GED Scores Explained 2026 — What Your Score Means

GED Score Scale

The GED test uses a score scale of 100 to 200 points per subject. There are four GED subject tests — Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies — and each is scored independently on this 100–200 scale. Your overall GED credential is based on passing all four subject tests individually, not a combined score.

There is no weighted average or cumulative GED score. You must pass each subject separately — a very high score in one subject cannot compensate for a below-passing score in another. The GED test is developed and administered by GED Testing Service (GEDTS), a joint venture of ACE and Pearson VUE. For free preparation questions aligned to all four GED subject areas, see our ged ready practice test question bank.

GED Score Levels Explained

GEDTS defines four performance levels that determine what your score means for your education and career options:

Below Passing (100–144): You did not pass this subject test. You will need to retake it. After three attempts, GED Testing Service requires a 60-day waiting period before you can test again. Focus your preparation on the specific subject areas where your score report shows weaknesses.

GED Passing Score (145–164): You passed this subject and have demonstrated high school equivalency level knowledge in this area. Once you pass all four subjects, you receive your GED diploma — a credential accepted by employers and institutions throughout the US and recognized internationally.

GED College Ready (165–174): Scoring 165 or above means you have demonstrated college-readiness in this subject — above and beyond the passing threshold. Many community colleges and universities accept a College Ready score as evidence that you do not need developmental education (remedial coursework) in that subject, saving you time and money.

GED College Credit (175–200): The highest performance level. Scoring 175 or above may qualify you for college credit in the corresponding subject area at participating institutions — potentially earning credit equivalent to entry-level college coursework without taking those classes. Check with your specific institution to see if they honor GED College Credit scores. For targeted preparation to reach these score levels, use our ged study guide which covers all four subject areas by score band.

How the GED Test is Scored

Each GED subject test contains a mix of question types: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, drop-down, hot spot (click on an image), and extended response (essay — only in RLA). These are scored as follows:

• Multiple choice and technology-enhanced items: Scored automatically by computer — right or wrong, no partial credit on individual questions
• Extended response (RLA essay): Scored by trained human raters on a rubric evaluating your argument development, evidence use, and language skills — this portion contributes meaningfully to your RLA total score

The raw number of correct answers is converted to a scaled score (100–200) using an equating process that accounts for variation in difficulty across different test forms. This means your scaled score reflects your performance relative to the difficulty of the specific test form you received — two students with the same scaled score performed equally well regardless of which version they took.

GED Testing Service does not publish an exact conversion table (raw score to scaled score) because it varies by form. The scoring is designed so that 145 consistently represents the minimum threshold for high school equivalency-level performance. For math-specific preparation at the college-ready level, see our ged math practice test resource.