Most questions on the GED test require no more than the ability to use the mouse to point to a selection for your answer and then click on that item, which is very basic. If you're unfamiliar with computers, take time to become familiar with the mouse, including the clickable buttons and the scroll wheel.

If the mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to move up or down through text or images. When you hold down the left button on the mouse, it highlights text as you drag the cursor across the screen, or you can “drag and drop” items on the screen, like you do when playing Solitaire on the computer.

On the GED test, you'll use the mouse to answer the three main question types: multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and drag and drop. You'll use both the mouse and the keyboard to answer Extended Responses (the essays) and short answers.

On the new series of GED tests, you indicate your choice of answer by

  • (A)using a pencil

  • (B)tapping the screen

  • (C)clicking the mouse

  • (D)yelling it out

The correct answer is Choice (C).

For most questions (except the essays), the mouse is your best friend because you use it to indicate the correct answer. The present test computers don't have a touch screen. Tapping on them will only leave fingerprints, so Choice (B) is wrong.

If you're going to use a pencil to indicate your answer (Choice [A]), you're taking the wrong version of the GED test or you'll look silly, trying to mark on the computer screen with a pencil. If you chose Choice (D), you'll, at a minimum, be ejected from the test site for being a nuisance and a possible cheater.

Fill-in-the-blanks are another type of question you'll encounter on the GED test. They're simply statements with a blank box in the text somewhere. To complete the sentence, you need to enter a word, name, or number. The statement will be preceded by directions setting up the text, so you'll know what is expected. Here's an example.

Type the appropriate word in the box.

The fill-in-the-blank question simply consists of a statement and a sentence with a _______ into which you type the appropriate text.

The correct answer is box.

You must type the precise word or number required. Spelling mistakes, misplaced decimals, and even wrong capitalization count as errors.