"All twelve [worker's] lockers were moved to the second floor." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: workers'. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Apostrophe Introduction.
From a community bulletin: "(1) The garden on Vine Street opened in April. (2) Thirty families rent plots there. (3) The city also runs a swimming pool on Vine Street. (4) A waiting list for plots has already formed." Which sentence should be removed?Answer: Sentence 3. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: I. Organization of Ideas, descriptor 2. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, On Paragraphs, unity.
From a complaint letter: "(1) I bought the mower on May 2. (2) It stopped running on May 9. (3) The store refused a refund because the box was open. (4) ____" Which sentence best closes the letter?Answer: I am asking for a replacement or a full refund within two weeks. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: I. Organization of Ideas, descriptor 1. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Argumentative Essays, the conclusion.
Show all 95 questions (92 more)
Language Arts – Writing, continued
From a garage manual: "(1) Finally, tighten the cap. (2) First, drain the old oil. (3) Next, pour in the new oil." Which order is most logical?Answer: 2, 3, 1. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: I. Organization of Ideas, descriptor 3. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Transitional Devices, to show sequence.
From a note to a supervisor: "I am requesting Friday off to attend a hearing. [It would be awesome if you could swing it.]" Which choice best fits the tone of the request?Answer: I would appreciate your approval. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Levels of Formality.
From a personal account: "After an hour in the downpour without a coat, Luis was [damp]." The writer wants to show that he was completely wet. Which choice is best?Answer: drenched. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 5. Rule: Wiktionary, drenched and damp.
From a shipping report: "The crates were [heavy in weight] and had to be moved by forklift." Which choice is most concise?Answer: heavy. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Eliminating Words, omit redundant categories.
From a supervisor's review: "Ana is [stubborn]; she kept testing the circuit until she found the fault." The writer means to praise her. Which choice is best?Answer: determined. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 5. Rule: Wiktionary, determined and stubborn.
From a tenant's email to a building manager: "The apartment needs new locks. ____, the hallway light has been out for a month." Which transition fits?Answer: In addition. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: I. Organization of Ideas, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Transitional Devices, to add.
From a town newsletter: "The oven was [repaired, the] bakery reopened on Tuesday." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: repaired, and the. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 3. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Run-ons, Comma Splices, Fused Sentences.
From a training notice: "The trainer asked us to arrive early, to wear closed shoes, and [that we should bring] water." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: to bring. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 1. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Parallel Structure.
From a union newsletter: "'We are all in the same boat,' the foreman said when the plant cut everyone's hours." What does the foreman mean?Answer: Everyone faces the same problem. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 3. Rule: Wiktionary, in the same boat.
From a warehouse log: "[Him and the driver] loaded the last pallet." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: He and the driver. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 1. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Pronoun Case.
From a work log: "The rain stopped. The crew went back to the roof." Which choice combines the sentences correctly?Answer: When the rain stopped, the crew went back to the roof. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 2. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Strategies for Variation: For Short, Choppy Sentences, subordination.
From a workplace profile: "The new inspector does everything ____: every form is signed, and no step is skipped." Which idiom fits?Answer: by the book. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 3. Rule: Wiktionary, by the book.
From an accident report: "Driving home from work, [a deer ran in front of Lena's car]." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: Lena saw a deer run in front of her car. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: II. Language Facility, descriptor 1. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Dangling Modifiers and How To Correct Them.
From an office sign: "We are closed on [thanksgiving and the friday] after it." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: Thanksgiving and the Friday. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, A Little Help with Capitals.
"The manager and her assistant [review] the schedule." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: NO CHANGE. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 2. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Making Subjects and Verbs Agree, rule 1.
"Of the five routes we timed, Route 9 was the [faster]." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: fastest. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 1. Rule: Writing for Success (University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition), section 2.6, Comparative versus Superlative.
"Please leave [your] badge at the front desk." Which choice best replaces the bracketed part?Answer: NO CHANGE. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Writing: III. Writing Conventions, descriptor 4. Rule: Purdue Online Writing Lab, Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike.
Language Arts – Reading 17
Passage: "'A fine day for a picnic,' Dell said, shaking the rain from his hat as the tent pole snapped behind him." What is the effect of Dell's remark?Answer: It is ironic: he says the opposite of what is true. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Beginning March 1, the Harlan County Library will lend tools as well as books. Cardholders may borrow up to two tools for seven days. Power tools require a short safety class, held on the first Saturday of each month. Late returns are charged one dollar a day." A cardholder borrows a hand saw on a Monday and returns it nine days later. What follows from the notice?Answer: She owes a late charge. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Beginning March 1, the Harlan County Library will lend tools as well as books. Cardholders may borrow up to two tools for seven days. Power tools require a short safety class, held on the first Saturday of each month. Late returns are charged one dollar a day." What must a cardholder do before borrowing a power tool?Answer: Take a safety class. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category A. Comprehension. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "My grandfather never said he was proud of me. He said, 'The tomatoes came in early,' or 'Your uncle called.' But the summer I left for the Navy, I found my boots by the door, oiled so well that water beaded on them for a year." The oiled boots most likely show that the grandfatherAnswer: showed his care through actions, not words. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "My grandfather never said he was proud of me. He said, 'The tomatoes came in early,' or 'Your uncle called.' But the summer I left for the Navy, I found my boots by the door, oiled so well that water beaded on them for a year." Which words best describe the tone of the passage?Answer: Affectionate and understated. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Notice from the water department. Daily use at Unit 4: January, 310 gallons; February, 305; March, 298; April, 520. A sudden rise that does not match your habits often points to a leak. To check, turn off every tap and watch the meter for ten minutes." What is the main purpose of the notice?Answer: To help a resident spot and check for a leak. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Notice from the water department. Daily use at Unit 4: January, 310 gallons; February, 305; March, 298; April, 520. A sudden rise that does not match your habits often points to a leak. To check, turn off every tap and watch the meter for ten minutes." Which month's reading suggests a possible leak at Unit 4?Answer: April. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Rosa Venn repaired radios in a shop the width of a hallway. When the town's only station lost its signal in the flood of her tenth year in business, she rebuilt the transmitter from parts in her bins and asked for nothing but a new sign. The sign still reads, 'Venn Radio: We Answer.'" The words on the sign, "We Answer," most likely suggest that VennAnswer: could be counted on when help was needed. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Rosa Venn repaired radios in a shop the width of a hallway. When the town's only station lost its signal in the flood of her tenth year in business, she rebuilt the transmitter from parts in her bins and asked for nothing but a new sign. The sign still reads, 'Venn Radio: We Answer.'" Which sentence best summarizes the passage?Answer: A modest repairer restored her town's radio station and asked little in return. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "Text 1: 'Four ten-hour days give workers a full extra day of rest. Our pilot crew took fewer sick days.' Text 2: 'Ten hours on a loading dock is not eight. By the ninth hour our crew's error count had doubled.'" On which point do the two texts disagree?Answer: Whether longer workdays are good for workers and their work. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category D. Synthesis and Generalization. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The bus was late again, and Inez counted the coins in her palm a third time. Exactly enough. If the driver had raised the fare, as the rumor at the laundromat said, she would walk the four miles to the interview. She smoothed the borrowed blazer and decided that four miles was not so far." The last sentence suggests that Inez isAnswer: set on reaching the interview one way or another. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The bus was late again, and Inez counted the coins in her palm a third time. Exactly enough. If the driver had raised the fare, as the rumor at the laundromat said, she would walk the four miles to the interview. She smoothed the borrowed blazer and decided that four miles was not so far." Why does Inez count her coins a third time?Answer: She has exactly the fare and fears it may have risen. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category A. Comprehension. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The city says the new parking meters will 'pay for themselves.' Perhaps. But the shops on Main Street live on customers who stop for ten minutes. Charge those customers a dollar to buy a two-dollar coffee, and they will drive to the mall, where parking is free. A meter that empties the street it stands on pays for nothing." As used in the last sentence, "empties" most nearly meansAnswer: drives people away from. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category A. Comprehension. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The city says the new parking meters will 'pay for themselves.' Perhaps. But the shops on Main Street live on customers who stop for ten minutes. Charge those customers a dollar to buy a two-dollar coffee, and they will drive to the mall, where parking is free. A meter that empties the street it stands on pays for nothing." Which fact, if true, would most weaken the author's argument?Answer: Sales rose on a nearby street after meters were installed there. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The city says the new parking meters will 'pay for themselves.' Perhaps. But the shops on Main Street live on customers who stop for ten minutes. Charge those customers a dollar to buy a two-dollar coffee, and they will drive to the mall, where parking is free. A meter that empties the street it stands on pays for nothing." Which statement best expresses the author's viewpoint?Answer: The meters may drive shoppers away and hurt Main Street. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: II. Informational Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The river does not argue with the stone; / it leans, and leans, and lets the years go by, / until the stone, grown smooth, grown small, is gone, / and no one heard the river raise a cry." In the poem, the stone most likely stands forAnswer: an obstacle that seems impossible to move. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category B. Inference and Interpretation. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Passage: "The river does not argue with the stone; / it leans, and leans, and lets the years go by, / until the stone, grown smooth, grown small, is gone, / and no one heard the river raise a cry." Which statement best expresses the theme of the poem?Answer: Quiet persistence can wear down what force cannot. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Language Arts – Reading: I. Literary Texts; process category C. Analysis. The passage printed in the question is the only source.
Mathematics 18
A conveyor belt moves 168 boxes past a scanner in 3.5 minutes. At that rate, how long does it take to move 600 boxes?Answer: 12.5 minutes. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: I. Numbers and Operations on Numbers, descriptor 4. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A freight elevator is rated for 2,100 pounds. A loaded cart weighs 340 pounds, and each sack of cement weighs 94 pounds. What is the greatest number of sacks that can ride up with the cart?Answer: 18. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 9. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A grain silo is a cylinder 8 meters across and 15 meters tall. The volume of a cylinder is πr²h. What is the silo's volume?Answer: 240π m³. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: II. Measurement/Geometry, descriptor 5. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A kayak rental costs an $18 launch fee plus $7.50 for each half hour on the water. One renter paid $63. For how many half hours did she rent?Answer: 6. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 4. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A line of best fit for a courier's records is y = 2.5x + 40, where y is the cost of a delivery in dollars and x is its distance in miles. What does 2.5 stand for?Answer: The cost rises $2.50 for each added mile. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: III. Data Analysis/Probability/Statistics, descriptor 2. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A repair shop bills $148 for parts and adds a 15% service charge to that amount. A $20 deposit already paid is then taken off. How much is still owed?Answer: $150.20. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: I. Numbers and Operations on Numbers, descriptor 6. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A server's tips for five shifts were $42, $57, $38, $65 and $48. What was the mean tip for a shift?Answer: $50. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: III. Data Analysis/Probability/Statistics, descriptor 5. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A surveyor plots a well at (−7, 4) and a gate at (8, −4) on a site grid measured in meters. What is the straight-line distance from the well to the gate?Answer: 17 meters. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: II. Measurement/Geometry, descriptor 3. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
A tank's water level h, in centimeters, is recorded at time t, in minutes: at t = 1, h = 4; at t = 3, h = 13; at t = 5, h = 22. What is the average rate of change of h from t = 1 to t = 5?Answer: 4.5 cm per minute. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 14. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
An array of solar panels covers a rectangle of 91 square meters. The rectangle is 6 meters longer than it is wide. How wide is it?Answer: 7 meters. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 3. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
An inspector picks 2 fuses at random from a box of 9, without putting the first one back. Three of the 9 fuses are faulty. What is the probability that neither fuse she picks is faulty?Answer: 5/12. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: III. Data Analysis/Probability/Statistics, descriptor 3. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
The function V(t) = 18,000 − 1,450t gives the resale value, in dollars, of a pickup truck t years after it was bought. What does the statement V(4) = 12,200 mean?Answer: Four years after it was bought, the truck is worth $12,200. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 11. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
The perimeter of an isosceles triangle with two sides of length a and a base of length b is P = 2a + b. Which equation gives a in terms of P and b?Answer: a = (P − b) ÷ 2. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 10. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
The product of √3 and which of these numbers is rational?Answer: √12. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: I. Numbers and Operations on Numbers, descriptor 1. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
Two straight roads cross. One of the four angles at the crossing measures (4x + 6)°, and the angle directly opposite it measures (6x − 30)°. What is x?Answer: 18. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: II. Measurement/Geometry, descriptor 7. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
What is (3.2 × 10⁵) × (4 × 10⁻²)?Answer: 1.28 × 10⁴. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: I. Numbers and Operations on Numbers, descriptor 3. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
What is the product (3x − 4)(2x + 5)?Answer: 6x² + 7x − 20. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 2. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
Which ordered pair (x, y) solves both equations? 2x + y = 11 and x − y = 4Answer: (5, 1). Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Mathematics: IV. Algebraic Concepts, descriptor 7. The answer is worked out from the numbers in the question.
Science 20
A child has the same rare eye color as her mother. Which unit of inheritance, passed from parent to offspring, carries the information for such a trait?Answer: A gene. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 4. Fact: National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Gene.
A delivery drone flies 54 kilometers in 1.5 hours. What is its average speed?Answer: 36 kilometers per hour. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 2. The results printed in the question are the only data.
A pea plant has the genotype Tt and grows tall. What does the word "tall" describe?Answer: The plant's phenotype. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 4. Fact: National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Phenotype.
A phone charger grows warm while it charges a phone. Not all of the electrical energy it draws ends up stored in the battery. By the law of conservation of energy, what became of the rest?Answer: It changed into another form of energy, here heat. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 3. Fact: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained: Laws of energy.
A root tip grows as its cells divide by mitosis. One of its cells has 16 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does each of its two daughter cells have?Answer: 16. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 4. Fact: National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Mitosis.
A stain that sticks to chromosomes is added to a plant cell that is not dividing. Which part of the cell takes up the stain?Answer: The nucleus. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 3. Fact: National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Nucleus.
A student hangs a bar magnet from a string and brings the north pole of a second magnet toward one end of it. That end swings away. What is that end of the hanging magnet?Answer: A north pole. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 3. Fact: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained: Magnets and electricity.
A student set a lamp beside a jar of pondweed in water and counted the oxygen bubbles the plant gave off in a minute at four lamp distances: 10 cm, 34 bubbles; 20 cm, 21; 30 cm, 12; 40 cm, 6. What did the student change on purpose from one trial to the next?Answer: The distance of the lamp from the jar. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 1. The results printed in the question are the only data.
A student set a lamp beside a jar of pondweed in water and counted the oxygen bubbles the plant gave off in a minute at four lamp distances: 10 cm, 34 bubbles; 20 cm, 21; 30 cm, 12; 40 cm, 6. Which conclusion do these results support?Answer: The farther the lamp, the fewer bubbles the plant gave off. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 1. The results printed in the question are the only data.
A student timed 10 swings of a pendulum with three string lengths, using the same weight each time: 20 cm, 9.0 seconds; 40 cm, 12.7 seconds; 80 cm, 17.9 seconds. The student now wants to know whether the weight affects the swing time. What should she do?Answer: Keep one string length and change only the weight. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 2. The results printed in the question are the only data.
A student timed 10 swings of a pendulum with three string lengths, using the same weight each time: 20 cm, 9.0 seconds; 40 cm, 12.7 seconds; 80 cm, 17.9 seconds. Which conclusion do these results support?Answer: A longer string gave a longer time for 10 swings. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 2. The results printed in the question are the only data.
A weather balloon climbs through the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere. What happens to the air temperature around it as it rises?Answer: It falls. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: III. Earth Science, descriptor 2. Fact: NOAA JetStream, Layers of the Atmosphere.
Dry air is about 78% nitrogen and about 21% oxygen. About what share is left for argon, carbon dioxide and every other gas together?Answer: About 1%. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: III. Earth Science, descriptor 1. Fact: NOAA JetStream, The Atmosphere.
In a field, mice eat seeds, snakes eat mice, and hawks eat snakes. What is the hawk in this food chain?Answer: A tertiary consumer. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 2. Fact: NOAA Education, Aquatic food webs.
In the lungs, oxygen from the air moves into the blood. Which gas moves the other way, from the blood into the lungs, to be breathed out?Answer: Carbon dioxide. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 4. Fact: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, How the Lungs Work.
Owls hunt mice by sight. Researchers trapped and released mice in two places. On pale sand dunes, 82% of the mice had pale fur. On dark soil nearby, 15% had pale fur. Which explanation best fits these results?Answer: Fur that matches the ground hides a mouse, so more such mice survive and breed. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 1. The results printed in the question are the only data.
The same amount of water was left for two days in three open dishes of different widths. Water lost: dish 5 cm wide, 8 mL; dish 10 cm wide, 30 mL; dish 15 cm wide, 71 mL. Which conclusion do these results support?Answer: The wider the dish, the more water evaporated. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: III. Earth Science, descriptor 2. The results printed in the question are the only data.
Water rushes forward out of a fire hose, and the firefighter must lean in to keep the hose from kicking backward. Which statement explains the backward push?Answer: For every force there is an equal and opposite force. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: II. Physical Science, descriptor 2. Fact: NASA Glenn Research Center, Newton's Laws of Motion.
Waves from an earthquake were timed at three stations. Station A, 100 km away: 20 seconds. Station B, 200 km away: 40 seconds. Station C, 300 km away: 60 seconds. At the same speed, how far away is a station the waves reach after 90 seconds?Answer: 450 km. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: III. Earth Science, descriptor 2. The results printed in the question are the only data.
Yeast cells were counted each day in a sealed flask of sugar water. Day 1: 2,000 cells per milliliter. Day 2: 9,000. Day 3: 31,000. Day 4: 44,000. Day 5: 45,000. Which statement best describes the growth?Answer: It was fast at first and nearly stopped by Day 5. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Science: I. Life Science, descriptor 1. The results printed in the question are the only data.
Social Studies 20
A city bans a peaceful march because its officials dislike the marchers' message. Which amendment protects "the right of the people peaceably to assemble"?Answer: The First Amendment. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 1. Fact: National Archives, The Bill of Rights: A Transcription, Amendment I.
A country places a 10% tax on steel brought in from other countries. What is this tax called?Answer: A tariff. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: III. Economics, descriptor 2. Fact: International Trade Administration, Import Tariffs and Fees Overview and Resources.
A county's census records show: 1990, 40,000 people, 62% rural; 2000, 52,000 people, 48% rural; 2010, 71,000 people, 31% rural. Which statement describes the change?Answer: The county grew and became more urban. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: IV. Geography, descriptor 3. The figures printed in the question are the only data.
A farm stand kept records for three weeks. At $1 a pound, customers bought 80 pounds of apples a day. At $2 a pound, they bought 55 pounds. At $3 a pound, they bought 30 pounds. Which statement describes these records?Answer: As the price rose, customers bought fewer pounds. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: III. Economics, descriptor 1. The figures printed in the question are the only data.
A proposed amendment has been ratified by the legislatures of 38 of the 50 states. Article V asks for three fourths of the states. Is the amendment part of the Constitution?Answer: Yes. Three fourths of 50 is 37.5, so 38 states are enough. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 3. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Article V.
A ship reports its position as 0 degrees latitude. Where is the ship?Answer: On the equator. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: IV. Geography, descriptor 1. Fact: NOAA National Ocean Service, What is latitude?.
After a veto, a bill is voted on again with every member present: 285 to 150 in the House and 70 to 30 in the Senate. Article I asks for two thirds of each house. Does the bill become law?Answer: No. The House vote falls short of two thirds. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Article I, section 7.
Article I lets Congress "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers." What does this clause allow?Answer: Laws that Congress needs in order to carry out its listed powers. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Article I, section 8.
Article II lets the President make treaties only "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate ... provided two thirds of the Senators present concur." What does this rule do?Answer: It gives the Senate a check on the President's power to make treaties. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Article II, section 2.
Before the 1930s, support for the elderly was a matter for families and for local and state governments. What moved Congress to pass the Social Security Act in 1935?Answer: The widespread suffering of the Great Depression. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Social Security Act (1935).
Congress votes to lower income taxes and to spend more on roads. What kind of policy is this?Answer: Fiscal policy. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: III. Economics, descriptor 2. Fact: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, FAQ: the difference between monetary policy and fiscal policy.
Dana borrows $1,500 at 6% simple interest a year and repays the loan after 4 years. How much interest does she pay?Answer: $360. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: III. Economics, descriptor 3. Fact: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is the difference between a loan interest rate and the APR?.
The Declaration of Independence says that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." According to this passage, where does a government's rightful power come from?Answer: The agreement of the people it governs. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 1. Fact: National Archives, Declaration of Independence: A Transcription.
The Homestead Act of 1862 granted 160 acres of public land to a settler who paid a small fee and lived on the land for five years. What was the act's main effect?Answer: It sped up the settlement of the western territory. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 3. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Homestead Act (1862).
The Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803 added 828,000 square miles west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. What did it do to the size of the United States?Answer: It doubled it. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 3. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803).
Under Article I, members of the House of Representatives are chosen every second year, and senators serve for six years. Which statement follows?Answer: A senator's term is three times as long as a representative's. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Article I, sections 2 and 3.
When World War II ended in 1945, Europe's cities and economies lay in ruins. Why did the United States offer the aid known as the Marshall Plan, signed into law in 1948?Answer: To rebuild Europe's economies as fear of Soviet expansion grew. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 3. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Marshall Plan (1948).
Which list puts these four events in order from earliest to latest?Answer: Louisiana Purchase, Emancipation Proclamation, Social Security Act, Truman Doctrine. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 2. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Louisiana Purchase Treaty, Emancipation Proclamation, Social Security Act, Truman Doctrine.
Which statement about the Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, is accurate?Answer: It did not end slavery everywhere in the nation. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: I. History, descriptor 3. Fact: National Archives, Milestone Documents: Emancipation Proclamation (1863).
Which statement about voting is an opinion and not a fact?Answer: Eighteen is too young to vote wisely. Source: HiSET Test at a Glance, Social Studies: II. Civics/Government, descriptor 1. Fact: National Archives, The Constitution: Amendments 11-27.
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the five sections of the HiSET Test at a Glance (PSI Services LLC, copyright 2025, https://hiset.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/taag.pdf, read 2026-10-12): Reading 50 questions, Writing 60 and an essay, Mathematics 55, Science 60, Social Studies 60. The bank holds one third of each count (17, 20, 18, 20, 20), split inside each subtest by the content shares the outline gives. Reading passages, drafts, investigations and data tables are our own. Each stated fact was read on 2026-10-12 in the page its question names (National Archives, Federal Reserve Board, International Trade Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, NASA, NOAA, USGS, U.S. Energy Information Administration, National Institutes of Health; writing rules in the Purdue Online Writing Lab). Every mathematics answer was worked a second time. Licence: Questions, passages, choices and explanations are original work of this site. Quoted lines of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and its amendments are in the public domain.
How it works
This free HiSET practice test has 95 questions of our own across the five subtests, each with its reason. It is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by PSI Services LLC, the owner of the HiSET exam.
Read the full guide
A third of every subtest
This bank holds a third of the questions HiSET's Test at a Glance lists for each subtest: 17 reading, 20 writing, 18 mathematics, 20 science and 20 social studies.
What is shorter here
Real reading texts run 400 to 600 words, and the writing subtest adds an essay. Here every passage, draft and table is short enough for a phone screen, and no essay is marked.
The test fee includes two free retakes of a subtest within 12 months, HiSET's 2026 bulletin says. Your state's rules may add limits.
Each subtest may hold some unscored questions, and the outline does not say which.
Questions and answers
Is this a free HiSET practice test?
Yes: free, with no sign-up, and unofficial. Every question was written for this site to HiSET's published outline. None is copied or reworded from a real test, a released form or an official practice test.
What score do you need to pass the HiSET?
Three things, by HiSET's Test Taker Bulletin 2026: at least 8 of 20 on each of the five subtests, at least 2 of 6 on the essay, and a combined score of at least 45.
Which states use the HiSET?
HiSET's state page, read October 12, 2026, lists 26 states, among them California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and five Pacific jurisdictions. Each sets its own age, residency and fee rules.
Is this the HiSET practice test for 2018 or 2019?
Neither year's form is here. The questions are new, written to the outline PSI Services published in 2025. HiSET's own free practice tests, up to form FPT9, are on hiset.org with their answer keys.
How long is the HiSET test?
The five subtests add up to 425 minutes in English: reading 65, writing 120, mathematics 90, science 80 and social studies 70.