HiSET Study Guide: Best Study Materials and Prep Resources

The HiSET (High School Equivalency Test), administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), is one of the three nationally recognised high school equivalency examinations in the United States — alongside the GED and TASC. The HiSET tests the academic skills typically acquired through a high school education across five subject areas: Language Arts-Reading, Language Arts-Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Candidates who pass all five HiSET subtests receive a state-issued high school equivalency certificate — the credential equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of employment, military enlistment, and higher education admissions. The HiSET is accepted in most US states and territories as a valid high school equivalency pathway, though availability varies by state and changes when states update their recognised equivalency examination policies.

One of the HiSET's most distinctive features is its availability in paper-and-pencil format, in addition to computer-based testing. The GED, the most widely known high school equivalency exam, transitioned to computer-only format, making it inaccessible to candidates who lack computer literacy or do not have access to technology-equipped testing environments.

The HiSET's paper option makes it particularly accessible in correctional facilities, rural testing centres, and adult education programmes serving populations with limited technology access. This format flexibility has made the HiSET the preferred equivalency examination in a number of states, particularly among incarcerated individuals pursuing education while in custody and among adult learners who are more comfortable with traditional pen-and-paper assessment formats.

The HiSET scoring system uses a scale of 1 to 20 for each subtest, with a minimum passing score of 8 on each individual subtest and a minimum total score of 45 across all five subtests combined.

The total passing threshold of 45 creates some flexibility — a candidate who scores above 8 on most subtests can compensate for a slightly lower score on a particularly challenging subtest, as long as the total score reaches 45 and no subtest falls below 8. Candidates who pass some subtests but not others can retake individual subtests rather than repeating the full examination — a feature that allows focused remediation on weak subject areas without burdening strong candidates with unnecessary re-testing of areas they have already passed.

The official ETS study materials for the HiSET examination are the most closely aligned preparation resources available, since ETS both creates the examination and produces the official preparation content. ETS offers free official HiSET practice tests at hiset.ets.org for each of the five subject areas, providing candidates with a realistic representation of the question types, content, and difficulty level they will encounter on the actual examination.

The Official Guide to the HiSET Exam — the primary official print study resource — provides comprehensive review content for all five subtests along with additional practice questions. Using official ETS materials ensures that candidates practise with content that matches the actual examination format and difficulty calibration rather than approximations developed by third-party publishers who may not have access to ETS's item specifications.

Supplemental preparation resources extend the study options available to HiSET candidates beyond the official ETS materials. Commercial preparation publishers including Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, and REA offer HiSET study guides with comprehensive subject review content, strategy instruction, and full-length practice tests. Khan Academy provides free, high-quality video instruction and practice exercises across the mathematics and science content areas covered by the HiSET — content that is primarily oriented toward the GED but covers significant overlap with HiSET mathematics and science domains.

Magoosh's HiSET preparation product provides online practice questions and video explanations specifically calibrated for the HiSET examination. Adult education programmes, community colleges, and libraries in most states offer HiSET preparation classes — typically free or low-cost — that provide instructor-led instruction and structured study schedules for candidates who benefit from a structured classroom environment rather than independent self-study.

The most effective HiSET study plans share several characteristics regardless of which specific study materials are used. Beginning with a diagnostic practice test — ideally the official ETS free practice test for each subtest — establishes a baseline performance measurement that identifies the subject areas requiring the most preparation time before beginning any content review.

Allocating more study time to areas where the diagnostic test reveals significant weaknesses, rather than spending equal time on all five subtests regardless of baseline performance, makes more efficient use of the limited preparation time available to working adults who are preparing for the HiSET while managing employment, family, and other responsibilities. Setting a realistic examination date — not too far away to lose motivation and not too near to complete adequate preparation — anchors the study plan with a concrete goal.

The HiSET's accessibility extends beyond its paper format to its scoring flexibility and cost structure. State fees for the HiSET are generally lower than comparable fees for the GED, and the per-subtest fee structure means that candidates who are retaking only one or two subtests pay only for the subtests they are retaking rather than a full examination fee.

This cost structure is a significant practical advantage for candidates living on tight budgets — the ability to pass some subtests, take time to prepare further on weak areas, and then retake only the failing subtests at a lower marginal cost makes the HiSET credential more financially accessible than examinations priced as a fixed-cost comprehensive package.

Adult education programmes at public libraries, community colleges, workforce development centres, and public schools are valuable resources for HiSET candidates who want structured support beyond self-study. These programmes — funded through federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act grants — are free or very low cost and provide instructor-led instruction in the content areas tested by the HiSET.

Many adult education programmes maintain relationships with local HiSET testing centres and can facilitate registration and fee waiver access for enrolled students. Candidates who struggle with self-paced independent study benefit most from adult education programme support, as the scheduled class structure, instructor accountability, and peer learning environment make consistent study easier to maintain over the preparation period.

Technology resources for HiSET preparation have expanded significantly in recent years. ETS has made its official practice materials available online and in app format, and a growing number of states provide access to free online HiSET preparation platforms for residents as part of their adult education infrastructure. Some states provide access to commercial platforms like GED.com Marketplace, Aztec Learning Systems, or Essential Education's HiSET Academy at no cost to qualifying candidates.

Checking with your state's adult education office or department of education about what free digital preparation resources are available before purchasing commercial study materials can save significant preparation costs while providing equivalent or better preparation quality through state-vetted platforms.

Subject-specific study strategies can significantly improve performance across the five HiSET subtests. The Language Arts-Reading subtest rewards candidates who practise active reading strategies — identifying main idea, inferring author purpose, and analysing text structure — applied to a variety of passage types rather than just recognising grammar rules or recalling facts.

Regular reading of diverse text types, including news articles, literary excerpts, and informational documents, builds the reading fluency and analytical skill that the subtest tests. The Language Arts-Writing subtest's essay component specifically requires candidates to develop a clear argument in response to a given prompt, and practising timed essay writing — planning, drafting, and reviewing a complete essay within 45 minutes — is the most direct preparation for this component.

Mathematics is typically the subtest that requires the most preparation time for candidates who have been out of formal education for several years. The HiSET Math subtest covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis at a high school proficiency level.

Candidates who struggle with algebraic concepts, proportional reasoning, or geometric calculations benefit from working backward from the diagnostic practice test to identify specific skill gaps, then addressing those gaps systematically — either through Khan Academy's free math instruction, a commercial HiSET math study guide, or adult education programme support — before attempting timed practice under examination conditions. The calculator is permitted for part of the Mathematics subtest, and practising with the permitted calculator model on exam-style problems is an important simulation step.

Science and Social Studies preparation involves both content knowledge and data interpretation skills. Both subtests include questions that require candidates to interpret charts, graphs, tables, and maps — analytical skills that are distinct from memorising scientific facts or historical dates. Practising data interpretation with the types of visual representations that appear on the HiSET Science and Social Studies subtests is as important as reviewing content knowledge.

For Science, focusing study on understanding concepts — what photosynthesis involves, how chemical reactions work, what the water cycle describes — rather than memorising detailed factual lists is more aligned with the way HiSET Science questions are written. For Social Studies, reviewing the foundational documents and concepts of US government and history, alongside basic economics and geography principles, covers the highest-yield content areas for the subtest.

Study schedule structure varies significantly based on how much preparation time is available before the examination date. Candidates who are starting from scratch with significant academic skill gaps may need 3 to 6 months of consistent daily study to reach passing proficiency across all five subtests. Candidates who have recently completed some formal education or who have maintained strong academic skills through work or continuing education may reach readiness in 4 to 8 weeks of focused study.

The most common preparation pattern among successful HiSET candidates involves 1 to 2 hours of daily study — mixing content review with timed practice questions — over a period of 6 to 16 weeks, with the exact duration calibrated to the initial diagnostic test results. Studying for shorter, more frequent sessions rather than infrequent marathon sessions is consistently more effective for retention and skill development.

Registration for the HiSET examination is completed through the ETS HiSET website or through the candidate's state's designated registration process. HiSET testing fees vary by state but are generally in the range of $10 to $15 per subtest for the first attempt, with retake fees also applying per subtest.

Many states provide fee waivers for low-income candidates, candidates enrolled in adult education programmes, or individuals who are currently incarcerated — candidates who believe they may qualify for a fee waiver should check with their state's HiSET administration or adult education contact before registering and paying full fees. Some adult education programmes provide registration support, fee waivers, and testing facilities within their programme infrastructure, making them a particularly accessible pathway for candidates who face both cost and logistical barriers to examination access.

After passing all five HiSET subtests, candidates must apply for their high school equivalency certificate through their state's issuing agency — the process is not automatic upon passing the examination. ETS verifies the passing scores, but the state agency issues the actual certificate. The processing timeline varies by state, typically ranging from a few weeks to a few months.

The high school equivalency certificate is the document that employers, military recruiters, and colleges recognise — not the individual HiSET score reports — so obtaining the official certificate promptly after passing is an important final step in completing the equivalency credential process.

Career planning after passing the HiSET is a motivating factor that effective study programmes leverage to sustain candidate engagement through a demanding preparation process. High school equivalency credentials open access to a wide range of employment opportunities, vocational training programmes, military enlistment pathways, and postsecondary education options that are unavailable or less accessible to individuals without a high school diploma or equivalent.

Candidates who identify a specific goal — a desired job, a vocational programme, military service, or college enrolment — that depends on the HiSET credential approach the examination with more sustained motivation than those who approach it as a generic educational achievement. Connecting daily study to a concrete future goal makes the inevitable difficult days of study more psychologically sustainable.

For candidates who are preparing for the HiSET as part of a reentry or workforce reintegration programme — following incarceration, military service, homelessness, or other significant life disruptions — the HiSET credential is often the first formal step in a structured re-engagement with education and employment. Organisations that serve these populations, including workforce development agencies, veterans' service organisations, community reentry programmes, and homeless services providers, frequently have partnerships with adult education programmes and HiSET testing sites that streamline access and reduce barriers.

Candidates in these circumstances should not attempt to navigate registration and preparation entirely independently when community resources and programme support are often available to provide the practical assistance, tutoring, and fee waiver access that make the credential pathway more achievable. The HiSET credential itself is the milestone — getting to the examination with adequate preparation is the process that community and institutional support can meaningfully accelerate.

Vocational and technical education programmes — community college certificate programmes, trade apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training — are among the most common immediate uses of the HiSET credential by candidates who do not plan to pursue a traditional four-year college path.

These programmes treat the high school equivalency certificate as an entry prerequisite in the same way they treat a high school diploma, and many are designed specifically for adult learners who have obtained equivalency credentials. The HiSET's acceptance across these vocational pathways means that passing the examination opens multiple practical career entry routes that are not dependent on college enrolment or extended academic timelines.