When you take the GED test, you’ll complete four separate subject exams on a computer at an official testing center or online (where eligible). Each subject is timed and includes a mix of question formats: multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, hot spot, and short answer. The GED test is not paper-based—it is fully digital and taken one subject at a time, on days you choose.
Here’s what to expect in each section:
- Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 min): 46 questions + 1 essay analyzing an argument.
- Mathematical Reasoning (115 min): 45–49 questions; calculator allowed for most items.
- Science (90 min): 34–40 questions focused on interpreting data, experiments, and scientific reasoning.
- Social Studies (70 min): 34–40 questions on U.S. history, civics, economics, and geography.
You’ll receive your scaled score (100–200) for each subject within 24 hours. A score of 145 or higher on all four earns your high school equivalency credential.
Test-Day Logistics and Environment
At a testing center, you’ll present government-issued photo ID and be monitored via webcam. Personal items (phones, notes, watches) are prohibited. For online testing, you’ll need a quiet room, reliable internet, and a computer that passes the GED system check.
The GED test is not adaptive like the GRE—question difficulty is fixed per exam version. You can skip questions and return to them within the same section, which helps with pacing.
Breaks are allowed between subjects, but not during a subject (except for the optional 10-minute break in Language Arts).
The exam emphasizes real-world reasoning, not memorization. For example, Science tests your ability to read graphs—not recall facts.
Familiarity reduces anxiety. Take an official GED Ready practice test to simulate the experience.
Knowing what to expect in a GED test turns uncertainty into confidence.
Prepare not just with content—but with calm, focused readiness.