GED Test Performance Level Descriptors - Level 1 (Below Passing: 100-144)

Sep 14, 2026

Revised 2016 GED Test Performance Level Descriptors define what learners at Level 1 (Below Passing: 100-144) can typically do across Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies. The descriptors outline limited and/or inconsistent abilities in reading comprehension, analyzing text features and relationships, making basic inferences, summarizing ideas, editing grammar, and using evidence. They also cover quantitative problem solving with rational numbers, measurement, algebra, and graphs, along with interpreting and citing evidence in scientific and social studies contexts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Reasoning Through Language Arts

Analyzing and creating text features and technique

Using evidence to understand, analyze, and create arguments

Applying knowledge of English language conventions and usage

Mathematical Reasoning

Quantitative problem solving with rational numbers

Quantitative problem solving in measurement

Algebraic problem solving with expressions and equations

Algebraic problem solving with graphs and functions

Science

Analyze scientific and technical arguments, evidence and text-based information

Applying scientific processes and procedural concepts

Reasoning quantitatively and interpreting data in scientific contexts

Social Studies

Analyzing and creating text features in a social studies context

Revised 2016 GED® Test Performance Level Descriptors: Level 1 (Below Passing: 100-144) | Reasoning Through Language Arts | Mathematical Reasoning | Science | Social Studies | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Test-takers who score at the Below Passing level are typically able to comprehend and analyze simple passages similar to those found in L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, Joy Hakim’s A History of US, and Colin A. Ronan’s “Telescopes,” and generally demonstrate limited but developing proficiency with the following skills:
Analyzing and creating text features and technique
􀁸 Make inferences about plot/sequence of events, characters/people, settings, or ideas in texts at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Analyze relationships within texts, including how events are important in relation to plot or conflict; how people, ideas, or events are connected, developed, or distinguished; how events contribute to theme or relate to key ideas; or how a setting or context shapes structure and meaning, ata limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Analyze the roles that details play in texts at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Analyze how meaning or tone is affected when one word is replaced with another at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Analyze the structural relationship between adjacent sections of text ata limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Analyze transitional language and determine how it functions in a text ata limited and/or inconsistent level.
Using evidence to understand, analyze, and create arguments
􀁸 Comprehend explicit details and main ideas in a text at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Summarize details and ideas in a text at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Make sentence-level inferences about details that support main ideas ata limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Determine which details support a main idea at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Identify a theme, or identify which element(s) in a text support a themeat a limited and/or inconsistent level.
Applying knowledge of English language conventions and usage
􀁸 Edit to correct errors involving frequently confused words at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Edit to correct errors in straightforward subject-verb agreement at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Edit to eliminate run-on sentences, fused sentences, or sentence fragments at a limited and/or inconsistent level.
􀁸 Edit to ensure correct use of punctuation at a limited and/or inconsistent level. | Test-takers at the Below Passing level typically demonstrate the following skills:
Quantitative problem solving with rational numbers
􀁸 Apply number properties involving multiples and factors at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Solve real-world problems using rational numbers at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Compute unit rates at a limited and inconsistent level.
Quantitative problem solving in measurement
􀁸 Compute the area and perimeter of triangles and rectangles at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Determine side lengths of triangles and rectangles when given area or perimeter at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Represent, display, and interpret categorical data in circle and bar graphs.
􀁸 Represent, display, and interpret categorical data in tables and scatter plots
Algebraic problem solving with expressions and equations
􀁸 Evaluate linear expressions.
􀁸 Write linear expressions to represent context at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Evaluate polynomial expressions at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Write rational expressions to represent context at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Solve real-world problems involving linear equations at a limited and inconsistent level.
􀁸 Solve algebraic and real-world problems involving systems of equations.
Algebraic problem solving with graphs and functions
􀁸 Locate and plot points in the coordinate pla

FAQs

What does Level 1 (Below Passing: 100-144) indicate on the GED Test?

It describes test-taker performance patterns characterized by limited and/or developing proficiency across the four GED content areas.

Which skills in Reasoning Through Language Arts are emphasized at the Level 1 range?

The descriptors emphasize understanding and analyzing simple passages, making basic inferences, analyzing relationships and theme support, and editing for frequently confused words, punctuation, and sentence boundaries.

What mathematical topics are covered under Mathematical Reasoning for Level 1?

Level 1 focuses on rational number operations in real-world contexts, measurement (including area/perimeter), categorical data in graphs/tables, and algebraic work with expressions, equations, and key features of graphs and functions.

Sep 14, 2026

Upload by River Wang