The GED test in 2026: subjects, time, question types and scores
The GED test is four separate tests: Math (115 minutes), Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 minutes), Science (90 minutes) and Social Studies (70 minutes). That is 425 minutes in all. You need at least 145 on each test. You can book one subject at a time or up to all four at once.
The GED test at a glance
Total testing time: 425 minutes (7 hours 5 minutes), found by adding the four official subject times on GED.com, checked October 26, 2026. Passing score: 145 in each subject on a 100-200 scale.
Mathematical Reasoning: 115 minutes. Includes 2 minutes of instructions and review, and a 3-minute break between part 1 and part 2. Topics: Basic Math, Geometry, Basic Algebra, Graphs and Functions. Tools: Part 1: no calculator. Part 2: on-screen calculator. A formula sheet and a calculator reference sheet are provided. Question types: Multiple choice, Drag and drop, Fill-in-the-blank, Select an area, Drop-down.
Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA): 150 minutes. Three parts. Includes 3 minutes of instructions and review, 45 minutes for the essay and a 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3. Topics: Reading for Meaning, Identifying and Creating Arguments, Grammar and Language. Tools: GED.com lists no calculator or formula sheet for RLA. Question types: Multiple choice, Drag and drop, Select an area, Drop-down, One extended response (essay).
Science: 90 minutes. Includes 2 minutes of instructions and review. No break. Topics: Reading for Meaning in Science, Designing and Interpreting Science Experiments, Using Numbers and Graphics in Science. Tools: On-screen calculator and calculator reference sheet. Any formula you need is given in the question. Question types: Multiple choice, Fill-in-the-blank, Drag and drop, Select an area, Drop-down.
Social Studies: 70 minutes. Includes 2 minutes of instructions and review. No break. Topics: Reading for Meaning in Social Studies, Analyzing Historical Events and Arguments in Social Studies, Using Numbers and Graphs in Social Studies. Tools: On-screen calculator and calculator reference sheet. Question types: Multiple choice, Drag and drop, Fill-in-the-blank, Select an area, Drop-down.
How many questions are on the GED test?
GED Testing Service does not publish an official number of questions for any subject. GED.com lists the time and the question types for each test, but not a count. If you see an exact number elsewhere, treat it as an estimate, not an official figure.
Your score comes from points, not from a count of right answers. Some questions are worth more than one point. Multiple-choice questions always have four answer choices.
What to expect instead: in RLA, reading passages run 400 to 900 words, and each passage set has six to eight questions. Plan your pace by the clock. Glance at the on-screen timer every so often, and flag a slow question so you can come back to it.
What question types are on the GED test?
Multiple choice: Pick the one best answer from four choices. Used in Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, Social Studies.
Drag and drop: Move items into the right boxes, order or category. Used in Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, Social Studies.
Drop-down: Choose a word or value from a menu inside a sentence or equation. Used in Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, Social Studies.
Fill-in-the-blank: Type a number or a short answer into a box. Used in Mathematical Reasoning, Science, Social Studies.
Select an area: Click a point or region on a graph, map, diagram or text (also called hot spot). Used in Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, Social Studies.
Extended response: Write a 45-minute essay that judges which of two arguments is better supported. Used in Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA).
Can I take all four GED tests in one day?
Yes. GED.com says you can schedule your tests one at a time or take up to all four at once. All four at a test center means about 7 hours 35 minutes of testing (425 minutes plus three 10-minute breaks), plus check-in.
A calmer plan for many working adults: book the subject where your GED Ready result is green first, then book the next one. Passing scores on the current GED test do not expire at the national level, so each pass is banked (check your state for its own rules).
Pro: One trip and one day off work or childcare.
Pro: You finish everything while your study is fresh.
Pro: At a test center there is a 10-minute break between tests.
Con: About 7 hours 35 minutes of testing at a test center, plus check-in. Tiredness can hit the last test hardest.
Con: No time to use one score report to study before the next test.
Con: Online, there is no scheduled break between subjects. Book them as separate appointments.
Con: If one subject is not ready yet, it can pull down your confidence for the rest of the day.
What score do you need to pass the GED?
You need 145 or higher on all four subjects. Scores are not averaged, so a high score in one subject cannot make up for a low score in another.
GED College Ready (165-174) and GED College Ready + Credit (175-200) apply to each subject on its own. Colleges decide how they use them.
Scores usually post within 24 hours (often the same day), and occasionally take up to 3 business days.
Is the GED test changing in 2026?
No announced change to subject times, question types or the 145 passing score. GEDPilot checked the GED.com newsroom and press releases on October 26, 2026.
GED.com posts a revised math formula sheet file labeled 2026-02. Practice with the current sheet so it looks familiar on test day.
A GED Testing Service article dated July 14, 2026 describes expanded online testing, stronger test security, ongoing content updates and an AI tutor in the GED & Me app.
The credential name depends on your state
Your state issues the credential, and its name varies. You earn it from the state where you pass your final subject. Age, residency and fee rules vary by state too.
Texas: State of Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency
California: California High School Equivalency Certificate
Pennsylvania: Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma
How long is the GED test? The four tests add up to 425 minutes (7 hours 5 minutes): Math 115 minutes, Reasoning Through Language Arts 150, Science 90 and Social Studies 70. Each time includes a few minutes of instructions, and RLA includes a 10-minute break. You do not have to take the tests on the same day.
How many questions are on the GED test? GED Testing Service does not publish an official number of questions. GED.com lists the time and question types for each subject but not a count. Your score is based on points, and some questions are worth more than one point, so plan your pace by the time limit.
Can I take all 4 GED tests in one day? Yes. GED.com says you can schedule your tests one at a time or take up to all four at once. At a test center you get a 10-minute break between tests, so all four would mean about 7 hours 35 minutes of testing plus check-in. Online there is no scheduled break between subjects, so book them as separate appointments.
What question types are on the GED test? Multiple choice with four options, drag and drop, fill-in-the-blank, select an area (also called hot spot) and drop-down. RLA has no fill-in-the-blank questions but adds one extended response, a 45-minute essay. Wrong answers do not cost points, so answer every question.
Do you get a calculator on the GED test? Yes, for most of it. Math part 1 has no calculator. Math part 2, Science and Social Studies give you an on-screen TI-30XS calculator and a calculator reference sheet. At a test center you may bring your own TI-30XS MultiView. Online you use only the on-screen one.
Do I have to memorize formulas for the GED? No. Math gives you a formula sheet on screen, and on paper at a test center. Science gives you the information you need in the question. You still need to know when to use each formula, so practice with the sheet.
Is the GED test changing in 2026? As of October 26, 2026, GED.com announced no change to subject times, question types or the 145 passing score. GED.com does post a revised math formula sheet file labeled 2026-02, so practice with the current sheet.
What score do you need to pass the GED? 145 on each of the four subjects, on a 100 to 200 scale. Scores are not averaged. In each subject, 165-174 is GED College Ready and 175-200 is GED College Ready + Credit.
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.