Interpreting Your GED® Test Scores For the last 10 years, the GED®

Interpreting Your GED® Test Scores
For the last 10 years, the GED® test has used a 3-­‐digit score to represent a test-­‐taker’s results. For example, 410
or higher is a common passing score on an individual test in most states. Prior to this, test results had been a 2-­‐
digit number. Making a comparison between 3-­‐digit scores and the 2-­‐digit scores isn’t as simple as adding a zero
to the end of the 2-­‐digit score. This is because each new test series reflects more recent content standards, and
sometimes the format of the test changed (e.g., the addition of the essay to the Language Arts, Writing Test in
2002). Also, percentile ranks and estimated national class ranks may change across test series.
GED® test scores are normalized based on a nationally representative stratified random sample of high school
seniors tested in the spring of their graduating year. Only seniors who are expected to meet the academic
requirements for graduation are included in the sample (separate normings are performed for the United States
and Canada). Scores are re-­‐standardized only when the norm group shows significant change. The current
standard scores are based on a 2001 standardization study. The standard scores and percentile ranks can be
used to describe the skills of adults who take the GED® tests compared to the performance of contemporary
high school seniors. GED® test standard scores have the following properties:
• The median standard score for graduating U.S. high school seniors is 500 for each of the five tests.
• The standard deviation is 100 points for graduating U.S. high school seniors.
• The percentage of graduating seniors at or below each GED® test standard score value is the same for
each of the five tests.
• The percentile ranks provided on the Official Transcript of GED® Tests Results are those for graduating
high school seniors, not for adult candidates.
Question: What is my high school grade point average (GPA)
Answer: There is no good way to convert a GED® test score into a grade point average (GPA). The GED® test
score represents how well you know the subject. This test score is calculated the same way for each
examinee. On the other hand, a high school GPA is the average grade for a student and because grades
can be calculated in many different ways depending on the school or school district, it is not appropriate
to compare GED® test scores to GPA.
However, you should have received scores called percentile ranks along with your standard scores. The
way to interpret your percentile ranks is to think of them as a comparison with a national sample of
graduating high school seniors. For example, if your percentile rank for the Mathematics Test is 47, then
you’ve scored better than 47 percent of the graduating high school seniors who also took the
Mathematics Test.
In addition, you can estimate your national class rank compared to a sample of graduating high school
seniors.
Use the table below. For example, if the average of all five test scores (battery average) is 540 then the
caller is estimated to be in the top 25 to 33 percent of graduating high school seniors nationally.
GED® TEST AVERAGE STANDARD SCORE AND ESTIMATED NATIONAL (U.S.) CLASS
RANK OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
www.GEDtestingservice.com
GED ® and GED Testing Service ® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (“ACE”). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of
ACE or GED Testing Service. The GED ® and GED Testing Service ® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license from the American Council on Education.

Battery Average
Standard Score
Estimated National Class Rank
700 Top 1%
670 Top 2%
660 Top 3%
640 Top 5%
610 Top 10%
580 Top 15%
570 Top 20%
550 Top 25%
530 Top 33%
520 Top 40%
500 Top 50%
460 Top 55%
450 Top 60%
Source: College Admissions and Candidates with GED® High School
Credential, GED Testing Service brochure, 2003.
GED Testing Service ® | www.GEDtestingservice.com 2