7. The Extended Response: Writing the GED® Essay

The Extended Response gives you two passages that argue opposite sides of an issue and asks you to write an essay explaining which argument is better supported — not which one you personally agree with. You have about 45 minutes.

The graders score three things: (1) how well you analyze the arguments and use evidence, (2) how well your essay is organized and developed, and (3) your command of standard English.

Use a clear five-paragraph structure:

A winning approach:

• Read both passages and decide which is better supported by evidence.
• State a clear thesis in your introduction naming which side is stronger and why.
• In each body paragraph, make one point and back it with a specific quote or detail from the passage.
• Explain how that evidence proves your point (don't just drop a quote).
• Conclude by restating your thesis in fresh words.

⚠️ Common mistake: writing about your own opinion on the topic. Your job is to judge the arguments, using evidence from the passages.

💡 Tip: leave two minutes at the end to proofread for the grammar errors from Lesson 6 — it directly raises your conventions score.