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HiSET Social Studies Practice Test

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If you want the best chance at passing the HiSET then the Smart Edition HiSET course will provide all the material and resources you need to succeed on the test.

How do you pass the HiSET social studies test?

The HiSET social studies test comprises four sections and will contain 60 questions in 70 minutes, here are the sections and the approximate percentage of questions from each section you will see on the test:

  • History (35%)
  • Civics/government (35%)
  • Economics (20%)
  • Geography (10%)

The best way to begin preparing for the HiSET social studies test is to take a HiSET social studies practice test. This will give you an idea of what kinds of questions are on the test and which areas you need to focus on. You can read more about the HiSET on the official website. 

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Once you have taken a practice test and determined which areas you need to focus on, you can begin studying for the HiSET social studies test efficiently.

We recommend studying 3-5 topics that you scored the lowest on the HiSET social studies practice test. Study each topic at least twice a week.

Each study session should be at least 45-60 minutes and include answering practice test questions and reviewing educational material such as videos or online lessons from a HiSET online course. Each study session should focus on only 1 specific topic at a time.

After a few weeks of studying, retake a HiSET practice test and see what areas you have improved in and what areas need some continued studying.

Continue this pattern of taking a HiSET practice test and studying for a few weeks as you approach your test date.

What kind of questions are on the social studies HiSET test?

All of the HiSET social studies section questions are multiple-choice questions. There are four question categories; history, civics/government, economics, and geography. To find the correct answer for each question, students will need to interpret, apply knowledge, analyze, and evaluate the information asked in each question. You can see examples of HiSET social studies practice questions on the HiSET official website. 

The social studies section will present students with various forms of content to answer questions about timelines, charts, short passages, historical documents, or illustration images.

Questions about history on the HiSET assessment ask students about specific areas in world and United States history, including important figures, happenings, economic climate, and major events in a given time period.

Questions about economics will relate to consumer economics, supply and demand, competition, labor markets, globalization, and economic systems.

Questions on civics and government topics are based on the various types of governments, citizenship, historical systems of governments, the US Constitution and other important legal US documents such as the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and more.

Questions on geography will test a student’s ability to answer questions about maps and charts and physical geographies such as continents and oceans.

What is a passing score on HiSET?

The HiSET is scored on a point system from 1-20 on each subtest. The minimum passing score for each section is an 8 out of 20 and a combined score of at least 45 points to pass the HiSET. Students must also score a minimum of 2 on the Language Arts – Writing essay to pass the HiSET.You can read more on HiSET scoring on the official HiSET website.

Is the HiSET test easier than the GED?

The HiSET test is considered slightly easier by some test takers primarily because the math section is slightly different and considered easier on the HiSET. 

The HiSET and GED are both high school equivalency tests that test students on similar subjects. The main difference between the GED and HiSET is how the tests are administered and formatted. The GED is a computerized test and must be administered online, whereas the HiSET has a paper and computerized version.

The core questions for each subtest are very similar, and both tests require students to write an essay as part of their examination.

How many questions are on the HiSET social studies test?

The HiSET social studies section is a 60-question subtest, and students are provided with a 70-minute time limit. The 60 questions are all multiple choice questions.

What are some social studies questions?

HiSET social studies questions will either ask questions based on historical events, present information such as a passage, excerpt, or image such as a chart or map.

Examples of HiSET social studies questions include:

  • Why do maps have some degree of distortion?
  • Under the US Constitution, which body has the sole authority to declare war?
  • What was the primary goal of the Confederacy in fighting the civil war?
  • Which branch of the federal government can veto legislation?
  • In which of the following periods was population growth in the South and West most evident?
  • Which religion has the fewest cities listed in this table or chart?
  • Which of the following is the best example of an investment in human resources?

What are the differences between HiSET and GED tests? Check out HiSET vs GED. Don’t miss the Free Science Practice Test here.

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If you want the best chance for scoring high then the Smart Edition HiSET course will provide all the material and resources you need to succeed on the test.

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