GED Test Overview
The GED (General Educational Development) Tests are a set of five subject tests designed to certify that a student has the academic skills normally acquired by completing a typical high school program of study. The GED Tests are always given in person at one of 3,400 testing locations nationwide. Candidates for the GED tests are individuals who have not earned a high school diploma.
The GED credential is issued by the state (territory or province) that the student resides in. The GED credential is typically considered to be equivalent to a high school diploma.
GED Test Format
The GED Tests are made up of five subject area tests and one written essay. There are a total of 240 multiple choice questions and one essay. You are given a total of 425 minutes to complete the tests. The table below lists the sections of the test in more detail.
GED Test Areas
| GED Test Area | Time Limit | Number of Questions | Summary |
| Language Arts, Writing, Part I | 75 minutes | 50 questions | Evaluates student’s ability to revise and edit workplace and informational documents. Covers areas such as: organization, sentence structure, usage, and mechanics. |
| Language Arts, Writing, Part II | 45 minutes | 1 essay | Evaluates the student’s ability to write an essay that explains, clarifies, or informs. Topics are general in nature and require no specialized knowledge. |
| Social Studies | 70 minutes | 50 questions | Measures a student’s knowledge of key history, geography, economics and civics concepts. Covers areas such as: U.S. History, World History, Civics and Government, Geography, and Economics. |
| Science | 80 minutes | 50 questions | Measures a student’s skill in understanding the key concepts in physical sciences. Covers areas such as: Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science. |
| Language Arts, Reading | 65 minutes | 40 questions | Evaluates your reading comprehension. You will be given several passages and use your referring and reasoning skills to: identify main ideas, locate important details, understand sequences of events and make comparisons. Measures a student’s ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and synthesize information. |
| Mathematics | 90 minute | 50 questions | Covers basic mathematical skills that are typical for a high school graduate. You will be tested on: number operation and number sense; algebra, functions and patterns; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability. |
To prepare for the exam, try our Free GED Practice Tests. GED Courses may also help you prepare and meet the GED requirements.
