GED Ready: the official GED practice test and what your score means
Last checked October 15, 2026 · Sources: GED Testing Service on GED Ready score zones, performance level descriptors, online testing and scoring; Arizona Department of Education for price
GED Ready is the official GED practice test, written by the same organization that makes the real exam. It costs $7.99 per subject and gives you a Green, Yellow or Red result that predicts whether you’re likely to pass. A Green score is also required if you want to take the GED online.
What is GED Ready?
GED Ready is GED Testing Service’s official practice test, available for each of the four subjects through your GED.com account. GED Testing Service says it is the only practice test that tells you how likely you are to pass the real exam, because it is written by the test’s own creators. After each practice test you get a score report showing your result zone and the skills to work on.
GED Ready scores: Green, Yellow and Red
| Zone | Score | What GED Testing Service says it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 145-200 | Likely to pass the real GED test | Schedule that subject; GED.com suggests you’re ready within about two weeks |
| Yellow | 134-144 | Too close to call; many test takers in this range pass on the first try, but others need more preparation | Study the skills in your score report, then retake GED Ready |
| Red | 100-133 | Not likely to pass at this time | Spend more time practicing the areas your report lists before testing |
Source: GED Testing Service on GED Ready and its performance level descriptors, checked October 15, 2026.
The Green zone starts at 145 because that’s the passing score on the real GED test. Each subject gets its own result, so you can be Green in one subject and still need work in another.
Do you need GED Ready to take the GED?
For online testing, yes. GED Testing Service requires a Green score on GED Ready within the last 60 days for each subject you want to test online, and you schedule your online test within that 60-day window. For in-person testing at a test center, most states don’t require it, though some do: Arkansas’s GED policies, for example, require test takers to pass the official practice test first. Check your state’s rules on GED.com.
How much does GED Ready cost?
The official practice test costs $7.99 per subject or $25.99 for all four subjects on GED.com, and Arizona’s Department of Education notes the per-subject price rose to $7.99 on August 1, 2025. GED.com says purchases expire 12 months after you buy them, so buy each subject when you’re close to testing. A real subject test costs about $30 to $40 in most states, according to GED Testing Service, and $36 per subject online in Maryland, so a practice check that stops you from booking too early can pay for itself. Our GED cost guide covers test fees by state.
How to use GED Ready well
Use it as a check after some study, not on day one, so the result reflects what you know now.
Take it in one sitting under test-like conditions, so the result predicts real performance.
Your score report lists the skills to work on. GED Testing Service says you can link it to your study tool to find the right pages.
If you're Yellow or Red, retake GED Ready after studying. Once you're Green, schedule the real subject test soon.
Common mistakes with GED Ready
- Booking the real test after a Yellow result without studying the flagged skills first.
- Waiting more than 60 days after a Green score when you want to test online; you’d need a new Green score.
- Assuming one Green subject means you’re ready for all four.
- Using unofficial practice tests that claim to predict your GED score; only GED Ready is made by GED Testing Service.
Common questions about GED Ready
How much is the GED Ready practice test?
$7.99 per subject, bought through your GED.com account.
What is a Green score on GED Ready?
145 to 200, which GED Testing Service says means you’re likely to pass the real test.
What does Yellow mean on GED Ready?
134 to 144: too close to call. Many people in this range pass, but GED Testing Service suggests more practice first.
Is GED Ready required?
Only for online testing, where you need a Green score within the last 60 days. Some states also require it for in-person testing.
Is GED Ready like the real GED test?
GED Testing Service says it’s written by the creators of the real test, which is why it can predict your likelihood of passing.
See also our GED test guide, format and scoring and free GED resources. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with GED Testing Service.