Late at night, someone types in take my HiSET test for me to a search bar. Perhaps they’re tired, or perhaps they’re embarrassed, or maybe they have not stopped avoiding this diploma for fifteen years and it just needs to go away. A tab or two over there’s often another search: take my GED test for me.
I understand.
It is true that the people who type in these phrases are not careless or indolent, they are oftentimes balancing work, raising children, and have not studied math since a teacher handed them a textbook, and the easy out is often a trap, and the better path is often more accessible than they might think.
What these searches lead to
Let’s deal with the shortcut first, because it has to be said.
Both of these exams are administered in a proctored setting. That means a valid ID is presented and a secure location (testing center, often, or approved online software, in some cases).
Paying an unknown person to retake their test is not only a risk on your wallet, but can lead to banned scores, cancelled registration, and potential legal issues in some areas, depending on your region. And, the “services” that offer this are often scams. Deposits can be taken and vanished without a trace.
Imagine giving a few hundred dollars to someone you’ve found online who could void your test and toss your diploma back in your face the moment someone looks closer, and that’s not even a good business model.
So, what are adults often doing instead?
First off, picking the right test (this is a common mistake).
The GED and HiSET are both nationally recognized high school equivalency diploma examinations, but not all states offer both, and some offer neither (and one other). Your state’s Department of Education website will have a blurb on this within 2 minutes’ time.
Official practice exams
The companies that administer the exams (The GED Testing Service and the ETS HiSET Program) sell practice tests that go a long way, as they will be most similar to the actual exam. The GED has a GED Ready practice test, while the HiSET offers materials through their website.
Taking one early on and seeing what you’re working with is a great way to get a baseline for what you know and what you don’t. Expect to be surprised, though, and it won’t be a disappointment. This is a baseline, and most people find themselves underprepared at first.
Online resources
Khan Academy offers content for the math portion of the exam, often at an introductory or intermediate level, for free. Coupled with a library book on the subject and you have an accessible, cheap way to learn and practice, since videos can be paired with workbooks for the best results.
Community colleges
Many offer either classes or connections to classes in your area, and some offer a direct path from equivalency diploma to enrollment, should you wish to pursue higher education later.
A hypothetical week that works
I want to make a suggestion that is not a cliche, since they often sound good and do nothing.
Picture an adult male named Daniel. 34 years old, works in a warehouse and has two kids. Between work and parenting, he does not have 4 hours in a day to study, but what he does have is a 20 minute lunch break, a bus ride, and half an hour when his children are asleep.
After about six to eight weeks, Daniel takes another practice test and sees that his math score has improved, because he was able to dedicate a small, consistent amount of his day to his GED. He did not carve out a week’s worth of his life to study, and for many, that yields far better results.
Small victories, every day.
The other little things that aren’t often spoken of
A few other things I wish I’d known or have heard said around me:
Math anxiety is real! (and it’s not a lack of brain power)
Lots of adults suffer from one bad memory of math class or a teacher and it affects them far beyond high school. If this is you, work in smaller victories. Say you start at the easiest math possible and move up. Confidence is something everyone can gain, it’s not a trait one is born with.
You can always retake
People who fail one section act like it’s a death blow, or sometimes they believe that they never will pass, but in reality, the GED and HiSET both offer retake policies with few restrictions and waiting periods, and many pass a subject on the second try after extra review. Failure just takes a little time, but it is nothing to be ashamed of, and you’re not alone.
Beware of scams
Not all scams are as blatant as “pay us to take my GED for you.” Some are dressed up, like guaranteed pass programs, expensive packages, or websites that look official, but aren’t. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from anyone who promotes certainty in a test that they cannot control, and stick with providers who are transparent and up-front.
The official sites for the GED and HiSET exams will have links for your state’s programs, and your local education or workforce centers will also have recommendations. If a business will not disclose their costs, move on.
And if the cost is the issue, speak up! Many centers and programs that serve adults will have resources for waivers, subsidies, or free classes. People believe they cannot afford this, and a surprising number can if they ask the right people.
Why this matters more than the paper
Where to start this week
If you read this far and you’re considering taking this on, here’s a small starter plan for you. The first thing you should do is look up which test options your state has available, and second, visit your local adult education center or public library and ask what they have for testing prep. Finally, take one practice test or a short version to see the lay of the land. That’s it. Three moves, perhaps taking up 2 hours total.
Everything else can wait, because nothing else matters until you know what you’re doing.
The adults I’ve seen succeed were not often the smartest in the room, or the ones with the most time on their hands, but they were the ones who stopped looking for an alternate route to their diploma, and looked for people who could help them through it.
These people are everywhere, and they’re far closer than you might think, probably within a few miles of where you’re sitting right now.