The HiSET exam (High School Equivalency Test) is one of two federally recognized pathways for adults who never finished high school to earn a state-issued high school equivalency diploma. Administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the HiSET is accepted in roughly 25 U.S. states and U.S. territories as proof that a test-taker holds the same academic skills as a high school graduate. For many adults, this credential opens doors to college admissions, military enlistment, trade certifications, and better-paying jobs that demand a high school credential at the resume-screening stage.
You take the HiSET as five separate subtests — Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies — and you can sit them on the same day or spread them out across weeks or months. Total seat time clocks in around 7 hours 30 minutes, but most candidates split testing into multiple visits. Each subtest is scored on a 1-to-20 scale, and you need at least an 8 on each subtest, a 2 or higher on the essay portion, and a combined score of 45 across all five subtests to pass.
This guide walks you through every moving part of the exam: format, scoring, fees, state acceptance, retake rules, where to sit it, and what to do after you pass. If you are weighing the HiSET against the GED, this page also covers the differences that matter, so you can pick the right path on the first try — without wasting fees on a credential your state does not accept.
The HiSET launched in 2014 as a direct response to the GED Testing Service moving to a fully computer-based, more expensive model. ETS partnered with the Iowa Testing Programs to design a more accessible alternative, and state Departments of Education that wanted a cheaper, paper-friendly option signed on quickly. Today, the test serves roughly 100,000 candidates a year. A solid majority pass on their first complete attempt — but "complete" is the key word. Many candidates pass three or four subtests, drop the last one, and never finish. Don't be that statistic.
The HiSET measures whether you can read, write, reason mathematically, and think critically at the level of a graduating high school senior. It is not a test of how well you remember 9th-grade history dates. It leans heavily on applied skills — interpreting a passage, defending a thesis, solving a real-world math problem, reading a science chart, or comparing two primary sources.
The five subtests cover Language Arts–Reading, Language Arts–Writing (which includes a multiple-choice section and an essay), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Each one is timed separately. You can take them in any order. You can pass three subtests today, take a week off, and finish the last two next month. ETS keeps your passing scores on file for as long as your state allows you to combine results.
The format is computer-based at most test centers, but a small number of locations still offer paper-and-pencil delivery for accessibility reasons or where the local Adult Education office prefers it. Either format counts the same toward your diploma.
Knowing the structure of each subtest is half the battle. The HiSET is not a single 7-hour endurance test — it is five distinct exams with their own pacing, content focus, and scoring quirks. Treat each one as its own project.
The Language Arts–Reading subtest gives you 65 minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions based on literary and informational passages. About 60% of the texts are nonfiction — workplace documents, articles, biographies — and 40% are literary. You will be asked to find the main idea, interpret figurative language, analyze the author's tone, and infer information not stated outright.
The Language Arts–Writing subtest is two parts. Part one is 50 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes testing grammar, usage, mechanics, and revision skill — fix the sentence, choose the better transition, identify the run-on. Part two is a 45-minute essay where you read two short passages presenting opposing views and write an argumentative response. The essay is scored 1 to 6 by two readers; you need at least a 2 to pass.
The Mathematics subtest gives you 90 minutes for 50 questions covering numbers and operations, algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis. About 45% is algebra, 25% data and probability, 18% geometry, 12% number sense. You get an on-screen calculator for the computer version and a handheld TI-30XS for paper.
The Science subtest is 80 minutes for 50 questions. Roughly half come from life science, a third from physical science, and the rest earth and space science. Expect lots of charts, graphs, and short experimental descriptions you have to interpret.
The Social Studies subtest is also 70 minutes for 50 questions. History accounts for about 35%, civics and government 35%, economics 20%, and geography 10%. Primary-source documents — speeches, maps, political cartoons — show up frequently.
40 questions in 65 minutes. Mix of literary and informational texts including workplace documents, biographies, articles, and short fiction. Tests main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, and author's purpose. Read passages first, then attack questions in order — no penalty for guessing.
50 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes plus a 45-minute argumentative essay. Tests grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, revision skill, and evidence-based writing. The essay scores 1–6 from two readers; a 2 minimum is required to pass this subtest overall.
50 questions in 90 minutes covering algebra (45%), data and probability (25%), geometry and measurement (18%), and number sense (12%). Computer test gives an on-screen calculator; paper version provides a handheld TI-30XS. Show work on scratch paper provided at the center.
50 questions in 80 minutes split across life science (about 50%), physical science (about 33%), and earth and space science (about 17%). Heavy on chart and graph interpretation plus short experimental scenarios. Read the question stem before you read the data block.
50 questions in 70 minutes covering history (35%), civics and government (35%), economics (20%), and geography (10%). Expect primary sources — speeches, political cartoons, maps, charts. Look at source attribution first to anchor context before answering.
HiSET scoring is straightforward once you know the three thresholds you must clear. Each subtest is scaled to a 1-to-20 range. You need a minimum of 8 on every individual subtest, a 2 or higher on the essay component of Writing, and a total combined score of at least 45 across the five subtests. Miss any one of those benchmarks and you have to retake the section that fell short — not the whole battery. That's the rule almost nobody knows until they read it: a 7 on Math doesn't reset your Reading score.
Some states layer on a college-and-career-readiness bonus. If you score 15 or higher on a subtest, your transcript flags that section as "CCR-ready," which can waive remedial coursework when you enroll at a community college. Pushing for 15+ is worth it if you plan to continue your education. The savings in tuition and time can run into the thousands of dollars over a two-year degree path.
Computer-based results land in your ETS HiSET account within three business days for the multiple-choice subtests. The Writing essay takes about five business days because it is scored by trained human raters. Paper-based scores can take up to two weeks. Your state's Department of Education then issues the actual HSE diploma, usually 4 to 6 weeks after you clear the final subtest.
If you need a faster turnaround for a college deadline or military recruiter, ETS does offer expedited score reporting for an extra fee — usually $30 per subtest — and most states honor a printed ETS score report as proof while the official diploma is in the mail.
Scoring is criterion-referenced, not curved. Your score depends on how well you perform against fixed standards, not against other test-takers. That means there is no "hard test day" curve bonus, and there is no penalty for taking the test alongside strong candidates. Show up, hit the thresholds, pass.
You need 8 or higher on each of the five subtests, a 2 or higher on the essay portion of Writing, and a combined score of 45+ across all five subtests. Missing any one means a retake of that subtest only — your other passing scores stay on file.
Score 15 or higher on a subtest and your transcript is marked "College and Career Ready" for that subject. Many community colleges accept the CCR flag in place of placement testing and skip the remedial sequence, saving a semester of tuition and time for the student.
Multiple-choice scores post to your ETS HiSET account within 3 business days. The Writing essay takes 5 business days because human raters score it. Paper tests can take up to two weeks. Your state's Department of Education issues the official HSE diploma 4–6 weeks after the final pass.
Passed subtest scores stay on file with ETS while you complete the rest of the battery, so partial progress is never wasted. Once you earn the diploma, it never expires and is recognized nationwide. Failed subtest scores can be retaken three times per calendar year before the annual cap kicks in.
HiSET pricing varies by state because each state sets its own surcharge on top of the ETS base fee. Expect to pay $50 to $95 per subtest, with the national average sitting near $65. If you take all five subtests in the cheapest states, you might pay $250 total; in the most expensive, you could spend closer to $475. A handful of states — including New Jersey and Wyoming — subsidize the test for residents enrolled in adult education programs, sometimes covering the entire fee.
The HiSET is administered only at official ETS-approved test centers. Most are community colleges, adult education centers, or correctional facilities. You cannot take the HiSET at home — there is no online proctored option. To find a center, you log into your ETS HiSET account, enter your ZIP code, and the system shows you the nearest sites and their available dates. Computer-based delivery is the default; paper sites are rarer but still operate in pockets of the country.
Registration is done entirely through your ETS account. Pick your subtests, pick your date, pay the fee, and download the admission ticket. Bring a valid government photo ID — driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID card. Test centers will turn you away without it.
About 25 U.S. states, plus several territories and the Canadian provinces, currently recognize the HiSET. The list shifts every few years as state Departments of Education renegotiate testing contracts with vendors. As of the most recent contract cycle, states accepting the HiSET include California, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming, and others.
Some states accept both the HiSET and the GED, which means you can pick. Others — like New Jersey and Tennessee — have moved away from the GED entirely and use HiSET exclusively. If you live in a HiSET-exclusive state, the choice is made for you. If both are available, the HiSET tends to be slightly cheaper per subtest and offers the paper-based option, which is helpful for test-takers who struggle with computer interfaces.
Critically, the diploma you earn is not a HiSET diploma — it is a State High School Equivalency diploma issued by your state's Department of Education. That diploma is accepted nationwide for college admissions, federal financial aid, and military enlistment, regardless of which test you took to earn it.
The HiSET is generous with retakes compared to most standardized tests. You are allowed three attempts per subtest per calendar year, and only the failed subtests need to be retaken — your passing scores remain on file. There is no national waiting period between attempts, though individual states sometimes impose a 60-day cooldown after a second failure to encourage candidates to seek tutoring. Check your state's adult education portal before booking a back-to-back retake.
Retake fees are usually lower than the original test fee. Most states charge a discounted rate — often $10 to $20 less per subtest — for retakes. If you used a state-subsidized voucher the first time, that voucher typically does not extend to retakes; you pay out of pocket. Plan that cost into your prep budget so a single failed subtest doesn't derail the whole credential.
After three failed attempts in a single calendar year, you must wait until the next January 1 to try again. During the wait, most candidates work through an adult education prep course, an online study program, or targeted practice tests in the subjects they failed. ETS publishes official HiSET practice tests on its website, and many community colleges run free brush-up classes for adult learners. Some libraries also offer free in-person tutoring sessions for HSE candidates — a quiet option for shy learners who don't want a classroom setting.
Most candidates who pass the HiSET on the first try put in 40 to 80 hours of focused prep, spread over four to eight weeks. The exact number depends on how rusty your skills are. If you finished 11th grade and dropped out recently, you might need only 20 hours. If you have been out of school for 20 years, plan on three months of consistent study.
Start with a full-length diagnostic across all five subtests. ETS sells official practice tests through its store, and free released-item samples are available on the HiSET website. Take the diagnostic under timed conditions, score it, and identify which subtests are below the passing threshold. That tells you where to focus.
For weak subtests, pair targeted content review with practice questions. Khan Academy covers most of the math, science, and reading content for free. Adult Education centers across the country run in-person and Zoom-based HiSET prep classes, usually at no cost to learners enrolled in their programs. Online platforms like Test Prep Toolkit and PracticeTestGeeks offer subject-specific practice quizzes that mirror the HiSET format and difficulty.
Two weeks before the test, switch to full-length timed practice. Sit through a full Math or Reading subtest in one go. Build the stamina. Identify your pacing — most candidates fail not because they didn't know the answers, but because they ran out of time on the back third of the subtest.
Once you clear all five subtests, ETS reports your results to your state's Department of Education. The state verifies the scores, issues your High School Equivalency diploma, and sends it by mail. Most states deliver within four to six weeks. You also get an official transcript that you can request copies of for college applications, employers, or the military. Keep the original diploma somewhere safe — replacements take weeks and usually require a small fee.
The HSE diploma carries the same federal weight as a traditional high school diploma. It qualifies you for Pell Grants, federal student loans, FAFSA, and any state-level financial aid. The military accepts it for enlistment, though some branches still prefer traditional diplomas for certain specialty roles or higher enlistment tiers. Community colleges admit HSE holders directly, and many four-year universities accept it alongside SAT or ACT scores. Trade schools rarely flinch at it.
If you flagged College and Career Ready status on any subtest (scored 15+), make sure your college admissions office sees the transcript notation. It can place you out of remedial English or math and save you a semester of unnecessary coursework. Many adult learners report that this single bonus saved them more in tuition than they spent on the entire HiSET battery. Ask the registrar to attach the ETS score report directly to your application file.
Employers verify the credential by contacting your state's Department of Education or accepting the printed ETS transcript. For most office and skilled-trade jobs, that's the end of the high-school-credential check. From here on, the focus shifts to job experience, certifications, and college credentials — the HiSET is the foundation everything else gets built on.