High School Equivalency Program

The GED and HiSet tests give you the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma. The GED tests are four tests in the areas of Language Arts, Reading/Writing, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. The Student Success Center offers High School Equivalency Diploma test preparation classes.

You are eligible to take the tests if you are not enrolled in, and have not graduated from high school, and you are 18 or older (or within 60 days of your 18th birthday at the time of testing) and are a current resident of California. Applicants must register to take the test online. 

For details about test registration, call Iveta at 818-240-1000 ext. 5050 or come in person to Garfield Campus, MP 211.

 

 

Overview

The HiSET test is about 7 hours long, with the timing for each subject area as follows:

Language Arts - Reading test is 65 minutes long, with 40 multiple choice questions.

• Content Categories are Literary Text and Informational Texts
• Process Categories include Comprehension, inference and interpretation, analysis and synthesis, and generalization

Language Arts - Writing test is 120 minutes long with two sections.

• Part 1 - 75 minutes with 50 multiple choice questions. These include organization of ideas, language facility, and writing conventions.
• Part 2 - 45 minutes for the Essay Question. This focuses on development of ideas, organization of ideas, language facility, and writing conventions.

Mathematics test is 90 minutes long, with 50 multiple choice questions.

• Content categories are numbers and operations on numbers; measurement and geometry; data analysis, probability, and statistics; and algebraic concepts.
• Process categories include understanding mathematical concepts and procedures, analysis and interpretation of information, and synthesis and solution of problems.

Science test is 80 minutes long, with 50 multiple choice questions.

• Content categories include Life, Physical, and Earth Sciences.
• Process categories involve interpretation and application, analysis and evaluation and generalization.

Social Studies test is 70 minutes long, with 50 multiple choice questions.

• Content categories include history, civics and government, economics, and geography.
• Process categories involve interpretation and application, analysis and evaluation, and generalization.

Each subject test has a total score of 20 points, with 8 being the minimum passing score for each test. Scores of 15 and above are considered "college and career readiness". No average is required, but test takers need a total score of at least 45 from the 5 subtests. 

Overview

The GED® test will be about 7 hours long with the timing for each subject area as follows:

The Reasoning Through Language Arts test is 150 minutes long, and testing is broken down into three sections:

• Section 1 (35 minutes*) tests all content
• Section 2 (45 minutes) is the Extended Response portion of the test
• Student break (10 minutes)
• Section 3 (60 minutes*) tests all content
  *The time allotted for sections 1 and 3 may vary slightly, but the total test time will always be 150 minutes.

The Mathematical Reasoning test is 90 minutes long, and is one single section.

• Part 1 – Calculators not allowed (five questions)
• Part 2 – Calculators allowed

Students must submit their answers to the first five questions before moving on to the rest of the test. These parts are not timed separately.

The Social Studies test is 90 minutes long, and testing is broken down into two sections:

• Section 1 (65 minutes) tests all content
• Section 2 (25 minutes) is the Extended Response portion of the test

The Science test is 90 minutes long, and is one single section.

• There are two Short Answer questions included on the test, but they are not timed separately.
• Students are expected to manage their time and spend about 10 minutes on each of the Short Answer questions.

GED Scoring Information

• Each subject test has a total of 200 points.
• 145 points is a passing score for each test.
• Scores of 170 or above are considered college and career readiness.

Registered students, who successfully pass the High School Equivalency tests or completed High School Diploma requirements, are welcomed to attend our cap and gown graduation. 

• Certificates of achievement are also awarded by subject area.

• Graduates are encouraged to invite family and friends to join in the celebration. 

• Graduates of the Student Success Center program may apply for one of our $250 scholarships as they transition to the Verdugo Campus.