GED (General Educational Development) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the GED (General Educational Development), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$30-$40 per subject
Provider
GED Testing Service
Validity
Lifetime
Available
USA/Canada
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific 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.
Number of 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.
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.
Question Format
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
Passing Requirement
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.
How It Is Delivered
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.
Languages Offered
English and Spanish in the United States. The Texas Education Agency, publishing the delivery specification for its jurisdiction, lists both as GED test language options and states that a candidate may combine languages across the four modules. Outside the United States the test is delivered in American English.
Rules specific to this exam
- 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.
Visit the official GED Testing Service certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
100 to 200 on each of the four subject modules, reported separately. There is no combined total score across subjects.
Score You Need
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.
How It Is Calculated
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.
When You Get Results
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.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the GED (General Educational Development)?
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..
How much does the GED (General Educational Development) cost?
The GED (General Educational Development) exam costs $30-$40 per subject. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the GED (General Educational Development)?
Visit the official GED Testing Service certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the GED (General Educational Development)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for GED (General Educational Development)?
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