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GED Social Studies Preparation Course 2026

This course is for adults in the United States who are getting ready for the GED® Social Studies test. It follows the four official content areas (civics and government, U.S. history, economics, and geography and the world) and the skills the test checks: reading sources, judging evidence and using numbers and graphs. Study each lesson, try its topic quiz, then take the timed 35-question final assessment. Score 80% or more to get a certificate of completion.

  • Course
  • United States
  • 99 questions
  • Checked October 13, 2026
  • Fact-checked October 13, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 330 minutes of lessons, 6 untimed topic quizzes (99 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 35 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Start with the lessonsGED Social Studies Preparation: Lessons: about 330 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

  • Describe the time, question types, content areas and passing score of the GED Social Studies test
  • Tell facts from opinions, find the main idea and purpose, and choose the best evidence in a source
  • Explain the principles and structure of U.S. government, including checks and balances and the Bill of Rights
  • Place key events in U.S. history in order, from the Articles of Confederation to the end of the Cold War
  • Use supply and demand, opportunity cost, inflation and unemployment to explain economic situations
  • Read maps with latitude, longitude and scale, and explain migration and human–environment links
  • Read tables and graphs and calculate the mean, median, mode, range, rates and percent change

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

  1. Read the lessons6 lessons, about 330 min
  2. Topic quiz 1: The test and social studies reading skills15 questions
  3. Topic quiz 2: Civics and government18 questions
  4. Topic quiz 3: United States history18 questions
  5. Topic quiz 4: Economics18 questions
  6. Topic quiz 5: Geography and the world15 questions
  7. Topic quiz 6: Using numbers, tables and graphs15 questions
  8. Final exam35 questions, 35 min · Score 80% or more

Topic quiz 1: The test and social studies reading skills

  1. Question 1 of 15

    How much time does GED.com say you have for the GED Social Studies test?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 70 minutes

    The Social Studies test is 70 minutes long, including 2 minutes for instructions and the final review.

  2. Question 2 of 15

    What does GED.com say about breaks during the Social Studies test?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. There is no break

    GED.com lists the Social Studies test as 70 minutes with no break, so plan to work straight through.

  3. Question 3 of 15

    What score do you need on each GED subject test to pass?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 145

    The passing score is 145 for each subject. You need 145 or higher on all four subjects to earn the credential.

  4. Question 4 of 15

    A test-taker scores 168 on Social Studies. Which score level is this?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. GED College Ready

    Scores from 165 to 174 are GED College Ready. 175 to 200 is College Ready + Credit.

  5. Question 5 of 15

    About what share of the Social Studies test is about civics and government?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. About 50 percent

    The assessment guide says about 50% is civics and government, 20% U.S. history, 15% economics and 15% geography and the world.

  6. Question 6 of 15

    Which calculator rule applies to the Social Studies test at a test center?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The onscreen calculator, or your own TI-30XS

    GED.com says you have an onscreen calculator and a reference sheet, and your own TI-30XS is allowed at a test center.

  7. Question 7 of 15

    You want to take the Social Studies test online. What must you do first, according to GED.com?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Get a "green" GED Ready score in that subject within 60 days

    To test online, you need a green (likely to pass) GED Ready score in that subject within the last 60 days.

  8. Question 8 of 15

    According to GED.com, what does the Social Studies test mainly check?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Whether you can reason with the information and graphs given

    GED.com says the test does not check memorized facts like capitals or dates. It checks applying concepts, reading graphs and charts, and reasoning.

  9. Question 9 of 15

    Read the letter. Which statement from it is a fact, not an opinion?

    Letter to the editor, Riverton Weekly

    Riverton needs a new public library downtown. The library we have now was built in 1962. It has 14 public computers for a town of about 30,000 people. Last year, the library's own records show that people waited an average of 25 minutes to use a computer. Students who have no internet at home do their homework there.

    In my opinion, nothing is more important for our town's future. I urge every voter to support the library bond on the November ballot. — A Riverton parent

    Show answer

    Answer: C. The library has 14 public computers.

    A fact can be checked, for example by counting the computers. The other statements show what the writer believes or wants.

  10. Question 10 of 15

    What is the main purpose of the letter?

    Letter to the editor, Riverton Weekly

    Riverton needs a new public library downtown. The library we have now was built in 1962. It has 14 public computers for a town of about 30,000 people. Last year, the library's own records show that people waited an average of 25 minutes to use a computer. Students who have no internet at home do their homework there.

    In my opinion, nothing is more important for our town's future. I urge every voter to support the library bond on the November ballot. — A Riverton parent

    Show answer

    Answer: C. To persuade voters to support the library bond

    The writer gives reasons and ends by urging voters to support the bond, so the purpose is to persuade.

  11. Question 11 of 15

    Which detail from the letter best supports the claim that the library is too small for the town?

    Letter to the editor, Riverton Weekly

    Riverton needs a new public library downtown. The library we have now was built in 1962. It has 14 public computers for a town of about 30,000 people. Last year, the library's own records show that people waited an average of 25 minutes to use a computer. Students who have no internet at home do their homework there.

    In my opinion, nothing is more important for our town's future. I urge every voter to support the library bond on the November ballot. — A Riverton parent

    Show answer

    Answer: C. People waited an average of 25 minutes to use a computer.

    Long waits for computers are evidence that the library cannot meet demand. The other details do not show a lack of space or equipment.

  12. Question 12 of 15

    Which of these is a primary source about the Civil War?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A letter a Union soldier wrote to his family in 1863

    A primary source was made at the time by someone who was there. The others were made later by people who studied the war.

  13. Question 13 of 15

    Based on the passage, which conclusion is best supported?

    In 1940, about 1 in 4 workers in Clay County worked on farms. New tractors and harvesters spread across the county over the next 30 years. By 1970, fewer than 1 in 10 workers had farm jobs. During the same years, the county's two largest towns doubled in size, and three factories opened along the railroad.

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Machines cut farm jobs, and many workers moved to town jobs.

    Machines spread, farm jobs fell, and towns and factories grew at the same time, so it is reasonable to infer that workers moved from farms to towns. The passage says nothing about pay or birth rates.

  14. Question 14 of 15

    On which point do both speakers agree?

    Speaker 1 (a store owner): The new highway exit will bring drivers past Main Street. More customers means more jobs. The state should build the exit, but it must also add sidewalks so people can walk safely to the shops.

    Speaker 2 (a homeowner): The exit will send heavy traffic down our quiet streets. I worry about my children's safety. If the state builds it, the plan must include sidewalks and lower speed limits.

    Show answer

    Answer: C. Any plan for the exit should include sidewalks.

    Both speakers say the plan must include sidewalks, even though they see the exit's effects differently.

  15. Question 15 of 15

    In the passage, what does the word "curtailed" mean?

    After the budget cut, the city curtailed bus service on Route 9. Buses that used to come every 20 minutes now come once an hour, and the last bus leaves downtown at 7 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Reduced

    The buses now come less often and stop earlier, so the context shows that service was reduced.

What to know before the test

  • The Social Studies test takes 70 minutes, including 2 minutes for instructions and the final review, with no break.
  • Question types include multiple choice, drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop down. You have an onscreen calculator and a calculator reference sheet, and you may bring your own TI-30XS to a test center.
  • About 50% of the test is civics and government, 20% U.S. history, 15% economics and 15% geography and the world.
  • About half of the questions come in sets of two or three that use the same text, map, graph or table.
  • The passing score is 145 on each subject. Scores of 165–174 are GED College Ready, and 175–200 are GED College Ready + Credit.
  • Scores are usually posted within 24 hours, but sometimes take 2 to 3 business days.
  • To test online, you need a "green" GED Ready® score in that subject from the last 60 days, and you must be in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official GED Social Studies test?

No. This is an independent practice course. It is not run by GED Testing Service, and your scores here are not GED® results.

What does the certificate from this course show?

The certificate of completion shows that you finished this practice course and scored at least 80% on its final assessment. It is not a GED® credential, a high school equivalency or an official score, so schools and employers will not accept it in place of the GED®.

Why is the pass mark 80% here?

The real test reports a scaled score, and you need 145 to pass. We set a high bar on our own practice questions so that a pass here is a good sign you are ready.

Do I need to memorize lots of dates and names?

GED.com says the test does not check memorized facts like capitals or dates. It checks whether you can read sources, graphs and charts and reason with them. Knowing the key ideas still helps you understand the passages faster.

Can I use a calculator on the Social Studies test?

Yes. There is an onscreen calculator and a calculator reference sheet. At a test center you may also bring your own TI-30XS. Online, physical calculators are not allowed.

How do I book the real test?

Log in to your GED.com account (or create one), choose a test center or online testing, pick your subjects, date and time, and pay online. Prices, age rules and other requirements vary by area, so check your state's rules on GED.com.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Sources

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