Your Insider Guide to the HiSET

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the Educational Testing Service (ETS)]

Preparing for the HiSET

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HiSET Preparation Courses and Tutoring

Preparation classes for the HiSET, an Educational Testing Service (ETS) assessment, are widely available through publicly funded adult education centers or standardized test prep firms. These courses are open to any legal adult without a high school diploma, but in some jurisdictions, students under the age of 18 must secure permission from their local school district in order to enroll. Adult education centers often provide these courses free of charge or for nominal cost. HiSET prep classes may be taken either during the day or evenings, and they generally cover all of the subject matter tested on the exam. Formal HiSET study in the classroom is a structured and effective way to prepare for the assessment, and these classes usually feature qualified teachers and proven course content. Individual tutoring for the HiSET is also available from private test prep firms, although the cost is greater than group instruction.

Online HiSET Preparation Resources

Students taking the HiSET are encouraged to review the free preparation materials available on the ETS website. Test-takers will find practice questions, math review, tips for study, and links to Khan Academy math tutorials. Another important online option is the HiSET Academy Online Learning Program, which is based on interactive virtual instruction in all five HiSET subtest areas. This HiSET preparation program is licensed for groups of students, and the cost is determined by the size of the group (between $29 and $63 per seat).

HiSET Guides

ETS is the publisher of The Official Guide to the HiSET Exam, recently released in its second edition. This book includes comprehensive coverage of all HiSET sections, practice exercises, testing strategies, a diagnostic test, and two full-length HiSET practice tests. There are also a number of unofficial (non-ETS) guides to the HiSET available from booksellers. These titles, published mainly by test prep firms and commercial presses, may be devoted to the entire exam, or may emphasize a single aspect of HiSET preparation.

HiSET Online Practice Tests

ETS offers free interactive practice tests in online format, which can be found on the HiSET section of the ETS website. These practice tests include questions that have been used on the real exam. Scores and feedback for the online ETS practice tests are available immediately after completion, along with answer explanations for all questions. Although official practice tests are the most reliable, additional HiSET practice exercises can be found on the websites of test prep firms.

Other HiSET Resources

Students can become familiar with HiSET policies and procedures through the HiSET Test Taker Bulletin, which includes general information about registration, test day policies, and score reporting. The HiSET Test at a Glance Information Brief summarizes HiSET test content, skills evaluated, and the thinking behind the exam. The HiSET Study Companion offers advice for creating study plans, tips for taking the test, and answers to frequently asked questions. All of these documents may be downloaded as PDFs free of charge on the ETS website.