As the student s writing proficiency increases, increase both the time provided and the length of the writing sample. Prior to taking the GED Tests the student should be able to write a five paragraph essay on any given topic in a 45 minute period. Reading Journals Students should be encouraged to keep journals to document and enhance their understanding of materials that are read for class. Teach students to write entries that reflect the main idea, major points or questions that they may have after reading a selection. To increase critical thinking skills, instructors may request that students write about possible applications of ideas.
Journals can also assist students to better understand what has been taught.
Summaries Instructors can ask students to write a brief summary of the major points of a reading assignment. This summary can be as brief as 25 words or extend to several paragraphs based on student writing performance level. This not only checks reading comprehension but can also be graded quickly. Summarizing is a very important skill for students to learn. Most GED teachers would say that the Mathematics Test is the hardest for their students to pass.