CERlink
Instructions
Section 1 - Writing Skills
Section 2 - Social Studies
Section 3 - Science
Section 4 - Literature
Section 5 - Math
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION EQUIVALENCY DIAGNOSTIC
(HSGED)
Instructions for "HSGED" Series,
Version 1
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Congratulations! The CERlink "HSGED" Series Tests are comprehensive diagnostic
batteries designed not only to help you assess high school equivalency,
but also to diagnose areas of strength and weakness, into the freshman year
of college. These tests are equivalent in scope and difficulty to the GED
(though not officially recognized by public education institutions). They
were developed for private schools and tutors who were not permitted access
to official GED testing until their students reached 18 years of age. These
Tests have been administered for many years to thousands of students, and
are calibrated against actual GED, ACT and SAT performance. Results are
kept strictly confidential!
Content:
This test battery consists of a "Scantron" answer form, instructions
for filling it out (this page), essay instructions, and five section booklets:
Writing Skills, Social Studies, Science, Literature, and Math. Prior to
testing, all materials should be checked for completeness. Any problems
should be reported to your supplier.
Preparing the Answer Form (before the test):
Always use a number 2 pencil, as our scanner often misses ink
pen marks. Always completely fill the appropriate answer boxes, without
overlapping other answer boxes. (Check marks, X's, and lines seldom register,
so don't use them.)
The "Scantron" form allows the entry of several key pieces of information
prior to testing:
-LAST and FIRST Names are printed in the box-lines in the top right.
We ask you to then blacken in the corresponding letter boxes (first nine
letters of last name and first three letters of first name).
-DATE (month: 01 for January through 12 for December / day: 01 through
31 / year: 97, 98, etc) is entered in the box-line at the top left, then
blacken in the appropriate number boxes below. [Note: this test may be
administered over several days, though a GED isn't. Use the first day
to be conventional.]
-Age (from 01 to 99) is entered just below the DATE section in similar
fashion.
-Below the AGE section, examine the TEST code. The V box should be blackened.
-Below the TEST section, examine the VERsion section. The 1 box should
be blackened.
(Two other sections, GROUP and STUDENT ID are normally used only by private
schools to facilitate student progress tracking.)
Before the Test:
Please fill out as much of the Testing Conditions & Objectives
form as possible, to plan your test strategy.
Taking the Tests:
Instructions for each test section are contained on the front page of
each booklet.
Please don't mark in the test booklets!
During each of the five test sessions, the examinee will mark his/her
answers in the corresponding one of five respective columns marked SECTION
1 through SECTION 5. (After each session it is wise to examine the markings,
to be sure that marked boxes are completely filled, that marks don't overlap
other boxes, and that erasures are complete.)
After all testing is done:
Finish the Testing Conditions & Objectives form.
Collect all materials (Answer Form, essay, Conditions
& Objectives, 5 test booklets, and scratch paper) and return them
in the pre-addressed envelope to CERlink, POB 725, Cedar City,
UT 84720. Don't forget to affix sufficient postage.
Please don't make or distribute copies of this test. Doing so is
a violation of copyright and will distort the accuracy of future test
administrations. Please realize that this test represents thousands of
hours of meticulous preparation and analysis, all of which would be compromised
by copying. Please be fair!
Results:
Within 4 to 6 weeks of receipt, you will receive interpretive material,
containing examples, with your results.
"HSGED" Series Test - Version 1
Writing Skills Diagnostic (Section
1)
© 2000 CERlink Testing - Cedar City, UT
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75 minutes
Instructions:
This test section is designed to asses your writing skills. You will
be instructed to read a series of passages in which the sentences are
numbered. Questions following each passage will ask you to either correct
errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and word usage or to
restructure a particular sentence. You are to select the best
fitting solution from the five options presented in each question.
Mark your answer in the SECTION 1 column of the
answer form. Use a number 2 lead pencil and completely fill in the
box surrounding the answer number which you have chosen. If you change
an answer, be sure to completely erase the previous answer.
Example: Item 1 is based on the following:
Butterflies
(1) Worms are some of the most de-tested creatures
known to man. (2) Butterflies, on the other hand,
are some of the most adored. (3) It is ironic that
butterflies are metamorphosed worms.
1. Sentence 1: Worms are some of the most
de-tested creatures known to man.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change Worms to Wurms
(2) add a comma after worms
(3) remove the hyphen from de-tested
(4) capitalize man
(5) no correction required
The correct answer for example question 1 is option 3. It would be marked
as follows:
SECTION 1
1. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] (Do not mark this answer
on your form.)
You will have 75 minutes to answer as many questions as
you can. If you get "stuck," move on to the next question and come back
if time allows. Please observe this time limit if you intend to get an accurate
assessment of your academic achievement.
Turn to the next page when it is time to begin.
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"HSGED" Series Test - Version 1
Social Studies Diagnostic (Section
2)
© 2000 CERlink Testing - Cedar City, UT
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85 minutes
Instructions:
This test section is designed to asses your social studies skills and
knowledge. You will be instructed to read a series of passages in which
ideas are presented. Questions following each passage will ask you to
apply the ideas presented, or to recall related facts. You are to select
the best fitting solution from the five options
presented in each question. Mark your answer in the SECTION
2 column of the answer form. Use a number 2 lead pencil and
completely fill in the box surrounding the answer number which
you have chosen. If you change an answer, be sure to completely erase
the previous answer.
Example: Item 1 is based on the following:
Political Spectrum
The terms left and right stem from early European bodies of government,
where members were seated in such a way as to minimize the amount of brawling
and physical violence that might occur during heated debates. Those with
the most fervor for changing society from its traditional path were seated
on the left, while those most determined to return society to former social
patterns were seated on the right.
1. In 1997 communism would be...
(1) right wing in Poland.
(2) left wing in the United States.
(3) centrist in Iraq.
(4) both 1 & 2 above.
(5) none of the above
The correct answer for example question 1 is option 4. It would be marked
as follows:
SECTION 2
1. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 5 ] (Do not mark this answer
on your form.)
You will have 85 minutes to answer as many questions as
you can. If you get "stuck," move on to the next question and come back
if time allows. Please observe this time limit if you intend to get an accurate
assessment of your academic achievement.
Turn to the next page when it is time to begin.
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"HSGED" Series Test - Version 1
Science Diagnostic (Section
3)
© 2000 CERlink Testing - Cedar City, UT
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95 minutes - See page 15 for useful formulas.
Instructions:
This test section is designed to asses your science skills and knowledge.
You will encounter a combination of questions and passages with associated
questions. You are to recall facts and apply information presented to
chose the best fitting solution from the five
options presented in each question. Mark your answer in the SECTION
3 column of the answer form. Use a number 2 lead pencil and
completely fill in the box surrounding the answer number which
you have chosen. If you change an answer, be sure to completely erase
the previous answer.
Example: Item 1 is based on the following:
Gravity
Isaac Newton discovered that Earth's gravity exerts a force on objects
which is proportional to the mass of each object. Mathematically it is
expressed as F = ma, where F is force, m represents mass, and a is a proportionality
constant whose value is governed by the distance of the objects from the
center of the Earth.
1. If you had a kilogram of each of the following substances,
on which one would Earth's gravity exert the greatest force?
(1) feathers
(2) helium
(3) iron
(4) lead
(5) none, the forces would all be equal
The correct answer for example question 1 is option 5. It would be marked
as follows:
SECTION 3
1. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] (Do not mark this answer
on your form.)
You will have 95 minutes to answer as many questions as
you can. If you get "stuck," move on to the next question and come back
if time allows. Please observe this time limit if you intend to get an accurate
assessment of your academic achievement.
Turn to the next page when it is time to begin.
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"HSGED" Series Test - Version 1
Literature Diagnostic (Section
4)
© 2000 CERlink Testing - Cedar City, UT
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65 minutes
Instructions:
This test section is designed to asses your literary skills. You will
be instructed to read a series of passages, after which questions will
ask you to demonstrate your comprehension and understanding of literary
forms. You are to select the best fitting solution
from the five options presented in each question. Mark your answer in
the SECTION 4 column of the answer form. Use a
number 2 lead pencil and completely fill in the box surrounding
the answer number which you have chosen. If you change an answer, be sure
to completely erase the previous answer.
Example: Item 1 is based on the following:
Saying from Poor Richard's Almanac
"A stitch in time saves nine."
1. What is the point of this sentence?
(1) Sewing can save time.
(2) Waiting to do something can save effort.
(3) Remedying a problem when it first appears
can prevent it from requiring a lot of work
if it is allowed to get worse.
(4) both 2 & 3
(5) none of the above
The correct answer for example question 1 is option 3. It would be marked
as follows:
SECTION 1
1. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] (Do not mark this answer
on your form.)
You will have 75 minutes to answer as many questions as
you can. If you get "stuck," move on to the next question and come back
if time allows. Please observe this time limit if you intend to get an accurate
assessment of your academic achievement.
Turn to the next page when it is time to begin.
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"HSGED" Series Test - Version 1
Math Diagnostic (Section 5)
© 2000 CERlink Testing - Cedar City, UT
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90 minutes - See page 14 for useful formulas.
Instructions:
This test section is designed to asses your math skills and knowledge.
You will encounter both simple calculation problems, as well as word problems
of varying difficulty. You may also need to recall facts and apply definitions
in order to chose the best fitting solution from
the five options presented in each question. Mark your answer in the SECTION
5 column of the answer form. Use a number 2 lead pencil and
completely fill in the box surrounding the answer number which
you have chosen. If you change an answer, be sure to completely erase
the previous answer.
Example: Item 1 is based on the following:
1. What is the average of the following numbers?
21, 86, 7
(1) 21
(2) 86
(3) 7
(4) 114
(5) 38
The correct answer for example question 1 is option 5. It would be marked
as follows:
SECTION 5
1. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] (Do not mark this answer
on your form.)
You will have 90 minutes to answer as many questions as
you can. If you get "stuck," move on to the next question and come back
if time allows. Please observe this time limit if you intend to get an accurate
assessment of your academic achievement.
Turn to the next page when it is time to begin.
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