Course Descriptions

ABSE offers instruction in the following subjects:

GED logo

Mathematics - Courses in basic math skills cover a full spectrum of mathematics in every level. Topics include whole number operations, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, proportions, measurement, data analysis, metric units, square roots, exponents, introductory geometry and algebra.

Writing - Courses in English grammar will help students develop basic writing skills for use in employment or higher education. Sentence structure, organization of paragraphs, and essay writing skills will be covered.

Reading Improvement - Courses in basic reading comprehension introduce the student to critical thinking and analysis of written text. Topics include: making predictions, finding the main idea, drawing inferences, vocabulary development, identifying organizational patterns such as cause and effect, distinguishing fact from opinion, reading charts and diagrams.

GED Preparation

Language Development Courses

Level A/B Reading, Writing -  Pre-Fundamentals

This is a reading and writing course designed to develop basic literacy skills and strategies needed for reading, writing by developing the knowledge base, range, and fluency in reading and writing.

Students will read closely to determine what the text says to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Students will determine central ideas or themes of a text to identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. Students will write simple narratives and informative texts  in which they name a topic, supply some facts or details about the topic, and provide some sense of closure. Readings will be anywhere from a sentence, to multiple paragraphs. Writings will be several sentences to multiple paragraphs.

This is a good option for students who need individualized support and instruction and basic literacy skills. 

Level C: Reading and Writing Fundamentals for GED and College/Career Readiness

This is a reading and writing class that helps students improve their basic skills as the foundation for the GED test, College or Career readiness. 

Students will practice ways to better understand what they read and how to express their thoughts and ideas in writing. Students will learn strategies for reading closely in order to identify main themes and supporting evidence, and develop writing skills to be able to create organized text-based responses. Readings will be anywhere from one paragraph to several pages. Writing activities will include one to several logical and detailed paragraphs, working toward an essay format. Social studies and science content will be introduced

This is a good option for students who would like to take their time to build basic reading and writing skills in order to progress to the next level for GED or college preparation.

Level D: Reading and Writing for GED 

This is a GED preparation class for students to learn and practice strategies that will improve reading comprehension and writing in order to improve foundation skills for all content areas. 

Students will learn strategies for reading closely in order to identify and evaluate claims and supporting evidence, and develop writing skills to be able to create organized text-based responses. Readings will be anywhere from several paragraphs to a few pages in length. Writing activities will range from short responses to multiple paragraphs. Social studies and science content are integrated into the reading and writing activities. Students learn about CIT, Career Pathways, Apprenticeship, etc. 

This is a good option for students who would like more time and practice building reading and writing skills in preparation of the GED tests in order to progress to the next course level, or complete the GED in order to enter their career field. 

Level D Science/ Social Studies for GED College and Career Readiness

This is a GED preparation class for students to learn and practice strategies that will improve reading comprehension in the social studies and science content areas. 

Students will learn strategies for reading closely in order to identify and evaluate readings to understand, interpret, and apply information. Students will learn test-taking strategies using graphs, charts, etc. in order to analyze and evaluate information. Social Studies content includes the study of economics, history, civics and government, and geography. Science content includes the study of life science, physical science, and earth and space science. Collaborate on themes and OACCRS outcomes with Level D Reading and Writing Course Instructor.

This is a good option for students who would like more time and practice building content background in preparation of the GED tests in order to progress to the next course level or complete the GED in order to enter their career field. 

Level E: GED Acceleration with Career and College Focus

This is a GED preparation class for students who wish to accelerate their GED completion in order to enter college or a career by building on their foundational reading and writing skills.

Reading strategies are developed to evaluate and analyze increasingly difficult texts as required on the GED. Readings will range from multiple paragraph passages to several pages. Writing will range from short answers to essays in argumentative style in order to meet the traits of the RLA writing portion of the GED.Science and Social studies are emphasized. Students explore college degrees, learn to navigate college systems, and build student success behaviors such as time management and learner engagement. 

This is a good option for students who have strong reading skills and wish to accelerate their GED completion and begin a transition to career or college degree programs.

GED Bridge to College

This class is ideal for Level E students who wish to accelerate into college, as well as Level D students who are referred by their instructors, or indicate they are interested in the course. 

Students will: Explore career options and degree programs, reflect on goals, create an action plan, map out GED Testing, explore Oregon Promise and other scholarship applications, gain an understanding of placement scores for college writing and math courses, connect with supportive staff across campus, learn about tutoring centers, and navigate through college admissions and enrollment.

This course is a good option for GED students who are within 1 to 2 terms from completing their GED and have a goal to enter and or explore college as their next step.

Math Development Courses

Level B: Fundamentals of Math

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with whole numbers, decimals and benchmark fractions; place value; estimation; problems involving measurement and time; representing data with a bar graph; perimeter and area of squares and rectangles; introduction to very basic algebraic thinking.

Level C: Strategic Problem Solving

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with large numbers, longer decimals, and improper and mixed fractions; ratios and proportions; multi-step word problems; order of operations; 1-step equations; marking points on a graph; making a line graph for a set of data; computing volume of a box. 

Level D: Foundations for College Math

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with positive and negative numbers; ratio and proportion; solving 1- and 2-step equations and inequalities; graphing linear equations; order of operations; scientific notation; computing circumference, area, surface area and volume for various shapes; mean/median/mode; simple probabilities. 

Level E: Algebra Essentials

This course will develop knowledge and skill in exponents and roots; solving multi-step problems; simplifying and evaluating expressions; solving equations and inequalities; factoring expressions; graphing the solutions of equations and inequalities; systems; functions. 

College Preparation Courses

Language Development Courses

Level A/B Reading, Writing -  Pre-Fundamentals

This is a reading and writing course designed to develop basic literacy skills and strategies needed for reading, writing by developing the knowledge base, range, and fluency in reading and writing.

Students will read closely to determine what the text says to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Students will determine central ideas or themes of a text to identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. Students will write simple narratives and informative texts  in which they name a topic, supply some facts or details about the topic, and provide some sense of closure. Readings will be anywhere from a sentence, to multiple paragraphs. Writings will be several sentences to multiple paragraphs.

This is a good option for students who need individualized support and instruction and basic literacy skills.

Level C: Reading and Writing Fundamentals for GED and College/Career Readiness

This is a reading and writing class that helps students improve their basic skills as the foundation for the GED test, College or Career readiness. 

Students will practice ways to better understand what they read and how to express their thoughts and ideas in writing. Students will learn strategies for reading closely in order to identify main themes and supporting evidence, and develop writing skills to be able to create organized text-based responses. Readings will be anywhere from one paragraph to several pages. Writing activities will include one to several logical and detailed paragraphs, working toward an essay format. Social studies and science content will be introduced

This is a good option for students who would like to take their time to build basic reading and writing skills in order to progress to the next level for GED or college preparation.

Level D/E: Reading and Writing for College and Career Success 

This is a reading and writing class that helps students enter and succeed in college by building stronger strategies in order to understand increasingly complex academic texts and be able to communicate thoughts and ideas in multiple writing formats including academic essays. 

Students explore college degrees, learn to navigate college systems, and build student success behaviors such as time management and learner engagement. Students will evaluate and analyze readings in order to write about their thoughts and ideas. Readings will range from one page to several pages and range in complexity. Writing activities will range from short responses to multiple page essays. 

This class is a good option for students who have a strong reading background and would like to accelerate into their college program.

Bridge to College

This course is combined in a Learning Community with Level D/E Reading and Writing for College and Career Success and College Ready Math. Students will be enrolled into all three classes unless otherwise determined by the instructor.

Students will: Explore career options and degree programs, reflect on goals, create an action plan, explore scholarship options, gain an understanding of placement scores for college writing and math courses, connect with supportive staff across campus, learn about tutoring centers, and navigate through college admissions and enrollment.

Math Development Courses

Level B: Fundamentals of Math

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with whole numbers, decimals and benchmark fractions; place value; estimation; problems involving measurement and time; representing data with a bar graph; perimeter and area of squares and rectangles; introduction to very basic algebraic thinking.

Level C: Strategic Problem Solving

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with large numbers, longer decimals, and improper and mixed fractions; ratios and proportions; multi-step word problems; order of operations; 1-step equations; marking points on a graph; making a line graph for a set of data; computing volume of a box. 

Level D: Foundations for College Math

This course will develop knowledge and skill in operations with positive and negative numbers; ratio and proportion; solving 1- and 2-step equations and inequalities; graphing linear equations; order of operations; scientific notation; computing circumference, area, surface area and volume for various shapes; mean/median/mode; simple probabilities. 

Level E: Algebra Essentials

This course will develop knowledge and skill in exponents and roots; solving multi-step problems; simplifying and evaluating expressions; solving equations and inequalities; factoring expressions; graphing the solutions of equations and inequalities; systems; functions. 

College Ready Math

The content of this course overlaps D and E levels, with an emphasis on building a strong foundation for either the algebra/calculus college pathway or the non-STEM pathway. In addition, to math content, there is strong emphasis on study skills, testing strategies, and utilization of college resources.


For more information:

Call the Adult Basic and Secondary Education office at (541) 463-5214.