The GED test in 2026: four subjects, 145 to pass each, and how to book it
The GED is four separate tests, Math, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies, taking 425 minutes in all. Each is scored from 100 to 200, and you need 145 in every subject; scores are not averaged. You can book and pass the subjects one at a time, at a test center or online, and the price is set by your state.
- 4
- separate subject tests
- 425 min
- of testing in all
- 100–200
- score range a subject
- 145
- to pass every subject
Last checked · Facts from GED Testing Service's own pages
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By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What are the four GED subjects?
Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Each is its own test with its own clock, booking and fee, and you can take them in any order.
| Subject | Questions | Time | Even pace | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Reasoning | about 46 | 115 min | 150 s | On-screen TI-30XS for all but the first few questions; formula sheet provided |
| Reasoning Through Language Arts | about 46, plus one essay | 150 min | 196 s | No calculator; a 10-minute break comes partway through |
| Science | about 34 to 40 | 90 min | 142 s | On-screen TI-30XS allowed |
| Social Studies | about 35 | 70 min | 120 s | On-screen TI-30XS allowed |
| All four | about 160 plus an essay | 425 min |
115 min
Quantitative problem solving (numbers, geometry, data): about 45%. Algebraic problem solving (expressions, equations, functions): about 55%
Free 12-question drill on the subject page
Reading: 75% informational texts, 25% literature: most questions. Language: grammar, usage and editing: the rest. Extended response (an essay analysing two arguments): 45 minutes
Free 12-question drill on the subject page
90 min
Life science: about 40%. Physical science: about 40%. Earth and space science: about 20%
Free 12-question drill on the subject page
70 min
Civics and government: about 50%. U.S. history: about 20%. Economics: about 15%. Geography and the world: about 15%
Free 12-question drill on the subject page
Most questions are multiple choice. GED Testing Service also uses drag-and-drop, drop-down, fill-in-the-blank and hot-spot items, and Language Arts includes a 45-minute extended response in which you read two passages that disagree and explain which argument is better supported. You are not asked for your own opinion.
Almost every question in Science and Social Studies gives you a source to work from: a passage, table, graph, map, cartoon or quotation. That means these two subjects test reading and reasoning more than memory, which is why many people pass them sooner than they expect.
What are the GED's rules, at a glance?
Four subjects, 425 minutes, scored 100 to 200 each, 145 to pass each, at a test center or online, with state-set prices and limits on quick retakes.
| Subjects | Four, each a separate test you book and pass on its own: Math, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social StudiesPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Test subjects" |
|---|---|
| Time | 425 minutes in all: Math 115, Language Arts 150 (with a 10-minute break), Science 90, Social Studies 70Published by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Test subjects" |
| Scores | 100 to 200 for each subjectPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "How is the GED test scored?" |
| To pass | 145 in every subject. Scores are not averaged, so each subject has to reach 145 by itselfPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "How is the GED test scored?" |
| Higher levels | GED College Ready 165 to 174; GED College Ready + Credit 175 to 200Published by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Score scale" |
| Calculator | An on-screen TI-30XS on Math (after the first few questions), Science and Social StudiesPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "TI-30XS calculator reference guide" (PDF) |
| Where | At a test center or online with a live proctor, depending on your statePublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "About the GED test" |
| Retakes | At a test center, two retakes of a subject with no wait, then 60 days after the third attempt; online, one retake before the 60-day wait. Some states differPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Test retakes" |
| Cost | Set by each state, roughly US$36 to US$46 a subject online in the states we checked; a few states subsidise or waive itPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Ohio policies" |
How is the GED scored?
Each subject gets a scaled score from 100 to 200. 145 passes that subject, 165 is GED College Ready and 175 is College Ready + Credit. You need a pass in all four to earn the credential, and scores are never averaged.
| Below 145 | Not yet passing in that subject: retake itPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "How is the GED test scored?" |
|---|---|
| 145 to 164 | GED Passing Score: earns the subject toward your credentialPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "How is the GED test scored?" |
| 165 to 174 | GED College Ready: may let you skip placement testing or remedial courses at some collegesPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Score scale" |
| 175 to 200 | GED College Ready + Credit: some colleges award up to 10 credit hoursPublished by the ownerGED Testing Service, "Score scale" |
Some questions are worth more than one raw point, and GED Testing Service does not publish the conversion table, so nobody outside it can tell you exactly how many questions you need right. The full picture, with the GED Ready bands, is on GED passing score.
Results usually arrive on ged.com the same day, with a list of the skills to work on if you did not pass. Passed subjects are kept, so a miss in one subject never costs you the others.
How much does the GED cost?
Each state sets its own price. In the states we checked, online testing runs from US$36 to US$46 a subject, so roughly US$144 to US$184 for all four, and some states subsidise or waive the fee.
| State | Price |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | US$36 a subject online |
| Ohio | US$36 a subject online; US$144 for all four |
| Oklahoma | US$41 a subject online |
| Georgia | US$46 a subject online |
Test-center prices can differ from online prices, and some states charge less for a retake. GED Ready, the official practice test, is sold separately. Your state's page on ged.com lists the current fee, any discount for retakes and whether vouchers are available through adult-education centers.
Because you pay per subject, a practice test that tells you which subject is ready saves real money: booking a subject you would fail costs a full fee and, after the quick retakes, 60 days.
How do I book the GED?
Create an account on ged.com, choose a subject, and pick a test center or online testing. Online testing usually requires a recent 'Likely to Pass' result on GED Ready for that subject.
Do you meet your state's age and residency rules?
- Yes
- Most states test from 18, and from 16 or 17 with extra paperwork. Your state page on ged.com lists them.
- No
- Go to question 2.
Do you want to test from home?
- Yes
- You need a computer with a webcam, a private room and, in most states, a GED Ready "Likely to Pass" score for that subject.
- No
- Go to question 3.
Not sure which subject to book?
- Yes
- Take the free GED-style practice test and book the subject you scored highest in.
- No
- Check with the person or company that sent you the link.
How many times can I retake the GED?
At a test center you can retake a subject twice without waiting; after the third attempt you wait 60 days. Online you get one retake before the 60-day wait. Some states set their own rules.
The District of Columbia, for example, requires 30 days between each of the first two retakes. GED Testing Service also waives its own part of the fee on discounted retakes, though state fees still apply. Check your state policy page before you rebook.
The 60-day pause is the real cost of booking too early. A practice score of 65% or more in that subject, confirmed by GED Ready, is a sensible bar before paying.
How do I prepare for the GED?
Find your weakest subject with a timed practice test, book the closest subject first, then work through the others one at a time with short daily drills.
Start with the free GED-style practice test, try the worked GED-style questions, then follow how to pass the GED.
Adult-education centers in every state offer free GED classes, and many give GED Ready vouchers. They are worth contacting, especially for math.
The GED Pass Pack adds 7 more full tests and 16 subject drills, with an explanation for every miss. Thinking about the other high school equivalency test? See HiSET vs GED.
Frequently asked questions
What is on the GED test?
Do I have to take all four GED subjects on the same day?
How much does the GED cost?
How many times can I retake the GED?
Is the GED hard?
How old do I have to be to take the GED?
Is a GED the same as a high school diploma?
Know which subject is ready before you pay for it
8 full tests and 16 subject drills, in one payment with no subscription.
The GED Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 16 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The GED Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 16
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor
Sources
- GED Testing Service, "Test subjects"
- GED Testing Service, "About the GED test"
- GED Testing Service, "How is the GED test scored?"
- GED Testing Service, "Score scale"
- GED Testing Service, "GED Ready, the official practice test"
- GED Testing Service, "TI-30XS calculator reference guide" (PDF)
- GED Testing Service, "Test retakes"
- GED Testing Service, "New Jersey policies"
- GED Testing Service, "Ohio policies"
- GED Testing Service, "Oklahoma policies"
- GED Testing Service, "Georgia policies"
- GED Testing Service, "District of Columbia policies"