Pass the HiSET exam, one subtest at a time
213 practice questions for all five HiSET subtests, each with a plain-English explanation. Take practice tests in Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies that follow the content categories PSI publishes for each subtest.
Practice by section
The HiSET exam is five separate subtests that you can take one at a time. Each practice test below covers one subtest and is the same length as PSI's free half-length practice test for that subject.
Language Arts: Reading 40 questions
Main ideas, details, inferences, word meaning, figurative language, tone, theme and author's purpose in short stories, poems, memoirs, articles and arguments, plus comparing two texts.
Language Arts: Writing 43 questions
Editing and revising drafts: organization and transitions, sentence structure, parallelism and modifiers, word choice and tone, idioms, grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization and spelling (the multiple-choice part).
Mathematics 49 questions
Number operations, exponents, radicals and scientific notation, geometry and measurement, data, statistics and probability, and algebra (nearly half the test): equations, inequalities, systems, quadratics and functions.
Science 41 questions
Life science (about half the test), physical science, and Earth and space science, with questions on experiment design, reading data and judging conclusions.
Social Studies 40 questions
U.S. and world history, civics and government, economics and geography, with questions built on short passages, historical sources and data described in words.
What full access includes
- All 213 questions across Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies
- An explanation for every answer, with the working shown for math
- Unlimited practice tests for each of the five subtests
- Questions built on short passages, draft texts, experiments and data, in the style of the real subtests
- A review of every question you missed at the end of each test
- Works on your phone, tablet or computer, with no app or account
About the HiSET exam
Who takes the HiSET exam?
Adults and older teens who did not finish high school and want a high school equivalency credential. Passing all five subtests earns a credential issued by your state, which employers and colleges accept in place of a diploma. Not every state offers the HiSET, and the minimum age, fees and other rules are set by each state, so check the state requirements on hiset.org.
How is the HiSET exam structured?
There are five subtests: Language Arts Reading (50 questions, 65 minutes), Language Arts Writing (60 questions plus an essay, 120 minutes), Mathematics (55 questions, 90 minutes), Science (60 questions, 80 minutes) and Social Studies (60 questions, 70 minutes). All questions are multiple choice, with five answer choices in Math and four in the other subtests. Each subtest may include some questions that do not count toward your score. Our practice tests use multiple-choice questions only, so practice the essay separately.
What score do I need to pass?
Each subtest is scored out of 20. To pass, you need at least 8 on every subtest, at least 2 out of 6 on the essay, and a total of at least 45 across all five subtests, and the Writing scores must come from the same test date. Some states set higher requirements. A score of 15 or more on a subtest (plus at least 4 on the essay for Writing) shows college and career readiness. PSI doesn't publish how many questions you need right, so our benchmarks follow PSI's "Prepared" ranges for its free half-length practice tests.
Can I use a calculator and formula sheet?
The Math subtest is calculator neutral: you don't need one, but if you ask, the test center provides a four-function or scientific calculator, depending on your state's rules. You can't bring your own. A formula sheet is provided, but you must know the distance formula (d = rt), the Pythagorean theorem and the quadratic formula yourself.
Can I take the HiSET exam online?
The HiSET is given at test centers, and PSI also offers an online test at home with a remote proctor where your state allows it. For the at-home test you need a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone; tablets and phones are not allowed. Check hiset.org for the options in your state.
Is this the official HiSET exam?
No. This is practice material to help you prepare, and our questions are original, not real test questions. The HiSET exam is owned and given by PSI Services. This site is not affiliated with PSI Services or ETS.