HiSET practice test: free questions in all 5 subtests

Prepare for the HiSET® high school equivalency exam with original practice questions in Language Arts – Reading, Language Arts – Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Start with 5 free questions, then take two full practice tests of 50 questions (10 per subtest) with an explanation for every answer and a score per subtest.

• 5 free questions
• 2 full tests, 100 questions
• All 5 HiSET subtests
• Explanation for every answer
• Practice certificate PDF

How many questions are on the HiSET?

The HiSET exam has five subtests, with 285 multiple-choice questions and one essay in total. You can take the subtests separately.

The content split: Reading is 40% literary and 60% informational texts; Writing is organization of ideas (22%), language facility (43%) and writing conventions (35%); Math is 45% algebra; Science is 49% life science; Social Studies is 35% history and 35% civics. The exam is offered on paper or computer, in person or (in some states) online proctored, depending on your state. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance and About HiSET on hiset.org, checked 23 October 2026.

What is a passing score on the HiSET?

Each subtest is scored out of 20. To pass you need all three:

• at least 8 out of 20 on every subtest;
• a combined score of at least 45 out of 100 for the five subtests;
• at least 2 out of 6 on the essay in Language Arts – Writing.

A score of 15 or more on a subtest and 4 or more on the essay indicates college and career readiness. Source: HiSET scores page on hiset.org, checked 23 October 2026.

These are scaled scores, not percentages, so there is no fixed number of questions you must get right. As a rough sign of readiness, aim for 60% or more on the MyLevel practice tests and in every subtest, and 70% for a safer margin. This is indicative only.

Free HiSET practice test and the full practice pack

The 5 free questions cover one question from each subtest, so you see at once where you stand. The full pack has two practice tests of 50 questions, 10 per subtest, with a 65-minute timer: about 1.3 minutes per question, close to the pace of the real multiple-choice subtests. Every question has an explanation, math with every step, and your result shows a score per subtest.

The pack costs $9.99, one time. No subscription. One purchase also unlocks every other MyLevel job and aptitude test. The writing essay is not simulated; practise it with the essay tips below. HiSET also publishes free half-length official practice tests on hiset.org, which are a good next step.

HiSET vs GED, and how to study

The HiSET and the GED are different tests from different organizations; both lead to a high school equivalency credential, but which one you can take depends on your state. The GED has four subjects scored 100-200; the HiSET has five subtests scored out of 20, with reading and writing as separate subtests. Check your state's rules on hiset.org before you book.

• Math: algebra is almost half the subtest: equations, systems, factoring, functions. Then percents, area and volume, mean and median.
• Writing: learn comma splices, agreement, apostrophes and transitions. For the essay, take a clear position and support it with two reasons from the passages.
• Reading: for every passage find the main idea, the author's purpose and the detail that proves your answer.
• Science and social studies: most questions test reading a text, table or graph; know cells, genetics, energy, the Constitution and basic economics.
• Take one subtest at a time and book it once you score well in that subtest.

MyLevel is independent and not affiliated with, or endorsed by, PSI Services LLC or ETS. HiSET® is a registered trademark of PSI Services LLC. All questions are original practice questions based on the public HiSET content outlines, not real test questions.

Sample question with explanation

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