HiSET FORMAT AND TEST DATES

The HiSET, or High School Equivalency Test, is a nationally-available standardized test. In 2023, the California Department of Education stopped using the CHSPE (the previous state high school equivalence test) and adopted the HiSET instead for the California Proficiency Program (CPP). It is for students who would like to explore alternative options for their education and professional life. The test measures students’ skills in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Passing all three sections earns a student a Certificate of Proficiency, which is the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Students who are under 18 can take the HiSET to gain the equivalent of a high school diploma. This might be necessary if you are in entertainment or competitive athletics and cannot fit in a regular school curriculum at the same time as your other responsibilities. Other students take the HiSET because the high school environment just isn’t a good match for them and are looking to attend a community college or university without the typical high school requirements.

Each subtest is administered and timed separately, though the Writing subtest includes multiple-choice and essay sections and allows students to divide up their two hours of time as they choose. Students can take one or two subtests per day according to their personal preference and scheduling.

HiSET Proficiency test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year. Students who pass one or two sections of the test only needs to retake the section(s) they did not pass.