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General Test Preparation

Resources

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Test Taking Strategies…………………………………………….. 3

Logic and Reasoning……………………………………………………………. 4

Reading Comprehension……………………………………………………… 5

Math Problem Solving and Computation……………………………… 6

Mechanical and Spatial Skills……………………………………………….. 8

Language Skills…………………………………………………………………….. 9

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Test Preparation Resources

Note: Not all of the resources on the following pages will contain information that
is relevant for the test you are taking. It is suggested that you find the material in
each resource relevant to your test.

General Test Taking Strategies

For some test takers, especially those who are anxious about testing or those who
are unfamiliar with testing environments, it is helpful to develop general test
taking strategies for taking tests. Below are some books that may be helpful.

Books
Casbarro, J. (2003). Test Anxiety & What You Can Do About It. National
Professional Resources, Inc.
Driscoll, R. (2003). Tame test anxiety: Proven Anxiety Reduction Training
[Abridged Audio CD]. Frontiers Press.
Flippo, R. F. (2000). Testwise (2nd Edition). Torrance, CA: Good Apple/Frank
Schaffer Publications.
Gilbert, S. D. (1998). How To Do Your Best on Tests. HarperTrophy.
Hammer, H. (1998). ARCO General Test Practice for 101 U.S. Jobs (4th ed.). New
York: Macmillan Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Johnson, S. (1997). Taking the Anxiety Out of Taking the Test: A Step-By-Step
Guide. New Harbinger Publications.
Lawler, J., & Powers, R. (2003). ASVAB for Dummies (Chapter 3: Test-taking and
Study Techniques). New York, NY: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Meyers, J. N. (2000). The Secrets of Taking Any Test: Learn the Techniques
Successful Test-Takers Know. Garden Grove, CA: LearningExpress, LLC.
Na, G. F. (1999). Guide to Standardized Test Preparation. Globe Fearon.
Newman, E. (1996). No More Test Anxiety: Effective Steps for Taking Tests &
Achieving Better Grades (1st Ed. w/ Audio CD). Learning Skills Publications,
LLC.
Research and Education Association Staff (1992). REA's Math Builder for
Admission and Standardized Tests. Piscataway, NJ: Research and Educational
Association.
Rozakis, L. (2002). Test Taking Strategies & Study Skills for the Utterly Confused.
New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Logic and Reasoning

Books
Chesla, E. (2002). Reasoning Skills Success in 20 Minutes a Day. New York, NY:
Learning Express.
Clarke, B. R. (2003). Brain Busters! Mind-Stretching Puzzles in Math and Logic.
Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.
Learning Express (1999). 501 Challenging Logic and Reasoning Problems. New
York: Learning Express.
Lochhead, J. (2001). Thinkback: A User's Guide to Minding the Mind. Mahwah,
N.J. : L. Erlbaum Associates.
Pine, R. C. (1999). Essential Logic: Basic Reasoning Skills for the Twenty-First
Century. New York: Oxford University Press.
Whimbey A., & Lochhead, J. (1999). Problem Solving and Comprehension.
Mahwah, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Wylie, C. R. (1957). 101 Puzzles in Thought and Logic (Math & Logic Puzzles). New
York: Dover Publications.

Other Activities
x Puzzles, games, and hobbies that involve logic and reasoning (e.g.,
brainteasers, board games like Clue, etc.)
x Television shows or videos that involve logic and reasoning
x Websites and computer software that have interactive activities related to
logic and reasoning (e.g., Sim City)

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Reading Comprehension

Books
Boone, R. (1996). Reading Comprehension: What You Need to Know About
Developing Your Test-Taking Skills. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary Publishing
Company.
Burke, C. L., Goodman, Y.M., & Watson, D.J. (1996). Reading Strategies: Focus on
Comprehension. Katonah, NY: Richard Owen Publications.
Hoyt, L. (1998). Revisit, Reflect, Retell: Strategies for Improving Reading
Comprehension.Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishing.
Learning Express & Tarabell, S. (1999). 501 Reading Comprehension Questions.
Garden Grove, CA: Learning Express, LLC.
Miller, J.M. (1991). Improve Your Reading, Improve Your Job. Lanham, MD: Crisp
Publications.
Princeton Review (2006). Cracking the GED 2006 (Test Prep). Princeton, NJ:
Author.
Rockowitz, M., Brownstein, S.C., Peters, M., Wolff, I.K., Bolton, J.M., Felnstein, R.,
Ramsey, S., Gotlib, L. (2006). How to Prepare for the GED. New York: Barron’s
Publishing.
Steck-Vaughn (1997). Complete GED Preparation. Austin, TX: Author.

Other Activities
x Reading and analyzing books, websites, newspapers, or magazine articles
for comprehension
x Websites and computer software that have interactive activities related to
reading comprehension
x Join a book club that holds discussions around various books
x College/trade school courses in literature and reading

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Math Problem Solving and Computation

Books
Abbott, P. (2003). Teach Yourself Algebra. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Berry, J., Graham, T., & Berry, E. (2003). Schaum's A-Z Mathematics. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Bobrow, J. (1985). Math Review For Standardized Tests (Cliffs Test Prep).
Carman, R., & Carman, M. (2001). Quick Arithmetic: A Self-Teaching Guide.
Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Covington, J., Ewen, I., J. Kaplan, Smith. D., & Weinfield, M. Kaplan Essential
Review: High School Mathematics I. New York: Kaplan.
Erdsneker, B., Erdsneker, B., & Haller, M. (1998). Arco Civil Service Arithmetic and
Vocabulary (13th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing company,
Incorporated.
Ewen, I., Weinfeld, M., Covington, J., & Smith, D. (1999). Mathematics I. New
York, NY: Kaplan Educational Centers and Simon & Schuster.
Fry, R. (2000). Ace Any Test. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, Incorporated.
Galko, F. D. (2002). Improve Your Math. New York, NY: LearningExpress, LLC.
Graham, A. (2002). Teach Yourself Basic Mathematics. New York: McGraw-Hill
Companies, The.
Howett, J. (2003). GED Mathematics Workbook. New York: McGraw-Hill
Companies, The.
Immergt, B. & Smith, J. B. (1994). Arithmetic and Algebra... Again. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Johnson, T. (2002). Teach Yourself Mathematics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Kaplan Educational Centers, Scheele, A., & Stanton, R. (1997). Kaplan Math
Power. Kaplan Press. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
Lawler, J., & Powers, R. (2003). ASVAB for Dummies. New York, NY: Wiley
Publishing, Inc.
Learning Express, & Tarbell, S. (1999). 1001 Math Problems. Garden Grove, CA:
Learning Express, LLC.
McGraw-Hill's GED (2004). Pre-GED. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Miller, B. (2003). Bob Miller's Basic Math and Pre-Algebra for the Clueless. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
Miller, B. (2000). Geometry for the Clueless. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Ostrow, S. A. (2002). ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. United

States: Arco.
Prindle, A., & Prindle, K. (2003). Math the Easy Way. Barrons Educational Series.
Rich, B. (2002). Elementary Algebra. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Rich, B. (2001). Geometry. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Spiegel, M. R., & Moyer, R. (2000). College Algebra. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Seiter, C. (1996). Everyday Math for Dummies. Indianapolis, IN: IDG Books
Worldwide.
Wayne, D. (2001). How to Solve Word Problems in Mathematics (How to Solve
Word Problems). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Other Activities
x Puzzles and games that involve math and computation skills (e.g., number
games, flash cards, etc.)
x Television shows or videos that teach math and arithmetic
x Websites and computer software that have interactive activities related to
arithmetic and math (e.g.,
x www.math.com)
x College/trade school courses in algebra or basic mathematics

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Mechanical and Spatial Skills

Books
Beiser, A. (2003). Applied Physics Crash Course. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lawler, J., & Powers, R. (2003). ASVAB for Dummies. New York, NY: Wiley
Publishing, Inc.
Marget, R., & Ludescher, M. (1998). Basic Mechanics Book.
McGraw-Hill's GED. (2004). Pre-GED. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Ostrow, S. A. (2002). ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. United
States: Arco.
Reif, F. (1995). Understanding Basic Mechanics. Wiley Text Books.
Turner, D. (1976). Mechanical Aptitude and Spatial Relations Tests; the Complete
Study Guide for Scoring High. United States: Arco
Wiesen, J. (2003). How to Prepare for the Mechanical Aptitude and Spatial
Relations Test. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.

Other Activities
x Puzzles, games, and hobbies that involve mechanical and spatial skills (e.g.,
erector sets, building models, rockets, etc.)
x Television shows or videos that teach concepts of the physical sciences
(e.g., Bill Nye the Science Guy, Eureka!)
x Websites and computer software that have interactive activities related to
physics (e.g., www.easyphysics.net)
x Seminars that teach specific skills (e.g., construction, electronics,
mechanics, etc.)
x College/trade school courses in physics and the sciences

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Language Skills

Books
Brett, E. (1993). Easy English: Basic Grammar and Usage. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp
Publications.
Folse, K.S., Gabriella, J., Hadeed, L., Ivone, J., Muchmore-Vokoun, A., Vestri
Solomon, E., & Yoshi, M. (2000). 100 Clear Grammar Tests. Ann Arbor, MI:
University of Michigan Press.
Learning Express (Ed.) (2000). 1001 Vocabulary and Spelling Questions. Garden
Grove, CA:
Learning Express, LLC.
Learning Express (2002). 501 Grammar & Writing Questions 2e. New York:
Learning Express, LLC.
Stilman, A. (1997). Grammatically Correct: The Writer's Essential Guide to
Punctuation, Spelling, Style, Usage and Grammar. Cincinnati, OH: F&W
Publications.
William Strunk, W., White, E.B. & Angell, R. (2002). The Elements of Style, Fourth
Edition.

Other Activities
x Reading and editing others’ papers, emails, and documents
x Use flashcards with commonly misspelled words
x Websites and computer software that have interactive activities related to
spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage
x College, trade school or adult education courses in English and grammar

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