After taking your GED exam, you will receive a GED score. This score is very important as you need to achieve a certain score to receive your GED certification.
You will need to score 145 on each subject test to pass the exam and receive your certificate. We will take a deep dive into scoring and what your score means in this article.
Summary: Review what your GED scores mean with our in-depth guide below. If you need more practice, consider using our free GED prep.
How is the GED Scored?
There are 4 sections on the GED. Those 4 sections are:
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Language Arts
You will receive an individual score between 100 and 200 for each section.
What is the Passing Score for the GED?
Each subject is scored on a scale from 100–200, with 100 being the lowest possible score. To achieve a GED passing score, you will need to earn a score of 145+ on each subject.
It is important to note that you must score 145+ on each subject. Your scores for each subject will not average out at the end. Your main goal should be to score 145+ on each subject.
GED Scores Breakdown?
Each subject is scored between 100 and 200 points. There are different GED score ranges that can be achieved. We have broken down those ranges below to give you a better understanding of your GED score.
Below Passing Score: 100-144
Students who score in the 100–144 range on any subject of the GED will need to retake the section of the exam.
For example, if you scored a 135 on math but above a 145 on all the other sections, you would only need to retake the math section to earn your GED certificate.
If you scored below a passing score, use our free GED practice test to help you get a better score.
Passing Score: 145-164
A passing score is considered anything above 145 on each section. If you score between 145–164, you will fall in the “passing score” range.
Please keep in mind that you will need to score above a 145 on all 4 subjects of the exam to receive your credential.
College Ready Score: 165-174
Individuals who score in the 165–174 range are considered college ready. This is a great position to be in.
If you are in this GED score range, you may be exempt from placement exams or some lower-level classes that some colleges make their students take.
College Ready+ Score: 175-200
Individuals who earn a score of 175+ may have the opportunity to earn 10 college credits or skip various college entrance exams. Students in this GED test score range will have a chance at achieving the highest GED score of 200.
GED testing service endorses these students but the benefits and what happens depends on the specific college.
Converting GED Score to a GPA
Many students wonder if a GED score can be converted to a GPA. The short answer is no.
The main reason you cannot reliably convert a GED score to a GPA is because of the wide differences in GPAs among different high schools.
A GPA of 3.2 in one high school may not be the same as a GPA at another high school. Interpreting your scores as a percentile is considered the best comparison to other high school graduates.
GED Score Percentiles
A percentile score shows how you scored compared to other test-takers. If you scored in the 60th percentile, that means you scored better than 60% of test-takers. A 50th percentile score would put you in the middle of the pack.
View the GED score percentiles in the table below:
| GED Scores | Percentile Score |
| 187-200 | 99% |
| 178 | 95% |
| 175 | 92% |
| 170 | 84% |
| 165 | 73% |
| 160 | 60% |
| 155 | 43% |
| 150 | 27% |
| 145 | 15% |
If You Do Not Pass the GED
If you don’t pass one or more of the GED tests you are allowed to take them again. Generally speaking, you may re-take the exam 3 times before having to take time before taking it again.
Each state and jurisdiction may have its own rules governing when and how you can retake the tests.
For example, states/jurisdictions may have requirements regarding time between retakes. Some states may also require you to attend a GED preparation course before you are allowed to take the test again.
Additionally, most states will require additional fees for you to retake the exam. You should check with your local state/jurisdiction GED administrator to verify the specific process for retaking a GED in your region.
It is important to note that you will only need to re-take the portions of the exam that you failed. For example, if you passed all the sections except math, you would only need to re-take the math section.
GED Test Scores FAQs
What is a good GED score?
Good GED test scores are anything above 145. This means that you passed that section of the exam. Scores from 165-174 mean you are “college ready” and scores from 175-200 may qualify you for college credit hours or allow you to skip some college entrance exams.
What is the highest possible GED score?
The highest GED score is 200. If you received a 200 on each section of the GED, that would be a perfect score.
What is a passing GED score?
You will need to score 145+ on each section to pass the GED and receive your certificate.
What is the average score on the GED
If we base the average score off percentiles, the average GED score would fall between 155 and 160.
