GED Science test: format, topics and how to prepare
Last checked October 15, 2026 · Sources: GED Testing Service test subjects and scores pages; Davis Technical College GED page for topic areas
The GED Science test gives you 90 minutes to answer questions on life science, physical science, and earth and space science. GED Testing Service stresses that it isn’t about memorizing facts: most questions ask you to read scientific information, interpret graphs and data, and reason about experiments. You need 145 to pass.
What the GED Science test measures
GED Testing Service describes three skills: reading for meaning in science, designing and interpreting science experiments, and using numbers and graphics in science. The aim is to understand science concepts, read charts and data, and use reasoning to interpret what you see, which is why it says the test is not about memorization. The topics come from life science, physical science, and earth and space science, as test centers such as Davis Technical College summarize them.
Topics to review
| Area | Example topics |
|---|---|
| Life science | Cells, the human body and health, genetics and heredity, ecosystems and food chains, evolution |
| Physical science | Matter and its states, chemical reactions, energy, forces and motion, waves |
| Earth and space science | Earth’s systems, weather and climate, natural resources, the solar system |
Content areas as described by GED test centers; example topics are our selection of standard high school science.
The skills behind most questions
- Reading for meaning: finding the main point of a scientific passage and the evidence for it.
- Experiments: spotting the hypothesis, the independent and dependent variables, and the control group, and judging whether a conclusion follows from the results.
- Numbers and graphics: reading graphs, tables and diagrams, and doing simple calculations such as averages and rates.
Worked examples
Our own practice examples, not real GED questions:
- Experiment design. A student gives three groups of plants 0, 50 and 100 mL of water a day and measures their height after two weeks. The amount of water is the independent variable; plant height is the dependent variable; the plants with no added water act as the comparison group.
- Reading data. A table shows a car’s speed rising from 0 to 30 meters per second in 10 seconds. Its average acceleration is 30 ÷ 10 = 3 meters per second each second.
- Drawing conclusions. If a study of 20 people finds that those who slept more scored higher on a memory test, the data show a link, not proof that sleep caused the higher scores. Other factors could explain it.
How to prepare for GED Science
Take GED Ready in Science to see your zone and the skills your score report flags.
Practice reading charts, line graphs and tables until you can describe a trend in one sentence.
For any experiment you read about, name the variables, the control and whether the conclusion is justified.
Review the main ideas of each content area with a high school textbook or free adult education materials, focusing on understanding over memorizing.
Many of these reading and data skills overlap with the Social Studies test, so studying one helps the other. See our GED Ready guide and free GED resources.
Mistakes that cost GED Science points
- Answering from memory instead of from the data shown in the question.
- Confusing correlation with cause in study results.
- Mixing up independent and dependent variables.
- Misreading graph axes or units.
Common questions about GED Science
How long is the GED Science test?
90 minutes, according to GED Testing Service.
What topics are on the GED Science test?
Life science, physical science, and earth and space science, with a focus on reading, experiments, and using numbers and graphics.
Do I need to memorize science facts for the GED?
Not much. GED Testing Service says the test is not about memorization; most questions ask you to interpret information you’re given.
What score do you need to pass GED Science?
145 out of 200, the same as every GED subject.
See our guides to GED Math, Language Arts and Social Studies, or go back to the GED test guide. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with GED Testing Service.