 recruits, is to score well on your ASVAB.

ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is key for a Tier 2 recruit to make it into the military. Tier 1 recruits only have to score 31% or higher on the ASVAB. Tier 2 recruits have to score 50% or higher. The ASVAB also provides grounds for what you are qualified to do in each branch. If you score well enough in certain areas and show knowledge or talent in those areas, you can be recruited to fill a specific job, which pretty much guarantees your recruitment.

Tier 1 Recruit

It doesn’t matter if you have a GED or not if you have either a high school diploma or 15 college credits. You are considered to be a Tier 1 recruit, and Tier 1 recruits get first pick for any open positions.

If you have a GED and want to become a Tier 1 recruit, you need to earn 15 college credits. These credits do not have to be at a large university or state-run school, but can be earned from vocational, community, or business colleges. Before you apply to colleges to get 15 credits (which can be completed in one semester of school), double-check with your recruiter to make sure you are applying to a school that is recognized in programs that will count towards your 15 credits.

If you’re looking to enlist in the military but need your GED, get GED Ready the official GED practice test. This practice test can help you know where your strengths and weaknesses are within the GED and let you know if you’re going to pass or not. Not only does it show your progress on GED topics, but it can help you create a custom study plan to work on areas that you need to improve, with exact chapters and pages to study that will directly improve your score.

What kind of jobs can you get with a GED? Since more employers require either a high school diploma or equivalency, like the GED, you’ll find opportunities in every field. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 73% of all jobs require a diploma or GED at a bare minimum. This means your chances for employment go up when you get your GED.

It’s never been easier. With plenty of online resources to assist you, now’s the time to get started earning a GED so you can begin qualifying for higher-quality jobs that lead to a better future, and a higher salary.

Jobs You Can Get with a GED

Do some digging, and you’ll find that many industries hire people with a GED. This may be just what you need to get a foot in the door to something new and exciting and then work hard to get ahead.

You can discover what jobs you can get with a GED in this list we’ve compiled.

Office Support Administration

With an annual salary of $29,950 to $51,730, these jobs offer a professional office environment for someone who can read, write, and use a computer. Roles include:

• Receptionists
• Bill collectors
• Tellers or representatives
• Personal secretaries
• Clerks
• IT aides
• Corporate assistants
• Tellers

You can expect to manage day-to-day responsibilities in these roles. This may include greeting customers, clients, or patients; answering phone calls; preparing budgets; operating payroll; maintaining equipment and supplies; and organizing office space.

Arts

Artists find jobs in general arts and crafts or even something specific like floral design. Annual salaries fluctuate depending on where you live and what job you do. Talent and available audiences for your work also matter. For example, floral designers average $29,880 per year, while craft and fine artists average $49,960.

Grounds or Building Maintenance

Professionals in this line of work can earn between $29,760 and $37,540 per year. A GED will help get you a position in:

• Maintenance
• Janitorial or cleaning services
• Bug and pest control

Building and grounds cleaners keep buildings safe, operational, clean, and sanitary. They also keep their surrounding areas looking good and well-kept, which includes spraying for bugs and overall lawn care.

Community or Social Services

The average annual salary for someone with a GED in community or social service professions is $37,610. A GED helps you become qualified for a position as a:

• Health liaison or aide
• Social service clerk
• Counselor or advocate

Community and social service workers help people struggling with personal issues. They also help people navigate through different local services. In counseling or other support roles, workers perform their duties with empathy and compassion.

Construction Services

Construction workers and contractors can earn between $37,520 and $97,860 per year. You can qualify for many roles in new construction or repair, including:

• Day laborer
• Electrician
• Professional handyman
• Glazier
• Equipment, machine, or service vehicle operator
• Ironworker
• Woodworker
• Insulation or another type of installer
• Masonry worker
• Carpenter
• Sheet metal worker

While this field is vast and ever-expanding, you’ll generally work to build or repair commercial structures or residential homes. You may also take on projects like roads, bridges, and utility systems. You could start as an apprentice or trainee and go up from there.

Food Service Industry

Food service workers make between $25,980 and $50,160. Restaurants and catering businesses often don’t require proof of graduation or GED, so you may stand out from the rest if you’ve earned yours. Roles include:

• Waiter
• Bartender
• Food prep worker
• Cook
• Baker
• Server
• Host

Food servers and preparation workers ensure work areas operate according to strict cleanliness and sanitation regulations. They also work with cooks, prepare the food, slice meat and cheeses, peel and cut vegetables, and perform other duties.

Farming and Forestry

You can earn between $29,680 and $46,330 in the fishing, forestry, and farming industries. This work means spending a lot of time outside, working in the elements. Roles include:

• Machine and equipment operator
• Breeding expert
• Fishing deckhand
• Hunter’s apprentice

These roles often require workers to understand the mechanics and business of agriculture, farm work, fishery, and parks and recreation.

Healthcare Industry

Healthcare is a massive industry and one of the top employers in the country. With your GED, the average annual pay ranges anywhere from $29,430 to $37,570. Roles can include:

• Childcare professional
• Home health aide
• Nurse or healthcare assistant
• Occupational or physical therapy aide
• Intake manager for psychiatric settings or personal care agencies

Healthcare and personal care aides typically assist patients or clients with daily activities in an assisted living facility or home. These duties include companionship, making meals, laundry, and other basic chores.

Legal Professions

Positions in the legal industry average $52,390 per year as a:

• Title examiner
• Title abstractor
• Title searcher

Professionals in the title abstractor, examiner, or searcher field gather data to review and summarize. They also write and edit company paperwork so that executives or lawyers better understand the information.

Management

Management positions help you learn valuable people skills. They also provide better pay and more opportunity. Management comes with an average annual salary of $59,230 to $73,060 in the United States for GED holders.

You may begin in entry-level positions, but with hard work and determination, you can advance to management in places like:

• Food services
• Ranching
• Commercial or residential real estate
• Lodging
• Agriculture
• Property management

You need strong interpersonal skills to succeed as a manager in any field. You’ll also benefit from the ability to communicate, organize, strategically plan, and solve problems.

Protective Services

Average salaries in the protection field range from $31,470 to $59,380. With a GED in hand, you can apply for work in certain types of law enforcement or protection, including:

• Prison guard
• Correction officer
• Private investigator
• Police or sheriff’s deputy
• Bailiff
• Security professional

Protection officers ensure the safety of others. They perform these roles in a variety of settings, and it typically involves being armed and/or preventing crime. Knowledge of local laws and ordinances is essential.

Sales

Sales positions attract people with an inner drive and outgoing personality. These professionals find themselves valued by corporations who make money from selling goods and services. Sales representatives make between $27,260 and $52,340 per year. You’ll become a vital team member in companies specializing in:

• Insurance
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Real estate

You’ll generate leads and meet goals by negotiating, delivering presentations, and networking to build relationships.

Transportation Services

The average annual salary for a job in this industry is anywhere from $36,660 to $64,150. Meet lots of different kinds of people and travel all over the country with jobs in transportation, including:

• Marine oiling
• Cargo handling
• Truck driving
• Taxi driving
• Chauffeur work
• Sailing work
• Bus driving

Transportation involves working in fields that move passengers to and from planes, trains, buses, and other modes of transportation. You might even move cargo or goods. This industry can also include tourism.

A Future with No Limits

These positions represent only a sample of the good jobs with a GED that you can pursue. Salaries depend on where you live and how much effort you put into a position.

When you earn your GED, you’re opening doors for a brand-new outcome. It’s the missing ingredient to continue your education or to earn a professional certificate to get to the future you want. Take this opportunity and earn your GED.

Teachers often recommend starting with the test subject that is least challenging, to wade in gently with topics that are in your comfort zone. This approach helps build confidence as you gear up for the tough stuff.

To begin, login to your account at GED.com to check out free study guides. You’ll get a sense of all four subjects, then decide which one is best for you to take first.

Social Studies

Social Studies is interesting because there are many visuals involved, such as graphs, maps and charts. These help you understand trends and gather clues through imagery. You won’t feel pressured to answer every question based only on text.

You won’t have to memorize a lot for Social Studies. It’s more about applying concepts that you know already and interpret info presented in the test.

Science

Science uses formulas and analytical thinking. You’ll be given reference sheets during the test, so there’s very little memorization. Practice questions are a great way to stay sharp for Science.

RLA

To make Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) flow smoothly, get used to absorbing info quickly by reading articles on major news sites. The average article contains 500 to 700 words. Here’s a hint: it typically takes less than a minute to read 100 words. So you’re looking at just a few minutes of reading per article. For example, the blog post you’re reading now is under 400 words long.

Writing is something we do everyday, like texting and posting to social media; but when it comes to long-form essays, it’s great to have a writing tutor help you along. This virtual expert will help you organize thoughts, make content flow, catch spelling errors and clear up grammar confusion…like when to use an ellipsis.

Math

Many students agree that Math is the toughest subject. By enrolling in a local class or taking online courses, you can learn the skills you need to pass, such as algebra. Also, practicing a little at a time makes Math easier to get through. In just a few minutes a day, try GED Flash for thousands of interactive questions at home or on-the-go.

Last but not least, here’s a tip for test day from Captain Obvious: “Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and stay hydrated.”

Have other study tips that you’d like to share with other GED students? Put them in the comments below.

Some people think that colleges will reject them if they have a GED instead of a high school diploma, but is that true? Can you go to college with a GED? Yes, you can! There are many, many colleges you can apply to. In fact, 98% of colleges accept applicants with a GED. Once you get in, you can earn your degree and progress towards a great career. Use the tips below before you start sending out applications.

Does a GED Affect College Acceptance?

You may be wondering if your application will get overlooked if you have a GED rather than a high school diploma.

Nearly all colleges in the US accept the GED as well as many universities around the world. The GED is widely recognized. In fact, there are over 20 million GED graduates and counting. GED graduates that earn the College Ready score levels may even be eligible to bypass placement testing and earn college credit for classes related to the test subjects.

Tips for Applicants

If you have, or are working towards, your GED and want to apply to college one day, these are a few pointers that might give you an extra boost at the admissions office:

• Volunteer in your community and get references from those you volunteered with
• Work hard for an employer, get valuable experience, and show it on your applications
• Take a college entrance exam like the SAT or ACT and do well on it. (College entrance exams are standardized tests that measure how ready you are for college-level work).
• Get really great letters of recommendation (which means you need to work hard helping others and showing that you’re responsible). These letters highlight your positive personal and academic qualities and why you would be successful in college.

Applying to more than one college increases your chances of being accepted. Make sure you fulfill their application requirements and check if they have an alternate form or method to submit your GED scores. With any college you apply to, be sure you to triple-check that you fill out each application correctly. Finally, show off your other accomplishments besides your GED including any of those mentioned above.

If you’re planning to take the GED test, you may be wondering: is the GED test hard? Well, it depends! If you don’t take time to study and get familiar with the test format, you may struggle with taking the GED. But with enough preparation, you can go into the GED test with confidence that you’ll pass.

If you’re someone who dropped out of high school in 11th or 12th grade, you may already have an education foundation to take and pass the test. Need more assurance? The pass rate for the GED test was an impressive 80% in 2018.

The GED test measures your understanding of high school subjects like reading, math, social studies, and science. The test usually takes up to 7-8 hours to finish. On average, students spend about 3 months studying for and taking the test. All of that preparation will help you be well prepared for a bright future. You’ll learn valuable skills that can be applied to college courses, a job, and other future tests.

Is the Test Similar to High School?

High school offers students a chance to build upon their knowledge base for four years. They learn one course at a time and take many tests along the way. If you weren’t able to complete a traditional high school program, the GED allows you to exhibit the same skills in its tests.

How Can I Prepare for the GED?

Here are five key tips to set you up for success in preparing for and passing the GED:

1. Learn What to Study

The GED is made up of four parts, testing your knowledge of reading, math, social studies, and science. These are broad topics, so it’s important to read up on what specific skills you will need to know for the test. Identify which areas you need more brushing up on, then focus on those subjects in your studies.

2. Take Practice Tests

Practice tests will help you better determine your strengths and weaknesses. They’ll help you get familiar with the test format and feel more comfortable when the big test day comes. Specific practice tests like the GED Ready allow you to see which subjects you are doing well in as well as the ones you may need to spend a little more time working on. Find practice tests online and take them regularly throughout your study period to measure progress.

3. Study Consistently

When it comes to preparing for the GED, consistency is crucial. This is not a test you can just cram for and then hope for the best. Carve out time to study several times a week or even every day. Create a study schedule to help keep you on track.

4. Find a Preparation Program

Getting ready for the GED can feel overwhelming, but a GED preparation program can help direct your studies. Find the right program to meet your needs, then stick with it until testing day.

Start Preparing for the GED Today

GED Testing Service offers a complete list of study tips, prep materials, and courses to help you prepare for the GED. You can study on your own or get help from in-person or online GED instructors. If you’re ready to start your future with a GED, visit GED.com today to be prepared for exam day.

There’s a lot of info out there about the GED, but how can you tell what’s true or not? Let’s break down some of the most common myths.

Myth #1: “A GED Isn’t as Good as a High School Diploma“

Totally false! Just like a high school diploma, the GED shows colleges and employers that you have the knowledge and skills required at a high school level. In fact, 98% of colleges and employers accept the GED. That means almost any college you want to attend or any company you want to work for can be an option!

Myth #2: “It’s Easy to Get a GED”

The GED journey is different for every student, but earning your GED is definitely doable if you prep right and keep your eyes on the prize. Some subjects may be easier for some learners than others.

GED prep doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re sure you can make it happen with the right tools, courses and support. Classrooms aren’t your thing? That’s ok! There are many online options instead. On average, students complete their GED in just three months, through in-person or online prep.

Remember, it’s amazing how much of a difference a teacher, friend or family member can have on keeping you going! Don’t be shy — tell them about your GED goal.

Myth #3: “Math is Impossible”

Many students find Math to be the toughest subject and typically take it as their last test. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. The GED team has spent years designing tools just for the GED test. You’ll learn exactly what you need to pass math without wasting time. In your student account, discover everything from free study guides to GED Live online classes to GED Flash with thousands of on-the-go practice questions.

The GED Social Studies test focuses on U.S. history and gives you context to understand the nation, the world and society as a whole. It covers a variety of different topics, but don’t worry it’s not a memorization test. We know trying to remember a bunch of dates or capitals wouldn’t be fun!

Test Topics

The Social Studies section of the GED includes three different topics:

• Reading for Meaning in Social Studies
• Analyzing Historical Events and Arguments in Social Studies
• Using Numbers and Graphs in Social Studies

The GED Science test has a 90% pass rate so you have a very good chance of succeeding if you have a basic understanding of scientific concepts. Luckily, the science test is not a memorization test. For example, you won’t need to memorize the periodic table of elements.

Test Topics

The Science section of the GED includes three different topics:

• Reading for Meaning in Science
• Designing and Interpreting Science Experiments
• Using Numbers and Graphics in Science

Math can be a tough topic for students, but you don’t need a “math brain” to be able to pass the GED math test, just the right preparation and materials.

Test Topics

The math section of the GED includes four different topics:

• Basic math
• Geometry
• Basic algebra
• Graphs and functions

You should be familiar with math concepts, measurements, equations, and applying math concepts to solve real-life problems. However, you will not have to memorize formulas and you will be allowed a calculator for a section.

Format of the GED Math Test

There are two parts to the math test and the calculator will be provided for the second part. The total testing time is 115 minutes, with a short break between sections. You will have access to a calculator reference sheet and math formula sheet.

The question types differ but consist of multiple-choice, drag and drop, fill-in-the-blank, select an area and drop down.