Free GED Social Studies Practice Test
Original civics, U.S. history, economics and geography questions written to GED Testing Service’s content topics, with documents, tables and every answer explained.
Which part of the federal government includes departments such as Defense, Treasury and Agriculture?
125 original questions · 8 topic drills · 35-question timed practice exam
GED Social Studies practice questions by content area
Each content area has a guide with free sample questions, and every topic has a free ten-question drill with an explanation after each answer.
Civics and Government (about 50%)
18 of 35 questions in our practice exam
United States History (about 20%)
7 of 35 questions in our practice exam
Economics (about 15%)
5 of 35 questions in our practice exam
Geography and the World (about 15%)
5 of 35 questions in our practice exam
Sit the full test under the clock
35 questions in 68 minutes, the real test’s question time, split by GED Testing Service’s content shares and scored by area with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillGED Social Studies test format
The GED Social Studies test lasts 70 minutes with no break and no essay. GED Testing Service’s assessment guide splits it about 50 percent civics and government, 20 percent U.S. history, 15 percent economics and 15 percent geography and the world. About half the questions come in sets based on one passage, map, table or graph.
- Time
- 70 minutes, including 2 minutes for instructions and final review; no break
- Questions
- GED Testing Service does not publish a fixed number of questions; there is no essay
- Content
- About 50% civics and government, 20% U.S. history, 15% economics and 15% geography and the world
- Format
- About half the questions come in sets of two or three based on one passage, map, table or graph
- Calculator
- An on-screen TI-30XS calculator and a calculator reference sheet; you may bring your own TI-30XS to a test center
- Question types
- Multiple choice, drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop down
- Passing score
- 145 on a scale that runs to 200; 165–174 is GED College Ready and 175–200 is GED College Ready + Credit
- Price
- Set by each state; GED Testing Service publishes no national price
GED Testing Service does not publish the number of questions. Our full practice exam has 35 questions on a 68-minute clock, split 18 civics, 7 U.S. history, 5 economics and 5 geography.
Not a memorization test
GED Testing Service says you will apply social studies concepts, read graphs and charts and reason from what you read. Many questions quote a founding document, a court case or a data table and ask what it shows.
Knowing the core ideas still saves time: the three branches and checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, supply and demand, and how to read a table quickly.
Common questions
How long is the GED social studies test?
70 minutes, including 2 minutes for instructions and final review, with no break and no essay.
How many questions are on the GED social studies test?
GED Testing Service does not publish a fixed number. Our practice exam has 35 questions in 68 minutes, the real test’s question time.
What is on the GED social studies test?
About 50 percent civics and government, 20 percent U.S. history, 15 percent economics and 15 percent geography and the world, according to GED Testing Service’s assessment guide.
Is the GED social studies test a memorization test?
No. GED Testing Service says you apply social studies concepts, read graphs and charts and reason from what you read. Knowing the basic ideas, such as checks and balances or supply and demand, still helps you read faster.
Ready for test day?
35 questions in 68 minutes, the real test’s question time, split by GED Testing Service’s content shares and scored by area with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillMore GED practice
- GED practice test: all four subjects
- GED math practice test
- GED language arts practice test
- GED science practice test
- GED Social Studies Civics and Government questions
- GED Social Studies United States History questions
- GED Social Studies Economics questions
- GED Social Studies Geography and the World questions
Test format, content shares, scores and policies are from GED Testing Service, checked November 2026: GED Testing Service: About the GED test · GED Testing Service: Social Studies test · Assessment Guide for Educators: Social Studies · GED Testing Service: Test scores · GED Testing Service: Price and state rules.
Original independent practice. Every question is written for practice from GED Testing Service’s published assessment targets; none are GED test questions. Not affiliated with or endorsed by GED Testing Service or the American Council on Education. GED® and GED Ready® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education, administered by GED Testing Service under license.