A primary source is a record made at the time by someone involved. To read one on the GED Social Studies test, ask who wrote it, for whom, why and from what point of view, then separate facts you could check from opinions. Practise on real National Archives excerpts, then put events in order.
How to read a primary source in four questions
Author: who made it, and what was their role?
Audience: who was it written for?
Purpose: what did the author want to happen?
Point of view: what does the author believe, and which words show it? Then sort facts you could check from opinions.
Documents in this lab (quoted from National Archives transcripts)
Declaration of Independence (1776): To justify breaking away from Britain by listing the king’s abuses.
Articles of Confederation (1777): To join the states in a league while each state keeps its own power.
Constitution of the United States, Preamble (1787): To state the goals of the new government.
Emancipation Proclamation (1863): To free enslaved people in the areas in rebellion, as a war measure.
13th Amendment (1865): To abolish slavery throughout the United States.
19th Amendment (1919): To stop governments from denying the vote because of sex.
Timeline of the events in this lab (dates from the National Archives)
July 4, 1776: Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.
November 15, 1777: The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation.
March 1, 1781: Maryland ratifies and the Articles of Confederation take effect.
September 17, 1787: Delegates sign the Constitution in Philadelphia.
December 15, 1791: The Bill of Rights is ratified.
1803: The Supreme Court decides Marbury v. Madison.
January 1, 1863: Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation.
December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment is ratified.
August 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment is ratified.
Comparing two sources on one event
The Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) was a war measure by President Lincoln that freed enslaved people only in the areas then in rebellion. The 13th Amendment, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery throughout the United States.
GED Social Studies facts (checked 26 October 2026)
The Social Studies test lasts 70 minutes, including 2 minutes of instructions and final review, with no break (GED.com).
Question types: multiple choice, drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop-down (GED.com).
Content: civics and government 50%, U.S. history 20%, economics 15%, geography and the world 15% (GED Testing Service assessment guide).
GED.com says the Social Studies test is not a memorization test: you use the information given to draw conclusions.
You pass a GED subject with a score of 145 on the 100 to 200 scale. Lab results here are practice only and are not GED scores.
Independent preparation materials. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ACE or GED Testing Service. GED is a registered trademark owned by ACE. Practice results do not predict an official GED score, and GEDPilot does not guarantee a passing score.