Exam guide · High school equivalency

The GED® is a high school equivalency credential recognized by colleges and employers across the U.S. It's four separate subject tests you can take one at a time, on your own timeline. Here's how each subject is structured, what score you need, and how to prepare when you're fitting study around a job and a life.

Four independent subject tests

The key structural fact: these are four separate tests. You don't sit for a single seven-hour marathon unless you choose to — you can schedule one subject at a time, pass it, and move on. That flexibility is the GED's biggest advantage for working adults, and the smartest way to use it is to knock out subjects one by one rather than waiting until you feel ready for all four.

Scoring and what the levels mean

Each subject is scored 100–200, and you need 145 to pass — on every subject, with no averaging. Above the pass line, 165–174 earns a "GED College Ready" designation (some colleges waive placement testing at this level) and 175–200 can earn "College Ready + Credit." Aim for 145 to earn the credential; aim higher only if a specific college benefit motivates you.

Registration, cost, and retakes

You register through your GED.com account and schedule each subject at a Pearson VUE center (online proctoring is available in many areas). The standard price is about $36 per subject — roughly $144 for all four — but several states offer the GED free, so check your state's rate first. Retakes are generous: after a failed subject you get two more attempts with no waiting period, and GED Testing Service typically discounts the first retake; only after a third failure on a subject does a 60-day wait apply. Subjects you've already passed stay passed.

How to prepare, one subject at a time

The GED rewards a sequential strategy: pick the subject you're closest to passing, prepare it, pass it, and repeat. That keeps momentum and gives you a credential-in-progress rather than a distant finish line. For most adults returning to study, the content review — grammar and reading strategies, math procedures, science and social-studies core knowledge — is the work, and it's well suited to audio because it fits into a commute, a lunch break, or time on your feet.

The GED AudioLearn complete review covers all four subject areas so you can focus your listening on whichever test you're taking next, and GED Vocabulary 3000 supports the reading and language demands that run through Language Arts and Social Studies. Reserve some desk time for the math practice and the extended written response, which need pencil-and-paper (or keyboard) work. Our guides on building a study schedule around a full-time job and sustainable spaced repetition are a good fit for a one-subject-at-a-time plan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take all four subjects at once?

No. The four subject tests are independent — schedule and pass them one at a time on whatever timeline works for you.

What score do I need to pass?

145 on each subject, with no averaging across subjects. Every subject must independently reach 145.

How much does the GED cost?

About $36 per subject in most states (roughly $144 for all four), though several states offer it free. Confirm your state's current price.

How many times can I retake a subject?

Two immediate retakes after a failed attempt (often with a discount on the first), then a 60-day wait after a third failure. Passed subjects never need retaking.

Is the GED accepted like a high school diploma?

Yes — colleges, employers, and the military broadly recognize the GED as a high school equivalency credential. A "College Ready" score can add placement-test waivers at some colleges.

Can I study for the GED mostly with audio?

Audio is excellent for the content-review layer across all four subjects, especially for adults studying around work. Reserve some hands-on time for math practice and the written response.