HiSET High School Equivalency Test

High School Pre-Equivalency for Adult Basic Education

Taking a test to check your academic skills helps you decide which classes are right for you and how well you might do. If you want to enroll in high school equivalent classes, contact the Adult Basic Education Center, email them at ABECRegistration@elgin.edu, or call 847-214-6904. 

Registration

The Pearson GED testing is computer-based testing (CBT).

The HiSET test is paper-based and is administered most Mondays at Elgin Community College. Registration is on the HiSet Test website.

• Register and pay by visiting the Pearson website or HiSET.
• Have a credit or debit card ready to pay for your tests—$ 30 per test. for GED or $10 for each HiSET subtest.
• GED or HiSET will assign you an ID number. Keep this number safe and write it down. You will need it later.
• You can register for one test or two at a time.
• Indicate you want to test at ECC.
• Put the testing dates on your calendar.

Fees

• For the GED test, it costs $30 when you register.
• If you need to retake or reschedule the GED Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, or Science tests, there's a $10 fee for each.
• For the HiSET test, each subtest—reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies—costs $10.

Rescheduling

Once you sign up, you'll receive your test dates. Make sure to note them on your calendar and show up for the test! If you miss your test date, you must return to the Pearson or HiSET website to pick a new date and pay a fee to reschedule. Access the Pearson or HiSET websites for more information.

Retesting

You can take each GED test three times in one year. If you don't pass after three tries, you must wait 60 days after the third attempt. You can keep retesting as many times as you need to. It costs $10 each time you retest. New tests come out every January.

Retake a HiSET Subtest

If you don't get the score you need on the HISET, you can take it again. You can try each part up to three times a year. It's a good idea to study before scheduling your next test.

If you retake a test within a year of buying it, you won't have to pay extra ETS fees. But you might still have to pay fees to the local test center. If it's been over a year, you'll need to pay the ETS fee again, plus any state or test center fees.

On Test Day at ECC

Please arrive at the testing center, Building B, Room B115. Check-in starts 15 minutes before the spring, fall, or summer test. You don't need to come earlier, but don't be late. If you're late, you can't take the test.

• On test day, bring a valid ID with your name, photo, Illinois address, and signature. You can use a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. No other IDs are accepted. If you forget your ID, you can't take the test. You must be on the roster to take the test, and it's by appointment only.
• Once check-in is done, testing begins. Turn off your cell phone. You'll be asked to leave if it rings during the test, and your answers won't count.
• You can only take scheduled breaks. If you're late coming back, your test time will be shorter.
• After finishing your test, you might need to wait quietly until time runs out. Then, talk to the person in charge, sign out, and return the locker key.

Supplies

We'll provide everything you need for testing, like pencils, pens, and paper.

Scoring Information

You can contact the Geneva Regional Office of Education (ROE) for scores by calling 630-232-5958 or visiting the GED website and viewing your MyGed.com account.

• The minimum passing score on each test is 145. Any test score below 145 must be retaken until it reaches 145.
• The total score necessary to obtain your GED is 580.
• 145 x 4 = 580. So, you must score better than 145 on each test to pass.
• You must also have passed the Illinois Constitution exam at the ROE or ECC.
• If you score 165 on the GED Mathematical Reasoning and/or 165 on the Reasoning through Language Arts, you meet the college-ready math, English, and reading requirements.
• If you passed this test during your junior year in high school, a letter - on school letterhead – can be given to Geneva stating you passed this test.

Most states use the HiSET passing criteria, which means to pass the HiSET exam, you need to:

• Score at least 8 out of 20 on each of the five subtests.
• Score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay.
• Achieve a total scaled score on all five HiSET subtests of at least 45 out of 100.

The HiSET pass score is based on a national study of high school juniors and seniors and indicates that 60 percent of graduating high school students would pass the HiSET exam.

• A study of high school students nationwide determines the HiSET pass score. The study suggests that 60% of graduating high school students would pass the HiSET exam.
• HiSET Total Score: 100 points.
• HiSET Math: A college-ready score is 15 for math.
• HiSET Language Arts Reading: A college-ready score is 15 for reading.
• HiSET Language Arts Writing: To pass, you need a score of 15 plus a four on the essay. This is necessary to enroll in Eng101.
• HiSET Essay: To enroll in English 101, you need a score of four plus a writing score of 15.
• HiSET Social Studies: ETS recommends a passing score of 15, but ECC does not offer course placement based on social studies scores.
• HiSET Science: ETS recommends a passing score of 15, but ECC does not grant course placement based on science scores.

Questions?

Call 847-214-7150 / 7219 if you have any questions about testing at ECC.

Students can call 877-EXAM-GED (877-392-6433) or the Pearson website for more information.