GED (General Educational Development) Science Syllabus

Science syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Science in GED (General Educational Development), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Science Practices and Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Designing and Interpreting Investigations
     • Hypotheses, variables, and controls
     • Sources of error and reliability
   • Reasoning From Evidence and Data
     • Drawing conclusions supported by data
     • Evaluating claims against evidence
   • Working With Scientific Numbers and Formulas
     • Calculating rates, means, and percentages in science
     • Applying provided formulas
   • Interpreting Graphs, Tables, and Models
2. 2

   Life Science

   5 topics

   • Cell Structure and Function
     • Cell organelles and the cell membrane
     • Photosynthesis and cellular respiration
   • Genetics and Heredity
     • DNA, genes, and chromosomes
     • Punnett squares and inheritance
   • Evolution and Natural Selection
   • Organisms, Ecosystems, and Energy Flow
     • Food chains, food webs, and trophic levels
     • Carbon and nitrogen cycles
   • Human Body Systems and Health
3. 3

   Physical Science

   4 topics

   • Atoms, Elements, and the Periodic Table
   • Chemical Reactions and Conservation of Matter
     • Balancing simple equations
     • Acids, bases, and pH
   • Forces and Motion
     • Speed, velocity, and acceleration
     • Newton's laws of motion
   • Energy, Work, and Power
     • Kinetic and potential energy
     • Heat transfer and waves
4. 4

   Earth and Space Science

   4 topics

   • Earth's Structure and Geologic Processes
     • Plate tectonics, rocks, and the rock cycle
   • Weather, Climate, and the Water Cycle
   • Earth's Resources and Human Impact
     • Renewable and nonrenewable resources
     • Pollution and conservation
   • The Solar System and the Universe

Science flashcards for GED (General Educational Development)

23 of 59 cards from the Science deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In a scientific investigation, what is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

   The independent variable is the factor the experimenter deliberately changes; the dependent variable is the outcome that is measured and that responds to those changes.

2. Why does a controlled experiment include a control group?

   The control group receives no treatment (or a standard one), providing a baseline for comparison so any difference in the experimental group can be attributed to the independent variable.

3. What is a hypothesis in scientific inquiry?

   A testable, falsifiable prediction (often an if-then statement) proposed as a possible explanation that an experiment is designed to support or refute.

4. What does it mean to keep variables 'constant' (controlled) in an experiment?

   It means holding all other conditions the same for every group so that only the independent variable differs, ensuring a fair test.

5. What is the difference between a correlation and a causation?

   Correlation means two variables change together (an association); causation means one variable directly produces a change in the other. Correlation alone does not prove causation.

6. When evaluating a conclusion, why is a large, randomly selected sample better than a small one?

   A large random sample reduces the effect of chance and bias, making results more representative of the whole population and more reliable.

7. What distinguishes an observation from an inference?

   An observation is information gathered directly with the senses or instruments; an inference is a logical conclusion or interpretation drawn from those observations.

8. In scientific notation, how is the number 0.00042 written?

   4.2 x 10^-4.

9. What is the formula for percent change, and how is it applied?

   Percent change = ((new value - old value) / old value) x 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.

10. How do you calculate the mean (average) of a data set?

    Add all the values together and divide by the number of values.

11. What is the difference between the median and the mode of a data set?

    The median is the middle value when data are ordered; the mode is the value that occurs most frequently.

12. What type of graph is best for showing how one continuous variable changes over time?

    A line graph, because it shows trends and continuous change between data points.

13. On a graph, what is the purpose of the x-axis and y-axis?

    The x-axis (horizontal) typically shows the independent variable; the y-axis (vertical) shows the dependent variable being measured.

14. What does a scientific model represent, and why are models used?

    A model is a simplified representation of an object, system, or process used to explain, predict, or visualize things that are too large, small, fast, slow, or abstract to observe directly.

15. What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living things?

    The cell.

16. What is the main structural difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

    Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles; eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

17. What is the function of the mitochondria in a cell?

    They perform cellular respiration, releasing energy (ATP) from glucose; they are the 'powerhouse' of the cell.

18. What is the function of the cell membrane?

    It controls what enters and leaves the cell, providing a selectively permeable boundary that maintains homeostasis.

19. What occurs during photosynthesis, including reactants and products?

    Plants use carbon dioxide, water, and light energy to produce glucose and oxygen: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light -> C6H12O6 + 6O2.

20. What molecule carries the genetic instructions of an organism, and what are its building blocks?

    DNA carries genetic instructions; its building blocks are nucleotides, each containing a sugar, phosphate, and one of four bases (A, T, C, G).

21. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

    Genotype is the genetic makeup (the alleles an organism carries); phenotype is the observable physical trait that results.

22. What is the difference between a dominant allele and a recessive allele?

    A dominant allele is expressed whenever present and is shown by a capital letter; a recessive allele is expressed only when two copies are present and is shown by a lowercase letter.

23. In a cross between two heterozygous parents (Aa x Aa), what is the expected phenotype ratio?

    3:1 dominant to recessive (genotype ratio 1 AA : 2 Aa : 1 aa).

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