GED (General Educational Development)
GED Testing Service
Complete guide to passing the GED (General Educational Development) exam on your first attempt.
$30-$40 per subject
~80%
Lifetime
USA/Canada
GED Testing Service
High school equivalency
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Complete Overview
The GED test is a four-subject high school equivalency examination run by GED Testing Service, a joint venture between the American Council on Education and Pearson, and it is taken by adults and older teenagers in the United States, Canada and more than 100 other countries who left school without a diploma. Price is set by each state rather than nationally: Illinois and Tennessee charge $36 per subject, Florida $38, California $41, Georgia $46, and Texas $36.25 at a test centre or $42.25 online, while international candidates pay $90 per subject or $360 for all four. The four subjects are Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (115 minutes), Science (90 minutes) and Social Studies (70 minutes), which is 425 minutes of testing in total. They are separate exams and can be taken one at a time, in any order, on different days. Every subject is reported on a scaled score from 100 to 200, and 145 is the passing mark on each one. Passing is conjunctive rather than compensatory: a 190 in Science does nothing to rescue a 140 in Mathematical Reasoning, and the credential is issued only once all four modules sit at 145 or above. Two higher bands exist in the United States. A score of 165 to 174 on a module is GED College Ready and can waive placement testing or developmental coursework at participating colleges. A score of 175 to 200 is GED College Ready plus Credit and can qualify for up to 10 college credit hours. Those bands were set in 2016, when GED Testing Service revised the high school equivalency cut from the original 2014 level of 150 down to 145. The test is computer-delivered, in American English, and mixes multiple choice with drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop down items, plus one 45-minute extended response essay inside Reasoning Through Language Arts. Mathematical Reasoning runs in two parts with no calculator on the first part, an on-screen TI-30XS on the second, and a three-minute break between parts so test-centre candidates can retrieve their own TI-30XS. Science and Social Studies both allow the on-screen calculator on some questions and a TI-30XS in the test centre. A calculator reference sheet is available in three of the four subjects, and Mathematical Reasoning also supplies a formula sheet. Results come back fast. GED Testing Service says test scores are usually ready in three hours or less, occasionally a few days, with an email notification when they land. On outcomes, the American Council on Education's Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education indicator on GED test performance reports that 70.2 percent of test takers completed all four modules, 85.3 percent of those completers passed, and the pass rate across all test takers was 59.9 percent. Failing a subject is a normal part of the process rather than an ending. A candidate can retake a subject immediately, and only after three attempts at the same subject does a 60-day wait apply. Many states also discount the first two retakes of any subject you paid for and did not pass. GED Testing Service reports over 21 million GED graduates worldwide to date; it publishes no annual graduate figure.
Why Get GED (General Educational Development) Certified?
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 data puts median usual weekly earnings for full-time workers aged 25 and over at $930 with a high school credential against $738 without one, a gap of $192 a week.
The same BLS series puts the unemployment rate at 4.2 percent for workers with a high school credential and 6.2 percent for those without, a two-point difference.
A module score of 175 or above earns GED College Ready plus Credit, which GED Testing Service says can qualify for up to 10 college credit hours at participating institutions.
A module score of 165 to 174 earns GED College Ready, which can waive placement testing or developmental education requirements at participating colleges.
The four subjects are separately scheduled and separately scored, so a candidate can pass Social Studies in 70 minutes on one day and leave the 150-minute Language Arts test for a month later.
The credential never expires and there is no renewal fee, continuing-education requirement or recertification cycle attached to it.
GED Testing Service reports over 21 million GED graduates and says it has administered tests to students in over 100 countries, so the credential travels.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
Four separate tests totalling 425 minutes: Reasoning Through Language Arts 150 minutes (including 3 minutes of instructions and final review, a 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3, and 45 minutes for the essay), Mathematical Reasoning 115 minutes (including 2 minutes of instructions and final review and a 3-minute break between the two parts), Science 90 minutes with no break, and Social Studies 70 minutes with no break.
Questions
GED Testing Service does not publish a fixed number of items per subject on ged.com. The published constraint is the time limit for each module, not an item count. Reasoning Through Language Arts is published as three sections plus one written extended response.
Passing Score
145 on each of the four modules, on a 100 to 200 scale. All four must independently reach 145; there is no averaging across subjects. GED College Ready is 165 to 174 on a module and GED College Ready plus Credit is 175 and above (both United States only).
Question Types
- Multiple choice
- Drag and drop
- Fill in the blank (Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies and Science)
- Select an area (hot spot)
- Drop down
- One extended response essay, 45 minutes, in Reasoning Through Language Arts only
Delivery Method
Computer-delivered at a Pearson VUE test centre, or online proctored from home in states that permit it. Online testing requires a green GED Ready practice test score in that subject within the previous 60 days, a computer with a webcam, a private room with four walls and a closed door, and a government-issued ID.
- Calculators: Mathematical Reasoning part 1 allows no calculator. An on-screen TI-30XS is available on part 2 of Mathematical Reasoning and on some Science and Social Studies questions. Test-centre candidates may bring their own physical TI-30XS. Online proctored candidates may use the on-screen calculator only; physical calculators are prohibited.
- Reference Materials: A calculator reference sheet is provided in Mathematical Reasoning, Science and Social Studies. Mathematical Reasoning also provides a maths formula sheet. Online proctored candidates get an on-screen scratch pad and an on-screen whiteboard instead of paper.
How scoring works
Score scale
100 to 200 on each of the four subject modules, reported separately. There is no combined total score across subjects.
Score needed to pass
145 on every module. Above that, two further United States bands exist: GED College Ready at 165 to 174 on a module, and GED College Ready plus Credit at 175 and above, which can qualify for up to 10 college credit hours.
When results arrive
GED Ready practice test scores appear as soon as you finish. Official GED test scores are usually ready in three hours or less, occasionally taking a few days, with an email notification when they post to your MyGED account. Transcripts and the diploma become requestable from My Scores once all four modules are passed.
How the scale is built
Scoring is conjunctive, not compensatory. GED Testing Service removed the compensatory battery model when the fifth test series launched in 2014, so each module must independently reach 145 and strong subjects cannot offset weak ones. Scores are scaled rather than raw percentages, which allows different test forms to be compared on one ruler. No module deducts marks for wrong answers, so guessing costs nothing.
Pacing and time budget
Not published questions in 425 minutes gives you Cannot be computed, because GED Testing Service does not publish an item count per module on GED.com. Pace by section and by minutes elapsed rather than by questions remaining. per question.
35 of 70 (Social Studies)
Half the module. Social Studies has no break and is the shortest test in the battery, so the halfway minute is the only warning you get.
45 of 90 (Science)
Half the module. Science also runs with no break, so plan a self-imposed 10-second reset at the halfway point instead.
55 of 115 (Mathematical Reasoning)
All of part 1, the no-calculator section, finished before the 3-minute break so you enter part 2 with the calculator and a clean slate.
35 of 150 (Reasoning Through Language Arts)
Section 1 closed out. The 45-minute extended response is section 2 and runs on its own clock, so minutes saved in section 1 cannot be carried into the essay.
80 of 150 (Reasoning Through Language Arts)
Essay submitted at the end of section 2, with the 10-minute break next and section 3 running a further 60 minutes after it.
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| 35 of 70 (Social Studies) | Half the module. Social Studies has no break and is the shortest test in the battery, so the halfway minute is the only warning you get. |
| 45 of 90 (Science) | Half the module. Science also runs with no break, so plan a self-imposed 10-second reset at the halfway point instead. |
| 55 of 115 (Mathematical Reasoning) | All of part 1, the no-calculator section, finished before the 3-minute break so you enter part 2 with the calculator and a clean slate. |
| 35 of 150 (Reasoning Through Language Arts) | Section 1 closed out. The 45-minute extended response is section 2 and runs on its own clock, so minutes saved in section 1 cannot be carried into the essay. |
| 80 of 150 (Reasoning Through Language Arts) | Essay submitted at the end of section 2, with the 10-minute break next and section 3 running a further 60 minutes after it. |
- Each module has its own clock and its own 145 cut, so pacing is a per-subject problem rather than one long endurance test. Book them separately and treat each as its own event.
- The published minutes include instructions and final review: 3 minutes in RLA and 2 minutes each in the other three modules. Your working time is slightly less than the headline number.
- Mathematical Reasoning is the only module where a break is functional rather than restful. The 3 minutes between parts exists so test-centre candidates can retrieve their TI-30XS before part 2.
- Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer in any subject, so a flagged question you never return to should still be answered with your best guess before time expires.
- Reasoning Through Language Arts is the only module with a real break, and it falls after the essay rather than before it: section 1 runs 35 minutes, the extended response 45, then 10 minutes of break, then 60 more minutes of section 3. Reading stamina is the constraint, so practise at least one 60-minute uninterrupted reading block a week in the run-up.
Where the marks are
Informational text in Reasoning Through Language Arts
75% of RLA source material
GED Testing Service draws three quarters of RLA passages from nonfiction, including science and social studies material and workplace documents, and asks you to locate claims, evidence and unsupported assertions in them.
Algebraic reasoning in Mathematical Reasoning
55% of the maths module
Expressions, linear equations, inequalities, quadratics and functions dominate the module, tested through both direct manipulation and realistic word problems requiring you to build a solution pathway.
Civics and Government in Social Studies
50% of the Social Studies module
Half the shortest module sits here: constitutional principles, the branches of government, rights and civic participation, usually approached through a primary source, chart or cartoon rather than a direct recall question.
Quantitative reasoning in Mathematical Reasoning
45% of the maths module
Number sense, ratio, proportion, percentage and rates, much of it in part 1 where no calculator is available, so accuracy by hand is what the exam is actually measuring.
Life Science
40% of the Science module
Cells, heredity, evolution, body systems and ecosystems, presented through passages and data so that reasoning from evidence carries more marks than recall of terminology.
Physical Science
40% of the Science module
Energy, motion, forces and chemical reactions, frequently attached to an experimental description where the question is about variables, controls or whether the conclusion follows from the data.
US History
20% of the Social Studies module
Founding documents, key eras and turning points, usually assessed by asking you to interpret a source or a trend rather than to date an event.
Earth and Space Science
20% of the Science module
Earth systems, structures and the solar system, the smallest published slice of Science and therefore the last block to study if time is short.
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| Informational text in Reasoning Through Language Arts | 75% of RLA source material | GED Testing Service draws three quarters of RLA passages from nonfiction, including science and social studies material and workplace documents, and asks you to locate claims, evidence and unsupported assertions in them. |
| Algebraic reasoning in Mathematical Reasoning | 55% of the maths module | Expressions, linear equations, inequalities, quadratics and functions dominate the module, tested through both direct manipulation and realistic word problems requiring you to build a solution pathway. |
| Civics and Government in Social Studies | 50% of the Social Studies module | Half the shortest module sits here: constitutional principles, the branches of government, rights and civic participation, usually approached through a primary source, chart or cartoon rather than a direct recall question. |
| Quantitative reasoning in Mathematical Reasoning | 45% of the maths module | Number sense, ratio, proportion, percentage and rates, much of it in part 1 where no calculator is available, so accuracy by hand is what the exam is actually measuring. |
| Life Science | 40% of the Science module | Cells, heredity, evolution, body systems and ecosystems, presented through passages and data so that reasoning from evidence carries more marks than recall of terminology. |
| Physical Science | 40% of the Science module | Energy, motion, forces and chemical reactions, frequently attached to an experimental description where the question is about variables, controls or whether the conclusion follows from the data. |
| US History | 20% of the Social Studies module | Founding documents, key eras and turning points, usually assessed by asking you to interpret a source or a trend rather than to date an event. |
| Earth and Space Science | 20% of the Science module | Earth systems, structures and the solar system, the smallest published slice of Science and therefore the last block to study if time is short. |
The numbers
145 on a 100 to 200 scale, on each of four modules
GED passing score per module
Source: GED Testing Service, score scale and content descriptions page (ged.com/score-scale-.html)
70.2%
Share of GED test takers who completed all four modules, test takers 2014 to 2018
Source: American Council on Education, Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education, GED test performance indicator (equityinhighered.org). No more recent national completion rate is published.
85.3%, giving a 59.9% pass rate across all test takers in that period
Share of completers who passed, test takers 2014 to 2018
Source: American Council on Education, Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education, GED test performance indicator (equityinhighered.org)
Over 21 million worldwide. No annual graduate figure is published.
GED graduates to date
Source: GED Testing Service, international home page (ged.com/en)
$930 versus $738 for full-time workers aged 25 and over in 2024
Median usual weekly earnings, high school credential versus no credential
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Outlook, Education pays 2024 (bls.gov)
$36.25 at a test centre and $42.25 online in Texas; $36 at a test centre in Illinois; $90 per subject internationally
Test fee per subject, examples from official sources
Source: Texas Education Agency GED test information page (tea.texas.gov); Illinois Department of Human Services (dhs.state.il.us); GED Testing Service international fee notice. Price is set per jurisdiction, so check your own state page.
If you fail
Wait before retaking
At a test centre, GED Testing Service allows two retests of a failed subject with no restriction between them; if you fail the third or any subsequent retest, a 60-day wait applies before the next attempt. States tighten this. Texas applies the 60-day wait between retakes after the first three attempts at a subject and resets that count every 1 January, and applies it after only the first two attempts when testing online proctored.
Attempt limit
No national cap on attempts, and passed subjects are banked permanently rather than expiring. The operative limits are the waiting periods rather than a maximum, and they are set per jurisdiction: Texas, for example, publishes a 60-day wait between retakes after the first three test-centre attempts at a subject, with the count resetting every 1 January. Check your own state policy page, because these rules are state policy rather than a national rule.
Retake fee
Usually discounted for the first two retests of a subject you paid for and failed. GED Testing Service states the discount applies to two retests taken within 12 months of your initial full-price subject test, and only to subjects you did not pass. Texas charges $16.25 for a test-centre retest against $36.25 for a first attempt, and charges the full $42.25 for an online proctored retest. Check your state page, since the discount is state and test-centre policy rather than a national rule.
Retaking is per subject, never per battery. A passed module keeps its score and is unaffected by another subject's failure. The Enhanced Score Report that comes with a failed attempt includes a personal study plan pointing at the specific areas that dragged the score down, and GED Testing Service advises using it before rebooking. Candidates who passed but want the 165 College Ready or 175 College Ready plus Credit band can retake a subject they already passed, but the discounted retest price applies only to subjects you did not pass, so that attempt is charged at full price. It also needs approval first: you email [email protected] explaining why you want to test again and wait for scheduling instructions.
Exam Domains & Topics
An integrated 150-minute test of reading and writing built on three skill groupings: close reading of complex texts, clear argument-based writing, and editing and using standard written English in context. GED Testing Service states that informational texts, including nonfiction drawn from science and social studies plus workplace material, make up 75 percent of the source material, with the remainder drawn from literary texts.
Key Topics to Master:
- Reading for meaning: central ideas, inference, and how details support a claim
- Identifying and creating arguments: recognising an author's claim, evidence and unsupported assertion
- Grammar and language: sentence structure, usage, capitalisation, punctuation and homonym confusion
- The 45-minute extended response essay, written from two provided source texts
- Informational text from workplace contexts, which is 75 percent of the reading material
- Literary text, which supplies the remaining quarter of the passages
A 115-minute test in two parts covering two published content domains: algebraic reasoning at 55 percent and quantitative reasoning at 45 percent. Part 1 is answered without a calculator. Part 2 provides an on-screen TI-30XS, and a three-minute break sits between the parts so test-centre candidates can collect their own TI-30XS.
Key Topics to Master:
- Algebraic reasoning, 55 percent of the module: expressions, linear equations, inequalities, quadratics, and functions
- Quantitative reasoning, 45 percent of the module: number sense, ratio, proportion, percentage and rates
- Basic maths and number operations including fractions, decimals and exponents
- Geometry: perimeter, area, surface area, volume and the Pythagorean relationship
- Graphs and functions: reading, interpreting and building coordinate graphs
- The mathematical practices GED Testing Service names: fluency, abstracting problems, building solution pathways and evaluating reasoning
A 90-minute test with no break, weighted by GED Testing Service as Life Science 40 percent, Physical Science 40 percent and Earth and Space Science 20 percent. The module tests science practices applied to passages, data and diagrams rather than memorised facts, and stimulus materials come from both academic and workplace contexts.
Key Topics to Master:
- Life Science, 40 percent: cells, heredity, evolution, body systems and ecosystems
- Physical Science, 40 percent: energy, motion, forces, chemical properties and reactions
- Earth and Space Science, 20 percent: earth systems, structures, and the solar system
- Designing and interpreting experiments: variables, controls and investigation design
- Reasoning from data and evaluating conclusions against the evidence provided
- Applying probability and statistics in a scientific context
A 70-minute test with no break, the shortest of the four. GED Testing Service publishes the content split as Civics and Government 50 percent, US History 20 percent, Economics 15 percent and Geography and the World 15 percent. Half the module sits in one content area, which makes it the most concentrated subject in the battery.
Key Topics to Master:
- Civics and Government, 50 percent: constitutional principles, branches of government, rights and civic participation
- US History, 20 percent: founding documents, key eras and turning points
- Economics, 15 percent: markets, supply and demand, incentives and economic systems
- Geography and the World, 15 percent: human and physical geography and global connections
- Reading for meaning in social studies: primary sources, political cartoons and speeches
- Using numbers and graphs: tables, charts, maps and trend data
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Create a free MyGED account at GED.com and read the price and state rules page for your state, since fee, age rules and online availability all vary.
- 2Buy GED Ready for the subject you feel strongest in ($7.99 per subject, or $25.99 for all four) and sit it under real timing.
- 3Read the Enhanced Score Report and note which band you landed in: 100 to 133 not likely to pass, 134 to 144 too close to call, 145 to 154 likely to pass.
- 4Order your four subjects from strongest to weakest and plan to test in that order, so the first credential you earn is the easiest one.
- 5Work through the free practice questions and test previews on GED.com to see the drag and drop, select an area and drop down formats before they cost you marks.
- 1Spend most of this week on Civics and Government, which GED Testing Service weights at 50 percent of the Social Studies module.
- 2Study the branches of government, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, checks and balances, and how a bill becomes law.
- 3Practise reading primary sources: excerpts of speeches, political cartoons and founding documents, and identify the author's claim in each.
- 4Drill the Using Numbers and Graphs skill with tables, line graphs and maps, since that skill is tested inside social studies content rather than separately.
- 5Time yourself at 70 minutes on a full-length Social Studies practice set, because that module has no break at all.
- 1Cover US History at 20 percent, then Economics and Geography and the World at 15 percent each.
- 2Sit GED Ready for Social Studies and require a green result before booking.
- 3Book and take the Social Studies test at a centre, or online if your state allows it and your GED Ready green score is within 60 days.
- 4Check the score in your MyGED account; GED Testing Service says results are usually ready in three hours or less.
- 5If the score lands between 145 and 164, decide deliberately whether the 165 College Ready band is worth a paid retake in your state.
- 1Study Life Science and Physical Science, weighted at 40 percent each, and treat Earth and Space Science at 20 percent as the smaller block.
- 2Practise the science practices GED Testing Service names: investigation design, reasoning from data, evaluating conclusions with evidence and expressing scientific information.
- 3Work 30 questions built on charts, tables and experimental descriptions, because the module supplies the information and tests what you do with it.
- 4Practise identifying independent variable, dependent variable and control in a described experiment.
- 5Rehearse using the on-screen calculator and the calculator reference sheet on statistics-style science questions.
- 1Sit a full 90-minute Science practice set with no break, matching the real module.
- 2Review every wrong answer and label it as content gap, misread data, or misread question stem.
- 3Sit GED Ready for Science and require green before booking.
- 4Book and take the Science test.
- 5Start reading one informational article a day to build the reading stamina Language Arts will need.
- 1Concentrate on informational text, which GED Testing Service says is 75 percent of the RLA source material.
- 2Practise Reading for Meaning: central idea, supporting detail, inference and author's purpose.
- 3Practise Identifying and Creating Arguments: separate a claim from the evidence and spot an assertion with no support behind it.
- 4Read the remaining quarter of practice passages from literary text so the format is not new on test day.
- 5Time a 60-minute reading block, because the RLA module runs 150 minutes and stamina decides the last section.
- 1Drill sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, punctuation and commonly confused homonyms.
- 2Write three timed 45-minute extended responses from two opposing source texts each, matching the real essay conditions.
- 3For each essay, state which position the evidence better supports, then quote from both texts rather than arguing from personal opinion.
- 4Use the written response resources in MyGED to see how the extended response is scored and what a strong answer contains.
- 5Have a teacher or tutor mark at least one of your essays, which is what the GED brochure recommends for written responses.
- 1Sit one full 150-minute RLA practice run including the 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3.
- 2Fix the two grammar rules that cost you the most marks in that run.
- 3Sit GED Ready for RLA and require green before booking.
- 4Book and take the Reasoning Through Language Arts test.
- 5Check your written response score in MyGED once results land, since RLA is the only subject that reports one.
- 1Work fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion and exponents by hand, because part 1 of Mathematical Reasoning allows no calculator at all.
- 2Practise mental estimation so you can sanity-check an answer without a device.
- 3Cover quantitative reasoning topics, which GED Testing Service weights at 45 percent of the module.
- 4Memorise which formulas are on the provided formula sheet so you stop memorising the ones you will be given.
- 5Do 40 no-calculator questions under a stopwatch and log the arithmetic slips separately from the concept gaps.
- 1Cover algebraic reasoning, weighted at 55 percent of the module: expressions, linear equations, inequalities, quadratics and functions.
- 2Work coordinate geometry: slope, intercepts, and reading a function from a graph.
- 3Cover perimeter, area, surface area, volume and the Pythagorean relationship using the provided formula sheet, not memory.
- 4Practise on the TI-30XS specifically, whether the on-screen version or a physical unit, until the fraction and exponent keys are automatic.
- 5Do 40 calculator-allowed questions and check how many marks you lost to keying errors rather than method.
- 1Sit a full 115-minute Mathematical Reasoning practice run in two parts with a three-minute break between them.
- 2Rework every missed question from first principles rather than reading the explanation.
- 3Sit GED Ready for Mathematical Reasoning and require green before booking.
- 4If GED Ready lands in the 134 to 144 too close to call band, spend another week on the weakest domain rather than booking.
- 5Confirm your test-centre appointment and check whether your state lets you bring your own TI-30XS.
- 1Take the Mathematical Reasoning test, the last of the four for most candidates.
- 2Check scores in MyGED, usually within three hours.
- 3If any subject came in under 145, book the retake straight away; there is no waiting period for the first two retakes of a subject at a test centre.
- 4Once all four modules sit at 145 or above, request your transcript and diploma from the My Scores section of MyGED.
- 5If any module landed at 165 or above, tell the college you are applying to, since GED College Ready can waive placement testing.
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Best Study Resources
GED.com and the MyGED account
Official portalScheduling, testing rules, study materials, scores, the Enhanced Score Report, and transcript and diploma requests all live here. It is also where the state-specific price and rules page lives, which matters because fee, age rules, retake discounts and online availability are all set by state.
Free to create
GED Ready practice test
Official predictive practice testThe only practice test that predicts your likelihood of passing and the only one that unlocks online proctored testing. Bands are 100 to 133 not likely to pass, 134 to 144 too close to call, and 145 to 154 likely to pass. One attempt per purchase, and a green score is valid for online testing for 60 days.
$7.99 per subject or $25.99 for all four
GED free practice questions and test previews
Official free practiceSample items on GED.com in the real computer-based formats, including drag and drop, select an area and drop down. Useful specifically for learning the interface so no marks are lost to mechanics.
Free
GED Price and State Rules page
Official policy referenceThe authoritative page for what the test costs where you live, the minimum age and any parental consent requirement, retake discounts and waiting periods, and whether online proctored testing is available in your state.
Free
GED score scale and content descriptions page
Official specificationThe published 100 to 200 scale, the 2016 revision of the cut scores, and the content description for each of the four modules, including the statement that informational texts make up 75 percent of the Reasoning Through Language Arts source material.
Free
GED Marketplace
Official study material storeGED Testing Service's own store of vetted preparation books and courses, linked from the Study tab inside MyGED.
Varies by title
Local GED preparation classes
In-person or online classesAdult education providers funded through state agencies run free GED preparation. Texas, for example, points residents aged 21 and over to the HSE Subsidy Program through the Texas Workforce Commission's Adult Education and Literacy programme.
Often free through state adult education programmes
GED+
Bundled preparation and testing packageGED Testing Service's own bundle in which the cost of the test and its retakes is covered until you pass that subject. Worth comparing against your state's per-subject fee plus its retake discount before buying.
$139 per subject, United States only
GED mobile app
Official appMyGED is available on phone and tablet for scheduling, score checking and study, although the GED Ready practice test itself requires a computer or laptop.
Free
Calculator reference sheet and maths formula sheet
Official in-test referenceBoth are provided inside the test. Reading them before test day tells you which formulas you do not need to memorise, which frees study time for method instead of recall.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming a strong subject can carry a weak one
GED Testing Service removed the compensatory model when the fifth series launched in 2014. Each of the four modules must independently reach 145. A 190 in Social Studies contributes nothing to a 140 in Mathematical Reasoning, so plan around your weakest subject, not your average.
Booking the real test without a green GED Ready score
GED Ready is the only practice test that predicts your outcome, and its bands are explicit: below 134 is not likely to pass and 134 to 144 is too close to call. In states that allow online testing, a green score within the last 60 days is also a hard requirement for booking online, so the practice test does double duty.
Practising all of Mathematical Reasoning with a calculator
Part 1 of the maths module allows no calculator at all. Fractions, percentages, ratios and exponents have to be workable by hand. Split your practice the way the test is split and do a no-calculator block every session.
Memorising formulas that are printed inside the test
Mathematical Reasoning supplies a maths formula sheet and a calculator reference sheet, and Science and Social Studies supply the calculator reference sheet too. Read those sheets in advance so you spend memory on method and interpretation rather than on formulas you will be handed.
Treating Science and Social Studies as memorisation subjects
Both modules test reasoning applied to supplied passages, tables and diagrams. GED Testing Service describes Science through practices such as investigation design, reasoning from data and evaluating conclusions with evidence. Practising with data-driven items beats memorising facts you will never be asked to recall unaided.
Spreading Social Studies study evenly across its four content areas
Civics and Government is 50 percent of the module. US History is 20 percent, Economics 15 percent and Geography and the World 15 percent. Half your Social Studies time belongs in one place.
Reading only literary passages for Language Arts
Informational text, including workplace documents and nonfiction from science and social studies, is 75 percent of the RLA source material. Literature is the smaller quarter. Practise on articles, reports and workplace documents.
Writing the extended response from personal opinion
The 45-minute essay is built from provided source texts. The task is to weigh which position the evidence better supports and to cite the texts. An essay that argues from your own views without engaging the sources misses what the item is asking for.
Not planning for a module that has no break
Social Studies (70 minutes) and Science (90 minutes) both run with no break. Only RLA has a 10-minute break, and Mathematical Reasoning has a 3-minute break between parts. Practise the shorter modules straight through so the absence of a pause is not a surprise.
Sitting the same subject three times in a rush
Retakes are immediate for the first two attempts at a test centre, but after taking a subject three times a 60-day wait applies in most states, and Texas applies the 60-day wait after just two online attempts. Burning three quick attempts without new study can cost you two months.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Bring the government-issued photo ID that matches the name on your GED account. It is required at check-in for both test-centre and online proctored testing, and Texas among others also requires proof of state residency.
- 2
If you are testing at a centre and own a TI-30XS, bring it. GED Testing Service allows your own TI-30XS in the test centre for Mathematical Reasoning, Science and Social Studies, and it is faster to use than the on-screen version.
- 3
Use the three-minute break in Mathematical Reasoning for what it is designed for: retrieving your calculator before part 2 starts. Part 1 does not allow one.
- 4
For online proctored testing, set up in a room with four walls and a closed door, clear the desk, and move phones, headphones and watches out of reach. No one else may be in the room once the exam starts.
- 5
Online candidates cannot use physical calculators or paper scratch sheets. The on-screen calculator, on-screen scratch pad and on-screen whiteboard are the only tools, so practise with those beforehand.
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Do not move the webcam after the session begins, do not leave the webcam view, do not read questions aloud or cover your mouth, and stay fully clothed. GED Testing Service lists exam revocation, loss of payment and a permanent testing ban as the penalty for violations.
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Open the calculator reference sheet and, in maths, the formula sheet at the start of the module rather than hunting for them mid-question.
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Budget the 150-minute Language Arts module in three pieces and take the 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3 when it is offered. Skipping it does not buy extra test time.
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In Social Studies you have 70 minutes and no break, the tightest module in the battery. Keep moving and flag rather than stall.
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Answer every item. No GED subject deducts marks for a wrong answer, so a blank and a wrong answer cost the same and a guess is strictly better than a skip.
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Check your scores in MyGED the same day. GED Testing Service says results are usually ready in three hours or less, and an email tells you when they are posted.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Full-time work with a high school credential
The immediate effect of the credential. The same BLS table puts workers with less than a high school diploma at $738 a week and 6.2 percent unemployment, so the credential is associated with $192 more per week and a two-point lower unemployment rate.
$930 median usual weekly earnings, with a 4.2 percent unemployment rate (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education pays 2024, workers aged 25 and over, full-time wage and salary workers)
Work while taking college courses without completing a degree
A GED is accepted for admission by nearly all United States colleges. Scoring 165 to 174 on a module earns GED College Ready, which can waive placement testing or developmental coursework at participating institutions and shortens the path to credit-bearing classes.
$1,020 median usual weekly earnings, 3.8 percent unemployment (BLS, Education pays 2024)
Associate degree or technical programme graduate
Community colleges are the most common next step after the GED. A module score of 175 or above earns GED College Ready plus Credit, which GED Testing Service says can qualify for up to 10 college credit hours and can therefore shorten a two-year programme.
$1,099 median usual weekly earnings, 2.8 percent unemployment (BLS, Education pays 2024)
Bachelor's degree graduate
GED Testing Service reports that the credential is recognised for undergraduate admission by nearly all United States colleges and universities, and international GED graduates have gone on to institutions including the University of California, Georgia Institute of Technology, the State University of New York and Texas A and M.
$1,543 median usual weekly earnings, 2.5 percent unemployment (BLS, Education pays 2024)
Employment without any high school credential (the baseline you are leaving)
This is the comparison point that makes the four modules worth the fee. It is the lowest earnings and highest unemployment row in the BLS educational attainment table for workers aged 25 and over.
$738 median usual weekly earnings, 6.2 percent unemployment (BLS, Education pays 2024)
Prerequisites & Requirements
- No prior qualification, coursework or preparation course is required. The GED is an open test with no academic entry requirement.
- You must not already hold a high school diploma. Texas, for example, states that a candidate must not be a high school graduate.
- Minimum age is set by the jurisdiction, not nationally. The GED international brochure states you can take the test if you are at least 16, with age requirements differing by country. In Texas the default is 18; a 17-year-old needs parental or guardian permission and must not be enrolled in school outside an approved GED preparation programme; a 16-year-old additionally needs a government-issued photo ID, proof of state residency, and a court order or Job Corps enrolment. Candidates under 16 are not eligible in Texas.
- State residency is required in some states, with proof such as a driver's licence or a bill showing an in-state address.
- A government-issued photo ID is required at check-in for test-centre and online proctored testing alike.
- For online proctored testing only: a green GED Ready score in that subject within the previous 60 days, residence in a state that permits online testing, a computer with a webcam, a passed system test, and a private room with four walls and a closed door.
- A free MyGED account at GED.com is needed to schedule anything, view scores or request a transcript.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do I need to pass the GED?
145 on each of the four subject modules, on a scale that runs from 100 to 200. All four must reach 145 independently. GED Testing Service eliminated the compensatory model in 2014, so a high score in one subject cannot lift a low score in another, and the credential is issued only when all four modules are at or above 145.
How does the 100 to 200 score scale actually work?
Each module is reported as a scaled score rather than a raw percentage, which lets scores from different test forms be compared on the same ruler. GED Testing Service publishes four bands: 100 to 144 below passing, 145 to 200 pass and high school equivalency, 165 to 174 GED College Ready (United States only), and 175 and above GED College Ready plus Credit. The 145 cut replaced the original 2014 cut of 150 when the performance levels were revised in 2016, and most jurisdictions applied the change retroactively to test takers from January 2014.
How much does the GED cost?
It depends on where you test. In the United States the price is set by each state: $36 per subject in Illinois and Tennessee, $36.25 at a Texas test centre and $42.25 for Texas online, $38 in Florida, $41 in California and $46 in Georgia. GED Testing Service describes the typical United States range as about $30 to $40 per subject. International candidates pay $90 per subject, or $360 for all four. Check the price and state rules page on GED.com for your own jurisdiction before budgeting.
What is the retake policy and how long do I wait?
You can retake a failed subject right away. Only after taking the same subject three times does a 60-day waiting period apply. States can be stricter for online testing: Texas allows one online retake before the 60-day wait begins, so two online attempts trigger the same 60-day clock that three test-centre attempts do. Some states also cap attempts per year, while Georgia states there is no limit to how many times you can test in a year.
What does a retake cost?
Many states discount the first two retakes of a subject you paid for and did not pass. In Texas a test-centre retake is $16.25 against a $36.25 first attempt, with two discounted retakes per purchased subject valid for 365 days, while online retakes are charged at the full $42.25 with no discount. Ohio provides first-time students a voucher worth up to $80. Retake pricing is state policy, so check your state page rather than assuming.
What happens if I fail a subject?
Nothing happens to the subjects you already passed. Each module is scored and banked separately, so a failed Mathematical Reasoning attempt leaves a passed Science score untouched. You receive an Enhanced Score Report with a personal study plan showing exactly which areas dragged the score down, and you can rebook that one subject. The credential is only issued once all four modules stand at 145 or above.
How long until I get my scores?
GED Testing Service says GED test scores are usually ready in three hours or less, though it can occasionally take a few days, and you get an email when they are posted to your MyGED account. GED Ready practice test scores are available as soon as you finish. There is no separate unofficial score at the end of the session.
Does the GED expire or need renewing?
No. There is no expiry date, no recertification cycle, no continuing-education credit requirement and no renewal fee. Once all four modules are passed, you request your transcript and diploma from the My Scores section of your MyGED account and the credential is permanent.
Can I take the GED online from home?
In states that permit it, yes, but the requirements are strict. You need a green GED Ready score in that subject from within the last 60 days, a computer with a webcam, a passed system test, a government-issued ID, and a private room with four walls and a closed door. No one else may enter once the exam begins, the webcam cannot be moved, and you must stay in view and fully clothed. Availability by state is listed on GED.com.
What can I use as a calculator?
A TI-30XS. Mathematical Reasoning part 1 allows no calculator at all; part 2 provides the on-screen TI-30XS. Science and Social Studies provide the on-screen calculator for some questions. If you test at a centre you may bring your own physical TI-30XS for those three subjects, and the three-minute maths break exists so you can retrieve it. Online proctored candidates may use only the on-screen version; physical calculators are prohibited.
What reference material am I given?
A calculator reference sheet is available in Mathematical Reasoning, Science and Social Studies, and Mathematical Reasoning also provides a maths formula sheet. Test-centre candidates get scratch paper from the proctor. Online candidates instead get an on-screen scratch pad and an on-screen whiteboard for drawing and working maths, and physical scratch paper is prohibited.
What ID do I need?
A government-issued photo ID, presented at check-in whether you test at a Pearson VUE centre or online. The name must match your GED account. Several states add residency proof: Texas accepts a valid driver's licence or a bill showing a Texas address. Check your state page on GED.com, since the ID and residency rules are set by the jurisdiction.
Are accommodations available?
Yes. GED Testing Service runs an accommodations process under the ADAAA, with a dedicated Accommodations Under the ADAAA page on GED.com. Requests are made and approved through your MyGED account before you schedule, so start the process well ahead of the date you want to test rather than at booking time.
How old do I have to be?
It depends where you test. The GED international brochure states a minimum of 16, with age requirements differing by country. In the United States it is state policy. Texas sets 18 as the default; a 17-year-old needs parental or guardian permission and must not be enrolled in school outside an approved GED preparation programme; a 16-year-old needs parental permission plus a government-issued photo ID, state residency, and a court order or Job Corps enrolment, and anyone under 16 is ineligible.
Do I have to take all four subjects at once?
No. The four subjects are separate exams and can be scheduled individually, in any order, on different days, and even in different formats where your state allows both centre and online testing. Many candidates start with Social Studies because it is the shortest module at 70 minutes and finish with Mathematical Reasoning.
How many questions are on each subject?
GED Testing Service does not publish a fixed item count per subject on GED.com. What it publishes is the time limit for each module: 150 minutes for Reasoning Through Language Arts, 115 for Mathematical Reasoning, 90 for Science and 70 for Social Studies. RLA is published as three sections plus one extended response essay. Plan your pacing by minutes and section, not by an item count.
What is the GED pass rate?
The American Council on Education, which co-owns GED Testing Service, publishes a GED test performance indicator reporting that 70.2 percent of test takers completed all four modules, 85.3 percent of those completers passed, and the pass rate across all test takers was 59.9 percent. The gap between those numbers is mostly about people who stop partway rather than people who fail, which is why finishing all four modules matters as much as scoring well on any one.
Is there an essay, and how is it scored?
One, and only in Reasoning Through Language Arts. You get 45 minutes for an extended response built from provided source texts. RLA is the only subject that reports a written response score back to you, visible in MyGED alongside resources for scoring higher. The GED international brochure recommends showing your written answers to a teacher for feedback, since the practice test does not grade the essay for you the way it grades selected-response items.
Is the GED accepted for college admission?
GED Testing Service states the credential is recognised for undergraduate admission by nearly all colleges and universities in the United States, including Ivy League institutions, and by leading institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore and elsewhere. It also maintains a university acceptance page. Scoring 175 or above on a module can earn up to 10 college credit hours at participating institutions.
How is the GED different from the HiSET?
Both are high school equivalency routes, but not every state offers both, and the tests differ in structure and scale. The GED is four computer-delivered modules scored 100 to 200 with a 145 cut per module, delivered through Pearson VUE centres and, in permitted states, online proctoring. Which exams your state accepts, and at what price, is published on the state page for your jurisdiction, so confirm acceptance with your state before paying for either.
Success Stories
“Left high school at 16, got my GED at 32. Used Khan Academy and Kaplan book. Now I'm starting community college!”
James R.
GED Graduate
“English is my second language. The Spanish version helped. Took me 6 months of study but passed all four tests on first try.”
Maria S.
GED Graduate
“Studied while working full time. Took one test per month over 4 months. The flexible scheduling made it possible.”
David T.
GED Graduate
Is this the right exam for your situation?
This comes first, because the diploma rule blocks eligibility for most of what follows.
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