General Information
Publisher
Test Format
Where to Test
Cost
Cost to Retest
Number of
Test Subjects
Tests
Receipt of
Score Reports
Passing Score
2014
GED®
2002
GED®
TEST
GED Testing Service®
Pearson
Paper or computer-based
Computer-based
GED Testing Centers
Pearson VUE Testing
Centers
$60
$120
(Varies by jurisdiction)
Varies
Discounted retests
Five
Four
•Language Arts,
Writing
•Language Arts,
Reading
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
•Reasoning Through
Language Arts
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Science
• Social Studies
•Contact testing center
for paper scores
•Computer scores available online
•Online scores within
three hours of completion
•Scores range from 200
to 800
•Passing score 410 for
each content area
•Overall average of 450
to pass
•Scores range from
100 to 200 for each
content area
•Passing score 150 for
each content area
NEXT: Language Arts-Reading
Test-Specific Information
TEST
Test Subject
Reading
Competencies
Required
Reading
Content and length
Reading Length of Time
Reading Number and
types of questions
2002
GED®
2014
GED®
Language Arts—Reading
Language Arts—Reading
•Read, summarize, and
explain text
• Recognize assumptions
• Identify style and structure
• Identify figurative language
• Distinguish conclusions
•Determine the details of what is
explicitly stated and make logical
inferences or valid claims that
square with textual evidence
•Read and respond to questions
from a range of texts that are
from the upper levels of complexity, including texts at the
career-and-college-ready level of
text complexity
• 75% Literary
•25% Informational and Poetry
• 200-400 words
• 75% Informational
• 25% Literary
• 450-900 words
65 minutes
60 minutes
• 40 questions
•Multiple choice (five options)
• 51 questions
•Multiple choice (four options)
• Drag-and-drop
• Drop-down
• Fill in the blank
NEXT: Language Arts-Writing (Part 1)
Test-Specific Information
2002
GED®
TEST
Test Subject
2014
GED®
Language Arts—Writing
• Part 1: Edit text
Reasoning Through
Language Arts
(Writing: Language)
Writing (language)
Competencies
Required
•Edit text in context to eliminate
errors and nonstandard usage
•Edit text in context to eliminate
errors and nonstandard usage
Writing (language)
Length of Time
75 minutes
35 minutes
•90 questions
•Multiple choice (five options)
• 51 questions
•Multiple choice (four options)
• Drag-and-drop
• Drop-down
• Fill in the blank
Reading Number and
types of questions
NEXT: Language Arts-Writing (Part 2)
Test-Specific Information
TEST
2002
GED®
2014
GED®
Language Arts—Writing
• Part 2: Essay
Reasoning Through
Language Arts
(Writing: essay)
Writing (essay)
Competencies
Required
•Focus on main points
• Clear organization
• Development of ideas
• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Word choice
•Analysis of arguments and use
of evidence
•Development of ideas and
structure
•Clarity and command of standard English conventions
• Grammar
• Usage
• Capitalization
• Punctuation
Writing (essay)
Content
•Expository essay on a familiar
subject using personal observations and experiences to
support an opinion or idea
•Draw relevant and sufficient
evidence from a literary or
information text to support
analysis or reflection
•Use technology to produce
writing, demonstrating sufficient
command of keyboarding skills
Writing (essay)
Length of Time
45 minutes
45 minutes
• 4-point rubric
• 2 human scorers
• 3-point rubric
• 12-point scale
• Computer scorer
Test Subject
Writing (essay)
scoring
NEXT: Mathematics
Test-Specific Information
TEST
TEST SUBJECT
Competencies
Required
Content
Length of Time
Number and types of
questions
Calculator
2002
GED®
2014
GED®
Mathematics
Math
• Basic math fluency
• Algebra and Geometry
• Problem solving
• Know and apply procedure
• Math fluency
•Use math reasoning to
solve problems
• 20-30% Number Operations
•20-30% Measurement/
Geometry
•20-30% Data Analysis/
Statistics
• 20-30% Algebra
Quantitative Problems
• 25% Rational numbers
•20% Measurement Algebraic Problems
•30% Expressions/equations
•25% Graphs and functions
90 minutes
115 minutes
•50 questions
•Multiple choice
(five options)
•46 questions
•Multiple choice
(four options)
• Fill-in-the-blank
• Drop down
• Hot spot
• Drag-and-drop
•Casio handheld calculator
for part
• TI-30XS online calculator
•Part 1: no calculator
(5 questions)
•Part 2: calculator
(41 questions)
NEXT: Science
Test-Specific Information
2002
GED®
2014
GED®
Science
Science
•Understand scientific concepts
and processes
•Understand links between science and technology
•Solve problems by applying
scientific theory and processes
•Analyze, understand and extract
information from a scientific text
•Make inferences based on scientific data
•Solve problems by applying
scientific theory and processes
• 35% Physical Science
• 45% Life Science
•20% Earth and Space Science
• 40% Life Science
•40% Physical Science
•20% Earth and Space Science
80 minutes
90 minutes total
•50 questions
•Multiple choice
(four options)
•34 questions
•Multiple choice
(four options)
• Fill-in-the-blank
• Drop down
• Hot spot
• Drag-and-drop
• Constructed response
None
Two short answer responses:
•Provide evidence to support a
particular conclusion
•Provide a hypothesis or conclusion
TEST
TEST SUBJECT
Competencies
Required
Content
Length of Time
Number and types
of questions
CONSTRUCTED
response
NEXT: Social Studies
Test-Specific Information
2002
GED®
TEST
TEST SUBJECT
Competencies
Required
Content
Social Studies
Social Studies
•Comprehension, application,
analysis, and evaluations of
social studies themes
•Demonstrate a deep conceptual understanding of
social studies themes
•Analyze evidence from
source text
•Defend a written argument
using specific and relevant
details
• 25% U.S. History
• 15% World History
• 15% Geography
•25% Civics and Government
• 20% Economics
•50% Civics and Government
• 20% U.S. History
• 15% Economics
•15% Geography and the
World
70 minutes
90 minutes total
• Part 1: 65 minutes
• Part 2: 25 minutes
•50 questions
•Multiple choice
(four options)
•35 questions
•Multiple choice
(four options)
• Fill-in-the-blank
• Drop down
• Hot spot
• Drag-and-drop
None
•Extended response prompt
based on one or more
passages
• 25 minutes
• 8-point rubric
• Computer scored
Length of Time
Number and types of
questions
Extended
response
2014
GED®