You can practice GED® math for free right now in two places. Prepanchor's free math diagnostic is a short check of where you stand. The free math preview on ged.com is a quarter of the length of the real test, untimed, and comes with explanations. Below you'll find eight original worked problems and a plan for using practice well. It isn't a full practice test.
Where to practice GED math for free
- Prepanchor's free math diagnostic, part of the Prepanchor Formula Sheet Explained + Math Diagnostic for the GED® Test. It ends with an estimated practice range, which is not a prediction of an official score.
- The free math preview on ged.com. According to the Test Previews page, each subject has a free preview that is a quarter the length of the real test, untimed, with explanations, and best used on a laptop or desktop. Each subject also has a Spanish version.
- A free Math Study Guide on ged.com. The Mathematical Reasoning page says you can get it after logging in.
- GED's own paid practice test. It is sold on ged.com. We cover what its results mean below.
Do the free preview first, untimed, and read every explanation. That shows you which topics to work on before you spend money on anything.
What the real math test looks like
These details come from the Test Subjects page on ged.com:
- Four areas. Basic math, geometry, basic algebra, and graphs and functions.
- 115 minutes in total. That includes 2 minutes of instructions and final review and a 3-minute break between the two parts.
- Two parts. The onscreen calculator is available on part 2. At a test center you may also bring your own TI-30XS, and the break is when the calculator is retrieved.
- Two reference sheets. You get a math formula sheet and a calculator reference sheet.
- Several item types. Multiple choice, plus drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, select-an-area and drop-down.
ged.com doesn't publish a total question count or how many questions fall in part 1, so we don't give one. Be wary of any site that does. Our formula sheet guide explains how the sheet is organized, and our calculator guide covers the calculator.
Two myths to drop
- "You don't get a formula sheet." You do. The Mathematical Reasoning page says formulas don't need memorizing, because the sheet is given on screen and at the test center.
- "You have to bring a calculator." You don't. An onscreen calculator is provided for part 2. A TI-30XS is optional at a test center.
Eight worked practice problems
These are our own examples, written for this page. They are not test questions and they don't copy any test. Each shows the shortest route. We mark the ones that suit no-calculator practice. That is only a suggestion for building the skill, not a count of how the real test splits.
Basic math
1. (No calculator) A restaurant bill is $48. You leave a 15% tip. What is the total?
Find 10% by moving the decimal: $4.80. Half of that is 5%: $2.40. The tip is $4.80 + $2.40 = $7.20. The total is $48 + $7.20 = $55.20.
Shortcut: build any percent from 10% and 5%. You never need to multiply by 0.15.
2. (No calculator) A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for 18 muffins. How many cups make 42 muffins?
18 muffins ÷ 3 cups = 6 muffins per cup. Then 42 ÷ 6 = 7 cups.
Shortcut: find the "per one" amount first, then divide. It is faster and safer than cross-multiplying.
Geometry
3. (No calculator) A right triangle has legs of 9 and 12. How long is the hypotenuse?
Both legs are multiples of 3: 9 = 3 × 3 and 12 = 3 × 4. So this is a 3-4-5 triangle scaled up by 3, and the hypotenuse is 3 × 5 = 15.
Check with the Pythagorean theorem: 81 + 144 = 225, and the square root of 225 is 15.
4. (Calculator) A cylinder has a radius of 3 and a height of 10. What is its volume?
Volume is π × r² × h = π × 9 × 10 = 90π. With the calculator's π key, that is about 282.7 cubic units. Leave the answer as 90π if the question allows it.
Shortcut: square the radius first. Using the diameter by mistake is an easy slip. The cylinder formula is on the formula sheet, so you don't need to memorize it.
Basic algebra
5. (No calculator) Solve 3(x − 4) + 5 = 2x + 9.
Distribute: 3x − 12 + 5 = 2x + 9, which is 3x − 7 = 2x + 9. Subtract 2x from both sides: x − 7 = 9. So x = 16.
Check: the left side is 3(12) + 5 = 41, and the right side is 2(16) + 9 = 41.
6. (Calculator or not) A plumber charges a $45 call-out fee plus $38 per hour. The bill is $197. How many hours did the job take?
Remove the fixed fee first: $197 − $45 = $152. Then $152 ÷ $38 = 4 hours.
Shortcut: you don't need to write an equation. Undo the steps in reverse order.
Graphs and functions
7. (No calculator) A line passes through (2, 5) and (6, 13). What is its equation?
The slope is the rise over the run: (13 − 5) ÷ (6 − 2) = 8 ÷ 4 = 2. Put the slope and one point into y = mx + b: 5 = 2(2) + b, so b = 1. The equation is y = 2x + 1.
Check the other point: 2(6) + 1 = 13.
8. (Calculator optional) If f(x) = x² − 3x + 2, what is f(5)?
Replace x with 5: 25 − 15 + 2 = 12.
Shortcut: this expression factors as (x − 1)(x − 2). At x = 5 that is 4 × 3 = 12, which confirms the answer.
On the real test, a problem like number 7 could ask you to drag a line, fill in a number or select a point on a graph instead of choosing from four options. Practice answering in more than one form.
How to use practice well
- Start untimed. Work for accuracy and read the explanation for every problem, including the ones you got right.
- Sort your misses. Mark each miss as a gap in the math, a misread question or a careless slip. The fix is different for each.
- Practice both modes. Do some sets with no calculator, then some with it. Learn the onscreen calculator before test day so it doesn't cost you time.
- Use the formula sheet. Open it while you practice. Knowing where a formula lives is faster than recalling it.
- Add the clock later. Once your accuracy is steady, try longer sets under time. The real test is 115 minutes for both parts.
What a practice percent means
Say you get 30 of 40 right on a practice set. That is 75%, but that figure is not a GED score. GED scores are scaled, and the passing score is 145 on each subject, according to the Test Scores page. The 145 is a scaled score, and ged.com doesn't publish a percent correct that equals it. Treat any such number you read online with caution.
Use a raw percent only to compare your own sets over time and to find weak topics. Prepanchor's practice sets end with an estimated practice range, which is not a prediction of an official score. Our passing score guide explains how scoring works.
Bands on GED's paid practice test
GED's paid practice test reports results in bands, according to its page on ged.com. It lists three:
| Band | Score range |
|---|---|
| Likely to Pass | 145–200 |
| Too Close to Call | 134–144 |
| Not Likely to Pass | 100–133 |
It is a paid product, so check ged.com for the current price. A band is a signal about readiness, and it says nothing certain about test day.
How much math is on the GED?
The four areas are basic math, geometry, basic algebra, and graphs and functions. The problems above sit at that level: percents, ratios, simple equations, right triangles, lines and function notation. If one of those felt shaky, go back to it before taking a longer set.
Next steps
- Take the free diagnostic and the free math preview on ged.com.
- Rework the problems you missed, using the formula sheet.
- If you want a structured path, the Prepanchor Math Reasoning Pack for the GED® Test covers all four areas.
FAQ
Is there a free GED math practice test?
Yes. The free preview on ged.com is a quarter of the real test's length and untimed, with explanations. Prepanchor also offers a free math diagnostic.
How many questions are on the GED math test?
ged.com doesn't publish a total on the pages we checked. It does say the test runs 115 minutes in two parts.
Do I get a formula sheet?
Yes, on screen and at the test center.
Which calculator can I use?
An onscreen calculator is provided for part 2. At a test center you may bring your own TI-30XS.
What if I don't reach 145?
You retake only math. ged.com's test retakes FAQ allows two retakes at a test center with no waiting period, then a 60-day wait after a third or later miss. States can add rules. See our passing score guide for the details.