What is the Format?
As of January 2014, New Hampshire no longer administers the GED exam. The state instead uses the HiSET equivalency exam, which is made up of five tests: Language Arts, Writing; Language Arts, Reading; Science; Social Studies; and Mathematics. The entire test takes about seven hours to complete. Most of the questions are multiple choice. The only exception is in Part II of the Language Arts, Writing section, which consists of an essay prompt. You have 45 minutes to complete this essay.
How is the Exam Scored and What if I Don't Pass?
A minimum subtest score of 8 in each of the five areas of the test and a combined scale score of 45 are required to pass the HiSET. In the state of New Hampshire, there is no required waiting period for retesting a portion or all of the HiSET. If you purchased a battery, you can retake each subtest twice within a 12-month period; after this period, there is a fee of $15 for each subtest you are retaking. Or, you may choose to purchase a new battery.
Who is Eligible?
The following list of eligibility requirements for the HiSET is adapted from the New Hampshire Department of Education:
- You need to be a New Hampshire resident.
- You need to be 18 years old and out of school (meaning that your high school class has already graduated).
If you are under the age of 18 and your freshman high school class has not yet graduated, you can visit New Hampshire's Department of Education website at www.education.nh.gov or contact your local testing center for exceptions.
How do I Register for the HiSET and What Does it Cost?
You can register for the HiSET exam by creating a My HiSET account at www.hiset.org. In New Hampshire, if you purchase the entire battery (all five subtests), the fee is $95. This includes a $50 battery fee, $35 test center administration fee and a $10 state administration fee. If paying for individual subtests, the fee is $40 for the first test and $30 for each test after that. There are 17 official testing centers in New Hampshire. To find the nearest one, or to find answers to registration questions and general information questions, visit the New Hampshire Bureau of Adult Education at http://www.nhadulted.org/programs/hiset.
How do I Prepare?
There is no general requirement in New Hampshire that says you must attend a preparation class, though some testing centers in the state do require it. You can find HiSET study materials at www.hiset.org. The Bureau of Adult Education offers a list of locations and contact information for HiSET preparation classes. The list can be found under the Bureau of Adult Education tab on the New Hampshire Department of Education website.
