Two major equivalency exams compete for the same candidates: the GED, taken by the overwhelming majority, and the HiSET, a five-part alternative offered by some states and testing vendors. Both signal the same thing - high-school-level academic competence - and both are widely accepted, but they differ in structure, scoring, format options, and above all availability. The right choice is usually decided before any studying happens: your state offers which test, and does your target employer or college have a stated preference? Everything below helps you answer those two questions with confidence.
Structure and Subjects
The GED packages the material into four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies - with the argumentative essay living inside RLA. The HiSET splits it five ways: Reading, Writing (which carries the essay separately), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Functionally, the content overlaps heavily - both cover algebra-level math, reading comprehension, life and physical science, civics and history, and writing skills. The split affects preparation logistics more than substance: five HiSET sections means five scheduling events and five scores to track, while the GED's four-subject model bundles reading and writing together. Candidates who are strong readers but weaker writers may prefer the GED's blended RLA; those who want writing evaluated on its own schedule tend toward HiSET's separate Writing test.
Formats and Availability
The GED is computer-based at centers and offers proctored at-home testing in most jurisdictions; paper formats have been discontinued. HiSET has historically offered both computer and paper delivery at participating sites, plus a proctored online option, depending on state and vendor - a relevant edge for candidates who write better by hand or have limited computer comfort. Availability is the real gatekeeper: some states offer only the GED, some offer both (letting you compare), and a few have historically leaned HiSET. Each state's department of education or testing commission publishes the current menu, and that document - not any blog's preference - should be your deciding source. Check it before buying prep materials; switching exams mid-prep resets your familiarity for no gain.
Scoring and What Employers See
The GED reports on its 100 to 200 scale with 145 passing, and its college-ready and college-credit bands (150, 165) are familiar to admissions offices. HiSET reports per-section scores on a 0 to 20 scale, requiring at least 8 on each of its five sections (the essay scored separately with its own minimum), plus an aggregate requirement - check current rules, as they have been adjusted over the years. To employers and colleges, both credentials read as equivalency completion; most institutions accept either, and many accept both interchangeably. Where differences appear is in specific programs: a few licensing boards or selective colleges name one exam, occasionally for historical contract reasons rather than academic ones. The pattern to rely on: name your target institution, check its admissions or licensing page for accepted tests, and let that list pick your exam. If nothing is named, pick the one your state makes easiest to sit and finish it.
GED vs HiSET - Frequently Asked Questions
Which is easier, the GED or HiSET?
Neither is meaningfully easier - both target the same high-school-equivalent standard with comparable passing thresholds. Perceived difficulty usually tracks familiarity with the format, not academic depth.
Do employers treat them differently?
Virtually never. Both are recognized high school equivalency credentials; employers ask for completion, not which vendor delivered it. Exceptions exist only where a specific board or program names one exam.
Can I take one exam in one state and the other in another?
Scores do not transfer between the two exams, and each state offers its own selection. If you move, finish your chosen exam before relocation when possible - restarting under a new vendor costs months.
Whichever test you choose, the shortcut stays the same: professional test takers sit the exam for you - confidential, 98.6% pass rate, results in 2 to 5 business days - with the basics on our pass GED fast page.