GED class information for online students.
Attendance
Your GED prep class is entirely online - your work will be done online, on your own time, when you want to work on it. The class requires a commitment of 6 hours per week: Sunday 12:01 AM - Saturday at midnight. I will track this on i-Pathways or Essential Ed, which are the online platforms we will be using - more on these platforms later. You must maintain 6 hours of work per week - this does not necessarily equate to 6 lessons. You are responsible for keeping track of your own time, however, I will let you know at least once a week where you stand. If you fail to meet the required time, I will let you know. If you continue to not meet the required time, you will be dropped from the class. Please make sure you commit enough time to the course.
Please make sure YOU are doing the work. YOU are the one that will go take the tests. You are only hurting yourself if you are looking up answers or having someone else or AI do the work for you.
Once or twice per week your instructor will host a virtual office hour where you and others from the class can meet to get questions answered or work on a specific topic. Those weekly office hours are announced via email each week. The link for the meeting will be included in the email and they are optional.
Below are each of the different things you will need to complete as we begin the semester. If you were a student last semester and had previously completed these items, you do not have to complete them again…you can continue to work on i-Pathways or Essential Ed.
LLCC Email Activation
The first step in the process is to activate your LLCC email account. You received instructions for doing this at your orientation session. Miss Brittany may have helped you set this up or you may have completed this step on your own. If you have not already done this, please follow the activation instructions here: https://it.llcc.edu/support/solutions/articles/19000025374. Contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@llcc.edu or 217-786-2555 if you have trouble.
Make sure you write down your login information. It’s important to have that information ready when it’s time for you to work. If you cannot get your LLCC email to work, that’s fine…we can work around that…you just have to let me know.
Canvas
Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) where course information is located. Your Canvas login will be connected to your @llcc.edu email account, so use that email. If you weren’t able to get that email set up, you will not be able to use Canvas. This is also fine - we can work around that.
You can access Canvas at: https://www.llcc.edu/info/current-students - click Canvas under Quick Links. From there, you will be prompted to sign in to your LLCC email account. If you are already logged into your LLCC email on the device you are using, you will likely be taken straight to the Canvas dashboard. Once there, click the course titled Online Spring 2026, click the HOME button on the top left, and read the Welcome page.
If you click on Modules, on the left side, you will see the course content. The Introduction section is what we will focus on this first week. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete each assignment in that section by Saturday night at 11:59 PM. The My Why and the Illinois Constitution Certificate will need to be submitted within Canvas. I know some of you are transferring from another class, so if you’ve already completed these items you will continue working on i-Pathways or Essential Ed.
My Why
Think about the reason you are in this class and what a high school diploma would mean to you. In 3-4 paragraphs, explain why you have a goal to finish the program and what you want to accomplish after you have finished this program and have your diploma. Examples: To obtain a (name of) job; To provide a better future for myself and my family; To obtain the requirements for further education, etc. This "essay" is a requirement for the grant that funds this program. If you have access to Canvas, please complete this assignment there. If you cannot access Canvas, send to your instructor via email.
Illinois Constitution
Website link: ilconstitution.org/login. Register at this website using your PERSONAL EMAIL. Once you have an account set up, log back in and read through all the information and answer any questions. At the end, you will receive a certificate. You’ll need to download it to your computer and upload it to Canvas (if you have access) or email it to me - kimberly.martin@llcc.edu.
GED.com
If you’ve never had a ged.com account before, click this link and then click Sign Up. If you already have a ged.com account, see if you can access it. If not, let your instructor know. Use your legal name that is on your State ID/Drivers License. Use your personal email. Make sure you include your Social Security Number. Make sure you select Lincoln Land at the Shepherd Road address for your Test Prep Center. You will use this link to take your practice tests. You will also use this website to schedule your actual tests.
i-Pathways and Essential Ed
These two programs are where most of your learning will occur. You will be signed up for one of these platforms. You’ll be notified via email of which platform along with your login and password. Once you receive that email, you can follow directions below for which platform was assigned to you.
I-Pathways - www.i-pathways.org. Once you've been added, you will receive an email with a link to set up your password. Follow the directions in that email. Your login will be your PERSONAL EMAIL. Make sure you write down your login and password information.
You will have access to Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Basic Math and Math sections. If you have already passed a subject area test, that subject will no longer be viewable. On the home page, you will click on the subject of your choice to take an initial Placement Survey. This survey helps determine what you already know and what you still need to learn. If you have to stop during the survey, the program WILL save your spot. After completion of the survey you will return to the Home page and click on the subject again. You will see a list of all lessons within each subject area. Next to each lesson you will see some that say “To Do.” Those are the lessons you need to work through. You need to score 70% or higher on those lessons. You can take each lesson 3 times before they “lock.” Once they lock, I will have to unlock them for you. If you scored below 70%, I will mark it as “Re-Submit” so it will be back on your “To Do” list. If you scored 70% or higher, I will mark it as “Complete.” Please note that i-Pathways DOES NOT SAVE your progress within these lessons so it is recommended you record your answers on paper as you work in case you get logged out for any reason.
Once you have completed around 80% of the lessons for a subject area, your instructor will recommend a practice test. More information on practice tests and actual tests to come later.
Essential Ed - https://app.essentialed.com/start/llcc - Your instructor will send an email with your login and password if you are using this platform. You will be using your PERSONAL EMAIL. Once logged in you’ll watch an introductory video explaining how the platform works. You will take a practice test to assess what areas you need to work on the most. The platform will then design a personalized Learning Plan specific to you. Choose which subject area you would like to start with and begin working on lessons. This platform has built in practice tests I can assign to you before you take an official Practice Test through ged.com.
Testing
There are 3 different types of tests you will take through this program. It’s important for you to know the difference between each.
Post-testing - All students are required to do post-testing after 40 hours of class time. This is the test you took at your orientation. This is a requirement of the program.
Practice Tests - Tests are $7.99 each. LLCC will provide those for you through ged.com after you have completed a subject area on i-Pathways or Essential Ed as long as you have been completing the required hours for class. You must score 145 or higher to be ready for an Actual Test. You can pay for Practice Tests on your own at any time.
Actual Tests - Tests are $36. LLCC can usually pay for these tests. You have to pass a Practice Test and fill out a Voucher Form (link provided at that time) before that happens. Once you’ve been approved and a voucher has been provided for you, it’s your responsibility to schedule the test through the Regional Office of Education on Dirksen Parkway. You need to select an IN-PERSON test. LLCC will NOT pay for your next test if you fail to show up or you fail your test.
Extra Information
Instructor website link: www.gedclassinfo.com or https://sites.google.com/view/gedclassinfo/home - extra resources for every subject area
www.getsummath.com - extra resources for every subject area
Mr. J’s Videos - excellent videos for Math
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiT3pCvK_cfUnPqzsVGmUXxaDpImi6CI7
Calculators
Calculator - learn functions and use for all practice; only 5 questions on the test are non-calculator
Calculator Course Video - https://youtu.be/KhRoFKWF0e0
Online Calculator - https://www.tinspireapps.com/Online-Calculators/TI-30xs-Calculator-Online.php
Instructor Information:
Kim Martin
Adult Education Instructor
Lincoln Land Community College
kimberly.martin@llcc.edu
*Note: Underlined words are links.