GED Reasoning Through Language Arts

The GED® Reasoning through Language Arts Test (RLA) evaluates your reading and writing skills. You will have 2.5 hours for about 46 questions that require you to:

·       answer questions based on single passages and on passages that are paired together (reading and thinking skills);

·       review written text and select words and phrases so that the final product is written correctly (language skills); and

·       compose an extended response to a writing prompt based on reading one or two passages or a passage accompanied by a graphic (writing skills).

The first section of the test includes reading and language questions and concludes with about 45 minutes for the Extended Response. You will have a 10-minute break before the second section, which includes reading and language questions only.

You will need a minimum score of 145 to pass the Reasoning through Language Arts Test, which is one of the four tests you will need to pass to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Exam Content Areas

You will answer questions based on a wide range of types of reading materials.

GED Language Content Areas

The language skills model real-life editing to ensure correct sentence structure, agreement (subject-verb and pronoun antecedent), capitalization, punctuation, homonyms, and possessives. The questions also assess appropriate word choice and elimination of informal usage to fit the purpose of the writing task.

GED Extended Response

The Extended Response requires reading text materials and responding to a writing prompt (assignment) by developing an argument and supporting your ideas with evidence from the text.

Computer-Based Reasoning through Language Arts Test Question Formats

You will work with several different question formats on the RLA Test. Many of the questions will be in the familiar multiple-choice format, but you will need to be acquainted with the other formats as well.

Extended Response Question on the GED Reasoning through Language Arts Test

An important task on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Test involves writing an extended response to a passage, two passages, or a passage accompanied by a graphic. This activity integrates reading and analytical skills with writing skills.
You can take up to 45 minutes at the end of the first section of the RLA Test to complete the assignment.