is ged test hard?

The General Educational Development (GED) test is a suite of exams that test-takers can pass to earn a GED diploma (sometimes referred to as a GED certificate). This certificate can take the place of a traditional high school diploma.

Individuals may be interested in earning a GED certificate because most workplaces require potential employees to have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Adults who didn't finish high school can meet that requirement by passing the GED exam.

Test-takers must score at least 145 points in each of the four subject tests to pass. Achieving even higher scores indicates college readiness.

The GED exam is taken on a computer and covers four subjects: mathematical reasoning, reasoning through language arts, social studies, and science. Each subject requires a separate test. You don't have to take them all at once.

This GED exam consists of two parts. You have 115 minutes to complete it, including two minutes for instruction, a three-minute break between sections, and a final review. You can use a calculator reference sheet and math formula sheet. You can also use a calculator during the second part of the exam.

The language arts exam is 150 minutes long, including three minutes for instruction and a final review. There are three parts, with a 10-minute break between parts two and three. Questions for two sections of the test include multiple choice, drag and drop, select an area, and dropdown menus. The remaining section is a written essay and lasts 45 minutes.

The social studies portion is 70 minutes long without a break. It includes two minutes of instructions and a final review. Questions for this test use numbers and graphs, multiple choice, fill in the blank, drag and drop, and dropdown menus. You can use a calculator and calculator reference sheet.

This exam lasts 90 minutes, with two minutes of instructions, a final review, and no break. Covered topics include reading for meaning in science, designing and interpreting science experiments, and using numbers and graphics in science. A calculator and calculator reference sheet are allowed.

Each state determines the cost for the GED exam. You can use the GED testing service's search tool to find out about test costs and state rules. Each subject test usually costs $30-$40, but some states offer tests for free.

You can also create an account to find out which companies participate in the GEDWorks program, which provides GED test assistance for working adults.

You can pass the GED exam by achieving a score of at least 145 points in each subject. Typically, the math exam is the most challenging. If you score under 145 in any subject, you can retake that test.

Retesting is also an option if you want to try to score higher to get into college. Scores from 165-174 indicate you're ready for college-level courses. If you achieve a score of 175-200, you could qualify for up to three college credits in math, science, and social studies and one credit in humanities.

It's essential to do some GED practice before test day. Ultimately, higher scores can save you time and money if you want to attend college.

GED test prep is key to success. After all, GED scores can impact your education beyond simply passing to get the certificate. If you want to attend college, a GED diploma could be the first step in that direction.

But how do you study for the GED test? First, check the testing dates and locations in your area so you can make a plan. Then, create a study schedule.

You can begin GED prep a few months in advance to allow plenty of time to study each subject. For example, with GED Flash, you gain access to GED practice questions and answers in the math, language arts, social studies, and science sections.

If possible, start by making a dedicated study space at home where you can focus. Stock it with helpful school and study supplies, including a calculator, timer, pen and paper, noise-canceling headphones, snacks, and drinks. Once you feel prepared, you can take the official GED practice test before committing to the graded exam.

Many employers also participate in the GEDWorks program, which helps employees pass their GED exam and earn a GED diploma. The program assists working adults by providing academic guidance and support from advisors.

The GED test is available online in every state that offers GED testing, with the exception of Hawaii. Test-takers in this state must go to an official GED testing center. For many, taking the GED online at home can help ease anxiety. For others, using the technology may prove challenging.

The exam requires a government-issued ID to begin testing. Because an online proctor conducts the tests, a webcam and reliable internet connection are also required. Additionally, the room where you're taking the test must have a closeable door so there aren't any distractions.

While you don't need to take a practice test ahead of in-person exams, you must take a GED Ready practice test and score a "Green" within 60 days of testing online. Note that the system doesn't allow as many repeat attempts online as in person if you don't pass on your first try. Getting a "Green" score on GED Ready means you'll likely pass the test the first time.

To be successful on test day, you need to prepare the night before by eating right and getting enough sleep. On the day of the exam, it may be helpful to wake up early, do something physical to get yourself in the right frame of mind, and go over your notes.

Make sure to double-check the exam time and gather your supplies the night before, including the following:

On the day of the test, make sure to do the following:

Keep in mind that you need to check into the testing center at least 15 minutes early. Avoid drinking alcohol the night before and get plenty of rest. If you're more than 15 minutes late, you might not get to take the test.

Alright for the tests I tried to study as hard as a I could but for math and science it didn't end up working out. For social studies I studied for around a month, for LA I studied for another month, and for math I studied for half a month but only got through small portion of the lessons. I didn't even open the science section of the book. My scores ended up being:

Math - 149 (pass)

LA - 170 (college ready)

Science - 176 (college ready + credit)

SS - 179 (college ready + credit)

Social studies was a 100% waste of time to study for. NOTHING in the book was on the test, it was all 'read this and answer basic questions about it'. If I could do it over, I would have never opened the SS section of the book and I suggest you don't waste your time either.

Language arts WAS hard for me despite being my best subject. I had only one grammar question and the rest (I think around 43?) were 'reading comprehension'. You'd read a passage and they'd ask you to 'infer' based on it. What the author meant, what might happen in the future, etc. If you have issues with that, it's best to study hard for LA.

Science was easy, shockingly so. I went in expecting to fail both math and science, so I wasn't trying overly hard. There were some basic math questions (fractions and mean, median, mode) but you have a calculator during those. The only thing that stood out that you'd need to study for on this test is chromosomes. I had around 3-4 questions about 'if one parent had a Yy gene and the other parent had a YY gene, what possible genes could their children have?' Otherwise it felt a lot like social studies: it didn't require a lot of thought.

And finally.... math. Math was awful, I had no idea what the hell I was reading. They even had a formula sheet that told you exactly how to calculate things and I still managed to have no idea what I was doing. My test was mostly algebraic expressions/equations and line graph questions, there was one fraction question, no decimal questions and no geometry. This entire test I just bullshit my way through, I plugged in the multiple choice answers into the equations until I found the right one, I chose C when I didn't know the answer (half the time I didn't know the answer), and by the end of the test I had guessed on the majority of it. I finished with 20 minutes left because I had accepted my fate of a fail. If you have trouble with math at all I would STUDY HARD. I'm talking 2 to 3 months of hardcore studying. But keep in mind I never listened in school, didn't even memorize my times as a kid, and I despise math. If you're decent at math, I don't think it will be as hard for you at all. But if you're like me.... study. I got SO lucky, and I passed by only 4 points.

Basically, the test isn't as hard as it's made out to be. I had it in my head that it was going to be this awful, unbeatable thing, but it wasn't. Even someone who doesn't know basic times (hi) managed to slide passed the hardest test, so it really isn't something 'so hard ivy league graduates can't pass it' as I've seen some sites claim. If you have time and want to study, study. If you don't have the time and or are not sure if it's worth it to study, then only study for your weakest subject(s). SS and science should NOT be studied for in my opinion, it just feels like an absolute waste. Unless you got straight A's in math through school, I would study for math no matter what. LA is dependent on you as a person, but from somebody that has always loved the subject and reading and writing, I'd study at least a little bit even if you are good at it.

Okay this is WAY too long, but if it can help even one person, it's worth it. I looked everywhere when I was studying for more 'my experience' posts, but there weren't many and none were very detailed. I feel like I wouldn't have been so afraid if I knew what was coming, so I hope this helps someone else.

TL;dr: Math was as bad as they say and needs hardcore studying, SS and science are easy and shouldn't be studied for, LA is difficult but mostly just reading comprehension studying/not studying is up to you.

EDIT 3/20/23: Hey all! I know this is a super old post but I noticed people are still finding it insightful so I wanted to come back and give an update.

As you all know from my post, I was a terrible student who really felt like I had no future. However, I've come back today to hopefully encourage all of you who are currently in a similar situation.

On May 7th I will be graduating with a 4.0 Summa Cum Laude from my state university. In August, I will begin attending the #1 law school in my state (ranked top 30 out of 200 law schools nationwide). Because of my hard work in college, I will be attending law school on a FULL RIDE merit scholarship (this is $105,000 worth of merit aid).

I'm not a Reddit user and it took me a while to figure out my password to return to this account. I'm so happy to see that there are still people reading my post and finding encouragement. It's been 6 years and I still remember how utterly hopeless and worthless I felt when I made this post. I saw no future for myself and felt like my failure in K-12 would define me.

I'm here to let anyone else who feels the same way to know that is NOT the case. I came from a dirt poor family, dropped out in 7th grade, and couldn't do basic math. I got my GED, and from encouragement in this Reddit and elsewhere, started my higher education journey. Now, I am going to be a lawyer!

The GED is a high school equivalency diploma that can be used to apply for jobs or colleges in the same way that a high school diploma can. As a result, students who dropped out of high school can take the GED exam and earn an equivalent high school diploma. And you still wondering if the GED test is difficult? Don’t worry, the test can be simple if you prepare properly. Continue reading this blog post to learn everything there is to know about the GED test.

To obtain a high school diploma, you must study for four years, which provides you with a vast store of knowledge and skills. It’s also a significant accomplishment if you have the opportunity to complete high school. However, if you are unable to complete a high school diploma, taking a GED test is an excellent option for you. Completing a GED takes less time than finishing high school, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Students in high school must complete exams in each of their classes in order to earn grades that allow them to graduate. Students in high school are taught to master difficult topics and can request extra credit to compensate for lower grades.

For the GED test, students must complete a series of four exams including mathematical reasoning, science, language arts, and social studies. These tests are demonstrative of the lessons they would have learned in a traditional high school program. The GED question types are various including multiple-choice, long-form, and extended essay questions. Although GED students can improve their test-taking skills with practice tests, they have fewer opportunities to make up for lower test scores. However, GED students can retake GED exams up to three times each year.

Generally, GED and High School aim to test students on the same knowledge and skills, but in comparison, GED is a little bit easier as it requires only about three months to prepare and take the test while high school is four years of study.

It all depends! You may find it difficult if you do not study and become familiar with the test format. However, with sufficient preparation, you can go into the GED test confident that you will pass. If you stopped attending high school in 11th or 12th grade, you might already have the necessary education to take and pass the test. Do you require additional assurance? In 2018, the GED test pass rate was an outstanding 80%.

The GED exam assesses your knowledge of high school subjects such as reading, math, social studies, and science. The test can take up to 7-8 hours to complete. Students typically spend about three months studying for and taking the exam. All of your preparation will help you to be well-prepared for a prosperous future. You will gain valuable skills that you can apply to college courses, a job, and future tests.

The GED test is hard because of time pressure. But it’s not as difficult as you think, you are required to get half of the questions to pass the test which means that you only need to answer 40-50% of the questions correctly to get a passing score.

However, to pass the GED test, you must be well-prepared. The questions can be hard for you if you don’t study for the test. Before going to the exam, spend time and effort practicing every day which helps you be familiar with the test format and topics asked on the exam. The following study guide can help you:

Read more >> HiSET Vs GED Exam: What Is The Difference?

High school consists of 4 years of classroom instruction. It creates a fantastic store of knowledge and skills. It is a significant accomplishment to be able to complete high school. For those who are unable to complete high school, the GED and HiSET tests are unbeatable alternatives. It’s also far easier than acing the SAT or ACT.

But what you really want to know is how difficult the test is in comparison to high school. The main distinction is that the GED and HiSET tests are simply tests. It assesses your ability to apply key high school skills. That is, in some ways, simpler. It’s only one test, not four years of preparation.

Some people struggle to pass the exam because they haven’t found a HiSET or GED study program that is effective for them. In contrast to classroom study, a good preparation program should provide you with as much time as you require. Concepts will be taught with step-by-step guidelines to make everything simple to understand with logical explanations. The GED and HISET tests can be completed quickly and easily with proper preparation.

In general, most GED candidates find Mathematics to be the most difficult and challenging of the four GED modules (subtests). Taking the most difficult GED® subject first might not be the best way to build confidence and become familiar with the testing format.

To pass the GED exam, you must be well-prepared, and below are five key GED test tips to set you up for success.

The GED exam has four parts and aims to access your knowledge of math, reading, social studies, and science. These topics are broad, so specifying what skills you will need to know for the test is very significant.  You need to identify which areas you need more brushing upon, then focus more on those subjects while you’re studying for the exam.

Practice tests before going to the GED exam are extremely important as they help you better determine your strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, you can spend more time working on subjects which you are not doing well. In addition, practice tests help you get familiar with the test format and complete all the GED questions in the allotted time. There are a lot of practice tests online available today, so you can find which one is suitable for you and take them regularly throughout your study period to measure the process.

You can learn for the exam by accessing our website, which contains a variety of online practice questions for all GED topics as well as the GED practice test 2023. You can set your own study schedule and work at your own pace. Furthermore, you can study on the go with our mobile apps to learn and practice for the GED exam, which is available for both IOS and Android. Let’s get this party started right away!

You need to be consistent while you’re learning and preparing for the GED exam. Just cramming before the test and hoping for the best results is not an effective learning method. Instead, you should set goals, and spend time studying several times a week or even every day. Practicing every day is very helpful, so create a schedule to keep you on track.

The GED test gives you limited time (from 70 to 150 minutes, depending on the subject) for around 35-40 questions per subject.

Many GED test-takers end up feeling that they could have done much better if they only had more time.

Yes, the GED is easy if you prepare well because it is NOT tricky. The GED® test is a pretty straightforward test; you can easily get ready for it in a few weeks or months (depending on your educational background).

So if you are well-prepared, you should be able to pass the four GED subtests without too much trouble.

This page lists free GED resources that will help you check your knowledge and get ready for the test.

Here is a list of things you can use to test your knowledge, so you will know firsthand what it takes to pass the GED test.

The GED test covers a lot of topics, and test-takers must be able to do some advanced calculations and have well-developed reading comprehension skills.

Try it now to see if you have what it takes to pass the test. You can take the GED exam online or in person at an official GED testing site.

Try our pre GED quizzes. These tests have ten multi-choice questions. Every test includes Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language questions. You will immediately get your results and correct answers.

Taking practice tests will let you discover which subject areas require most of your precious study time and which fields and topics you already command. If you know that, spending your time more efficiently will help you attain good scores!

These educational quizzes will test your memory and how well you can apply the things that you learned at school.

If you pass these pre GED quizzes, try our GED practice tests. If you manage that, you are on the right track to earning your high school equivalent diploma!

We divided these practice tests into four subjects. So every test has questions only related to certain subject fields.

The difficulty of the tests gradually increases. We suggest you start with 10-question tests and then continue to 15 questions and tests with a timer.

If you are not satisfied with the results, you can use our free GED online classes and get ready for the test in a short period of time.

Similar to practice tests, these online classes are divided into four subjects. Every subject starts with an overview of learning materials and explains what is on the real GED test.

Things to remember: the goal of taking these classes is to pass the GED test, so you are exposed to topics that are part of the GED test. Onsego GED Prep prepares all video lessons.

If you prefer to attend a traditional class, we can help you too. On our website, you can find numerous locations that offer GED classes, often at no cost at all. These locations include local schools, libraries, non-profit organizations, and churches.

Our database includes more than 20,000 GED prep locations <-, and you can discover them all here. Type the name of your city/town and get the list of free GED schools.

As we said before, many students say that GED testing is easy and that it isn’t that hard to pass. We agree: if you are well prepared, you can pass the GED test without any trouble. Follow the tips below to get the best results.

Check this video to learn how to prepare for the GED test optimally.



For the GED test, there are three pathways for improving your scores: Time Management, Test-Taking Strategies, and Content. The Time Management pathway is really important. Time management is among the main stumbling blocks to being successful on the GED exam.

One of the main mistakes that lead to not passing the GED is that test-takers are spending too much time just on one question, so they’ll end up not being able to make it through the entire test.

So the factor Time Management is among the fields where you’ll be able to make the most and the quickest gain in a relatively short period.

The Test-Taking Strategies pathway is about smart tricks that will help you to answer questions when you don’t know the correct answer.

And then, we focus on Content. This is the most important and biggest key to being able to pass the GED exam. And content is also the most neglected area! The fact is that there are so many things that test takers must know.

So it’s essential that you’re aware of your weak and strong points, so you’ll be able to concentrate on learning these fields.

Therefore, you really should take a lot of practice tests. These practice tests help identify your weak points. The scores are signals to you and indicate what you master and which subject matter you need to focus on.

To make the practice tests more useful, you should analyze your wrong answers. If you have access to online studying methods (such as those available on this website), you’ll get all set for the high school equivalency test soon.

You don’t want to just score your test and move on. Your score is a signal to you; it shows you which topics you should concentrate on most.

The GED high school equivalency test contains four separate testing sections in Science, Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts (reading and writing combined). Your analytical reasoning skills need to be well-rounded, and it also helps if you can think logically (see also our post about observation vs inference).

The GED diploma is equivalent to a common high school diploma and will result in better career options and will allow for a fine college education experience. So get your diploma and go to college or find a business that will appreciate your skills.

You don’t have to take the entire GED battery in one take since the exam is modular, meaning the subtests are independent exams that can be taken in any order and one at a time if wished. Your GED scores will last as long as this version of the GED test is used; so until a new GED test is rolled out.

Many people study hard for years to earn their GED diploma. But it can go much faster if you use our free GED practice tests and video lessons. You don’t need to sign up or submit an email address; just start learning!

The GED (General Education Development) test is pretty difficult if you don’t get any preparation and don’t understand the structure of the test.

• Learn What to Study. The GED is made up of four parts, testing your knowledge of reading, math, social studies, and science.
• Take Practice Tests.
• Study Consistently.
• Find a Preparation Program.

Passing the test can be fast and easy, with a little preparation. If you don't study for the test, it might be too hard. Very few people can pass the test without preparing for it first. As long as you put in the time to learn the skills required to pass, the GED test will be a breeze.