How hard is the GED?
The GED is moderately hard. It tests high school skills, not college material, but you need at least 145 out of 200 on each of its four subjects, and math is where most people struggle. With a practice test first and focused weeks on your weakest subject, it is a very passable exam.
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In more detail
The GED has four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Each is scored from 100 to 200. You pass with 145 on every subject. A score of 165 to 174 counts as GED College Ready, and 175 to 200 is College Ready plus Credit, which can be worth up to 10 college credit hours. You can take the subjects one at a time, in any order.
What makes it hard is the format more than the facts. The questions test reasoning: reading a chart, finding the main point of a passage, setting up a word problem. Math is the subject people most often call the hardest, often because they have been out of school for years. Language Arts includes a 45-minute essay where you judge which of two arguments is better supported. Science and Social Studies feel easier to many, because the facts you need are in the passage.
The four GED subjects
| Subject | Time | What makes it hard |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Reasoning | 115 minutes | Algebra, geometry and word problems; the first part has no calculator |
| Reasoning Through Language Arts | 150 minutes | Long reading passages, grammar and a 45-minute essay |
| Science | 90 minutes | Reading experiments, charts and data |
| Social Studies | 70 minutes | Reading maps, graphs and civics texts |
Step by step
- 1
Check your state's GED rules and price on GED.com, and whether you can test online or only at a test center.
- 2
Take the official GED Ready practice test for one subject. It tells you whether you are likely to pass.
- 3
Choose an order. Many people start with their strongest subject for a quick win and give math the most weeks.
- 4
Study in short daily sessions. Thirty to sixty minutes of practice questions a day beats one long weekend.
- 5
Review every wrong answer and write down why it was wrong, not only the right answer.
- 6
Book the real test when your practice scores sit clearly in the passing range, then repeat for the next subject.
How StudyPDF helps
Try free GED practice questions in your browser at GED Practice Test and GED Math Practice Test. To go further, upload your GED workbook pages or class notes and press New material for flashcards, quizzes or a timed practice exam from them. StudyPDF tracks the topics you keep missing, so the next quiz goes after them. A free account needs no card.
Sources
See also
- AnswerHow do you study for the GED?
- AnswerHow hard is the CPA exam?
- AnswerIs the GRE hard?
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- Practice testGED Practice Test
- Practice testGED Math Practice Test
- AnswerHow many questions are on the GED?
- AnswerGED passing score: what do you need to pass?
- Practice testParaPro Practice Test
- Practice testHiSET Practice Test
- StudyPDFAI Exam Generator
More questions
What score do you need to pass the GED?
At least 145 on each of the four subjects, on a scale of 100 to 200. The scores are not averaged, so a high score in one subject cannot make up for a low one in another.
Is the GED harder than high school?
It is different. High school spreads the work over years and grades homework and attendance. The GED tests the same core skills in four exams, so it is much shorter, but there is no place to hide a weak subject.
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