The GED® passing score is 145 in each of the four subjects, and you need to reach it in all four to earn the credential (Test Scores page on ged.com). Scores run from 100 to 200. A 145 is a pass mark for that one subject, so a strong score in one subject can't make up for a weak one in another.
The short answer: 145 in every subject
Each subject is scored and judged on its own. The old averaging model, where a high score in one area could offset a low one in another, was dropped (score scale page on ged.com). If you reach 145 in three subjects and 143 in the fourth, you have three subjects done and one to retake.
The scale for the current series, which began in 2014, is 100 to 200. That means the lowest possible score is 100, and anything from 100 to 144 in a subject is below the passing score.
What your score band means
ged.com describes four bands. Here they are in our words.
| Score | Band | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 100–144 | Below passing | You haven't met the passing score in that subject yet. |
| 145–164 | Passing | You have met the passing score for that subject. |
| 165–174 | GED College Ready | May exempt you from placement tests or remedial courses, depending on the college. |
| 175–200 | GED College Ready + Credit | Could qualify for college credit, depending on the college and program. |
The College Ready and College Ready + Credit levels are marked U.S. only on ged.com (score scale page).
College credit is not automatic
The credit band starts at 175, not 165. Some answer boxes online get this wrong. Per the Understanding Your Scores page on ged.com, a score in the 175 to 200 range could qualify for up to 3 credits each in math, science and social studies, plus 1 in humanities, depending on the program. To use a College Ready or Credit score, you send your transcript and score report to the college and confirm its policy. A 165 is the College Ready band, which concerns placement tests and remedial courses, not credit.
Is my score good? A quick lookup
Find your number in the table above, or check the common questions below.
Is 148 a good GED score?
It is a passing score. A 148 is in the 145 to 164 band, so you have met the mark for that subject. It sits below the 165 College Ready band.
Is 150 a good GED score?
Also passing, in the same 145 to 164 band. If you remember that 150 was once the pass mark, see the history section below. Today 150 clears the line by 5 points.
Is 172 a good GED score?
Yes. A 172 is in the 165 to 174 College Ready band. Whether it helps you skip a placement test is up to the college, so ask its admissions or testing office.
Is 200 a good GED score?
200 is the top of the scale. It is in the 175 to 200 College Ready + Credit band. Credit could be available, depending on the college and program.
What's the lowest GED score?
100, the bottom of the scale.
What is a failing GED score?
ged.com describes scores below 145 as below passing. Anything from 100 to 144 in a subject means you haven't met the passing score in that subject yet.
Can I go to college with a 145 GED score?
A 145 meets the passing score for that subject. Admission rules belong to each college, so check with the schools you're interested in. The College Ready bands, which start at 165, are the ones ged.com ties to placement tests and credit.
Why there is no percent-correct score to hit
People often ask how many questions they must get right. ged.com doesn't publish a percent-correct figure on the pages we checked, and we won't guess one.
The reason is scaling. A GED score is a scaled score from 100 to 200, not a count of right answers. That's why your score isn't simply the share of questions you got right, and why a number quoted as "the percent you need" on a forum can't be checked. Treat any such figure as unconfirmed.
What you can do is aim for steady accuracy in each subject and use practice results to see where you stand. Our GED practice test guide explains the free previews on ged.com and how to use them.
GED's practice-test scores vs real scores
GED Testing Service also sells its own practice test on ged.com. It has its own readiness bands, listed on its page on ged.com:
| Practice-test band | Score |
|---|---|
| Likely to Pass | 145–200 |
| Too Close to Call | 134–144 |
| Not Likely to Pass | 100–133 |
These bands are a readiness signal, not a promise of your result on test day. That test is paid; check ged.com for the current price.
There is one place where the band has real consequences. To take the GED test online, ged.com requires a "green" result on that practice test within the last 60 days for each subject (Take the GED Test Online page). If you land in "Too Close to Call", you have more studying to do before that route opens for you. Our online test guide goes through the steps.
If you scored under 145
You don't start over. Each subject is passed on its own, so you retake only the subject you haven't reached 145 in.
ged.com's test retakes FAQ sets the basic rule for test centers. After you miss a subject, you can retake it twice with no waiting period. If you miss the third attempt or a later one, you wait 60 days before the next. Some retests of a subject you didn't pass come at a reduced fee. States can add their own rules, and online testing rules depend on your state, so check your state on ged.com before you book.
A useful way to prepare:
- Look at your score report and find the subject below 145.
- Study that subject only, starting with its weakest topics. Our GED study guide shows how to split your time, and the exam guide explains each subject.
- Try the free Prepanchor Formula Sheet Explained + Math Diagnostic for the GED® Test if math is the one holding you back. Prepanchor practice ends with an estimated practice range, which is not a prediction of an official score.
Old scores: 150, 410 and 2250
If you see different numbers on an old transcript, they are from earlier versions of the test. This section is history, not current rules.
- 2014 and 2015: when the current series launched, the pass mark was 150, with a separate "Honors" level at 170. In 2016 the levels were revised to 145, 165 to 174 and 175 and up (score scale page). GED Testing Service recommended applying the 2016 levels back to January 2014, and most jurisdictions did.
- Texas example: the Texas Education Agency says the 2014 to 2015 minimum was 150 and was recalibrated effective 12/31/2015 (TEA score requirements).
- The 2002 series: under that older test, passing was 410 per test with a 2250 total. TEA notes that scores from different test series can't be combined.
If your transcript is from one of these older series, ask the issuing agency in your state how it is treated.
GED passing score FAQ
Do I need 145 on average?
No. You need 145 or higher in each of the four subjects. The average doesn't count.
Does a higher score change what the credential says?
The credential itself is earned at 145. Higher bands matter for College Ready placement and credit, which colleges decide.
Do passing rules differ by state?
Texas, for example, also requires 145 in each of the four tests. Retake extras and fees can vary by state, so check your state's rules on ged.com.