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High School Equivalency

The Massachusetts High School Equivalency credential is accepted by virtually all colleges, universities, and employers in the United States as an exact equivalent to a high school diploma. In order to earn the credential, you must take and pass one of two assessments tests, either the GED® (General Education Diploma) test or the HiSET®  (High School Equivalency Test). These tests are comparable in terms of cognitive complexity and rates of passing, but they vary in significant ways as well.  Massasoit Community College offers both exams.

Comparison of the GED and HiSET test

View a side-by-side comparison of the two tests

Massachusetts now offers free GED® and HiSET® Testing for MA Residents

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will pay for a candidate’s first GED® or HiSET®test in each subject plus two retests per subject.

Any payment of HSE exams by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is contingent on available funding.

 

GED®

For more information and to schedule your exam, please visit GED.com

First Time Testers

  • If you are scheduling your GED®test at an Official GED® test center, enter promo code MAFREEGED1 during checkout.
  • If scheduling the GED®Online Proctored test (GED OP®), enter MAFREEGED1 first then enter promo code OPMAFREEGED during checkout. Please note that the Official GED® Practice test is still required for GED OP® and the cost for these tests is paid by the test taker.

Re-Testers

  • If you are taking the retest at an Official GED®test center, enter promo code MARETAKE during checkout.
  • For GED®Online Proctored test (GED OP®) retakes, enter promo code OPMARETAKE during checkout.

 

HiSET®

For more information and to schedule your exam, please visit Hiset.org

First Time Testers

  • If you are scheduling your HiSET® test at an Official HiSET® test center, enter promo code MAHISET during checkout.

Re-Testers

  • If you are taking the retest at an Official HiSET®test center, enter promo code MAHISET during checkout.

 

Other Information

For additional information about the HSE test, under 18 requirements or testing accommodations, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Education

 

Spanish Testing

Candidates may take any GED® or HiSET® subtest in English or Spanish. English and Spanish scores may be combined toward High School Equivalency credential attainment.

All credentials will be printed in English. Transcripts will be printed in English and document test vendor (GED® or HiSET®) subtest taken, subtest score, subtest form, and subtest language.

Candidates who received a Spanish credential after 2001 may request a credential in English by contacting the DESE/ACLS HSE team in writing at HSET@mass.gov .

 

Combining GED® and HiSET® Scores

Massachusetts High School Equivalency candidates are now able to combine GED® and HiSET® subtest scores to complete the requirements of their High School Equivalency Credential.

Candidates may take subtests for either exam in any order. Passing scores will remain the same, 145 minimum per subtest for GED® and a minimum score of 8 and an average of 9 for HiSET® (minimum 2 for the essay on HiSET LA Writing).

Candidates will continue see their subtest scores on the respective assessment websites, (www.GED.com/www.hiset.org) and the combined scores will be available when the student completes their testing and the transcript is generated at www.diplomasender.com.