Print resources for the GED writing test1
My webpage contains videos, links to websites, handouts, and practice problems for a variety
of key skills covered on the GED Language Arts, Writing test. However, if you'd prefer not to
work on the computer, you can use this handout to find print resources.
If you’ve studied grammar before but want to review the topics most likely to be on the
GED® test, I recommend first going through the Writing 2 pamphlet.
If you’d like a single print source to work on grammar for an extended period of time,
you might consider the following:
 Grammar Write Away book I or II [basic skills]
 Contemporary's Pre-GED Writing Skills [basic skills]
 Steck-Vaughn’s Pre-GED Language Arts, Writing [basic skills]
 Contemporary's GED Language Arts, Writing [focused on GED test]
 Steck-Vaughn’s GED Language Arts, Writing [focused on GED test]
If you just want to fill in particular gaps, you could select from the table below.
 If you're not very familiar with a skill, I encourage you begin with regular sources
(REG). Once you're comfortable exercising a skill that way, you can go on to try a
GED-style source.
 If you're planning to take your test soon, I'd recommend the Scoreboost pamphlets
and the exercises listed under "Mixed practice."
NOTE:
 At the end of this handout, you'll find a key to the abbreviations I've used.
 Resources without pages numbers are handouts I’ve made. You can find them on my
webpage or can ask me for copies.
Usage
Suggested resources
Making subjects and verbs agree
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Using appropriate verb form & tense
Using clear pronoun reference
Using proper pronoun agreement
UCSS pp. 8-15, 17-18 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 16-17 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 12-17 [GED-style]
Verb tense chart
MPS p. 12-18 [REG]
IWSP: pp. 5-6 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 20-23 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 3-11 [GED-style]
IWSP: pp. 9 [REG]
F-USS pp. 27-8 [GED-style]
MPS p. 19-20, 22 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 24-27 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 18-26 [GED-style]
GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education (ACE) and administered exclusively by GED Testing Service LLC
under license. This material is not endorsed or approved by ACE or GED Testing Service.
D. Stark 1/3/2013
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Sentence structure
Combining sentences (making compound
sentences with coordinating conjunctions & complex
sentences with subordinating conjunctions)
Recognizing & correcting sentence
fragments
Recognizing & correcting run-ons and
comma splices
Avoiding misplaced/dangling modifiers
Using parallel structure
Avoiding wordiness & awkwardness
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3 Ways to Combine Sentences
Writing 2: pp. 12-15
SB-SS pp. 4-7 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 42-44 [GED-style]
Writing 2: pp. 10-11, 18-19 [REG]
UCSS pp. 3-4, 23-4 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 8-9 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 30-32 [GED-style]
A Quick Review of Run-ons
Writing 2: pp. 10-11, 16-17 [REG]
BPS pp. 9-10 [REG]
UCSS pp. 25-26 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 2-3 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 30-32 [GED-style]
A Quick Review of Misplaced and
Dangling Modifiers
IWSP: pp. 10-11 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 10-11 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 33-38 [GED-style]
A Quick Review of Parallelism
Writing 2: pp. 20-21 [REG]
IWSP: pp. 3-4 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 12-13 [GED-style]
F-USS pp. 39-41 [GED-style]
IWSP: pp. 23-26 [REG]
Mechanics
Using proper capitalization
Spelling commonly confused words correctly
Using apostrophes correctly
Using commas correctly
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Capitalization Table
ISC pp. 17-27 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 30-31 [GED-style]
F-M pp. 3-5 [GED-style]
Commonly confused words 1-4
ISC pp. 13-14 [REG]
SB-SS pp. 32-33 [GED-style]
Summary sheet apostrophes
BPS pp. 17-19 [REG]
MPS p. 8 [REG]
A Quick Review of Comma Rules
Practice with comma rules on the
GED test
Summary sheet commas with
coordinating conjunctions
Writing 2: pp. 12-15 [REG]
BPS pp. 15-8, 11 [REG] [Don’t need
rules #9-10 p. 7]
UCSS pp. 19-21 [REG]
D. Stark 1/3/2013
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Using semicolons to join related sentences
[optional—just for essay]
Organization
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SB-SS pp. 34-35 [GED-style]
F-M pp. 6-20 [GED-style]
BPS pp. 12-13 [REG]
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A Quick Review of Organization
for the GED
Writing 2: pp. 24-29 [REG]
IWSP: pp. 15-22, 27-29 [REG]
SV-Pre pp. 198-207 [REG]
C-LAW chapter on organization
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Mixed practice [GED-style]
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(different pages in different editions)
[GED-style]
SB-Ess pp. 26-36 [GED-style]
Writing 2: pp. 34-39, 50-53
Pass-W pp. 4-11, 20-3, 28-36
SB-SS pp. 14-15, 28-29, 36-41
F-USS pp. 45-47
C-LAW pretest & posttest
SV-LAW pretest & posttest
REG = regular questions, not tricky GED test style questions
Abbrev. Title
BPS
MPS
ISC
IWSP
Building Punctuation Skills [pink pamphlet]
Mastering Parts of Speech [pink pamphlet]
Improving Spelling and Capitalization [pink pamphlet]
Improving Writing Style and Paragraphing [pink
REG
REG
REG
REG
pamphlet]
UCSS
Using Correct Sentence Structure [pink pamphlet]
REG
C-Pre
SV-Pre
WR2
Contemporary's Pre-GED Writing Skills
Steck-Vaughn’s Pre-GED Language Arts, Writing
Writing 2: Sentence Structure, Organization, and
Essay [light blue pamphlet] [Ask me.]
Contemporary's GED Language Arts, Writing
Steck-Vaughn’s GED Language Arts, Writing
REG/GED-style
REG/GED-style
REG/GED-style
GED Scoreboost: Sentence Structure, Usage, and
Mechanics [blue & white pamphlet]
GED Scoreboost: Essay Writing and Organization
Skills [blue & white pamphlet]
Pass the GED Language Arts, Writing Test [blue & white
GED-style
C-LAW
SV-LAW
SB-SS
SB-Ess
Pass-W
pamphlet] [Ask me.]
F-M
F-USS
Focus on Skills: Mechanics [white pamphlet] [Ask me.]
Focus on Skills: Usage and sentence structure [white
REG/GED-style
REG/GED-style
GED-style
GED-style
GED-style
GED-style
pamphlet] [Ask me.]
D. Stark 1/3/2013
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