How many questions are on the GED?
The GED has no single fixed number of questions. The count changes from one test form to the next, and GED Testing Service publishes times, not totals. Its own blog puts Math at about 46 questions. The time is fixed: Math 115 minutes, Language Arts 150, Social Studies 70 and Science 90, about 7 hours and 5 minutes in all.
That is why answers online disagree. You will see 161 questions, 150 to 160, or even 225 to 250. Those numbers come from prep sites, state flyers and older versions of the test, not from the official subject page. Plan by the time per subject, which is the same on every form.
Each subject is its own exam, and you do not have to take all four at once. Math has two parts: part 1 without a calculator and part 2 with the onscreen calculator, with a 3-minute break between them. Reasoning Through Language Arts includes a 45-minute essay and a 10-minute break between parts 2 and 3. Social Studies and Science have no break.
Not every question is multiple choice. Expect drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop-down questions too. To pass, you need at least 145 on each of the four subjects. The official online preview tests are 25% of the length of the real test, so they show your level but not your stamina.
| Subject | Time | Breaks | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Reasoning | 115 min | 3 min between parts 1 and 2 | About 46 (GED blog) |
| Reasoning Through Language Arts | 150 min, including a 45-min essay | 10 min between parts 2 and 3 | Varies by form, plus 1 essay |
| Social Studies | 70 min | None | Varies by form |
| Science | 90 min | None | Varies by form |
| Total | 425 min, about 7 h 5 min | - | No fixed total published |
- 1Pick the subject you feel best about and take it first. You can schedule the four subjects separately.
- 2Take an official preview test for that subject to see where you stand.
- 3Practice under real time limits, for example 115 minutes of Math with the first part done without a calculator.
- 4For Language Arts, write a few practice essays in 45 minutes each.
- 5Practice the formats that are not multiple choice, like drag and drop and fill in the blank, so they do not slow you down.
- 6Book the real test once your practice results are steadily good, then move on to the next subject.