How many questions are on the GED, and what’s the passing score?

Questions and time for each subject

The times are official. The question counts are approximate figures from GED Testing Service’s own blog. They can change a little from one version of the test to another.

The passing score is 145, on every subject

Each subject gets its own score from 100 to 200. You need at least 145 on all four to earn your high school equivalency credential. Scores aren’t averaged, so a 170 in math won’t make up for a 140 in science. You’d retake science.

Some scores carry extra labels. A score of 165 to 174 is GED College Ready, which can help you skip placement tests at some colleges. A score of 175 to 200 is College Ready + Credit, which could qualify you for up to 10 college credit hours.

Why there’s no simple “percent to pass”

Your score is based on points, not just the number of questions you get right. Some questions are worth more than one point, and the Language Arts essay is scored too. Your points are then turned into the 100 to 200 scale.

GED Testing Service doesn’t publish a percentage that equals 145, so be careful with sites that say you need “about 60%” or similar. The best way to check if you’re ready is the official GED Ready practice test. A score of 145 to 200 on it means you’re likely to pass.

What the questions look like

Everything is on a computer. Most questions are multiple choice with four options, but you’ll also see drag and drop, fill in the blank, drop-down menus and “select an area” questions where you click on part of a picture or graph.

Science and Social Studies questions often come with a short passage, a table or a graph. The answer is usually in that material, so read it carefully.