How long is the GED test?
The GED takes about 7 hours of testing: Math 115 minutes, Language Arts 150, Science 90 and Social Studies 70, which adds up to 425 minutes. GED.com puts all four at around 7.5 hours if you sit them in one day. You do not have to: each subject is its own test, and you can take them on different days.
In more detail
Breaks and instructions are included in those times. Math has a 3-minute break between its two parts so you can get your calculator at a test center, and Language Arts has a 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3 plus a 45-minute essay. Science and Social Studies have no break. Each test also counts 2 or 3 minutes of instructions and final review.
The longest single sitting is Language Arts at 150 minutes, or 2 hours 30. If you take one subject per visit, you are in the test center or at your computer for 70 to 150 minutes each time. GED.com says many people spread the four tests over several weeks, and you can take them in any order.
Results come quickly. GED.com says most people get them within a few hours of finishing, and otherwise within 24 hours. If four business days pass with no result, contact GED support. For preparation, GED.com suggests about 90 minutes of study four to five times a week, and says you may be ready after a month or longer.
GED subject times (ged.com, October 2026)
| Subject | Total time | Instructions included | Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Reasoning | 115 min | 2 min | 3 min between parts 1 and 2 |
| Reasoning Through Language Arts | 150 min | 3 min | 10 min between parts 2 and 3 (45-minute essay included) |
| Science | 90 min | 2 min | None |
| Social Studies | 70 min | 2 min | None |
| All four | 425 min (7 h 5 min) | 9 min | 13 min |
Step by step
- 1
Take the official GED Ready practice test first to see how you do in each subject.
- 2
Choose your pattern: one subject per visit (70 to 150 minutes) or all four in one long day (about 7 hours).
- 3
Book the subjects you know best first, since each subject is scored and passed on its own.
- 4
Plan around the breaks: 3 minutes in Math to get your calculator at a test center, and 10 minutes in Language Arts.
- 5
Check your email or GED account for results after each test. If nothing arrives within four business days, contact GED support.
How StudyPDF helps
Time on the clock is only half of it. Upload your GED study guide chapters, class notes or practice sets and StudyPDF builds flashcards, quizzes and practice exams from them, each answer linked to the page it came from. Your mastery per concept shows which subject still costs you points, so you know which test to book first.
See also
Do it on your own course
Upload your lectures and ask Bo. Cited answers, plus flashcards, exams, and more built from your material.
More questions
Can you take the whole GED in one day?
Yes. All four subjects back to back take about 7 hours of test time, and GED.com gives around 7.5 hours. You can also take them one at a time, in any order, at your own pace.
How long does it take to get GED results?
Most people see results within a few hours of finishing, and otherwise within 24 hours, according to GED.com. If four business days pass with no result, contact GED support.