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Hey, GED test-takers. I'm Alice.

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I passed the "GED Reasoning Through Language Arts" test,

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and I'd like to help you pass too.

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I studied with the "Writing for the GED Test"

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series from New Readers Press.

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Practicing with these books boosted my confidence

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and helped me to write a great extended response.

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In this video, I'll share some tips

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from "Writing for the GED Test" that will help you

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maximize your score on the extended response.

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I'll show you what you will see on the extended response

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portion of the test, how to move around a computer screen,

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and what tools you can use during the test.

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What is the extended response?

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It's the writing portion

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of the "GED Reasoning Through Language Arts" test

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or R-L-A test.

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Here's what the extended response looks like.

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This is the prompt.

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The prompt tells you the topic you will be asked to write about.

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It explains what you need to do in your written response.

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And on the bottom right, this is where you type your response.

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Don't worry about running out of space.

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As you type your response, the text will scroll

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to make room for more.

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On the left, you'll see two text passages.

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Click the tabs at the top to read every page.

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Each passage gives an author's position on a similar topic.

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Make sure to read both passages.

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While you type, you can use the cut, copy and paste buttons

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to move sentences around within your response.

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You can also use the Undo and Redo buttons.

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You cannot use these buttons to copy text

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from the reading passages.

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You will have some access to some tools,

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both on screen and at your testing station,

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while you work on your response.

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The first tool is an on-screen highlighter.

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You can use the highlighter to mark

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important information in the reading passages.

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When you take the GED test, you

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will be given three note boards and a dry-erase pen.

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You can use these to write notes during the test.

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Remember that you won't be able to take a pen

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or a pencil, and scratch-paper into the testing center.

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You will need to use the note boards to make

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any notes during the test.

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When you arrive at the testing center, you will receive a copy

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of the extended-response answer guidelines.

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You can also click on this button at the top right of the screen

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to refer to the guidelines during the test.

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The guidelines gives you some tips

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for maximizing your score on the extended response.

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For example, you should write four to seven paragraphs

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and about 300 to 500 words.

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The other videos in this series will cover

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many of the points included in the guidelines.

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When the extended response begins,

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a clock will appear on the screen

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showing that you have 45 minutes.

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The clock will count down as you work.

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If the clock is distracting, you can hide it

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and check it occasionally to make sure you're on track.

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The clock will reappear when there are three minutes left,

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so you'll know that time is running out.

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To use your time wisely, plan to spend the first 15 minutes

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reading and analyzing the passages,

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then spend the next 25 minutes writing your response.

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Save about five minutes at the end

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to check and revise your writing.

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I'll talk more about these three steps in the upcoming videos.

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Here's a tip to improve your score.

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Read the guidelines before test day and refer to them

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while you practice and prepare for the test.

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You will save time if you're already familiar with the guidelines

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before you take the test, but you can also refer to them

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on test day by clicking the button.

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You can read or print a copy of the guidelines

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by clicking the link in the description.

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The rest of the videos in the series

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will help you meet the expectations described in the guidelines.

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Now you know what the extended response looks like.

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In video two, I'll talk about how to get started on your response.