HiSET passing score: 8 on every subtest, 45 in total, 2 on the essay
To pass the HiSET you need three things at once: at least 8 out of 20 on each of the five subtests, at least 2 out of 6 on the essay, and a total of at least 45 across the five subtests. Because 5 × 8 is only 40, scraping 8 everywhere is not enough: you need five more points somewhere. 15 or more on a subtest is the college and career readiness range.
- 8
- minimum on each subtest
- 45
- minimum total
- 2 of 6
- minimum on the essay
- 15
- college and career ready
Last checked · Rules from the HiSET program's own pages
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All five HiSET subtests, timed, scored one by one.
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What score do I need to pass the HiSET?
All three rules at once: 8 or more on every subtest, 2 or more on the essay, and 45 or more in total.
| Each subtest | At least 8 out of 20Published by the ownerHiSET, "Get your scores" |
|---|---|
| Essay | At least 2 out of 6Published by the ownerHiSET, "Get your scores" |
| Total of the five subtests | At least 45 out of 100Published by the ownerHiSET, "Get your scores" |
| College and career readiness | 15 or more on a subtest, 4 or more on the essayPublished by the ownerHiSET, "Get your scores" |
How do the HiSET rules work in practice?
A single subtest under 8 fails the whole credential, and scraping 8 on all five gives only 40, five short of the total.
| Subtest scores | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 (essay 3) | 40 | Not yet: every subtest is 8, but the total is under 45 |
| 10, 9, 7, 12, 11 (essay 4) | 49 | Not yet: math, at 7, is under 8 |
| 9, 10, 8, 9, 10 (essay 2) | 46 | Passes: all at least 8, essay 2, total 46 |
| 12, 13, 15, 11, 14 (essay 4) | 65 | Passes, with math in the college and career readiness range |
What does the HiSET passing score mean for how I study?
Get the weakest subtest safely above 8 first, then push your two strongest to 10 or more so the total clears 45 with room to spare.
The raw-to-scale conversion is not published and changes from form to form, so nobody can tell you exactly how many questions earn an 8. Aim well clear of the line on practice tests rather than just over it. On our practice tests we treat 65% right in a subtest as on track.
Measure all five with the free HiSET-style practice test, then drill the lowest subtest on the HiSET test guide. For how the GED handles the same problem, where each subject must reach 145 with no total, see HiSET vs GED.
What HiSET score counts as college and career ready?
15 or more on a subtest, and 4 or more on the essay. That range signals the skills colleges and employers look for, beyond the pass mark.
Some colleges and training programs use the college and career readiness range when deciding placement, so a subtest at 15 can save you a placement test or a non-credit course. Ask the program you plan to join whether it uses HiSET scores this way.
If you are well clear of 8 everywhere, the readiness range is a sensible next target for the subtests that matter for your plans: usually Math and the two Language Arts subtests.
What happens if I miss one HiSET subtest?
You retake that subtest; the others stand. Your state sets how many retakes you get, how long you wait and what each one costs.
Because the total has to reach 45, a retake can do two jobs at once: lift a subtest from under 8, and add the points the total is missing. Plan the retake around the skills your score report lists, and confirm with an official HiSET practice test before you rebook.
Our drills on the HiSET test guide give you 12 timed questions for any subtest, and the HiSET math practice test covers the formulas that are not on the sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing score on the HiSET?
Can a strong subtest make up for a weak one?
What is a good HiSET score?
How many questions do I need right to pass a HiSET subtest?
Know every subtest clears 8 before you book
8 full tests scored subtest by subtest and 20 subtest drills, in one payment with no subscription.
The HiSET Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 20 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The HiSET Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 20
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor