GED Practice Test 2026: 100 GED Questions and Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Mathematical Reasoning
1. What is the value of �?
A. 14
B. 20
C. 27
D. 34
Answer: B. 20
Rationale: First calculate inside the parentheses: �. Then �, and �.
2. Solve: �.
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 12
Answer: C. 6
Rationale: Subtract 6 from both sides: �. Divide by 2: �.
3. A shirt costs $40 and is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
A. $10
B. $25
C. $30
D. $35
Answer: C. $30
Rationale: 25% of $40 is $10. Subtracting $10 from $40 gives $30.
4. What is the slope of a line passing through (2, 3) and (6, 11)?
A. 1
B. 2
,C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B. 2
Rationale: Slope �.
5. What is the area of a rectangle measuring 8 feet by 5 feet?
A. 13 ft²
B. 26 ft²
C. 40 ft²
D. 80 ft²
Answer: C. 40 ft²
Rationale: Area = length × width = � square feet.
Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA)
6. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. The students was studying.
B. The student were studying.
C. The students were studying.
D. The students is studying.
Answer: C. The students were studying.
Rationale: “Students” is plural, so the plural helping verb “were” is required.
7. What is the main purpose of a persuasive text?
A. To entertain
B. To convince the reader
C. To describe a place
D. To provide fictional characters
Answer: B. To convince the reader
Rationale: Persuasive writing presents claims and evidence intended to influence the
reader’s opinion or actions.
, 8. Which word is closest in meaning to “essential”?
A. Optional
B. Necessary
C. Unusual
D. Temporary
Answer: B. Necessary
Rationale: “Essential” means absolutely necessary or very important.
9. Identify the conclusion in an argument: “Regular exercise improves cardiovascular
health. It also helps maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, everyone should include
regular exercise in their routine.”
A. Regular exercise
B. Cardiovascular health
C. Maintaining weight
D. Everyone should exercise regularly
Answer: D. Everyone should exercise regularly
Rationale: The conclusion is the claim the writer reaches based on the preceding
statements.
10. Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
A. After school we went, to the library.
B. After school, we went to the library.
C. After, school we went to the library.
D. After school we, went to the library.
Answer: B. After school, we went to the library.
Rationale: A comma is commonly used after an introductory phrase such as “After
school.”
Science
11. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing energy in a cell?
A. Nucleus
with Detailed Rationales
Mathematical Reasoning
1. What is the value of �?
A. 14
B. 20
C. 27
D. 34
Answer: B. 20
Rationale: First calculate inside the parentheses: �. Then �, and �.
2. Solve: �.
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 12
Answer: C. 6
Rationale: Subtract 6 from both sides: �. Divide by 2: �.
3. A shirt costs $40 and is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
A. $10
B. $25
C. $30
D. $35
Answer: C. $30
Rationale: 25% of $40 is $10. Subtracting $10 from $40 gives $30.
4. What is the slope of a line passing through (2, 3) and (6, 11)?
A. 1
B. 2
,C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B. 2
Rationale: Slope �.
5. What is the area of a rectangle measuring 8 feet by 5 feet?
A. 13 ft²
B. 26 ft²
C. 40 ft²
D. 80 ft²
Answer: C. 40 ft²
Rationale: Area = length × width = � square feet.
Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA)
6. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. The students was studying.
B. The student were studying.
C. The students were studying.
D. The students is studying.
Answer: C. The students were studying.
Rationale: “Students” is plural, so the plural helping verb “were” is required.
7. What is the main purpose of a persuasive text?
A. To entertain
B. To convince the reader
C. To describe a place
D. To provide fictional characters
Answer: B. To convince the reader
Rationale: Persuasive writing presents claims and evidence intended to influence the
reader’s opinion or actions.
, 8. Which word is closest in meaning to “essential”?
A. Optional
B. Necessary
C. Unusual
D. Temporary
Answer: B. Necessary
Rationale: “Essential” means absolutely necessary or very important.
9. Identify the conclusion in an argument: “Regular exercise improves cardiovascular
health. It also helps maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, everyone should include
regular exercise in their routine.”
A. Regular exercise
B. Cardiovascular health
C. Maintaining weight
D. Everyone should exercise regularly
Answer: D. Everyone should exercise regularly
Rationale: The conclusion is the claim the writer reaches based on the preceding
statements.
10. Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
A. After school we went, to the library.
B. After school, we went to the library.
C. After, school we went to the library.
D. After school we, went to the library.
Answer: B. After school, we went to the library.
Rationale: A comma is commonly used after an introductory phrase such as “After
school.”
Science
11. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing energy in a cell?
A. Nucleus
