Question 1
Marcus scored 78, 85 and 92 on his first three tests. What score does he need on the fourth test to have a mean of exactly 87 on all four?
What is on the HiSET
The HiSET is five subtests: Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Almost every question is multiple choice, and Writing adds one essay.
| Reading | 50 questions in 65 minutes (80 minutes in Spanish) |
|---|---|
| Writing | 60 questions and one essay in 120 minutes |
| Mathematics | 55 questions in 90 minutes |
| Science | 60 questions in 80 minutes |
| Social Studies | 60 questions in 70 minutes |
| Ways to test | At a test center or online at home where your state allows; computer or paper; English or Spanish |
What each subtest covers
- Reading: literary texts (40%) and informational texts (60%), usually 400 to 600 words each, including poems, memoirs, essays and editorials.
- Writing: organization of ideas (22%), language facility (43%) and writing conventions (35%) in drafts you revise, plus an essay arguing your own position on two texts.
- Mathematics: numbers and operations (19%), measurement and geometry (18%), data, probability and statistics (18%) and algebraic concepts (45%).
- Science: life science (49%), physical science (28%) and earth science (23%), mostly read through experiments, tables and graphs.
- Social Studies: history (35%), civics and government (35%), economics (20%) and geography (10%), read through documents, maps and graphs.
What that means for your study
Algebra is almost half of the Math subtest, and life science is about half of Science, so those deserve the most time. Each subtest can be booked on its own day, so many people take their strongest one first.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
How does igneous rock form?
Question 3
Which of these is a legal duty of U.S. citizens rather than a voluntary responsibility?
Next step
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the HiSET?
285 multiple-choice questions across the five subtests (50 Reading, 60 Writing, 55 Math, 60 Science, 60 Social Studies) plus one essay. Some questions may not count toward your score.
How long is the HiSET?
425 minutes in all if you take every subtest: Reading 65, Writing 120, Math 90, Science 80 and Social Studies 70. You can take the subtests on different days.
Can you use a calculator on the HiSET?
The Math subtest is calculator neutral and follows your state's policy. You cannot bring your own; where one is allowed, the test center provides it.