Subject prep · Science
GED Science preparation guide
GED Science is more about reasoning from evidence than memorising facts. Here's what it covers and how to prepare for the way it actually asks questions.
What GED Science covers
- Life science — biology basics: cells, genetics, ecosystems, the human body.
- Physical science — chemistry and physics fundamentals: matter, energy, motion, reactions.
- Earth & space science — the Earth's systems, weather, and astronomy basics.
For the current official outline, see ged.com.
It's a reasoning test, not a memory test
The GED Science section leans heavily on reading data — graphs, tables, short experiment descriptions — and drawing sound conclusions. That's good news: you can make big gains by practising how to interpret evidence, even before you've memorised every term.
A study approach that works
- Learn the core vocabulary of each area so passages don't slow you down.
- Practise data questions: read a graph, identify the trend, answer what's asked — nothing more.
- Get comfortable with basic experiment design: variables, controls, conclusions.
- Review every wrong answer to see whether it was a knowledge gap or a reasoning slip.
See how Science fits with the other three subjects on the GED subjects page.
Try a practice question
An original experiment in the GED Science style — identify the variable, then reveal the answer.
Practice question · written by KINDL
This item tests experimental design rather than recall. The dependent variable is the thing you measure to see whether the change had an effect.
A student wants to find out whether adding fertiliser changes how tall tomato plants grow. She grows two groups of the same tomato variety in identical pots, with the same soil, water and sunlight. Group A receives a measured dose of fertiliser each week; Group B receives none. After four weeks, she measures the height of every plant.
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
- A.the amount of fertiliser added
- B.the height of the tomato plants
- C.the amount of water given
- D.the type of soil used
Reveal answer & explanation ▸Hide answer ▾
Answer: B
The dependent variable is what you measure to detect an effect — here, the height of the plants. The independent variable, the thing the student deliberately changes, is the fertiliser in option A.
Water and soil (options C and D) are kept identical on purpose, so they are controlled variables, not the dependent one.
Frequently asked questions
Reasoning across life science, physical science, and earth & space science, with a strong emphasis on reading data, interpreting experiments and evaluating evidence. See ged.com for the current outline.
