There are five tests in the GED battery: Language Arts-Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts-Reading and Mathematics. The Language Arts-Writing test is divided into two parts, an editing section and an essay writing section. These two parts are combined to determine the overall writing score.
Like many other standardized tests, the GED is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, with 800 being the maximum number of points a test taker can earn. Each test is graded on a scale of 200 to 800, and an overall score is taken from the average of each section. A score of 800 puts students in the top 1 percent of all test takers.
In addition to a scaled score, the GED figures a percentage score for each test administration. To pass, a test taker must earn a score higher than 60 percent of graduating seniors nationwide. In most areas, this means a student must score a 410 or above on each subject test and a 450 or above overall.
If a student passes at least one test in the battery but fails others, they may retake the tests they failed without having to retake the passed tests.
The GED is administered to a representative sample of graduating high school seniors each year. Of those graduating seniors, roughly 30 percent fail the exam.