3.3 Final Week Test Strategy
Key Takeaways
- A passing GED credential requires at least 145 on each of the four subjects; a high score in one subject cannot offset a failed subject.
- Final-week study should prioritize timed mixed practice, error review by cause, the provided formulas/references, and targeted weak-skill repair.
- Science and Social Studies review should center on variables, graph labels, source evidence, civics functions, and economic relationships.
- Score bands: 145-164 GED Passing/HS Equivalency, 165-174 College Ready, 175-200 College Ready + Credit.
- For in-person testing, the first two retakes per subject have no waiting period; after a third or later failed attempt a 60-day wait applies, and state rules still govern.
What the Final Week Is For
The last week should convert knowledge into reliable test behavior: timed practice, error review, and short targeted drills instead of rereading everything. The scoring rule is 145 or higher on each subject on the 100-200 scale. Score bands you should know:
| Band | Score | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Below passing | 100-144 | Subject not yet passed; retake needed |
| GED Passing / High School Equivalency | 145-164 | Subject passed |
| College Ready | 165-174 | May waive some college placement testing |
| College Ready + Credit | 175-200 | May qualify for college credit |
One high score cannot rescue a failing subject — each of the four tests stands on its own 145 threshold. For this chapter, final-week focus is Science (90 minutes) and Social Studies (70 minutes); neither has a break, and both provide calculator access, so practice with data and graph decisions.
Seven-Day Review Plan
| Day | Main Task | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Timed mixed set for Science and Social Studies | Misses logged by skill, not just subject |
| 6 | Repair Science experiments and data displays | Variable/control checklist + five graph drills |
| 5 | Repair Social Studies sources and civics | Branches, rights, federalism, source-evidence notes |
| 4 | Drill math used inside both tests | Mean, median, range, percent, rate, trends |
| 3 | Second timed mixed set | Compare pacing and repeat-error patterns |
| 2 | Review flashcards, cheat sheet, and miss log | One-page final checklist |
| 1 | Light review and logistics | Confirm time, ID, route or online requirements |
Timed practice matters because both tests reward calm reading. If you miss items because you rushed, the problem is procedure, not only content. Read the question stem first, then the stimulus, then the choices. On graphs, read labels before numbers; on sources, name the claim before judging the choices.
The Missed-Question Log
Track why each miss happened — a clean log makes review efficient.
| Miss Type | What It Looks Like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Content gap | Did not know a term such as federalism or net force | Make a card and answer three related items |
| Evidence error | Picked an answer the passage does not support | Underline the exact supporting words |
| Graph error | Ignored units, axis direction, or scale | Read title, axes, units, trend first |
| Variable error | Confused the changed factor and the result | Label independent, dependent, constants, control |
| Overstatement | Chose proved/always/caused without enough data | Pick the answer with cautious claim strength |
| Pacing error | Ran out of time or skimmed | Use checkpoints and a skip-and-return rule |
Avoid getting stuck. If a passage is dense, answer only what is asked. If a calculation drags, check whether the item just needs a comparison, a trend, or a sense of units.
Test-Day Process
Use a stable per-item routine:
- Read the question and name the task: conclusion, evidence, variable, trend, function, or calculation.
- Read the stimulus with that task in mind.
- Mark the key data, quoted phrase, axis label, or scenario clue.
- Predict the answer in plain words.
- Eliminate choices that are unsupported, too broad, backwards, or off-topic.
- Choose and move on; reread only if it can quickly resolve a tie.
For Social Studies, beware outside-opinion answers: the test wants the source-supported inference, not your view of the policy. For Science, beware choices that sound scientific but do not match the experiment described.
Retake and Scheduling Awareness
Use GED Ready (the official practice test) to gauge readiness; a 'Likely to Pass' result is a good signal. If you are close, repair the frequent misses first: graph labels, source evidence, variables, and basic statistics.
Retake rules vary by state and mode. For in-person testing, the first two retakes of a subject have no waiting period; after a third or later failed attempt, a 60-day wait applies, and individual state policy still governs. Reduced retake fees are typically available for the first two retakes within a year. Check online-proctored eligibility and pricing through your state policy page.
Calculator and Tools You Are Given
Do not waste final-week time memorizing what the test hands you. Both Science and Social Studies provide the on-screen TI-30XS Multiview calculator and a reference sheet, and a built-in highlighter and answer-eliminator on most items. Practice with the same on-screen calculator in GED Ready so the buttons are familiar on test day. Use it for percent change, rates, means, and unit conversions rather than rushing mental math under pressure. Bring an approved physical TI-30XS only if your in-person center allows it; online-proctored tests use the on-screen version.
| Tool | Where | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| On-screen calculator | Science, Social Studies, Math | Percent change, mean, rate, conversions |
| Reference/formula sheet | Science, Math | Formulas you would otherwise memorize |
| Highlighter | Most items | Marking the claim, axis label, or quoted phrase |
| Answer eliminator | Multiple choice | Crossing out unsupported or backwards choices |
Day-Before Checklist
- Confirm appointment time, location, accepted ID, and calculator policy.
- Re-anchor the rule: 145 or higher on each subject.
- Skim your one-page checklist, not every old note.
- Warm up with two graph items and two source items only.
- Sleep, eat, and arrive early enough to avoid rushing.
Your goal is not perfection — it is consistent, evidence-based decisions. On Science, label the experiment and trust the data. On Social Studies, anchor every answer in the source, chart, map, or civic principle. Across the GED, keep moving, use the provided tools, and let each subject stand on its own score requirement.
A student scored 152 on Math, 147 on RLA, 143 on Science, and 170 on Social Studies. What is the best interpretation?
During final review a learner finds most missed Science and Social Studies items came from ignoring graph labels and choosing conclusions that were too broad. What is the best next step?
A test-taker fails the Science subject, then fails it again on the first retake, and fails a second retake. For in-person testing, what does the official policy say about the next attempt?