HSE Testing Program

Combining GED^® and HiSET^® Scores

Effective November 23, 2022, Massachusetts High School Equivalency candidates will be 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.

Please feel free to contact the HSE Team with any questions and concerns.

Free HiSET^® Testing for MA Residents Starting February 6, 2023

Effective February 6, 2023, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will pay for a candidate's first HiSET^® test in each subject plus two retakes per subject.

When scheduling your HiSET^® test at an official test center or at home enter a promo code MAHISET during the checkout.

Free GED^® Testing for MA Residents Starting September 12, 2022

Effective September 12, 2022, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will pay for a candidate's first GED^® test in each subject plus limited retakes (two retests per subject).

First Time Testers

If you are scheduling your GED^® test at an Official GED^® test center, enter promo code MAFREEGED during checkout.

If scheduling the GED^® Online Proctored test (GED OP^®), enter MAFREEGED 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.

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

The Massachusetts Board of Education has instituted a policy that community college students must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend classes on campus. Several of the community colleges have extended this mandate to include all participants of campus activities including High School Equivalency testing.

The following HSE test sites have indicated that you must produce proof of vaccination for COVID-19 before you will be allowed on campus to take the HiSET^® or GED^® exams.

• Holyoke Community College

The DESE HSE team is working with HiSET^® and GED^® to communicate this to candidates in order to prevent them from being turned away because they cannot produce a proof of COVID-19 vaccination which would then result in paying a retest fee to reschedule the test.

We will continue to keep the field informed of updates to this situation.

GED^® and HiSET^® offer a remote (at home) proctored testing option to Massachusetts candidates. To schedule an exam at home, visit the vendor websites: Introducing the Official Online GED Test - GED; HiSET Exam at Home.

If you have questions you may send an email to HSET@mass.gov with your name and phone number and someone will call you back with information.

Below is a comparison of the GED^® and HiSET^® remote proctored testing options.

Welcome to the Massachusetts State High School Equivalency Testing Program. The Massachusetts High School Equivalency Team, housed within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, oversees:

• The issuing of the Massachusetts High School Equivalency credential, a nationally-recognized document that is accepted by virtually all colleges, universities, and employers in the country as exactly equivalent to a high school diploma; and
• The administration of the tests required to earn the credential.

• DiplomaSender
  • If you previously received a GED^® or HiSET^® credential from Massachusetts but need official verification of that or a transcript of your scores.
  • If you have recently passed the GED^® test or the HiSET^® and are wondering where your credential and transcripts are.
  • If you are a school, college, employer, or other third-party entity seeking to verify that an individual previously received a GED^® or HiSET^® credential from Massachusetts.

Annually, over 3000 individuals attain their High School Equivalency in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education produced this video to help you discover how you can achieve your second chance:

• What you Need to Know to get your High School Equivalency Credential

• Lo que necesitas saber para obtener tu credencial de equivalencia de high school

Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Our office is not responsible for and does not in any way guarantee the accuracy of information in other sites accessible through links herein. DESE may supplement this list with other services and products that meet the specified criteria. For more information contact: HSET@mass.gov or 781-338-6625.

Last Updated: March 6, 2023