Free practice test

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

United States · Exam

How old do you have to be to take the GED?

GED Testing Service’s minimum age is 16, and you can’t be enrolled in high school. On top of that, each state sets its own rules. Many states treat 18 as the normal age and let 16- and 17-year-olds test only with parent consent and other conditions. New York sets 19. Check your state’s page on GED.com before you book.

Free practice test

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

The national rule

GED Testing Service’s policy is that you must be at least 16 and not currently enrolled in an accredited high school. If you’re under 18, your state reviews your registration, collects any forms it requires and a signed parent or guardian consent, and then approves or denies you.

Some state examples

StateNormal minimum ageYounger testers
California1817 if you’ve been out of school 60 days in a row and have a letter from the military, a college or an employer, among other options
Texas1817 with parent permission and Texas residency; 16 only in state care, under a court order or in Job Corps
New York1916 to 18 only with an approved age eligibility form
FloridaNot stated16 and 17 must file a declaration to leave school and a notarized underage testing form

These are from each state’s page on GED.com, as of October 2026.

Online testing has its own age limits

The minimum age for the online test also varies. As of October 2026, GED.com lists 16 and up in many states, 17 and up in Kentucky, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and 18 and up in states including California, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

If you’re under 18 and test online, a parent or guardian must be with you at check-in and show ID proving they’re over 18 and consent to the test.

Is there a maximum age?

No. GED Testing Service’s policy only sets a minimum age. Plenty of people earn their GED in their 40s, 50s and later.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewGED testQuestions and passing scoreHow many questions are on the GED, and what’s the passing score?Scoring and calculatorHow GED scoring works, and the calculator you can useSchedule the testHow to schedule the GED testCostHow much does the GED test cost?Online testCan you take the GED test online?Study guideGED study guide: what to study for each subjectPractice testFree GED practice testWhere to learnWhere to study for the GED test
Sources: GED Testing Service and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.