Start with the per-subject study guides from GED Testing Service, then use the sections below to see what each GED® subject tests and how to split your study time. Everything here is free to read, with no email form.
You need 145 in each of the four subjects. The passing score article explains how the scale works.
Start with the study guides on ged.com
The Study Guides page on ged.com has a PDF for each of the four subjects that you can download. They explain the skills the test measures and include sample questions. Each guide also has a Spanish version.
One caution. The Math guide we opened is a 41-page document with a print header dated 1/24/2018 (GED-Study-Guide-Math.pdf). Its topic labels are worded differently from the current Test Subjects page. Treat the PDFs as a good explanation of the skills, and check times and scores against the current ged.com pages. If you have a ged.com account, a free Math study guide is also available inside it, according to the Mathematical Reasoning page.
We don't copy their questions or text. Open the PDFs on ged.com and use our notes below to decide what to do with them.
What each subject tests
The times below come from the Test Subjects page. ged.com doesn't publish question counts or content percentages on the pages we checked, so we don't list any. Beware of sites that do.
Math (115 minutes)
The Test Subjects page groups math into basic math, geometry, basic algebra, and graphs and functions. The test gives you a calculator for part 2 and provides a formula sheet. Our calculator guide covers the tool, and the formula sheet article explains what the sheet contains and what it leaves out.
- Fix your basic math first (fractions, decimals, percents). Mistakes there cost you points in every other area.
- When you practice, write out each step of an algebra problem instead of doing it in your head. You will see where errors start.
- Learn which formulas are on the sheet and which you must know. Then practice using the sheet so you aren't reading it for the first time on test day.
Reasoning Through Language Arts, or RLA (150 minutes)
RLA is the longest subject. It includes a 45-minute extended response, which is an essay. So you are reading passages, working with language and editing, and writing under time pressure.
- Practice the essay on a timer. Spend the first few minutes planning a claim and two or three reasons, then write.
- For reading, find the main point of each paragraph before you answer. Answers should come from the text, not from what you already believe.
- Read your own writing aloud once. Awkward sentences and missing words show up quickly.
The Prepanchor Language Arts + Essay Pack for the GED® Test covers all three parts.
Social Studies (70 minutes)
Social Studies is 70 minutes with no essay. Competitor sites often list it as longer, so trust the current ged.com page. The topics are reading for meaning, analyzing historical events and arguments, and using numbers and graphs.
- Treat it as a reading test with social studies content. Practice summarizing a short passage in one sentence.
- Ask of every argument: what is the claim, and what evidence supports it?
- Practice reading charts, maps and tables. Say out loud what changed and by how much.
Science (90 minutes)
Science is 90 minutes. The topics are reading for meaning, designing and interpreting experiments, and using numbers and graphics.
- For any experiment, name three things: what was changed, what was measured, and what was kept the same.
- Practice reading graphs and data tables. Check the labels and units before you look at the shape.
- Don't try to memorize a whole textbook. Review the science vocabulary, then spend most of your time reading passages.
Practice with free previews first
The Test Previews page on ged.com has free preview tests. They are a quarter of the real length, include explanations, and have Spanish available. Use them to see where you stand. Our practice test article explains how to use previews, our free diagnostic and paid practice together.
Our own free item is the math diagnostic, in the Prepanchor Formula Sheet Explained + Math Diagnostic for the GED® Test. We don't claim a free Prepanchor test for every subject.
Study plans: 4, 8 and 12 weeks
These are our own suggestions, not a program from GED Testing Service, and nothing here promises a result. Every plan starts with a diagnostic: take a free preview in each subject, or the math diagnostic, and note the topics you missed. Our study-plan builder can turn your dates into a weekly schedule.
4 weeks
- Week 1: diagnostic in each subject. Rank the subjects from weakest to strongest.
- Weeks 2 and 3: spend most of your time on the two weakest subjects, with short reviews of the others.
- Week 4: timed practice in every subject, then fix the topics you still miss.
8 weeks
- Week 1: diagnostics and a list of weak topics.
- Weeks 2 to 3: Math and RLA basics.
- Weeks 4 to 5: Science and Social Studies reading and graph skills.
- Weeks 6 to 7: your weakest subject, plus timed sets in the others.
- Week 8: timed practice, and a final review of every miss.
12 weeks
- Week 1: diagnostics.
- Weeks 2 to 4: Math, starting with basic math.
- Weeks 5 to 7: RLA, with one practice essay each week.
- Weeks 8 to 9: Science.
- Weeks 10 to 11: Social Studies.
- Week 12: timed mixed practice and a final miss review.
You can plan your test dates around when each subject feels ready. Check ged.com and your state's page for scheduling details.
Which subject is hardest?
It depends on you. Nobody can fairly name one hardest subject. ged.com doesn't publish pass rates by subject on the pages we checked, so any ranking you see online is a guess or a self-reported number.
A better way to decide is to look at your diagnostic results. Math is hard for people who have been away from it for years. RLA is hard for people who find writing under a timer stressful. Social Studies and Science are often easier than people expect because the test leans on reading passages and graphs, but that is our reasoning, not a published fact. Start with the subject your diagnostic says is weakest.
How many hours a day should you study?
This is a suggestion from us, not a rule. For most adults with a job or family, 1 to 2 hours a day on 5 days a week is a sensible range. A short daily session beats one long weekend session because you remember more.
Tips for deciding:
- If you have 4 weeks, you will probably need the higher end.
- If you have 12 weeks, 45 to 60 minutes a day may be enough.
- Count only focused time. A hard 45 minutes beats two distracted hours.
- If you are tired or behind, cut the hours before you cut the days.
Free vs paid study materials
Free material goes a long way. The ged.com study guides cost nothing to download, the test previews are free, and the Math guide in your ged.com account is another option.
Paid books and courses can help if you want more practice questions, explanations or structure. Before you buy, check these:
- Edition year. Old books still show the 150 passing score, which was the level at launch in 2014 and changed in 2016. See the score scale page. The current passing score is 145 per subject (Test Scores page).
- All four subjects. Some books skip one or cover it thinly.
- Explanations. A good answer explains why, not just which letter.
- Honest claims. Be careful with any product that promises a result or says it has questions from the test.
If you want one place with structured practice, the Prepanchor All 4 Subjects Bundle for the GED® Test covers Math, RLA, Science and Social Studies with original practice questions. Our scores are an estimated practice range, which is not a prediction of an official score. Prepanchor is an independent publisher, not connected with GED Testing Service.
For a broader overview of the test, see our exam guide.
GED study guide FAQ
What is the best study guide for the GED test?
Start with the study guides on ged.com, since they describe the skills the test measures. Add practice from a current edition or course if you need more questions. We don't rank books because we haven't tested them all.
Where can I get a free GED study guide?
The Study Guides page on ged.com has PDFs for all four subjects in English and Spanish that you can download. This page is a free guide too.
What is the easiest way to study for the GED?
Take a diagnostic, work on your weakest subject first, and practice a little every day. Keep a list of every question you miss and why.
Is the GED hard?
It depends on how long you have been away from school and how much you prepare. We don't have a published rate to give you, and we won't invent one. You need 145 in each subject.
Can I take all 4 GED tests in one day?
The Scheduling page on ged.com says you can schedule one subject at a time or up to all four at once. It doesn't say whether all four can fall on the same day, so check the appointment times offered when you book.
How long are GED scores valid?
We couldn't find this on the pages we checked. Check your ged.com account or your state's page.
Is there a PDF of this guide?
No. This page is the guide, and it is free to read. There is no email form.