What Subjects Are on the GED Test? All 4 Explained

You have decided to sit your GED but are still unsure which subjects you will face — a valid concern. You are joining over 150,000 Americans who earn a GED each year, and knowing what you are walking into makes a real difference. The GED covers four subjects — not five, not three — and each tests a different skill set. Here is a breakdown of what subjects are on the GED test, how long each takes, and what you will actually be tested on.

Quick Facts: The 4 GED Subjects

Here is everything side by side. These are the four official subjects as of today, per GED Testing Service. Total testing time is about seven hours (115 + 150 + 90 + 70 minutes), but you do not take them all in one day — schedule each subject when you feel ready and pay for them individually.

Mathematical Reasoning (115 Minutes)

GED Mathematical Reasoning covers quantitative problem-solving (about 45% — arithmetic, percentages, ratios, fractions) and algebraic problem-solving (about 55% — equations, expressions, inequalities, functions). The test is split into two parts: Part 1 has no calculator, and Part 2 gives you a TI-30XS MultiView calculator plus a formula sheet. Math has the highest failure rate of the four subjects, usually because of multi-step word problems that combine algebra and geometry. For the full content map, see what math is on the GED.

Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 Minutes)

RLA blends three areas: reading for meaning (about 35%), identifying and creating arguments (about 30%), and grammar and language conventions (about 35%). Roughly 75% of the passages are nonfiction. Tucked inside the 150 minutes is a 45-minute Extended Response essay: you get two texts with opposing arguments and must analyze which is better supported by evidence, scored separately on a 0-to-6 scale. You are not summarizing — you are arguing.

Science (90 Minutes)

The GED Science test is not a memorization exercise — you do not need the periodic table memorized. It tests your ability to read scientific information and reason through it, across life science (about 40%), physical science (about 40%), and earth and space science (about 20%). Most questions give you a chart, graph, diagram, or short passage and ask you to interpret it, so strong readers with no formal science background regularly pass.

Social Studies (70 Minutes)

At 70 minutes, Social Studies is the shortest subject and, for many English-fluent test-takers, the most manageable. It covers civics and government (about 50%), US history (about 20%), economics (about 15%), and geography (about 15%). Like Science, it rewards reading comprehension over raw knowledge — questions often ask you to interpret primary documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, or political cartoons.

The "5 Subjects" Confusion (Pre-2014 vs Post-2014)

If you have seen older study guides saying the GED has five subjects, they are not wrong about history — just outdated. Before 2014, the GED had five separate subjects: Writing, Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The 2014 redesign merged Writing and Reading into Reasoning Through Language Arts, bringing the total to four, moved the test entirely to computer, and changed the scoring scale from 200–800 to 100–200. If any resource still lists five subjects, it predates the current test by over a decade. For a fuller primer, see what a GED is.

Do You Have to Take All 4 GED Subjects?

Yes — to earn the credential you must pass all four, scoring 145 or higher on each; scores are not averaged. But the process is flexible: schedule each subject separately, pay per subject (roughly $36 in most states — see how much the GED costs), take them in any order, and retake only what you failed. In states like Alabama (Alabama GED classes) and Texas, each subject runs about $36, so all four come to roughly $144.

Which GED Subject Is Hardest?

It depends on you, but based on pass rates: Mathematical Reasoning is hardest for most (algebra and multi-step problems); RLA is second, thanks to the timed Extended Response essay; Science sits in the middle (really a reading-comprehension exam in lab-coat language); and Social Studies is the most approachable for strong English readers, since half of it is civics. One important caveat: for ESL learners still building English fluency, RLA is often the hardest subject, not Math, because of the dense reading passages and the writing requirement.

What Is the Best Order to Take the GED Subjects?

There is no required sequence — you pick. Three smart approaches: start with your strongest subject for an early confidence win; take Math second, while your study momentum is high; or save your weakest subject for last to maximize prep time. What does not work is waiting until you feel completely ready to schedule anything — a target date creates urgency, so pick one subject, register, and build your plan backward from that date.

How Is Each GED Subject Scored?

Each subject is scored on a 100-to-200 scale, and your GED passing score is 145 per subject. Above passing there are two tiers: 165–174 is GED College Ready (may let you skip placement tests at some colleges), and 175–200 is GED College Ready + Credit (may qualify you for up to 10 college credit hours). Aiming for College Ready is worth it if you plan to enroll — a 165+ can mean skipping remedial courses that cost time and tuition.

Bottom Line

The GED has four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning (115 min), Reasoning Through Language Arts (150 min), Science (90 min), and Social Studies (70 min) — about seven hours of testing total, spread across however many sessions you choose. You need 145 on each, you take them separately and in any order, and you retake only what you do not pass. Math is hardest for most; Social Studies is most approachable for strong readers; Science rewards data interpretation; and RLA asks you to write a structured argument under pressure. Knowing the subjects is step one — preparing for them efficiently is what moves the needle.