Article · 8 minutes

The GED® test essay (RLA extended response): what it asks and how to practice

For many adults, the essay is the part of the GED® test that feels scariest. The good news: it is not a “write about your life” essay, and you do not need fancy words. It asks you to read two short pieces and explain which side has better support. That is a skill you can practice, one step at a time.

By FinishHigh · Published 2026-10-20 · Updated 2026-10-20 · Sources checked 2026-10-20

Where the essay fits

The essay is part of the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) test. According to GED.com's test subjects page ↗, checked on October 20, 2026, the RLA test is 150 minutes long, and that time includes 45 minutes for the written essay. GED Testing Service calls the essay the “extended response.”

The Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA ↗ from GED Testing Service says the 45 minutes are timed separately. In that time you read two source texts, write your response, and review and edit it. The two texts together are no longer than 650 words.

What the essay asks you to do

The two passages look at the same issue from different sides. Your job is not to say what you personally believe. Your job is to judge the arguments: which position is better supported by evidence, and why.

GED Testing Service's Extended Response Resource Guide ↗ explains that writing your own opinion is acceptable, but responses that focus on the task—analyzing the texts to decide which position is better supported—are more likely to score highly. In plain words: talk about the passages, not about yourself.

How it is scored, in plain words

According to the Assessment Guide, the essay is scored on three “traits.” Each trait is worth 0, 1 or 2 points, for up to 6 points. That score is then counted double toward your RLA test. Here is what each trait means:

Trait 1, arguments and evidence: Do you make a clear claim about which side is better supported? Do you use specific evidence from the passages? Do you explain why the evidence is strong or weak?
Trait 2, ideas and organization: Do your ideas build in a sensible order? Do you explain each point instead of just listing it? Do you use a formal tone and connecting words like “because” and “however”?
Trait 3, clear English: Are your sentences complete and easy to follow? Do you use correct grammar, capital letters and punctuation most of the time?

The guide also says that a response copied only from the passages, or one that is off-topic, cannot earn points. Use the passages for evidence, but write the explanation in your own words.

A simple plan for 45 minutes

This is one way to split the time. It is a suggestion, not an official rule. Change it as you practice.

About 10 minutes: read both passages. Note each side's main claim and the evidence it uses. Decide which side has better support.
About 25 minutes: write. Start with your claim. Give two or three reasons, each with evidence from the passages and an explanation. End with a short conclusion.
About 10 minutes: reread and fix. Look for missing words, run-on sentences and spots where your point is not clear.

A simple shape works: one opening paragraph, two or three body paragraphs, and one closing paragraph. Clear and organized beats long and messy.

Practice prompt (original, made up)

This prompt was written for this article. It is not a GED® test prompt. The people, places and numbers are made up for practice.

Passage A: “Riverton should close Main Street to cars on Saturdays. When the nearby town of Elm Falls tried a car-free Saturday last summer, the town's business office reported that shop owners on the street sold more than on regular Saturdays. A survey of 400 visitors found that most said they stayed longer because walking felt safer. Car-free streets also mean less noise and cleaner air for the families who live downtown.”

Passage B: “Closing Main Street would hurt the people who need it most. Many older residents and people with disabilities depend on parking close to the pharmacy and the clinic. A delivery driver I spoke with said trucks would have to go around through narrow side streets. Some people just like to drive. The plan sounds nice, but it would cause more problems than it solves.”

Prompt: In your response, analyze both passages to decide which position is better supported. Use specific evidence from both passages to support your answer.

How one strong plan might look

There is more than one good answer. Here is one way to plan, using the idea that Passage A is better supported:

Claim: Passage A is better supported because it uses a trial in a nearby town and a survey, while Passage B relies mostly on one person's comment and general statements.
Reason 1: Passage A gives evidence from a real test of the idea (the Elm Falls trial) and a survey of 400 visitors.
Reason 2: Passage B raises a fair concern about access to the pharmacy and clinic, but it gives no numbers or examples of how many people would be affected.
Reason 3: “Some people just like to drive” is an opinion, not evidence.
Fair point: You can admit Passage B's access concern is important. Showing that you see both sides makes your judgment stronger.

You could also argue that Passage B is better supported, if you can show with evidence from the passages why. What matters is that your claim is clear and your evidence comes from the texts.

Common mistakes to avoid

Writing about your own life instead of the passages.
Summarizing both passages without ever saying which one is better supported.
Copying long chunks of the passages. Short quotes are fine, but explain them in your own words.
Skipping the last few minutes of review.

Practice with free lessons and official tools

Two free FinishHigh lessons build the core skill: compare two arguments with evidence and read the evidence before the opinion. They are independent practice, not GED® test materials.

GED.com's free RLA preview test ↗ lets you see how the test screen works. The reference sheets on GED.com ↗ include an Extended Response guideline sheet that is also shown on screen during the test, so it helps to see it before test day.

If you want feedback from a teacher, The National Literacy Directory ↗ can help you find adult education classes near you. If it has been years since you wrote an essay, start small: read Restart GED® test study after years away.

Your next step

Set a timer for 10 minutes and plan a response to the practice prompt above: one claim and three reasons with evidence. Tomorrow, write it out in 25 minutes. The day after, reread it and fix three things.

FinishHigh is independent practice. It does not provide the official test, does not score official essays and does not guarantee a passing score. For registration, prices and rules where you live, use the GED.com price and rules page ↗.

Sources (checked October 20, 2026): GED® test subjects ↗; Assessment Guide for Educators: RLA (PDF) ↗; Extended Response Resource Guide (PDF) ↗; reference and ER guideline sheets (PDF) ↗; GED.com free preview tests ↗.

FinishHigh is independent and not affiliated with GED Testing Service. GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education, used only to describe the test.