This GED cheat sheet strips all four subject tests down to the facts, formulas, and score bands examiners lean on most, in a printable quick reference. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Pair it with the rest of your free GED toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
GED exam at a glance
- Subjects: Four separate tests — Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, Social Studies (each scheduled and passed on its own)
- Score scale: 100–200 per subject
- Passing score: 145 on each subject (165+ = College Ready, 175+ = College Ready + Credit)
- Time per subject: RLA ≈150 min (incl. essay) · Math ≈115 min · Science ≈90 min · Social Studies ≈70 min
- Cost: Roughly $30–$45 per subject, varies by state (about $36 in many states; some states subsidize the fee)
What’s on the GED cheat sheet
- Reasoning Through Language Arts (≈150 min) — main idea and supporting detail, author's purpose and tone, grammar and editing rules, and the Extended Response essay framework.
- Mathematical Reasoning (≈115 min) — percents and proportions, PEMDAS, slope and y = mx + b, key geometry formulas, and mean/median/mode — with calculator and formula-sheet reminders.
- Science (≈90 min) — photosynthesis vs. respiration, natural selection, forces and energy, the water cycle, and fair-test science practices.
- Social Studies (≈70 min) — the three branches and checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, U.S. history turning points, and supply and demand.
How to use it in your final week
- Study one subject per session — the GED is four separate tests passed independently at 145, so cram the way you test: RLA, Math, Science, or Social Studies, one at a time.
- For Math, memorize the moves the formula sheet won't give you: convert a percent to a decimal before multiplying, slope = rise/run, and PEMDAS order — then lean on the provided TI-30XS and formula sheet for the rest.
- For Science and Social Studies, drill the reasoning, not trivia — most questions can be answered from the passage, graph, or map in front of you, so practice reading the evidence first.
- Read the sheet the morning of each subject for one last pass on the score bands and definitions, then take a short timed practice set to keep your pacing sharp.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your GED practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
GED cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — this GED cheat sheet is a 100% free PDF download with no sign-up and no account. It sits alongside Career Employer's free GED toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
It condenses the highest-yield facts from all four GED subjects into a quick-reference sheet: Reasoning Through Language Arts (reading, grammar, the Extended Response essay), Mathematical Reasoning (percents, slope, the formula sheet), Science (life, physical, and earth/space plus science practices), and Social Studies (civics, history, economics). It also captures the scoring bands so you know what each score means.
You need at least 145 on each of the four subjects separately — there is no combined or average score. The cheat sheet lists the bands so you can aim past them: 145–164 passes, 165–174 is College Ready, and 175–200 earns College Ready + Credit.
No — it's a review and final-week cram tool, not a substitute for working practice questions and reading passages. Use the sheet to lock in formulas, definitions, and score targets, then use the practice test to confirm you're clearing 145 on each subject before you book it.
Click the download button (or the preview card) at the top of this page to open the PDF instantly. Bookmark the page so you can pull it up again the morning of each subject test.
References
- 1.GED Testing Service. “About the GED Test.” ged.com, 2026. ↑
- 2.GED Testing Service. “Test Subjects — What's on the GED Test.” ged.com, 2026. ↑
- 3.GED Testing Service. “GED Scores & Score Levels.” ged.com, 2026. ↑
- 4.GED Testing Service. “Scheduling Your GED Test.” ged.com, 2026. ↑
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