What score do you need to pass the GED Language Arts test?

A score report can be hard to read when no one has explained it. Numbers like 145 and 165 come up again and again, and it is not always clear which one you need. This post walks through what each number means for the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test, so you know exactly what you are aiming for.

The number to know: 145

To pass any one GED subject, Language Arts included, you need a score of at least 145.^[1] Each subject test is scored on a scale from 100 to 200.^[2] So 145 is not a percent. It is a point on that 100 to 200 scale.

Passing Language Arts is one step. To earn your high school equivalency, you need 145 or higher on all four subjects, not just on Language Arts.^[1]

Scores are not averaged

A common question is whether a strong subject can carry a weak one. It cannot. GED scores are not averaged across subjects, so a high score in one subject cannot make up for a score below 145 in another.^[3]

That is why it pays to look at each subject on its own. If Language Arts is your weaker subject, give it its own study time, even if your other scores are high.

Points, not a count of right answers

Many people want to know how many questions they can miss and still pass. There is no simple number to aim for. Your score depends on the points you earn, not simply on how many questions you get right.^[3] And some questions are worth more than one point.^[2]

So instead of counting misses, aim to earn as many points as you can in every part of the test. Each careful answer adds up.

The essay matters a great deal here. It makes up about 20 percent of your total Language Arts score.^[4] Skipping it, or writing only a few lines, leaves a large share of the points behind. Regular essay practice is a good way to protect that part of your score.

Above passing: the college levels

145 is the line for passing, but the score report goes higher. There are two levels above passing:

• GED College Ready, 165 to 174. The GED scores page says that scoring above 165 on any test subject shows you are ready for college-level courses.^[1]
• GED College Ready + Credit, 175 to 200. The top level shows skills that could qualify for up to 10 college credit hours.^[1]

One wording difference is worth knowing about. The current scores page ties these levels to each subject on its own: it says "on any test subject."^[1] An older GED blog post words the college levels as needing the score in every subject.^[3] The scores page is the current official page, so it makes sense to read the levels subject by subject. If you plan to use a high score for college, ask the college how it reads your GED scores.

If you see 150 in old materials

The passing score has not always been 145. It was 150 when the current test began in 2014, and it was changed to 145 in 2016.^[2] If an old workbook or website says you need 150 to pass, it is out of date.

What practice test scores tell you

GED Ready, the official practice test, sorts scores into zones. A score of 134 to 144 is labeled Too Close to Call, and 145 to 200 is labeled Likely to Pass.^[5]

If your practice score lands in the Too Close to Call zone, you are close. More practice on your weakest skills before test day can make the difference. If it lands in Likely to Pass, keep your skills fresh with steady practice until your test date.

If you do not pass the first time

Not passing on the first try is not the end of the road. You can generally retake a subject, but you may have to wait 60 days after several attempts, and the rules vary by state and by whether you test online or in person.^[3] Check the rules for the place where you test before you plan a retake.

How to aim for 145 and beyond

A score is a goal you can work toward step by step. These steps help many adult learners.

1. Find your starting point. Try a few practice questions in each part of the test and notice where you feel unsure: reading, grammar, or the essay.
2. Work on one weak skill at a time. Pick one skill, such as finding the main idea or fixing run-on sentences, and practice it until it feels easier. Then move to the next.
3. Practice the essay, not just the questions. It is a big part of the score, so give it regular practice with feedback.
4. Practice under time. Once your skills are steady, practice with a timer so the real test feels familiar.
5. Check your progress. Take a timed practice test when you feel close to ready, and use the result to decide what to study next.

Our GED RLA test guide explains how the test is built and scored, with links to the official sources. To see where you stand today, start on the OpenEssayMe home page, where a free practice question is waiting, with feedback on your answer.