Depending on the municipality where you are taking the exam, all five tests can be given in a single day. But some split up the five tests over two or more days, not always being days in a row. The amount of breaks given depends on how many tests are being given that day.
The social studies portion tests comprehension of United States and world history, geography, economics and government with 50 questions and a 70-minute time limit. These multiple choice questions are usually accompanied by short paragraphs of text from legislative and historical documents, charts, graphs, tax forms, voter-registration documents, budgets or satirical drawings.
The science exam includes life, physical, earth and space science to see if testers are scientifically literate according to standards set forth by the National Science Education Content Standards. Graphs, charts and diagrams accompany the questions that can range from concepts like geology, cell division, magnetism, photosynthesis, energy, weather and climate. Forty-five multiple-choice questions are to be answered in a 75-minute window.
Mathematics GED examinations ask questions in the categories of number operations and number sense; algebra, functions and patterns; measurement and geometry and data analysis; and probability and statistics. For half of the 50 questions, takers can use calculators that are distributed at the testing site. Forty questions are multiple choice. The remaining 10 questions are answered by marks on a coordinate-plane or numerical grid. Students are given 90 minutes.
The language arts exam consists of a two-part writing test and a reading comprehension test. Part one of the writing exam includes 50 items to be answered in 75 minutes covering the organization and usage of words, sentence structure and composition according to the Edited American English standards. Test-takers read text from informational, instructional or business language periodicals and revise or improve them. Part two assigns the testers an essay topic of an opinion/perspective that specifically does not require outside knowledge. There is no word count or page limit to the essay portion, but essays must show clearly focused main points and idea development. Graders look for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. They pay attention to word choice, sentence structure and essay organization. The time limit is 45 minutes, although those who finish the first writing section in advance of the 75-minute deadline can use the remaining time on their part two essay. The reading comprehension part asks testers to read five fiction (a play, a poem, three passages of prose) and two nonfiction (magazine and newspaper articles or biographical nonfiction) segments around 400 words in length. In 65 minutes they must answer 40 questions.