HiSET vs GED: The Key Differences and Which Test Your State Offers

HiSET vs GED: which test does your state offer?

For most people the HiSET vs GED question is settled by geography, not preference. Each state decides which high school equivalency test it offers, so the first step is to see which one your state uses. Both test owners publish a list. We compared them as checked on November 1, 2026:

The HiSET side comes from HiSET's state requirements page, which says that if your state is not listed, it may not offer the HiSET yet. The GED side comes from GED Testing Service's state-by-state table, which marks in-person testing as offered or not for each state and territory. HiSET's list also includes a separate California Proficiency entry, which is a different program for high school students, not the equivalency test.

Lists change. New Jersey and West Virginia both moved off the HiSET within the last few years, so treat this table as a starting point and confirm with your state's adult education or high school equivalency office before you start studying.

How do the HiSET and GED tests differ?

Both lead to a high school equivalency credential, and on paper their total testing time is the same. The differences are in how the content is divided, what the questions look like, and how a pass is calculated.

Two rows deserve a closer look.

The passing rule. The GED asks for 145 in every subject, and a strong subject cannot make up for a weak one. The HiSET asks for 8 out of 20 in every subtest and a total of at least 45, which means five bare 8s (40 points) fail. On the HiSET, extra points in one subtest do help with the total, but they never rescue a subtest below 8. The GED's own guide to how the 145 passing score works covers that side in detail.

Reading and writing. The HiSET splits them into two subtests, a 65-minute Reading test and a 120-minute Writing test with its essay. The GED combines them in one 150-minute Reasoning Through Language Arts test. If you are stronger in one of the two skills, the HiSET lets you pass them separately, and full HiSET prep planned for launch is organized by the five subtests, so a candidate can work on only the ones still open.

Is the HiSET easier than the GED?

We found no official comparison of difficulty from PSI or GED Testing Service, and pass rates for different groups of test takers would not answer the question for you anyway. What you can compare is the format, and the format affects people differently:

• Question style. HiSET questions are mostly single-answer multiple choice. The GED mixes in drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, select-an-area, and drop-down items. If unfamiliar formats slow you down, that difference is real.
• Calculator. The GED gives an on-screen calculator on part of Math and in Science and Social Studies. The HiSET's Mathematics subtest is "calculator neutral": you can ask the test center for a four-function or scientific calculator, and some states set the model.
• Formulas. Both provide formula help, but the HiSET's brief names three formulas you must already know: distance = rate × time, the Pythagorean Theorem, and the quadratic formula.
• The total. Only the HiSET adds a combined-score requirement on top of the per-subtest minimums.

So the honest answer is that neither test is easier for everyone. If your state offers both, try official sample questions from each before you choose, and on the HiSET side the 20 free HiSET practice questions give you four original items from each subtest with an explanation for every option. The three formulas above are a good job for short daily recall, which is what the 500 recall flashcards planned for HiSET prep are for.

Can you switch from the HiSET to the GED, or combine scores?

That is a state decision, and the rules differ. Two state pages on hiset.org show how far apart they can be:

• Massachusetts: since November 23, 2022, candidates may combine GED and HiSET subtest scores to complete the state's credential requirements.
• New Jersey: after the state stopped offering the HiSET on June 1, 2023, its page says a candidate who had started the HiSET may take the remaining subjects with the GED and then contact the New Jersey Department of Education about the diploma.

Do not assume either rule applies elsewhere. If you have already passed some subtests on one test, ask your state's high school equivalency office before you register for the other. On the HiSET side, hiset.org says your scores stay valid if you move to another state and remain visible in your HiSET account; check the new state's credential rules before you count on them.

How to choose between the HiSET and GED when your state offers both

When both tests are open to you, a short check settles it:

1. Confirm both are current in your state. Use the state's own education page, not only a vendor list.
2. Read the extra requirements. Iowa, which offers only the HiSET on these lists, requires adult education instruction and an official half-length HiSET practice test before testing. Online GED testing requires a "green" GED Ready result within the last 60 days for each subject you test online.
3. Check the testing options you need. HiSET language, format, and online options vary by state, and Maine's page says its HiSET is offered only in English. GED's table marks online testing as unavailable in some states, including Florida and New York.
4. Compare the fees on your state's pages. Both tests set prices by state.
5. Try the format. Work a few sample questions from each test and notice which style you handle more calmly.

If you land on the HiSET, start with what each subtest covers in our guide to what is on the HiSET test, then plan around the subtests you still need. When you want structured review on top of the free tools, check what full HiSET prep will include when it opens.

HiSET vs GED FAQ

Is a HiSET credential the same as a GED credential?

Both lead to a high school equivalency credential. hiset.org says that after you pass all five subtests and meet your state's requirements, you receive a high school equivalency diploma or certificate from your state. GED's price page lists a transcript and diploma as part of the test.

Which test is shorter?

On paper, neither. The HiSET's five subtests and the GED's four subjects each add up to 425 minutes of listed time, and both let you take the parts at different appointments.

Do I have to take the same test in every subject?

Ask your state before you mix them. Massachusetts lets candidates combine GED and HiSET subtest scores, and New Jersey let candidates who had started the HiSET finish with the GED, but those are state rules, not national ones.