Straight answers to the GED questions students actually ask

There is no official word count. Scorers grade on argument, evidence, and clarity — but essays that earn top marks almost always land between 300 and 500 words across 4–6 paragraphs, written in the 45 minutes allotted.

• Plan for 4–6 paragraphs: intro with a clear claim, 2–3 evidence paragraphs, conclusion.
• Quote or paraphrase both source passages — unsupported opinion scores zero on Trait 1.
• Spend 10 minutes reading and outlining, 30 writing, 5 proofreading.
• Length alone never raises your score; unsupported padding lowers it.

Roughly half of Science questions attach a graph, table, or diagram. You are being tested on reading the data, not on memorising science facts — so work the axes before you work the answer choices.

• Read the title, then both axis labels and units before looking at the curve.
• Identify the trend in plain words: rising, falling, flat, or peaked.
• Watch for non-linear axes and per-unit labels (m/s vs m/s²).
• Answer choices that state facts not shown in the data are distractors — eliminate them first.

The TI-30XS MultiView is built into the test and permitted on all of Math Part 2, plus Science and Social Studies. Part 1 of Math (the first 5 questions) is calculator-free.

• Learn the toggle key: it flips between fractions and decimals instantly.
• Use the table function to test values in equation questions.
• Part 1 covers number sense — practice mental estimation for those 5 items.
• You may bring a physical TI-30XS to an in-person center; online testers use the on-screen version.

Each subject is scored 100–200. You need 145 in every subject separately — a high Math score cannot rescue a low RLA score. 165+ is college-ready and 175+ can earn college credit.

• 145 is roughly 45% of raw points on most forms, not 72.5%.
• Scores are per subject; you retake only the subject you missed.
• Most states allow three retakes in a row before a 60-day wait.
• GED Ready practice tests predict your live score within a few points.

Source questions ask what the document says and who said it. Sourcing — author, audience, date, purpose — resolves most questions faster than re-reading the passage.

• Read the attribution line under the excerpt first.
• Separate stated fact from the author's opinion.
• Date the document against the era being tested; anachronistic answers are traps.
• In two-source items, look for the point of disagreement — that is usually the question.

With consistent study, four months is a realistic finish line: about five weeks per subject, sitting each official exam as you complete it rather than saving them all for the end.

• Take a placement test first — it tells you which subject needs the most weeks.
• 60–90 minutes a day beats a six-hour weekend cram.
• Book the official test as soon as you pass your practice mock at 150+.
• Passing subjects stay passed; there is no expiry pressure to rush all four.