Article · 7 minutes

What's on the GED® math test? Topics, time, calculator and formula sheet

If math makes you nervous, you are not alone. Many adults feel that way, especially after years away from school. It helps to know exactly what the test looks like before you start. This guide explains the GED® math test in plain English, using facts from GED.com, and gives you a few original practice questions to try.

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

The basics, from GED.com

The math test is called Mathematical Reasoning. According to GED.com's test subjects page ↗ (checked October 20, 2026):

The test takes 115 minutes. That includes 2 minutes of instructions and final review.
There are two parts, with a 3-minute break between them.
The topics are basic math, geometry, basic algebra, and graphs and functions.
Question types include multiple choice, drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area, and drop down.

Each GED® test subject is scored from 100 to 200. To pass, you need at least 145 on each of the four subjects, according to GED.com's scores page ↗.

When you can use a calculator

GED.com says there is an on-screen calculator for part 2 of the math test. At a test center, you may bring your own TI-30XS calculator. The GED® Math test study guide ↗ also says the calculator is allowed for part 2.

That means you should be ready to do some work without a calculator. Practice basic skills by hand, like adding fractions, finding 10% of a number, and working with negative numbers. Then practice the same kinds of problems with a calculator, so you learn the buttons.

GED.com also provides a calculator reference sheet that shows how to use the TI-30XS. You can see it in the free preview tests before test day.

The formula sheet: you do not have to memorize everything

The official study guide says the math test “is not a memorization test.” You get a formula sheet on screen. The formula sheet on GED.com ↗ includes formulas for:

Area and perimeter of squares, rectangles, triangles and other shapes.
Circumference and area of a circle.
Surface area and volume of shapes like boxes, cylinders and cones.
Mean and median.
Slope and equations of a line.
The quadratic formula and the Pythagorean theorem.
Simple interest, distance, and total cost.

The sheet gives you the formula, but it does not tell you which one to use. The real skill is reading a word problem and picking the right formula. That is a good thing to practice.

The four topic areas in plain English

Basic math: whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and exponents. Many problems look like real life—discounts, tips, unit prices and interest. Try the free lessons on percentages, ratios and unit prices and fractions on a number line.
Geometry: area, perimeter, volume and surface area. The formula sheet helps here.
Basic algebra: writing and solving equations and inequalities. See the free lesson on solving a simple equation.
Graphs and functions: reading tables and graphs, finding slope and understanding how one value changes with another. See reading graph axes and units.

If you have not done math in years

Start smaller than you think you need to. Rebuild the basics first: multiplying, dividing, fractions and decimals. Those skills show up inside almost every other topic, so time spent on them is rarely wasted.

Go slowly and write out each step, even when it feels too simple. Speed can come later. When you get an answer wrong, do not just look at the right answer. Find the exact step where your work went off track. That one step is often the most useful thing to practice next.

If you want a teacher, many communities have free or low-cost adult education classes. The National Literacy Directory ↗ can help you find one near you.

Try three original practice questions

These questions were written for this article. They are not GED® test questions. Try each one before you read the answer.

Question 1: Your rent is $1,200 a month. It goes up by 5%. What is the new rent?

Find 5% of $1,200: 0.05 × 1,200 = $60.
Add the increase: $1,200 + $60 = $1,260.

If you answered $60, you found the increase but not the new rent. Always check what the question asks for.

Question 2: A garden is a rectangle, 12 feet long and 7 feet wide. How many feet of fence do you need to go all the way around it?

“All the way around” means perimeter. The formula sheet says P = 2l + 2w.
P = 2(12) + 2(7) = 24 + 14 = 38 feet.

If you answered 84, you found the area (12 × 7). Area tells you how much ground the garden covers. Perimeter tells you the distance around it.

Question 3: A line goes through the points (2, 3) and (6, 11). What is its slope?

Slope is the change in y divided by the change in x.
Change in y: 11 − 3 = 8. Change in x: 6 − 2 = 4.
Slope = 8 ÷ 4 = 2.

If you got 1/2, you may have divided in the wrong order. Keep y on top.

A simple way to practice math each week

Here is one example routine. Change it to fit your schedule:

Pick one skill for the week, like percents or perimeter.
On two days, read a short explanation and try three to five questions.
On one day, try the same kind of question without a calculator.
At the end of the week, write down the mistakes you made and why.

Keeping a list of your mistakes can show you a pattern. Maybe you often forget to subtract a discount, or you mix up area and perimeter. Knowing the pattern tells you what to review next.

Check your readiness with official tools

GED.com has a free math preview test ↗ with answer explanations. It lets you see the question types, the calculator and the formula sheet before test day.

When you feel close to ready, the GED Ready® practice test ↗ gives a result range that shows whether you are likely to pass. GED.com explains that this result is an indicator, not a guarantee. There is a fee, so check the current price on GED.com.

Where FinishHigh fits

FinishHigh offers independent, GED® test-style math practice in short sessions, with explanations and a place to review mistakes. Find your next study step. FinishHigh does not provide the official test, does not issue a diploma 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 ↗; GED® Math test study guide (PDF) ↗; formula sheet and calculator reference (PDF) ↗; test scores ↗; GED Ready ↗.