California General Educational Development (GED) historical and current scoring standards:
| Dates | Scoring Standards |
|---|---|
| 1943–1979: | California was using the 35 OR 45 scoring standard (which meant that no subtest scored less than 35, or an average score of at least 45 for the battery was required). |
| 1980–1983: | California was using the 35 AND 45 scoring standard (which meant that no subtest scored less than 35, and an average score of at least 45 for the battery was required). |
| 1984–2001: | California was using the 40 AND 45 scoring standard (which meant that no subtest scored less than 40, and an average score of at least 45 for the battery was required). |
| 2002–2013: | California was using 410 AND 450 scoring standard1 (which meant that no subtest scored less than 410, and an average score of at least 450 for the battery was required). Please note GEDTS also allowed the minimum score of 2250 to be used as an indicator of passing. This was based on the calculation of 5 * 450 (the total subtest times the minimum required average of 450). |
| 2014–Present: | California uses the 145 AND 580 scoring standard2 (which means that no subtest score less than 145 is allowed, and a total score of at least 580 is required.) The 580 total score is based on the test taker scoring at least 145 in all four subtests (4 * 145 = 580). |
2014 Series High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) scoring standards:
Each of the five tests in the HiSET battery is scored on a scale of 1–20. In order to pass, an examinee must do all three of the following:
- Achieve a score of at least eight3 on each of the five individual tests.
- Score at least two out of six on the essay portion of the Writing test.
- Have a total combined score on all five tests of at least 45.
2014 Series Testing Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) scoring standards:
The passing score is 500 for each TASC subject area with the additional requirement to score at least two out of eight on the Writing prompt to pass Writing. Students pass the TASC overall when they have passed each of the five subject-area subtests:
Subtest Passing Scores
- Language Arts 500
- Mathematics 500
- Science 500
- Social Studies 500
- Writing 500 and at least a two out of eight on the Writing prompt
1Some inmates in California under the Transitional Waiver Program were allowed to continue testing on the 2002 GED Test Series until June 30, 2015.
2California used the 150 scoring standard (which means that no subtest score less than 150 was allowed) until March 2016, but all test takers who have scored at least 145 in each subtest now have passing status on the 2014 GED Test Series.
3Minimum passing score is based on the HiSET “pass” cut score requirement. Credential-issuing agencies may set their own minimum requirements.