GED Algebra Practice

What the test asks you to do

GED algebra questions cluster around a short list of tasks: solve a linear equation for a variable, write an equation that models a described situation, find slope from two points or from an equation, solve a small system, evaluate a function at a given input, and translate phrases like at least or no more than into inequality symbols.

Quadratics appear, but lightly — usually factoring a difference of squares or a simple trinomial rather than deriving anything. If you can confidently isolate a variable and read slope-intercept form, you have covered most of what is scored.

Where points are lost

Sign errors are the single most common cause of a wrong answer, especially when distributing a negative across parentheses or moving a term across the equals sign. Work the step, then check it by substituting your answer back into the original equation. On a multiple-choice test, substitution is often faster than solving forward.

The second common loss is misreading which quantity the question wants. A problem may walk you through finding x and then ask for the total cost, which is 25 plus x. Underline the final question before you start computing.

A study order that works

Get one-variable equations to the point of boredom first. Then move to slope and linear graphs, since those show up both in algebra questions and in data-analysis questions about trends. Systems and function notation come last — they appear less often, and they are much easier once the basics are automatic.