Students and Test-Takers

The Illinois Community College Board has authorized several routes by which Illinois residents can obtain a State of Illinois High School Diploma. Candidates may choose to take a high school equivalency exam (GED® or HiSET®), and complete their Illinois State Constitution requirement. Alternatively, candidates who have already completed a significant amount of high school or postsecondary credit may be eligible to participate in a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing. The eligibility and participation guidelines for each high school equivalency option are outlined on the pages linked below.

High School Equivalency Methods

• GED® Test
• GED® Online-Proctored Test
• HiSet® Test
• HiSet® Online Test Option
• Transcript-Based Alternative Methods of Credentialing

Illinois Constitution Requirement

For information on the requirement, please visit the below link.

Illinois Constitution Requirement

 

 

High School Equivalency Records

High school equivalency records are held at the county level in Illinois, by Regional Offices of Education. To obtain copies of a State of Illinois High School Diploma or Transcript, or to complete a third-party verification for records, please review the information below.

• High School Equivalency Records

The specific purpose of the GED Test is the measurement of the educational development of adults who have not completed their formal high school education. Adults may earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma and thus qualify for admission to colleges or other educational institutions, meet educational requirements for employment or promotion, satisfy educational qualifications for induction into the armed services, fulfill requirements of local or state licensing boards, or gain personal satisfaction.

The GED® exam is available as a computer-based exam to be taken in-person and as an online exam. The information below is for in-person testing. If you are interested in taking the GED® exam online, please refer to the information on this page as requirements may differ.

 

ELIGIBILITY

An individual is eligible to take the GED® Test given they meet all of the following conditions:

• 18 years of age or older*
• does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential and is not currently enrolled in a secondary school
• is a resident of the State of Illinois

Note: *If an individual is 17 years old  they must present withdrawal documentation before taking the GED® tests.

 

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERAGE TESTING

If an individual is 17 years old, they must present withdrawal documentation to be cleared to test:

• If the candidate was previously enrolled in a public or private high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide a withdrawal letter from their former high school. Withdrawal letters should 1) be on school letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by a school official, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, and 4) include the formal withdrawal date/last date of attendance. Transcripts are not acceptable as proof of withdrawal unless they include the candidate’s name and date of birth, a formal withdrawal date, and the physical or digital signature of a school official.

• If withdrawal documentation cannot be provided by the former high school, or the candidate was otherwise not enrolled in high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 4) include the date the letter was provided, and 5) indicate the candidate is not currently enrolled nor required to be enrolled in a high school in their area of residence.

• If the candidate was homeschooled, the candidate may provide:
  • Documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) and include the candidate’s full name and date of birth.

OR

• • A letter from the relevant homeschooling association or program stating the program has been completed and the individual has been cleared to complete an HSE exam. The letter must include 1) the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 2) the date the letter was written, and 3) a physical or digitally time-stamped signature from staff at the relevant homeschooling association/program responsible for the candidate’s home schooling.

Proof of withdrawal must be emailed to hse@illinois.gov (preferred) or faxed to 217-558-6700. Please allow 3-5 business days for the processing of emailed documentation and 7-10 business days for the processing of faxed documentation.

 

Additional Considerations:

• Test takers must create a GED® account on ged.com before submitting their withdrawal letter. ICCB staff must be able to locate an account for the student to clear the student to test.
• Candidates should create only one account. If a candidate has created duplicate accounts, ICCB staff may select the account which is cleared to test and/or require the candidate to have the accounts merged.
• Online Testing: To take the GED® test online, test takers must provide the required documentation (above) and complete the GED Ready® practice test and score ‘green’ within the last 60 days prior to the test date for each subject they want to take online.

Candidates will receive an email to the email address used on their GED® account once the alert has been cleared.

Sixteen (16) year-olds are not eligible to take a high school equivalency exam unless currently enrolled in a Regional Safe Schools Program, an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program, or the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12). Those programs must petition on the student’s behalf for the student to be approved to take a high school equivalency test. All other 16 year-olds must wait until they turn 17 to test.

 

IDENTIFICATION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

All test takers must present a current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on test day to take a GED® test. In addition, pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12), high school equivalency candidates must be a current Illinois resident in order to take a high school equivalency exam in the State of Illinois.

Test takers are required to provide a form of current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on their test day to verify their identity. The government-issued photo identification must include the candidate’s full name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, state identification card, foreign identification card (such as a Matricula Consular), passport, or military identification.

If the photo identification card does not indicate an Illinois address, the candidate must also provide proof of residency documentation. Proof of residency documentation must include the candidate’s full name and the candidate’s current Illinois address, and must be dated at least 30 days prior to the test date. Please refer to this document for examples of acceptable proof of residency documentation.

 

REGISTRATION

You can register online to take the GED® at ged.com. Although registration is done online, in-person GED® exams will be administered on computer at an official GED testing site that you select during registration.  Testing fees must be paid at the time of scheduling.

 

COST

The cost to take the computer-based, in-person GED® is $30 per test module. A total of 4 test modules comprise the GED®. Test fees must be paid online at the time of registration.

 

TEST INFORMATION

The 2014 Series GED® consists of four content areas:

• Reasoning Through Language Arts – reading comprehension and writing
• Mathematical Reasoning – understanding math concepts, measurements, and equations; and applying math concepts to solve real-life problems
• Science– applying science concepts, knowing how to read charts and graphs displaying scientific data, and using reasoning to interpret scientific information
• Social Studies– applying social studies concepts, knowing how to read graphs and charts displaying social studies data, and using reasoning to interpret social studies information

 

Tests are administered in English and Spanish. Candidates may mix and match the English and Spanish language options.

Testing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Testing sites are unable to take payment for exams directly from test takers on test day.

You can test three times on each subject without waiting. After the third attempt, you must wait 60 days before each subsequent attempt.

 

GED^® TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning, physical or emotional disability, you may qualify for accommodations during your exam. If approved, accommodations are provided at no additional charge.

For information on how to request accommodations for the 2014 GED^® tests, visit https://ged.com/about_test/accommodations/ or email:
accommodations@gedtestingservice.com.

Accommodation forms and supporting documentation can be faxed directly to GED^® Testing Service at Fax: 202-464-4894.

 

GED TEST PREPARATION

GED^® preparation classes are offered free of charge at local adult education programs.  Test takers are strongly encouraged to prepare for their exams at a local adult education program.

For more information on GED® preparation classes near you, you may call or text 1-800-321-9511 or you can visit the Program Locator.

GED^® study materials are also available through the MyGED^® portal at GED.com.

 

CONSTITUTION TEST REQUIREMENT

The Illinois Community College board has suspended the administration of the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test effective February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Please click the link below to learn more about this suspension and what it means for you.

U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test

 

DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPTS

ORDERING GED^® TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS

The specific purpose of the GED Test is the measurement of the educational development of adults who have not completed their formal high school education. Adults may earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma and thus qualify for admission to colleges or other educational institutions, meet educational requirements for employment or promotion, satisfy educational qualifications for induction into the armed services, fulfill requirements of local or state licensing boards, or gain personal satisfaction.

 

The GED® exam is available as a computer-based exam to be taken in-person and as an online exam. The information below is for online testing. If you are interested in taking the GED® exam at an in-person testing center, please refer to the information on this page as requirements may differ.

 

ELIGIBILITY

An individual is eligible to take the online-proctored GED® Test given they meet all of the following conditions:

• 18 years of age or older*
• does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential and is not currently enrolled in a secondary school
• is a resident of the State of Illinois
• have received a GED Ready Green score within the past 60 days in each subject area they would like to take online

Note: *If an individual is 17 years old, they must present withdrawal documentation before taking the GED® tests. In addition, a parent or guardian must be present during the online check-in process for minor candidates.

 

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERAGE TESTING

If an individual is 17 years old, they must present withdrawal documentation to be cleared to test:

• If the candidate was previously enrolled in a public or private high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide a withdrawal letter from their former high school. Withdrawal letters should 1) be on school letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by a school official, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, and 4) include the formal withdrawal date/last date of attendance. Transcripts are not acceptable as proof of withdrawal unless they include the candidate’s name and date of birth, a formal withdrawal date, and the physical or digital signature of a school official.

• If withdrawal documentation cannot be provided by the former high school, or the candidate was otherwise not enrolled in high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 4) include the date the letter was provided, and 5) indicate the candidate is not currently enrolled nor required to be enrolled in a high school in their area of residence.

• If the candidate was homeschooled, the candidate may provide:
  • Documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) and include the candidate’s full name and date of birth.

OR

• • A letter from the relevant homeschooling association or program stating the program has been completed and the individual has been cleared to complete an HSE exam. The letter must include 1) the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 2) the date the letter was written, and 3) a physical or digitally time-stamped signature from staff at the relevant homeschooling association/program responsible for the candidate’s home schooling.

Proof of withdrawal must be emailed to hse@illinois.gov (preferred) or faxed to 217-558-6700. Please allow 3-5 business days for the processing of emailed documentation and 7-10 business days for the processing of faxed documentation.

Additional Considerations:

• Test takers must create a GED® account on ged.com before submitting their withdrawal letter. ICCB staff must be able to locate an account for the student to clear the student to test.
• Candidates should create only one account. If a candidate has created duplicate accounts, ICCB staff may select the account which is cleared to test and/or require the candidate to have the accounts merged.
• Online Testing: To take the GED® test online, test takers must provide the required documentation (above) and complete the GED Ready® practice test and score ‘green’ within the last 60 days prior to the test date for each subject they want to take online. A parent or guardian must be available during the check-in process for online exams for all minor test takers.

Candidates will receive an email to the email address used on their GED® account once the alert has been cleared.

Sixteen (16) year-olds are not eligible to take a high school equivalency exam unless currently enrolled in a Regional Safe Schools Program, an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program, or the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12). Those programs must petition on the student’s behalf for the student to be approved to take a high school equivalency test. All other 16 year-olds must wait until they turn 17 to test.

 

IDENTIFICATION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

All test takers must present a current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on test day to take a GED® test. In addition, pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12), high school equivalency candidates must be a current Illinois resident in order to take a high school equivalency exam in the State of Illinois.

Test takers are required to provide a form of current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on their test day to verify their identity. The government-issued photo identification must include the candidate’s full name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, state identification card, foreign identification card (such as a Matricula Consular), or passport. Please note, military identification cards cannot be used as identification during an online-proctored GED® exam.

Test takers will be required to certify their residency at the Illinois address they provide during registration is true and accurate during registration for online testing. If it is found that a candidate has falsified their address and does not meet residency requirements, the candidate’s exam scores will be revoked and the candidate may not be eligible to retest through the online-proctored model.

 

REGISTRATION

You can register online to take the GED® at ged.com. You must achieve a GED Ready Green score for each subject you want to take online before the system will allow you to register for an online GED® exam.

Testing fees must be paid at the time of scheduling.

 

TECHNOLOGY AND ROOM REQUIREMENTS

To take the online-proctored GED® exam, you will need:

• A laptop or desktop computer with a microphone and a camera. The camera (webcam) may be internal or external and connected to the computer.
• A stable internet connection with a speed of 3 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. Internet cookies must be enabled, and all pop-up blocking settings must be disabled.
• One of the following operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Mac OS 10.13 and above.
• One of the following internet browsers: Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 11.

On test day, the candidate will be required to download the OnVUE software required to complete their exam. The check-in process will provide the candidate with a link to download the OnVUE software and an access code necessary to authorize the candidate to start the exam check-in process.

Candidates are able, and strongly encouraged, to complete a system test in advance of scheduling their exam and/or at any time in advance of their scheduled appointment. The system check will ensure your computer, webcam, and internet connection meet the requirements for testing online. Read more about the system test on the GED website under “What’s Needed to Take the Online GED Test”: https://ged.com/take-the-ged-test-online/

During the test, candidates must be in a private, walled room with a closed door. No one is permitted in the room with the candidate for any reason, and candidates may not leave their work areas for any reason. Candidates may not use an external calculator or scratch paper, take physical notes, or talk during the online exam. Personal items, mobile phones, headphones, and watches must be kept out of reach.

 

COST

The cost to take the online GED® is $36 per test module. A total of 4 test modules comprise the GED®. Test fees must be paid online at the time of registration.

 

TEST INFORMATION

The 2014 Series GED® consists of four content areas. Click the link below for each subject to learn more about its content:

• Reasoning through Language Arts – reading comprehension and writing
• Mathematical Reasoning – understanding math concepts, measurements, and equations; and applying math concepts to solve real-life problems
• Science – applying science concepts, knowing how to read charts and graphs displaying scientific data, and using reasoning to interpret scientific information
• Social Studies – applying social studies concepts, knowing how to read graphs and charts displaying social studies data, and using reasoning to interpret social studies information

Tests are administered in English and Spanish. Candidates may mix and match the English and Spanish language options.

Testing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Testing sites are unable to take payment for exams directly from test takers on test day.

You can test two times on each subject without waiting. After the second attempt, you must wait 60 days before each subsequent attempt made online.

 

GED^® TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning, physical or emotional disability, you may qualify for accommodations during your exams. If approved, accommodations are provided at no additional charge.

For information on how to request accommodations for the 2014 GED^® tests, visit https://ged.com/about_test/accommodations/ or email:
accommodations@gedtestingservice.com.

Accommodation forms and supporting documentation can be faxed directly to GED^® Testing Service at Fax: 202-464-4894.

 

GED TEST PREPARATION

GED^® preparation classes are offered free of charge at local adult education programs. Test takers are strongly encouraged to prepare for their exams at a local adult education program.

For more information on GED® preparation classes near you, you may call or text 1-800-321-9511 or you can visit the Program Locator.

GED^® study materials are also available through the MyGED^® portal at GED.com.

 

CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT

The Illinois Community College board has suspended the administration of the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test effective February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Please click the link below to learn more about this suspension and what it means for you.

U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test

 

DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPTS

ORDERING GED^® TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS

The specific purpose of the HiSET^® exam is the measurement of the educational development of adults who have not completed their formal high school education. Adults may earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma and thus qualify for admission to colleges or other educational institutions, meet educational requirements for employment or promotion, satisfy educational qualifications for induction into the armed services, fulfill requirements of local or state licensing boards, or gain personal satisfaction.

The HiSET® exam is available as a paper-based or computer-based exam to be taken in-person and as an online exam. The information below is for in-person testing. If you are interested in taking the HiSET® exam online, please refer to the information on this page as requirements may differ.

 

ELIGIBILITY

An individual is eligible to take the HiSET® Test given they meet all of the following conditions:

• 18 years of age or older*
• does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential and is not currently enrolled in a secondary school
• is a resident of the State of Illinois

Note: *If an individual is 17 years old, they must present a withdrawal documentation before taking the HiSET® tests.

 

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERAGE TESTING

If an individual is 17 years old, they must present withdrawal documentation to be cleared to test:

• If the candidate was previously enrolled in a public or private high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide a withdrawal letter from their former high school. Withdrawal letters should 1) be on school letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by a school official, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 4) include the formal withdrawal date/last date of attendance, and 5) include the candidate’s ETS identification number. Transcripts are not acceptable as proof of withdrawal unless they include the candidate’s name and date of birth, a formal withdrawal date, and the physical or digital signature of a school official.

• If withdrawal documentation cannot be provided by the former high school, or the candidate was otherwise not enrolled in high school prior to their HSE test date, the candidate should provide documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 4) include the date the letter was provided, 5) indicate the candidate is not currently enrolled nor required to be enrolled in a high school in their area of residence, and 6) include the candidate’s ETS identification number.

• If the candidate was homeschooled, the candidate may provide:
  • Documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving their area of residence indicating they are not currently enrolled in a public or private high school in their local school district. Such documentation should 1) be on organizational letterhead, 2) be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education, 3) include the candidate’s full name and date of birth, and 4) include the candidate’s ETS identification number.

OR

• • A letter from the relevant homeschooling association or program stating the program has been completed and the individual has been cleared to complete an HSE exam. The letter must include 1) the candidate’s full name and date of birth, 2) the candidate’s ETS identification number, 3) the date the letter was written, and 4) a physical or digitally time-stamped signature from staff at the relevant homeschooling association/program responsible for the candidate’s home schooling.

 

Proof of withdrawal must be emailed to hse@illinois.gov (preferred) or faxed to 217-558-6700. Please allow 3-5 business days for the processing of emailed documentation and 7-10 business days for the processing of faxed documentation.

Additional Considerations:

• Test takers must create a HiSET® account on hiset.ets.org before submitting their withdrawal letter. ICCB staff must be able to locate an account for the student to clear the student to test.
• Candidates should create only one account. If a candidate has created duplicate accounts, ICCB staff may select the account which is cleared to test and/or require the candidate to have the accounts merged.
• ETS Identification Number: When you submit your documentation, you must also provide your ETS Identification Number. ICCB staff will not be able to locate your account without this number. Your ETS Identification Number was provided to you by email when you registered for your HiSET® account and can also be found in the top right corner of your HiSET® portal at https://hiset.ets.org/myhiset after logging into your account.
• Online Testing: Underage test takers are not able to take the HiSET® exam online in the State of Illinois.

Candidates will receive an email to the email address used on their HiSET® account once the alert has been cleared.

Sixteen (16) year-olds are not eligible to take a high school equivalency exam unless currently enrolled in a Regional Safe Schools Program, an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program, or the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12). Those programs must petition on the student’s behalf for the student to be approved to take a high school equivalency test. All other 16 year-olds must wait until they turn 17 to test.

 

IDENTIFICATION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

All test takers must present a current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on test day to take a HiSET® test. In addition, pursuant to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12), high school equivalency candidates must be a current Illinois resident in order to take a high school equivalency exam in the State of Illinois.

Test takers are required to provide a form of current (non-expired), government-issued photo identification on their test day to verify their identity. The government-issued photo identification must include the candidate’s full name, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, state identification card, foreign identification card (such as a Matricula Consular), passport, or military identification.

If the photo identification card does not indicate an Illinois address, the candidate must also provide proof of residency documentation. Proof of residency documentation must include the candidate’s full name and the candidate’s current Illinois address, and must be dated at least 30 days prior to the test date. Please refer to this document for examples of acceptable proof of residency documentation.

 

REGISTRATION

You can register online to take the HiSET^® exam at hiset.ets.org. Although registration is done online, the tests will be administered in paper/pencil format or on a computer at an official HiSET^® testing site that you select during registration.  Testing fees must be paid at the time of scheduling.

 

COST

The cost to take the in-person HiSET^® exam varies based upon the format in which it is taken (paper/pencil or computer).

The computer-based HiSET^® exam is $18.75 per test module. A total of 5 test modules comprise the HiSET^® exam, meaning the full HiSET^® battery, if taken entirely on computer, costs $93.75.

The paper-based HiSET^® exam is $23 per test module. A total of 5 test modules comprise the HiSET^® exam, meaning the full HiSET^® battery, if taken entirely on paper, costs $115.

Candidates may mix and match the paper-based and computer-based formats.

Testing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Testing sites are unable to take payment for exams directly from test takers on test day.

 

TEST CONTENTS

The HiSET^® exam consists of five content areas:

• Language Arts – Reading – measures your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze a broad range of literary and informational texts
• Language Arts – Writing – measures your skill in recognizing and producing standard American English, editing and revising written text, and generating and organizing ideas in writing
• Mathematics – measures mathematical knowledge and competencies
• Science – measures your ability to use science content knowledge, apply principles of scientific inquiry, and interpret and evaluate scientific information
• Social Studies – measures your ability to analyze and evaluate information from a variety of social studies content areas

Tests are administered in English and Spanish

You can test three times on each subject without waiting. After the third attempt, you must wait until the next calendar year.

 

HiSET^®  TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning, physical or emotional disability, you may qualify for accommodations for a HiSET^® test administration. If approved, accommodations are provided at no additional charge.

For information on how to request accommodations for the HiSET^® exam, visit http://hiset.ets.org/take/disabilities or email HiSETSSD@ets.org.

 

HiSET^® TEST PREPARATION

HiSET^® preparation classes are offered free of charge at local adult education programs. Test takers are strongly encouraged to prepare for their exams at a local adult education program.

For more information on on HiSET® preparation classes near you, you may call or text 1-800-321-9511 or you can visit the Program Loctor. HiSET^® study materials are also available at hiset.ets.org/prepare/overview.

 

CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT

The Illinois Community College board has suspended the administration of the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test effective February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Please click the link below to learn more about this suspension and what it means for you.

U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test

 

DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPTS

ORDERING HiSET^® TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS

 

The specific purpose of the HiSET^® exam is the measurement of the educational development of adults who have not completed their formal high school education. Adults may earn a High School Equivalency Certificate and thus qualify for admission to colleges or other educational institutions, meet educational requirements for employment or promotion, satisfy educational qualifications for induction into the armed services, fulfill requirements of local or state licensing boards, or gain personal satisfaction.

Due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, and its impact on physical testing locations, Educational Testing Service is offering an online-proctored option for the HiSET® exam, called HiSET® Exam at Home.

The HiSET® Exam at Home option will launch on Monday, June 15, 2020. Registration will begin on Monday, June 15^th, with the earliest testing dates available on Wednesday, June 17^th.

If you are interested in taking the HiSET® exam online, please read this information carefully as eligibility and testing requirements differ from the in-person HiSET® exam. Additional information is available on the ETS (HiSET®) website: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/hiset/at-home/

  

ELIGIBILITY

Age:

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age to participate in HiSET® Exam at Home.

This increased age requirement is due to the technical requirements of the exam. All online-proctored exams are recorded for quality and security checks, and additional on-camera parental or guardian consent for recording and monitoring would be required for minors.

If online testing is expanded to accommodate minors, those candidates would be required to meet Illinois guidelines for testing as posted on the ICCB website: https://www.iccb.org/adult_ed/illinois-high-school-equivalency/students-test-takers/the-hiset-test/

 

Residency:

Pursuant to the Illinois School Code, all high school equivalency test takers in Illinois must be a resident of Illinois for a minimum of 30 days prior to testing. Candidates will be required to certify their residency at the Illinois address they provide during registration.

If it is found that a candidate has falsified their address and does not meet the residency requirements, the candidate’s exam scores will be revoked and the candidate may not be eligible to retest through the online-proctored model.

 

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

To take the HISET® Exam at Home, you will need:

• A laptop or desktop computer with a microphone and camera. The camera (webcam) may be internal or external and connected to the computer.
• A stable internet connection. All pop-up blocking settings must be disabled.
• One of the following operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or MAC OS X 10.5 or higher. For MAC users, the MAC OS 10.13 High Sierra is recommended.
• One of the following internet browsers: Chrome or Firefox.

Candidates may not use a mobile device, tablet, or Chromebook for the HiSET® Exam at Home.

Candidates will be required to complete a system test to ensure their system is compatible with the HiSET® Exam at Home/Proctor U proctoring system prior to registration.

 

 

REGISTRATION

Test takers wishing to use the HiSET® Exam at Home option will register for their test subject(s) through their ETS account on the ETS website: https://hiset.ets.org/myhiset

After the test taker logs into their HiSET account, they should find the My-HiSET home page and select “Register/Find Test Centers”. From there, select “Test Centers and Dates”, and choose the option for “HiSET Exam at Home”. The test taker will select a date and time for testing and follow the directions to continue registration and pay for the test(s).

Once the test taker has registered for their test(s), they will receive an email from ETS confirming payment as well as an email from ProctorU® with registration instructions. The email from ProctorU® will provide a link and a temporary password to be used to create an account on the ProctorU® website in order to schedule a testing appointment. Completing this step is required to complete registration for the HiSET® Exam at Home. Therefore, test takers should use an email address they can access consistently and check regularly to receive important information from both ETS/HiSET and ProctorU®.

If test takers need to reschedule an existing appointment or cancelled appointment for an in-person test center to be taken online, they must contact HiSET® Customer Service at 1-855-MyHiSET (1-855-694-4738), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

COST

The cost to take the HiSET® Exam at Home is $28.25 per test module.

A total of 5 test modules comprise the HiSET^® exam, meaning the full HiSET^® battery, if taken entirely online, costs $141.25. Test fees must be paid online at the time of registration.

 

RESCHEDULING OR CANCELING AN ONLINE EXAM

Candidates are eligible to reschedule their HiSET® Exam at Home at any time before their appointment date and time by logging into their ProctorU® account and selecting the “Reschedule” button.

In order to cancel a HiSET® Exam at Home and receive a full refund, test takers must contact ProctorU® Customer Service by live chat within their ProctorU® account, or by calling 1-855-772-8678. Test takers must cancel by 11:59 p.m. local time the day before their scheduled appointment in order to receive a test fee refund.

Candidates will be unable to cancel on test day, and will be unable to reschedule after the test appointment has passed. If a test taker does not cancel or reschedule within the time frames above, they would lose their payment. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged to thoughtfully select an appointment time and to complete a system check in advance of the scheduled appointment.

 

TEST CONTENTS

The HiSET^® exam consists of five content areas:

1. Language Arts – Reading(65 minutes)
   • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
2. Language Arts – Writing(120 minutes)
   • Part 1 – 50 questions, multiple choice
   • Part 2 – 1 essay prompt
3. Mathematics(90 minutes)
   • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
4. Science(80 minutes)
   • Format: 40 multiple choice questions
5. Social Studies(70 minutes)
   • Format: 40 multiple choice questions

Tests are administered in English and Spanish.

You can test three times on each subject without waiting. After the third attempt, you must wait until the next calendar year.

Candidates may mix and match the English and Spanish language options, as well as the online and in-person formats of the exam.

 

HiSET^®  TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard conditions. If you have a documented learning, physical or emotional disability, you may qualify for accommodations for a HiSET^® test administration. If approved, accommodations are provided at no additional charge.

For information on how to request accommodations for the HiSET^® exam, visit http://hiset.ets.org/take/disabilities or email disability.reg@ets.org.

Accommodation forms and supporting documentation can be sent to ETS by:

Mail: ETS Disability Services
P.O. Box 6054
Princeton, NJ 08541-6054

Email: disability.reg@ets.org

Due to the online format of the HiSET® Exam at Home, available accommodations may vary from the in-person versions of the HiSET® Exam. Please review the HiSET® website for information on available accommodations.

 

CHECK-IN PROCESS

Candidates should check-in for their online-proctored exam 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled appointment time in order to leave enough time for the check-in process.

If candidates are late to their appointment, they will not be able to reschedule the online exam and will lose their payment.

Instructions for launching the exam are available in the candidate’s ProctorU® account after scheduling an exam. All test takers should review those instructions carefully prior to their exam.

 

DURING THE TEST

Candidates must be in a private, walled room with a closed door. No one is permitted in the room with the candidate for any reason, and candidates may not leave their work areas for any reason. Unscheduled breaks are not allowed during the HiSET® Exam at Home.

Candidates may not use an external calculator, take notes on regular paper, or talk during the exam.

• Test takers will be able to use an onscreen calculator during the Math subtest.
• Test takers may use a whiteboard with a dry erase marker, or a blank sheet of paper inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker, to take notes during the exam. The whiteboard must be shown to the proctor prior to the exam to verify it is clear of all writing. At the end of the test, the whiteboard must be erased in view of the proctor.

Personal items, mobile phones, headphones, watches, and jewelry must be kept out of reach.

Food, drinks, smoking, and gum are prohibited during the test. Ears must remain visible and not covered by hair, clothing, or accessories during the test.

Breaking any exam rules will result in the exam being revoked, loss of payment, and a ban from online-proctored testing in the future.

Please review all testing guidelines on the HiSET website prior to starting your exam.

 

HiSET^® TEST PREPARATION

HiSET^® preparation classes are offered free of charge at local adult education programs. For more information call 1-800-321-9511 or you can visit the Program Locator. HiSET^® study materials are also available at hiset.ets.org/prepare/overview.

 

CONSTITUTION TEST REQUIREMENT

The Illinois Community College board has suspended the administration of the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test effective February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Please click the link below to learn more about this suspension and what it means for you.

U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test

 

ORDERING HiSET^® TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR HSE CERTIFICATES

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™) was offered in the State of Illinois during 2016-2020. As of December 31, 2020, the TASC™ exam is no longer available in the State of Illinois.

If you are a TASC™ test taker who has completed and passed all sections of your TASC™ test, your scores remain valid. Please click here for information regarding ordering copies of your records.

If you are a TASC™ test taker who did not complete the TASC™ test by December 31, 2020, you would need to switch to an alternative exam (GED® or HiSET®). Scores from the TASC™ exam cannot be combined with scores from the GED® or HiSET® exam in Illinois. Therefore, candidates who did not complete their TASC™ exam would need to start over on the new exam of their choice (GED® or HiSET®).

If you have any questions regarding the discontinuation of the TASC™ test in Illinois, you may contact the Illinois Community College Board at hse@illinois.gov or the TASC Test Help Desk at TASCTestHelpdesk@datarecognitioncorp.com.

 

TEST CONTENTS

When offered in Illinois, the TASC^™ exam consisted of five content areas:

1. Language Arts – Reading
2. Language Arts – Writing
3. Mathematics
4. Science
5. Social Studies

Tests were administered in English and Spanish

 

CONSTITUTION TEST REQUIREMENT

The Illinois Community College board has suspended the administration of the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test effective February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

If you completed and passed all subjects of your TASC™ exam during 2016-2020 in the State of Illinois, but did not complete your Constitution Test, you may now be eligible for an Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate.

Please click the link below to learn more about this suspension and what it means for you.

U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test

 

ORDERING TASC^™TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR HSE CERTIFICATES

The new online Illinois Constitution Module (Constitution Module) is available at http://ilconstitution.org/. It is estimated it will take two hours for a student to complete. It is available for HSE candidates to take independently and does not require proctoring at a testing center. Testing Centers will no longer offer the previous Constitution Test. After completion of the Constitution Module, completers will be asked to provide information about themselves that will be used to match the completion with HSE records in the Illinois High School Equivalency Portal. Completers will also be able to print or download a certificate showing the completion.

A student who completed the previous Constitution Test or can demonstrate passing the Constitution Test in high school does not need to complete the Constitution Module.

Due to COVID, there was a suspension of the Constitution Test requirement between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, which means:

• Anyone who completed and passed an ICCB-approved high school equivalency exam (GED® or HiSET®) based on the State of Illinois requirements between February 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 will be issued a State of Illinois High School Diploma without the need to complete the Constitution requirement.
• Anyone who completed and passed a high school equivalency exam (GED®, HiSET®, or TASC™) but did not pass the constitution test prior to February 1, 2021, will be issued a State of Illinois Diploma upon request without the need to complete the Constitution requirement

High school equivalency records are held at the county level in Illinois. To request copies of an official transcript or State of Illinois High School Diploma, candidates must contact the Regional Office of Education for the county where the test was taken.

High school equivalency candidates may find the appropriate Regional Office of Education to contact by searching our ROE locator at: http://iccbdbsrv.iccb.org/roesearch/citysearch.cfm

If you have any questions, please contact the ICCB at: iccb.hse@illinois.gov

 

About the Illinois State Constitution Module

In order to earn a State of Illinois High School Diploma, candidates were historically required to take and pass the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution and Flag Test (“Constitution Test”) as required by Illinois Compiled Statutes – School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-3) in addition to completion of a high school equivalency exam (GED®, HiSET®, or TASC™) or a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing.

As of July 1, 2022, the new online Constitution Module was released to be used by students to complete the constitution requirement to earn their high school equivalency.