GED Practice Test 2026

All 4 Subjects — Lessons, Practice Questions & Scaled Score Grading

Prepare for the GED® Test

The GED is a 4-subject high school equivalency test. You must pass all 4 subjects with a scaled score of 145 or higher on each. Study every section below and take full practice tests.

Reasoning Through Language Arts Mathematical Reasoning Science
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Reasoning Through Language Arts
Reading comprehension, extended writing, grammar & language use
⏱ 150 min ~46 questions Pass: 145
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Mathematical Reasoning
Quantitative problem solving, algebraic thinking, geometry, statistics
⏱ 115 min ~46 questions Pass: 145
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Science
Life science, physical science, Earth & space science
⏱ 90 min ~40 questions Pass: 145
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Official GED® Scoring Scale Explained

Score RangePerformance LevelMeaning
100–144Below PassingDid not pass; retake required
145–164✅ Pass / High School EquivalencyPassing score — earned your GED
165–174🎓 GED College ReadyMay qualify for college credit placement
175–200🏅 GED College Ready + CreditEligible for college credit (up to 10 hrs)
⚠️ How This Practice Test Scores You Each subject has 25 practice questions. Raw correct answers are converted to a GED-style scaled score (100–200) using a formula that matches real GED difficulty weighting. You need a scaled score of 145+ to pass each subject.
📋 What to Expect on Test Day The official GED test is computer-based and includes multiple choice, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, and extended response questions. This practice test focuses on multiple choice to build your core knowledge and test-taking skills.

Complete Study Guide

All key lessons for all 4 GED subjects. Click any lesson to expand.

📖

Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) — Key Lessons

150 min test
RLA Test StructureReading (75%) + Extended Response essay (25%). Texts include literary, informational, and workplace documents. Grammar section covers punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice.
L1 Main Idea & Supporting Details ▼
Main idea is what a passage is mostly about — often found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph (topic sentence).

Supporting details are facts, examples, or reasons that explain or prove the main idea.

📝 Strategy: Ask "What is the author's most important point?" Then check each detail to see if it supports that point. Watch out for answer choices that are too broad or too narrow.
Key question types:
  • What is the main idea of this passage?
  • Which detail best supports the author's claim?
  • What would best replace this supporting detail?
L2 Inference & Implicit Meaning ▼
An inference is a conclusion you draw from evidence — it's not stated directly but can be reasonably concluded.

📝 Example: "Maria slammed her book shut and left the room without a word." → You can infer she was angry, even though the word 'angry' never appears.
Tips:
  • Base inferences only on evidence IN the text
  • Eliminate choices that require outside information
  • Look for words like "implies," "suggests," "can be inferred"
L3 Author's Purpose, Tone & Point of View ▼
Author's Purpose: Why did the author write this?
  • Inform — factual, neutral tone
  • Persuade — argues for a position, uses evidence
  • Entertain — narrative, descriptive writing
Tone is the author's attitude: sarcastic, hopeful, critical, nostalgic, etc.

Point of View: 1st person (I/we), 2nd (you), 3rd limited, 3rd omniscient.

📝 Look for loaded words, rhetorical questions, and emotional language as clues to tone and purpose.
L4 Text Structure & Organization ▼
Common text structures:
  • Cause & Effect — signal words: because, therefore, as a result
  • Compare & Contrast — both, however, on the other hand, similarly
  • Problem & Solution — the issue is, one approach
  • Chronological — first, then, finally
  • Description/Classification — for instance, specifically
📝 Identifying structure helps you predict where to find information and understand the author's logic.
L5 Grammar: Sentence Structure & Mechanics ▼
Sentence errors to know:
  • Run-on: Two independent clauses joined incorrectly → fix with period, semicolon, or conjunction
  • Fragment: Incomplete thought missing subject or verb
  • Comma splice: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma
Subject-verb agreement: Singular subject → singular verb. Compound subjects with "and" → plural.

Modifiers: A modifier must be near the word it modifies.

📝 Wrong: "Running down the street, the bus was missed." ✅ Right: "Running down the street, she missed the bus."
L6 Extended Response (Essay) — Writing Strategies ▼
The RLA Extended Response gives you 45 minutes to write an argument essay responding to two passages.

Essay Structure (5-paragraph model):
  • Introduction: State your thesis/argument clearly
  • Body Paragraph 1: First piece of evidence + analysis
  • Body Paragraph 2: Second piece of evidence + analysis
  • Body Paragraph 3: Address counterargument (optional but strong)
  • Conclusion: Restate argument + wrap up
Scored on: Analysis of arguments (45%), Development of ideas (45%), Language facility (10%)
📝 Always cite evidence from the provided texts. Unsupported opinions score lower than evidence-based arguments.
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Mathematical Reasoning — Key Lessons

115 min test
Math Test StructurePart 1 (5 questions, no calculator) + Part 2 (41 questions, TI-30XS calculator allowed). Covers Basic Math (20%), Geometry (25%), Data/Statistics (20%), and Algebra (35%).
L1 Operations with Fractions, Decimals & Percents ▼
Fractions: To add/subtract → common denominator. To multiply → straight across. To divide → multiply by reciprocal.

Percent formula:
Percent = (Part / Whole) × 100
Part = (Percent / 100) × Whole
Converting: Fraction → Decimal: divide numerator by denominator. Decimal → Percent: multiply by 100.

📝 Example: 35% of 120 = 0.35 × 120 = 42
L2 Algebra: Linear Equations & Inequalities ▼
Solving equations: Isolate the variable by doing the same operation to both sides.

2x + 5 = 13 → 2x = 8 → x = 4
Inequalities: Same rules, BUT flip the sign when multiplying/dividing by a negative.

−3x > 12 → x < −4 (sign flipped)
Slope-intercept form:
y = mx + b (m = slope, b = y-intercept)
L3 Geometry: Area, Perimeter & Volume ▼
Key formulas (provided on the GED formula sheet):
Area of rectangle = l × w
Area of triangle = ½ × b × h
Area of circle = π × r²
Circumference = 2πr
Volume of rectangular prism = l × w × h
Volume of cylinder = π × r² × h
Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²
📝 The GED provides a formula sheet during the test — memorize it anyway so you can work faster.
L4 Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode & Probability ▼
Mean = sum of all values ÷ number of values
Median = middle value when sorted (avg. of two middle if even)
Mode = most frequently occurring value
Range = highest − lowest
Probability:
P(event) = favorable outcomes / total outcomes
P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B) [if independent]
P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A and B)
L5 Polynomials & Factoring ▼
FOIL (First, Outer, Inner, Last) for multiplying binomials:
(x + 3)(x − 2) = x² − 2x + 3x − 6 = x² + x − 6
Factoring: Find two numbers that multiply to the constant and add to the middle coefficient.

x² + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3) ✓ because 2×3=6, 2+3=5
Difference of squares:
a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b)
L6 Ratios, Proportions & Word Problems ▼
Ratio: Comparison of two quantities. 3:5 = 3/5.
Proportion: Two equal ratios.
a/b = c/d → cross multiply → ad = bc
Word problem strategy:
  • Identify what is given and what is asked
  • Assign a variable
  • Write the equation
  • Solve and check units
📝 "A car travels 240 miles in 4 hours. How far in 7 hours?" → Rate = 60 mph → 60 × 7 = 420 miles
🔬

Science — Key Lessons

90 min test
Science Test StructureLife Science (40%) + Physical Science (40%) + Earth & Space Science (20%). Focus is on scientific reasoning and interpreting data, graphs, and experiments — not memorization.
L1 Scientific Method & Experimental Design ▼
Scientific Method steps:
  • Observation → Question → Hypothesis → Experiment → Data → Conclusion
Key vocabulary:
  • Hypothesis: Testable prediction (if…then)
  • Variable: Factor that can change
  • Independent variable: What you change
  • Dependent variable: What you measure
  • Control group: Unchanged group for comparison
  • Constants: Everything else kept the same
📝 GED science questions often show you an experiment and ask you to identify variables, evaluate conclusions, or detect flaws.
L2 Cell Biology & Genetics ▼
Cell types: Prokaryote (no nucleus — bacteria) vs. Eukaryote (has nucleus — plants, animals, fungi).

Cell organelles: Nucleus (DNA), Mitochondria (energy/ATP), Ribosome (protein synthesis), Cell membrane (selective barrier).

DNA → RNA → Protein (Central dogma of molecular biology)

Genetics: Dominant allele (capital letter) masks recessive. Punnett squares predict inheritance ratios.

📝 Bb × Bb cross → 25% BB, 50% Bb, 25% bb → 75% show dominant trait, 25% recessive
L3 Ecosystems, Evolution & Natural Selection ▼
Food chain: Producer → Primary consumer → Secondary consumer → Tertiary consumer → Decomposer

Ecosystem interactions: Predation, competition, symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism)

Natural selection (Darwin):
  • Variation exists in populations
  • Traits are heritable
  • More offspring born than can survive
  • Individuals with favorable traits survive and reproduce more
  • Over time, favorable traits become more common
L4 Chemistry: Atoms, Bonds & Reactions ▼
Atom: Protons (+) + Neutrons (neutral) in nucleus; Electrons (−) in shells.
Atomic number = # protons. Mass number = protons + neutrons.

Chemical bonds:
  • Ionic: Metal + nonmetal; electron transfer
  • Covalent: Nonmetal + nonmetal; electron sharing
Chemical reactions: Reactants → Products. Law of Conservation of Mass: atoms are neither created nor destroyed.

Acids & Bases: pH scale 0–14. <7 = acid, 7 = neutral, >7 = base.

📝 Balancing: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O — atoms of each element must be equal on both sides.
L5 Physics: Forces, Motion & Energy ▼
Newton's Laws:
  • 1st: Object at rest stays at rest (inertia)
  • 2nd: F = ma (force = mass × acceleration)
  • 3rd: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Energy forms: Kinetic (motion), Potential (stored), Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, Electromagnetic

Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted.

Speed = Distance / Time
KE = ½mv²
Work = Force × Distance
L6 Earth Science: Plate Tectonics & Climate ▼
Plate Tectonics:
  • Convergent: plates collide → mountains, trenches
  • Divergent: plates separate → ridges, rift valleys
  • Transform: plates slide past each other → earthquakes
Rock cycle: Igneous → Weathering → Sedimentary → Heat/Pressure → Metamorphic → Melting → Igneous

Climate vs. Weather: Weather = short-term atmospheric conditions. Climate = long-term patterns.

Greenhouse effect: CO₂, methane trap heat → global warming → more extreme weather events.
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Social Studies — Key Lessons

70 min test
Social Studies Test StructureCivics/Government (50%) + U.S. History (20%) + Economics (15%) + World Geography (15%). Tests your ability to interpret documents, maps, graphs, and primary sources.
L1 U.S. Government & the Constitution ▼
Three Branches: Legislative (Congress: makes laws), Executive (President: enforces laws), Judicial (Courts: interprets laws)

Checks & Balances: Each branch limits the others. President vetoes → Congress overrides with 2/3 vote.

Bill of Rights: First 10 amendments. 1st = speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

Federalism: Division of power between federal and state governments.

📝 GED often presents excerpts from the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or landmark speeches and asks you to interpret them.
L2 U.S. History: Revolution to Reconstruction ▼
American Revolution (1775–1783): Colonists vs. Britain. Declaration of Independence (1776). Constitutional Convention (1787).

Civil War (1861–1865): Union vs. Confederacy over slavery and states' rights. Emancipation Proclamation (1863). 13th Amendment abolished slavery.

Reconstruction (1865–1877): Rebuilding the South. 14th Amendment (equal protection), 15th Amendment (voting rights for Black men).

Westward Expansion: Manifest Destiny, Louisiana Purchase, Indian Removal Act, Transcontinental Railroad.
L3 20th Century U.S. History ▼
WWI (1914–1918): U.S. entered in 1917. Wilson's 14 Points. Treaty of Versailles. League of Nations.

Great Depression & New Deal: 1929 stock crash → FDR's New Deal programs (CCC, Social Security, SEC).

WWII (1939–1945): U.S. entered after Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941). Holocaust. Atomic bombs. UN formed.

Cold War (1947–1991): U.S. vs. USSR. Korea, Vietnam, Space Race, Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Wall.

Civil Rights Movement (1950s–60s): MLK, Rosa Parks, Brown v. Board, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965.
L4 Economics: Supply, Demand & Economic Systems ▼
Supply & Demand:
  • When demand increases (supply same) → price rises
  • When supply increases (demand same) → price falls
  • Equilibrium: supply = demand
Economic Systems:
  • Market/Capitalist: private ownership, free market
  • Command/Socialist: government controls production
  • Mixed: combination (most modern economies)
GDP (Gross Domestic Product): Total value of goods/services produced in a country.
Inflation: General rise in prices over time. Measured by CPI (Consumer Price Index).
L5 World Geography & Map Skills ▼
Map types: Physical (terrain), Political (borders), Thematic (specific data like population)

Latitude & Longitude: Latitude = horizontal (parallels), Longitude = vertical (meridians). Equator = 0° lat. Prime Meridian = 0° long.

Climate zones: Tropical (equator), Temperate (mid-latitudes), Polar (near poles)

Major world regions: Know continents, major countries, rivers, and mountain ranges for context questions.

📝 GED geography questions often use maps, tables, or graphs — focus on reading the visual, not memorizing geography.
L6 Interpreting Primary Sources & Political Cartoons ▼
Primary sources: Original documents — speeches, letters, diaries, photographs, laws.
Secondary sources: Interpretations of primary sources — textbooks, biographies.

Analyzing primary sources:
  • Who wrote it? When? Why?
  • What is the author's point of view or bias?
  • What historical context is needed to understand it?
Political cartoons: Look for symbolism, caricatures, labels, and irony. Ask: What is the cartoonist's message?

📖 Reasoning Through Language Arts

25 questions covering reading comprehension, grammar, and language use. Scaled score: 100–200. Passing: 145+

📊 RLA Scaled Score

0
Correct
0
Wrong
0
Answered
Scaled Score—
100145 Pass200
📖 Reading Comprehension — Passage 1 Questions 1–5
PASSAGE — Excerpt from a workplace memo on remote work policy: Effective the first of next month, our company will implement a hybrid work schedule. All full-time employees will be required to work in the office at least three days per week. The remaining days may be completed remotely, provided that core collaboration hours — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — are observed. Managers retain the authority to require additional in-office days for employees whose performance metrics fall below department benchmarks. Employees who believe their roles are incompatible with in-office requirements may submit a written accommodation request to Human Resources no later than two weeks from the date of this memo. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The company reserves the right to make final decisions regarding all accommodation requests.
1What is the primary purpose of this memo?
2According to the memo, which employees may be required to work additional in-office days?
3What can be inferred about the company's attitude toward accommodation requests?
4What does "core collaboration hours" most likely mean in context?
5An employee who works completely from home and believes their role requires it should do what, according to the memo?
📖 Reading Comprehension — Passage 2 Questions 6–10
PASSAGE — Informational text on climate change: Scientists overwhelmingly agree that Earth's average temperature has risen approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution began in the mid-1800s. This warming trend is primarily driven by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases — particularly carbon dioxide and methane — released through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices. The consequences of this warming are already visible: rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, the retreat of glaciers, and disruptions to ecosystems worldwide. While some skeptics argue that climate fluctuations are natural and cyclical, the scientific consensus, supported by multiple independent lines of evidence, points clearly to human activity as the dominant cause of the current warming trend. Addressing climate change requires both mitigation efforts — reducing greenhouse gas emissions — and adaptation strategies to cope with changes already underway.
6According to the passage, what is the PRIMARY driver of Earth's rising temperatures?
7What is the difference between "mitigation" and "adaptation" as used in the final sentence?
8How does the author address skeptics who claim climate change is natural?
9Which statement would BEST support the passage's main claim?
10The tone of this passage can best be described as:
✏️ Grammar & Language Use Questions 11–20
11Which of the following is a complete sentence?
12Which revision BEST corrects the run-on sentence: "The report was late, the manager was frustrated he called a meeting immediately."
13Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
14Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
15Which punctuation correctly joins two independent clauses?
16Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The data _____ inconclusive at this stage."
17Which transition word best shows CONTRAST between two ideas?
18Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
19In an argumentative essay, which type of evidence is MOST effective?
20Which sentence is written in parallel structure?
✍️ Vocabulary & Extended Response Prep Questions 21–25
21What does the word "concise" mean as used in writing instruction?
22An author who writes "The economy roared back to life" is using which literary device?
23What is the function of a thesis statement in an essay?
24Which choice correctly uses a comma after an introductory clause?
25When writing a response to two texts that disagree, what should your essay primarily do?

🔢 Mathematical Reasoning

25 questions — Basic Math, Algebra, Geometry, and Data/Statistics. Scaled score: 100–200. Passing: 145+

📊 Math Scaled Score

0
Correct
0
Wrong
0
Answered
Scaled Score—
100145 Pass200
➕ Number Sense & Operations Q 1–6
1Simplify: (−3)² + 4 × 2 − 10
2What is 35% of 240?
3A jacket originally costs $80. It is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
4Which fraction is equivalent to 0.625?
5Order from least to greatest: −2, 1.5, −0.5, 0, 3/4
6A car travels at 60 mph. How long does it take to travel 210 miles?
📐 Algebra Q 7–14
7Solve for x: 3x − 7 = 14
8Solve for x: −4x + 3 ≥ 19
9A line passes through (0, 3) and (4, 11). What is its slope?
10Factor completely: x² − 9x + 18
11Multiply: (2x + 5)(x − 3)
12What is the y-intercept of the line 4x − 2y = 10?
13If f(x) = 3x² − 2x + 1, what is f(−2)?
14Solve the system: x + y = 8 and 2x − y = 4
📏 Geometry Q 15–20
15A triangle has a base of 12 cm and a height of 9 cm. What is its area?
16A circle has a radius of 7 cm. What is its area? (Use π ≈ 3.14)
17A right triangle has legs of 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
18A rectangular box is 10 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 5 cm tall. What is its volume?
19Two angles are supplementary. One angle measures 65°. What is the other?
20The perimeter of a square is 48 cm. What is its area?
📊 Data, Statistics & Probability Q 21–25
21Find the mean of: 12, 7, 9, 15, 11, 8, 14
22A bag has 4 red, 3 blue, and 5 green marbles. What is the probability of drawing a blue marble?
23The median of the data set {3, 7, 9, 12, 15, 22} is:
24A student scored 78, 85, 90, 72, and 80 on five tests. What score is needed on the 6th test to have an average of 83?
25A survey shows 40% of people prefer tea, 35% prefer coffee, and the rest prefer water. If 200 people were surveyed, how many prefer water?

🔬 Science

25 questions — Life Science, Physical Science, Earth & Space Science. Scaled score: 100–200. Passing: 145+

📊 Science Scaled Score

0
Correct
0
Wrong
0
Answered
Scaled Score—
100145 Pass200
🧬 Life Science Q 1–10
1Which organelle is responsible for producing energy (ATP) in eukaryotic cells?
2In a Punnett square cross of Bb × Bb, what percentage of offspring will show the recessive trait?
3Which process converts light energy into chemical energy in plants?
4A researcher finds that deer population increases after wolves are removed from an ecosystem. This is an example of:
5According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, which individuals are most likely to reproduce?
6In an experiment, the variable the scientist changes on purpose is called:
7Which of the following is the correct order of the food chain?
8Which type of cell lacks a nucleus?
9DNA is to RNA as RNA is to:
10A scientist tests whether caffeine affects heart rate in mice. Heart rate is the:
⚗️ Physical Science — Chemistry & Physics Q 11–20
11An element has atomic number 8 and mass number 16. How many neutrons does it have?
12A solution with a pH of 3 is:
13A force of 20 N acts on a 5 kg object. What is the acceleration? (F = ma)
14Which of Newton's laws explains why a seatbelt protects passengers during a sudden stop?
15Which type of bond involves the sharing of electrons between nonmetal atoms?
16The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy:
17A chemical equation is balanced when:
18Which form of energy is stored in a stretched rubber band?
19Which wave type does NOT require a medium to travel?
20In which state of matter do particles have the most kinetic energy?
🌍 Earth & Space Science Q 21–25
21Two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This is a:
22Which greenhouse gas is most directly linked to burning fossil fuels?
23Rock that forms from the cooling of magma is called:
24What causes the seasons on Earth?
25The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Which step involves water vapor forming clouds?

🌎 Social Studies

25 questions — Civics, U.S. History, Economics, Geography. Scaled score: 100–200. Passing: 145+

📊 Social Studies Scaled Score

0
Correct
0
Wrong
0
Answered
Scaled Score—
100145 Pass200
The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution refers to:
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery?
The purpose of checks and balances in the U.S. government is to:
Which landmark Supreme Court case ruled that racially segregated public schools were unconstitutional?
What power does the U.S. Congress have that the President does not?
The First Amendment protects which of the following?
Judicial review — the power of courts to strike down unconstitutional laws — was established by:
Which document begins with "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."?
The Electoral College is used to elect the:
Which of the following best describes the concept of "popular sovereignty"?
What was the primary cause of World War I for the United States entering in 1917?
FDR's New Deal was a response to:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 primarily did which of the following?
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that:
The Cold War was primarily a conflict between:
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted:
Which event directly led the United States to enter World War II?
What was the primary cause of the U.S. Civil War?
If the supply of a product decreases while demand stays the same, the price will:
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measures:
In a command economy, production and prices are determined by:
Inflation occurs when:
Lines of latitude run:
Which continent is the world's largest by land area?
The term "opportunity cost" in economics refers to: