The High School Equivalency Test (HISET®)

What is the HiSET® exam

The specific purpose of the HiSET® exam is the measurement of the educational development of adults who have not completed their formal high school education. Adults may earn a High School Equivalency Certificate and thus qualify for admission to colleges or other educational institutions, meet educational requirements for employment or promotion, satisfy educational qualifications for induction into the armed services, fulfill requirements of local or state licensing boards, or gain personal satisfaction.

HiSET® Test Preparation

Illinois does not require you to prepare for the HiSET® exam in an adult education classroom to take a practice test before testing, but it is strongly recommended.

Danville Area Community College offers both day and night HiSET® preparation classes free of charge at various locations within Vermilion County.
Location Days Time
Danville Area Community College Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm
Danville Area Community College Mondays &
Wednesdays
5:30pm-8:30pm
The American Job Center Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm
Danville Housing Authority Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm
Hoopeston Higher Learning Center Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00pm-8:30pm
Westville Jr. High School Mondays &
Wednesdays
6:00pm-8:30pm
Head Start Center Monday-Thursday 12:30pm-2:30pm

Test Contents

The HiSET® exam consists of 5 subject areas:

  1. Language Arts – Reading(65 minutes)
    • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
  2. Language Arts – Writing(120 minutes)
    • Part 1 – 50 questions, multiple choice
    • Part 2 – 1 essay prompt
  3. Mathematics(90 minutes)
    • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
  4. Science(80 minutes)
    • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
  5. Social Studies(70 minutes)
    • Format: 40 multiple choice questions

Tests are administered in English and Spanish

You can test 3 times on each subject without waiting. After the third attempt, you must wait until the next calendar year.

Constitution Test Requirement

In order to earn an Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate, you must take and pass the Constitution test as required by Illinois Compiled Statutes – School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-3) in addition to passing the 5 parts of the HiSET® test. There is no fee to take the Constitution exam, and you must pass all 5 parts of the HiSET® test before you are allowed to take the Constitution test.

Constitution Test Preparation

The Constitution Study Guide of the United States and State of Illinois can be downloaded here: CSG English or CSG Spanish  or you can order a printed copy directly from Curriculum Publications Clearinghouse by calling 1-800-322-3905.

Please contact Danville Area Community College’s Testing Center at 217-443-8708 for more information about scheduling the Constitution Test.

Eligibility To Take Test

An individual is eligible to take the HiSET® Test given they meet all of the following conditions:

  • 17 years of age or older*
  • does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential and is not currently enrolled in a secondary school
  • is a resident of the State of Illinois

Note: *If an individual is 17 years old and has been enrolled in a public, private, or a home school setting in the last 12 months, they must present a withdrawal letter from the last school enrolled in before taking the HiSET® tests.

Withdrawal letters must be on school letterhead and signed by a school official; must include the candidate’s full name, date of birth, and ETS Identification Number; and must include the formal withdrawal date/last date of attendance. Transcripts are not acceptable as proof of withdrawal unless they include a formal withdrawal date and the signature of a school official.

If home schooled, the candidate must provide a letter from the person responsible for the home schooling [e.g., instructor, tutor, parent, guardian, etc.] stating the program has been completed, the individual is no longer required to be home schooled, and the individual has been cleared to take the HiSET® exam. The letter should include the candidate’s full name, date of birth, and ETS Identification Number. Letters from home schooled students must include a physical signature from the individual responsible for the home schooling.

Price & Payment For Test

Individual subtest costs are as follows:

  • Computer-delivered tests: $18.75 per subtest ($10.75 ETS fee, $8 test center fee).
  • Paper-delivered tests: $23 per subtest ($15 ETS fee, $8 test center fee).

You will receive two retakes per subtest; however, you must pay the $8 test center fee each time you take a subtest.

A total of 5 test modules comprise the HiSET® exam, meaning the full HiSET® total cost is $93.75 for the computer-delivered tests & $115 for the paper-delivered tests. Testing fees must be paid online at https://hiset.ets.org/ with a debit or credit card when you schedule your test.

HiSET® Testing Accommodations

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning, physical or emotional disability, you may qualify for accommodations for a HiSET ®  test administration. If approved, accommodations are provided at no additional charge.

For information on how to request accommodations for the HiSET® exam, visit http://hiset.ets.org/take/disabilities or email disability.reg@ets.org.

Accommodation forms and supporting documentation can be sent to ETS by:

Mail: ETS Disability Services
P.O. Box 6054
Princeton, NJ 08541-6054
Email: disability.reg@ets.org

Transcripts & Diploma

You must contact the Regional Office of Education for the county in which you tested in to request your transcripts or certificates.

HiSET® Page - https://www.roe54.k12.il.us/page/ged

Request Form - https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/993619/GED-Transcript-Request-Form-2020-1.pdf

The Vermilion County Regional Office of Education

Phone: 217-431-2668
Fax: 217-431-2671
200 College Street B
Danville, IL 61832
http://www.roe54.k12.il.us/