Get Your Diploma

The GED® assessment is composed of four content area tests.  In order to earn Mississippi’s HSED testers must receive a passing score in all four content area tests.    The entire 4‐module 2014 GED® test is approximately eight hours (modules can be taken one or more at a time) with the timing as follows: 

• Reasoning through Language Arts – 150 minutes (including an optional 10‐minute break) 
• Mathematical Reasoning – 115 minutes 
• Science – 90 minutes 
• Social Studies – 70 minutes  

Scoring 

A minimum score of 145 is required for each test module (580 overall) to obtain a HSED. The scoring levels are as follows: 

• Below passing: 100‐144 
• Passing: 145‐164 
• GED® College Ready: 165 or higher 
• GED® College Ready + Credit: 175 or higher   

Registering

Registration to take the GED® is done online at www.GED.com.  However, the tests are administered on computer at an official GED® testing site selected during scheduling. All testing fees must be paid at the time of scheduling.

Fees & Retakes 

The GED® examination is composed of four content area test modules.  Each individual test module costs $36.00, for a total of $144.00 for the complete examination. 

Retake Policy 

You will receive one discounted retake for every GED® test subject you purchase but don’t pass. You have 365 days after your full-price test to use this retake. After receiving one retake at the reduced price, the price of the test subject returns to the regular price. If you do not pass that subject again, you will receive one more retake at the reduced rate. GED® Testing Service waives its $26 testing fee, however additional testing fees may still apply in your state.

In Mississippi, there is a $10 test center fee for test retakes.

The General Education Development Testing Service (GEDTS) allows individuals to take the test three times (First attempt + two retakes) without any waiting period.  After the third attempt, testers must wait 60‐days after their last attempt before they can test again.  This is a GEDTS policy and the state cannot make any exceptions for shortening this waiting period. Testers are advised to take this waiting period into account before attempting a test for a third time, as this could impact the timing of being able to apply for admission to a postsecondary institution or begin employment. The 60-day waiting period, once invoked, is permanent and does not reset at any time.

Accommodations 

The General Education Development (GED®) Testing Service provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate a need. Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case‐by‐case basis. All accommodation requests are processed through GEDTS Accommodations. The Mississippi HSE Office does not approve any accommodation requests.   

Procedure: Before requesting testing accommodations, testers complete the following steps:   

• Create a MyGED® account by signing up on www.GED.com or log in to their MyGED® account if you already have an active account. 
• Answer “Yes” on the GED® Testing Service Registration form on the last question asking, “Do you need to request accommodated testing conditions for a documented disability?”  
• Once the registration form is submitted, you will receive more information from GEDTS indicating how to submit your accommodations request form and supporting documentation.   
• The accommodations request decision will be communicated by GEDTS to the email account provided during the registration process. In most cases, a decision will be communicated within 30 days of receipt of all required documents. 

View list of accommodation types that can be requested, along with the procedure for delivering the accommodated tests at https://GED.com/about_test/accommodations/. 

Paper & Pencil/Braille Accommodations 

In very limited circumstances, a test taker may request an accommodation to take the GED® test on paper & pencil or in Braille.  Testers approved for a paper & pencil or Braille accommodation take the exam in a separate room with the assistance of a recorder, who enters the tester’s responses into the computer as the tester takes the paper exam. Even though the tester’s responses are recorded in the computer, the tester records his or her answers on the paper exam as well. For Braille testers and those otherwise physically unable to record answers on paper, the recorder must record the tester’s response on the paper exam as well as the computer. 

Testers may appeal an accommodation decision. Testers must complete the “Request for Testing Accommodations Appeal” and provide additional documentation to review. Disability experts review all appeal requests.  GEDTS is the contact for all accommodations requests, including appeals.  GEDTS accommodations questions can be sent to accommodations@GEDtestingservice.com.   For more information, visit the GED® Testing Accommodations webpage.

Language Versions and Combination of Scores 

The GED® test is available in English and Spanish versions.  The Spanish version of the test is available at any authorized testing center.  The MS High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) can be earned in English and Spanish versions.  Examinees can combine English and Spanish tests together to earn an HSE credential.

Test Center Approval 

Official testing centers are approved by the test publisher, in consultation with the state administrator when the following have been documented:   

• Need for a new testing site, based on geographic location and testing volume in the region. 
• Willingness of center personnel to meet all testing center requirements specified by the test publisher as determined by the authorizing agency. 

Test Center Approval information: https://GED.com/exhibit4/

The HiSET® is composed of five subject tests. The total testing time is approximately seven hours and five minutes. Below are details about the subtests:

Subject Test	Number of Questions	Item Type	Test Length
Language Arts-Reading	40	100% multiple choice	65 minutes
Language Arts-Writing	51	Part 1: 100% multiple choice Part 2: 100 % constructed response/essay	120 minutes
Mathematics	50	100% multiple choice	90 minutes
Science	50	100% multiple choice	80 minutes
Social Studies	50	100% multiple choice	70 minutes

Scoring

Each of the five subtests in the HiSET® battery is scored on a scale of 1–20. In order to pass tester must do all three of the following:

• Achieve a score of at least eight on each of the five individual subtests
• Score at least two out of six on the essay portion of the writing test
• Have a total combined score on all five tests of at least 45

For the Writing test the total score of eight and essay score of two has to be earned on the same test date. Scores from multiple test dates cannot be combined. 

Registering

Registration and scheduling to take the HiSET® is done online at www.hiset.ets.org/myhiset. The HiSET® test is administered at an official HiSET® testing site. Test takers can find the nearest test center by using the “Find a Test Center” link on the HiSET® website. A test center can offer either paper‐based and/or computer‐based testing or both. All testing fees must be paid at the time of scheduling. Check this Registration and Scheduling link for more information.

Fees & Retakes

The HiSET® is composed of five content area test modules and is offered in a paper-based and computer-based format. 

Paper-Based Option

• Individual modules: $22.00 each
• Complete battery test: $110.00

Computer-Based Option

• Individual modules: $17.75 each
• Complete battery test: $88.75

The fees assessed for the HiSET® include a test center fee of 35.00 for the complete battery test ($7.00 per individual module).  Test center fees will be imposed for every test scheduled including retakes. 

Note:  HiSET® policy has discontinued renewing unused test vouchers. There is also an additional charge of $1.50 per voucher to programs when they order them.

Retake Policy

If a tester does not pass a HiSET® subject test, they have two more attempts per subtest in the calendar year (January to December) to pass. If they have exhausted all three attempts allowed for each year, the tester must wait until the next calendar year to retest. 

Regarding fees, the initial HiSET® subtest fee of $22.00 (paper-based) and $17.75 (computer-based) includes two retakes for 12 months. However, the test center fee of $7.00 will be imposed for every test scheduled including retakes.  Example: test taker retaking Math will be charged $7.00 after scheduling. Test vouchers purchased by programs include an additional $1.50 per voucher processing fee.

Accommodations

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is committed to serving test takers with disabilities and health‐related needs by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purpose of the test. Accommodations are available for test takers with diagnosed disabilities that include, but are not limited to: 

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Psychological or psychiatric disorders
• Learning and other cognitive disabilities
• Physical disorders/chronic health disabilities
• Intellectual disabilities
• Hearing and visual impairment

Below is a list of commonly approved accommodations for paper‐ and computer‐delivered tests. Test takers must request these accommodations and get approval from ETS prior to scheduling their test appointments. This list includes some, but not all, of the available accommodations.

Disability Accommodations for the HiSET Exam

Testing Accommodation	Paper	Computer
Extended time	✓	✓
Separate room	✓	✓
Audio cassette or other form of recorded audio	✓
Large print	✓
Screen magnification		✓
Calculator/talking calculator	✓	✓
Scribe or keyboard entry aide	✓	✓
Additional supervised break time	✓	✓
Sign language‐interpreted instructions for test takers who are deaf or hard of hearing	✓	✓

HiSET® Items Not Requiring Approval

The items in these lists do not require approval. Test takers can bring them or have access to them on test day without making prior arrangements with ETS. If noted below, test center staff should inspect or collect the item.

Items Provided by ETS or Test Center

Your test center must have the following items available to test takers:

•   Large print test book (14‐point) and answer sheet (for paper-based testing)
•   Scrap paper (to be collected by test center personnel at end of testing session)
•   Wheelchair access

If possible, your test center should also provide preferential seating to those test takers who need to better hear instructions or cut down on distractions. 

Items Provided by Test Taker

Test takers who need these items are responsible for bringing them. Your test center is not required to have them available. Any form of accommodation or modification not listed below, including a separate room, requires approval.

• Colored transparent overlays (for paper‐based testing only)
• Colored scrap paper (to be collected by test center personnel at end of testing session)
• Earplugs (not attached to any electronic device)
• Plain, unmarked straightedge to assist with keeping place while reading. You may use a piece of scrap paper for this purpose but it must be returned at the end of the testing session.
• Handheld magnifying device (without memory)
• Seat cushion/back pillow, or footstool. Item will be inspected by test center personnel before and after testing.
• Prescription medication. Must be in the prescription bottle indicating your name, dosage and directions
• Service animals
• Medical devices (asthma inhaler, hearing aid, pacemaker, insulin pump on vibrate or silent, oxygen tank, TENS stimulator)
• Highlighter or black felt pen for essays and scratch work only

How Test Takers Request Accommodations and Schedule Appointments

Test takers must request accommodations prior to scheduling. Once they receive approval, they can schedule their appointments.

All test takers must request their accommodations and schedule or change their appointments through ETS. They cannot do it through their online accounts or through a test center.

For more information, see:

• Disability Accommodations for Test Takers — information for test takers about the accommodations request process
• Disability Documentation Policy Statements and Forms — information about what documentation is necessary to support requests for accommodations

Test Preparation Materials in Accessible Formats

To order accessible test preparation materials, contact ETS Disability Services.

Contacting ETS Disability Services
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

1‐609‐359‐5615 or 1‐855‐802‐2748 (toll‐free)
HiSETSSD@ets.org
1‐609‐240‐0525 (fax)

ETS Disability Services
P.O. Box 6054
Princeton, NJ 08541–6054 USA

Language Versions and Combination of Scores

The HiSET® test is available in English and Spanish versions. The Spanish version of the test is available at any authorized testing center. Examinees can combine English and Spanish tests together to earn HSE credential.

Tester Data

The OAE and Test Center Administrators can access tester data through the HiSET administrator portal. The State HSE HISET Test Administrator approves access to these systems for all users.

At such a point that these systems limit access to data for individual testing centers and for collecting consent for release of information to preparation programs, the HSE Administrator will reevaluate access to these systems.

Test Takers can access score results online via the HiSET® Test Taker Portal.

The MS Competency-Based High School Equivalency Diploma Option is an alternate HSED embedded with both academic standards and industry recognized credentials for students enrolled in the Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (MIBEST) or an Integrated Education and Training Pathway.  Instruction is designed to recognize the academic learning that occurs within the training programs. Essentially, the academic learning occurs through authentic, real-world problems and projects completed within the industry credential training. Mastery of content and competencies, as well as use of existing assessments for pre- and post-testing, such as TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) and  ACT WorkKeys® is the form of assessment used in lieu of the GED and HiSET norm testing.  

Competency-Based Diploma Model 

Eligibility

• Must be a Mississippi resident
• Not enrolled or required to be enrolled in school under the compulsory school law
• Has not received a valid high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED)

Enrollment in Adult Education Program

• Meet with Transition Specialist/Navigator
• Create Student Success Plan
• Student portfolio
• Register with MS WORKS
• WIOA Common Case Management Technology (Hub)
• Identify Barriers
• Referrals to core agencies

Upon completion of the following components, participants will be awarded a Mississippi High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) validated and issued by the State of Mississippi.  All HSEDs are distributed through DiplomaSender.

Competency Based Diploma Completion Requirements

1. Obtain a minimum score of Educational Functioning Level 4 (Minimum scale scores:563 for Reading and 577  for Total Mathematics) on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) in two of the following subject areas: Reading, Language, or Math.
2. Enroll and complete a minimum of 12 hours of instruction in an Adult Education Program.  

College & Career Readiness Standards – All students will receive instruction in reading, writing, and math aligned with the College and Career Readiness Standards required by the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education.

1. Earn fifteen (15) college credit hours earned in a MIBEST program or designated Integrated Education and Training Pathway
   1. Prior Learning Assessment/Credit by Examination college credits are allowable
   2. Developmental education credits are excluded
   3. Minimum GPA 2.0 or higher
2. Earn a National Career Readiness Certificate – Silver
   1. Applied Math – Level 4
   2. Workplace Documents – Level 4
   3. Graphic Literacy – Level 4
3. Earn an Industry Recognized Credential 

Applications for the Competency Based Diploma should be completed and signed by the local adult education director.  Complete applications should be mailed to:

Mississippi Community College Board
Office of Adult Education
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211

Upon receipt and approval, the Office of Adult Education will upload documents via a secure site to DiplomaSender.  Applicants will receive an email from DiplomaSender with instructions for ordering a complimentary diploma and transcript.  The $25.00 application processing fee will be paid directly to DiplomaSender at the time of order.

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