GED Math Practice — Test 2

Arithmetic · Algebra · Geometry · Data & Probability

24 multiple choice  •  1 constructed response  •  arithmetic · algebra & functions · geometry · data, statistics & probability

Name: Date: Class:
How to use this worksheet. Read each table, graph, or scenario before you answer. Choose the best answer and write its letter on the answer line, then show your work in the space below it.
STIMULUS 1Data Table · Arithmetic & Ratios

Weekly Production Log — Sunrise Bakery

Day Loaves Baked Labor Hours Total Cost ($)
Monday486312
Tuesday557355
Wednesday425.5289
Thursday608398
Friday658.5425

Source: Practice data for GED preparation.

1.

What was the average number of loaves baked per day over the five days?

Nudge — Average (mean) = add up all the values, then divide by how many there are. Add the five numbers in the "Loaves Baked" column, then divide by 5. Don't round until the end.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
2.

On which day was the cost per loaf the lowest?

Nudge — Cost per loaf = Total Cost ÷ Loaves Baked, done separately for each day offered. Compute the rate for every choice and compare — the "lowest" is the smallest dollars-per-loaf, not the smallest total.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
3.

What is the ratio of total loaves baked to total labor hours for the week (simplified)?

Nudge — First total each column: all loaves, then all hours. Write the ratio loaves-to-hours in that order, then simplify by dividing both sides by their greatest common factor. Keep the order the question asks for.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
4.

If the bakery wants to increase Friday’s output by 20% while keeping the same cost per loaf, how many loaves would they need to bake?

Nudge — A 20% increase means the new amount is 120% of the old. Start from Friday's loaves and multiply by 1.20 (or find 20% and add it on). The "same cost per loaf" detail does not change the count.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
STIMULUS 2 · GRAPHData Analysis

The table below records the average daily steps a fitness-app user logged over one week. Read the exact step count for each day from the table to answer Questions 5–8.

Average Daily Steps Recorded by a Fitness App User (One Week)

Day Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Steps7,1008,2007,8009,1008,40010,2006,200

Source: Practice data for GED preparation. Saturday and Sunday are weekend days.

5.

According to the data, on which day did the user record the highest number of steps?

Nudge — Scan the step row and find the largest value, then read up to its day heading. Only the four days listed as options need to be checked against each other.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
6.

What was the median number of steps for the seven days shown?

Nudge — The median is the middle value once the numbers are in order — not the average. List all seven step counts from smallest to largest, then pick the one that lands in the exact middle of the list.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
7.

The user’s goal is 10,000 steps per day. On how many days did they meet or exceed this goal?

Nudge — "Meet or exceed" means 10,000 or more (≥). Go across the row and count only the days at or above the goal line. Watch the comma placement so 10,200 isn't misread.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
8.

Which statement is best supported by the data?

Nudge — Test each claim against the actual numbers rather than a general impression. Check the two weekend days against the rest, look for a steady rise or fall, and reject any statement that says "exactly every day" unless the values are identical.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
STIMULUS 3Geometry · Area, Perimeter & Scale

A community garden plot is shown in a scale drawing. The drawing uses a scale of 1 inch = 4 feet. The rectangular plot in the drawing measures 3.5 inches by 2 inches. A circular flower bed with a diameter of 1 inch is planned inside the plot. The garden club needs to know the actual area available for planting vegetables (total plot area minus the flower bed).

9.

What are the actual dimensions of the rectangular garden plot?

Nudge — Convert each drawing measurement to real feet using the scale: multiply the drawing inches by 4 feet per inch. Do this to both the length and the width before choosing.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
10.

What is the actual area of the entire rectangular garden plot in square feet?

Nudge — Area of a rectangle = length × width, and it must use the actual feet from Question 9, not the drawing inches. Multiply the two real side lengths; the unit is square feet.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
11.

The circular flower bed has an actual diameter of 4 feet. Using 3.14 for π, what is the approximate area of the flower bed?

Nudge — Area of a circle uses the radius, not the diameter: A = π r². The diameter is 4 ft, so halve it first, then square that radius and multiply by 3.14. Mixing up radius and diameter is the classic trap here.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
12.

What is the approximate area available for vegetables (rectangular plot minus circular flower bed)?

Nudge — This is a "leftover area" problem: take the whole rectangle's area and subtract the circle's area. Carry over your results from Questions 10 and 11 rather than starting over, then subtract.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
STIMULUS 4Probability · Compound Events

A bag contains 5 red marbles, 4 blue marbles, and 3 green marbles (total of 12 marbles). Two marbles are drawn at random without replacement. All marbles are equally likely to be drawn.

13.

What is the probability that the first marble drawn is red?

Nudge — Basic probability = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes. Count the reds for the top and the full bag for the bottom. Check whether any distractor swapped a different color into the numerator.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
14.

What is the probability that the first marble is blue and the second marble is also blue?

Nudge — "Without replacement" means after the first draw, both the blue count and the total drop by one before the second draw. Multiply the first-draw probability by the adjusted second-draw probability. If a choice keeps the totals unchanged, it ignored the removal.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
15.

If the first marble drawn is green, what is the probability that the second marble drawn is red?

Nudge — This is conditional: the green is already gone, so the total is now 11, but no red has been removed. Put the unchanged red count over the new total. Track which color was actually taken out.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
16.

Which expression represents the probability of drawing one red and one blue marble in either order?

Nudge — "Either order" means two separate sequences: red-then-blue OR blue-then-red. Build the probability of each ordered path (adjusting totals for no replacement) and add them. Watch whether the two paths actually have the same value before assuming you can just double one.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
QUESTIONS 17–24Core Skills · Algebra, Geometry, Number Sense & Functions
17.

Simplify: 5 + 3 × (8 − 2)² ÷ 6

Nudge — Follow the order of operations (PEMDAS): parentheses first, then the exponent, then multiply and divide left to right, and add last. Resist adding the 5 too early — that shortcut produces a wrong distractor.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
18.

Solve for x: 2(x − 4) = 3x + 6

Nudge — Distribute the 2 on the left first, then collect the x-terms on one side and the numbers on the other. Track the negative signs carefully — a dropped sign is what separates the right answer from its look-alike. Substitute your x back in to check.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
19.

A rectangular room is 12 feet long and 9 feet wide. A circular rug with a diameter of 6 feet is placed in the center. What is the approximate area of the floor NOT covered by the rug? (Use 3.14 for π)

Nudge — Same "leftover area" structure as Question 12: room area minus rug area. Rectangle is length × width; circle is π r² with the radius being half the 6-ft diameter. Subtract, and pick the closest approximate value.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
20.

Which equation represents a line with a slope of −2 and a y-intercept of 5?

Nudge — Use slope-intercept form, y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. Slot the slope into the m position and the intercept into the b position — don't let a choice that swaps the two numbers fool you.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
21.

A smartphone originally priced at $720 is discounted by 15%. What is the sale price?

Nudge — A discount is subtracted from the original. Find 15% of $720, then take it away from $720 (or multiply by 0.85 directly). The question asks for the final sale price, not the amount of the discount — one distractor is just the discount.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
22.

Which of the following values satisfies the inequality 4x − 7 ≤ 9?

Nudge — Solve the inequality like an equation: add 7 to both sides, then divide by 4, to find the boundary for x. Then check which listed value fits the "less than or equal to" condition. You can also just substitute each choice in and see which makes the statement true.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
23.

Express 0.0000456 in scientific notation.

Nudge — Proper scientific notation has exactly one nonzero digit before the decimal point. Move the decimal right until you get a number between 1 and 10, and count the moves — a small number gives a negative exponent. Two distractors have a first factor that isn't between 1 and 10.
My answer:
Show your work / why:
24.

A function is defined as g(x) = x² − 3x + 4. What is the value of g(−2)?

Nudge — Substitute −2 everywhere x appears, then evaluate. Be careful with signs: a negative squared is positive, and subtracting 3 times a negative adds a positive. Use parentheses around −2 as you plug in to avoid a sign slip.
My answer:
Show your work / why:

Constructed Response — Comparing Cell Phone Plans (Linear Functions)

25. Two cell phone plans are being compared:

Plan A: $25 per month + $0.08 per minute of talk time.

Plan B: $40 per month with unlimited talk time.

Part A: Write an equation for the total monthly cost C of Plan A if a customer uses m minutes of talk time.

Part B: How many minutes would a customer need to use for Plan A to cost the same as Plan B?

Part C: If a customer expects to use 300 minutes per month, which plan is cheaper and by how much? Show all work and explain your recommendation in 1–2 sentences.

Nudge — Plan before you write. (1) For Part A, a fixed monthly fee is the constant and the per-minute charge is the rate that multiplies m — that's linear form, cost = fixed + rate × minutes. (2) For Part B, set your Plan A cost equal to Plan B's flat cost and solve for m. (3) For Part C, plug 300 into your Plan A equation, compare that total to Plan B, and state the difference. Show every calculation — partial credit rewards clear method even if a number slips.

Reflection

Which content area (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, or Data/Probability) felt strongest for you on this test?

Which type of question or skill was most challenging (e.g., multi-step word problems, interpreting data, geometry with composite shapes, probability without replacement)?

What is one specific topic or skill you plan to review before the real GED Mathematical Reasoning test?

FOR INSTRUCTOR USE — NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Mentor Guide

How to run this math test, use the nudges, and review without an answer key

1. Common GED-math errors, by topic (what to watch for)

2. What the nudges are, and how to run them

Each question carries a Nudge that names the method or first step — never the number, never the correct letter. The goal is that a stuck student gets unstuck by reasoning, not by being told.

3. Running the session

4. Reviewing WITHOUT an answer key

This student edition deliberately has no key. Review by re-working, not by revealing:

5. Scoring the constructed response (Item 25)

Grade the reasoning and use of the correct linear method above tidy arithmetic. A defensible full-credit response shows: