GED Testing
Components
Cognitive skills
Questions on the GED Tests are classified by cognitive
level using an adaptation of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational
Objectives (Benjamin Bloom, ed., 1st ed., New York: Longmans
Green, 1956). Questions classified at the highest cognitive
levels (e.g., synthesis, evaluation) require the use of
skills described at the lower levels (e.g., knowledge and
comprehension).
Comprehension
Comprehension questions require an understanding of the
meaning and intent of written and graphic stimulus material.
They measure the examinee’s ability to restate information,
summarize ideas, identify implications, and draw conclusions.
Application
Application questions require the ability to use information
and ideas in a concrete situation. They measure the
examinee’s skill in using ideas in a context different
from the one in which they were initially presented.
Analysis
Questions involving analysis require the ability to
break down information and explore relationships
between component ideas. They measure the examinee’s
ability to perform reasoning tasks such as:
- Distinguishing
facts from hypotheses or opinions.
- Recognizing unstated
assumptions.
- Identifying cause-and-effect relationships.
- Comparing,
contrasting, and inferring.
Synthesis
Skills at this level require the production of information
in the form of hypotheses, theories, stories, or
compositions. Synthesis requires the construction
of new and independent communication.
Evaluation
Evaluation questions require the ability to make
judgments about the validity or accuracy of information
or methods using provided or assumed criteria.
They measure the examinee’s ability to:
- Assess the
data used to substantiate hypotheses, conclusions,
or generalization.
- Recognize the role of values in
beliefs and decision making.
- Perceive logical fallacies
in arguments.
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