The General Educational Development Diploma test, or GED, is a
series of five tests designed to measure student proficiency in
standard high school subjects. The GED test provides those who
are at least 16 years old, not enrolled in high school, and have
not graduated from high school, with the chance to earn a high
school equivalency diploma. To pass the GED you do not have to
remember specific facts, dates, or terms. Rather, you have to
demonstrate that you can apply essential knowledge and skills to
specific situations.
Test Overview
The GED is based on major high school subject areas. takes seven
hours and five minutes to complete. Some areas require that you
take all of the tests within one or two sittings, while others
allow you to take one test at a time. Check with the GED testing
center in your area to find out their specific testing
procedures.
Language Arts, Writing Part I
Time: 75 minutes
Format: 50 multiple-choice questions
Topics Tested: Sentence structure, organization, usage, and
mechanics
Language Arts, Writing Part II
Time: 45 minutes
Format: 1 essay
Topics Tested: Essay writing
Social Studies
Time: 70 minutes
Format: 50 multiple-choice questions
Topics Tested: U.S. history, world history, geography, economics,
and civics and government
Science
Time: 80 minutes
Format: 50 questions
Topics Tested: Life science, physical science, and earth and
space science Language Arts, Reading
Time: 65 minutes
Format: 40 questions
Topics Tested: Fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry
Mathematics
Time: Part I - 45 minutes
Part II - 45 minutes
Format: Part I - 25 questions with a calculator
Part II - 25 questions without a calculator
Topics Tested: Number operations and number sense
Measurement and geometry
Data analysis, statistics, and probability
Algebra, functions, and patterns
Your Score
Each correct answer is worth one point. For each individual GED
test, these points are totaled and then converted to a standard
score, which ranges from 200 to 800.
Your final GED transcript will include your standard scores
and your percentile ranks. Percentile rank shows where you stand
in relationship to other graduating high school students and
allows the schools to compare candidates more easily. GED takers
must perform on a level comparable to 60% of graduating high
school seniors to receive a high school equivalency diploma.
Two scores are required to pass the GED: an individual score
for EACH of the five tests and an average score for ALL five
tests. The GED Testing Service has set a minimum passing score of
410 for each test and an average score of 450 for all of the
tests. Also, a GED candidate must earn a score of 2 or higher
(out of 4) on the Language Arts, Writing Test, Part II essay in
order to pass and receive a standard score for that exam.
Different jurisdictions (states, territories, and Canadian
provinces) can set higher scores than the minimum. Contact your
state Department of Education for the passing individual and
average scores in your state.
Learn How to Register
To take the GED, you must register with an official GED
testing center. There are over 3,400 testing centers across the
United States and Canada operated by community colleges, local
school boards, and adult education centers. Contact a local
testing center by calling 1-800-62-MY GED (1-800-626-9433). Or
else, check with your state, province, or territory's
contact person for GED testing.
If you live outside the United States, Canada, or their
territories, you may be able to take the GED Tests at a testing
facility operated by Prometric. Contact the regional registration
center nearest you for specific information about testing
locations and procedures.
Fees for GED registration vary according to your location.
Check your local GED testing center or the GED contact person for
your area for more details.
