Preparing for the TASC

The TASC examination is conducted by McGraw-Hill and CTB together in order to provide candidates who could not complete their high school education with an opportunity to complete their high school certification. The exam is equivalent to the GED examination which is well sought after but is considered to be an accessible, affordable, and flexible option that candidates can choose according to their needs.

The exam is mainly focused on students who could not complete their high school education due to their inability to follow the traditional high school setup, due to dropping out because of various factors like bullying, and also for migratory workers and their children who can benefit from the examination.

In order to apply for the TASC examination, candidates must not be enrolled in a high school, not be a high school graduate, and should abide by the state requirements of age and duration between leaving high school and taking the test. The test can be both taken for free or for the price of around $115 depending upon the state the candidate resides in.

Understanding the Test Format

Understanding the test format can help candidates in cracking the examination with lesser fear and also provides them with the opportunity of preparing for the examination than preparing in general thereby saving ample time. Candidates will also be able to achieve a higher grade than they aspired for by preparing smartly than meticulously.

The test is conducted both in a paper-and-pencil format as well as an online format out of which the candidate can choose the method that is comfortable for them. The testing options have been made available considering both candidates who are unfamiliar with the technical aspect of the test or have special needs and candidates who might require instant results for their examination.

The test format for the examination is-

Subject	Time (English)	Time (Spanish)
Mathematics (Part 1)	50 minutes	50 minutes
Mathematics (Part 2)	55 minutes	55 minutes
Writing	110 minutes	110 minutes
Reading	85 minutes	85 minutes
Science	75 minutes	75 minutes
Social Studies	75 minutes	75 minutes

The question types for each section of the examination varies from each other. The different question types that are provided in the examination are-

• Multiple-choice questions
• Writing Assessment
• Gridded-response in mathematics
• Stimulus-based testing in science and social studies through multiple-choice questions

Understanding the Test Content

Once the test format and question types have been studied, candidates will be able to move on to the content of the examination which they can peruse through the lens of the question types. For instance, candidates will not have to go through short answer questions from areas where they will only receive multiple-choice questions.

The test content for the TASC examination are as follows-

• Mathematics
  • Numbers and Quantity
  • Algebra
  • Functions
  • Geometry
  • Statistics and Probability
• Science
  • Physical Science
  • Life Science
  • Earth Science
  • Space Science
• Social Studies
  • History
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Civics
  • Government
• Reading
  • Foundational and Seminal Texts
  • Literature- Fiction, Poetry, and Drama
  • Informational Texts from Social Studies, Science, Literary Nonfiction
• Writing
  • Argumentative Essay
  • Informative Essay

Materials to Prepare for TASC

Candidates who are preparing for the TASC examination will be able to enroll in online courses for the same, assign private tutors for their study, or prepare by themselves with the help of the best prep books available. The external sources they can rely on including a common core series for both 6-8 grade equivalents and 9-12 grade equivalents along with the official guide for the TASC test and even other individual training for the examination. Their Essential Education Corporation also provides candidates with workbooks that can help them prepare for the examination.

• DRC or Data Recognition Corporation-
  This is the official guide for TASC preparation and has been designed by McGraw-Hill Education Preparation. It focuses on the test content but approaches the content in a step-by-step manner that walks the candidates through the learning process from the very beginning to the end. This contains chapter reviews and exercises for skill development. They also claim to have authentic test questions along with their explanations making it easier for candidates to understand their mistakes and learn from them before they take the test.
• McGraw-Hill Education Common Core Series-
  They offer a budget-friendly curriculum which is split into 3 instructional programs based on the different grade levels. The three programs are common core state standards, college and career readiness standards, and TASC test assessment targets. The target audience of the series is adult learners and educators who wished to take the TASC test instead of the other available alternatives. The common core basics are for both grade equivalents of 6-8 and for grade equivalents between 9-12.
• Aztec Software-
  This is the option for students who wish to prepare for the TASC examination with individual educational plans. They have both skill assessments for TASC preparation that will focus on individual shortcomings students might have and they also provide an Aztec TASC Test Preparation Series where they provide the candidate with information relating to the examination and provide them with skills to excel in an academic climate.
• Essential Education Corporation-
  The Essential Education Corporation provides candidates with workbooks in Mathematics, Reading, Writing, and Language Skills along with a TASC Test Prep Academy Online Learning Program. It is an online interactive course providing content that is prevalent in high school equivalency tests along with strategies and necessary skills they have to create for cracking the examination.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt-
  The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provides a test cram plan for candidates who wants to clear the TASC examination. The plan includes diagnostic tests for each subject under the examination and subject reviews for each section divided into chapters with practice problems. They also provide full-length practice tests which the students can use to gain experience in attending the examination.

Tips to Prepare for TASC

Candidates who are preparing for the TASC examination will have to keep the following aspects in mind while preparing for the test. From learning how to manage time during the examination to previewing one’s own responses, different factors can help the candidate achieve the grade they desire for the examination.

• Diagnostic Test- Always get started with a diagnostic test where the candidate takes a full-length question paper and attempts it in the time designated for the examination. This step will help the candidate understand where they stand and how much they will have to work on which section in order to crack the examination.
• Preview- Preview the content, test format, and test questions that are generally asked for the examination in order to get an idea of the content they have to focus on while preparing and the angles in which they will have to approach the test.
• Review- Review the content necessary for the examination by giving extra time for subjects and concepts that the candidate finds hard to understand. This will also include providing themselves with enough passages to read in order to pick up their reading and comprehension speed.
• Pacing- Practice enough questions and model question papers by keeping the time in mind. Though candidates may take a lot of time during the initial stages of preparation, they will have to focus on reducing the amount of time they take by keeping an eye on the time and letting themselves solve the questions within a stipulated time for each question.
• Flash Cards- Using flashcards that are not store-bought but prepared by the candidate itself can be highly beneficial since now the candidate will have flashcards for only concepts that they find hard to understand. These flashcards will also be in a format that can easily be understood by the candidate.