HiSET Science study guide
HiSET Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The HiSET® exam is a high school equivalency (HSE) pathway offered through PSI, giving adults who did not finish a traditional high school program a route to a credential that can open doors to college, training, and employment. The Science subtest is one of the five subject tests that make up the battery; it is delivered in a multiple-choice format and, like the other subtests, is designed to measure reasoning with scientific information rather than memorized vocabulary alone. Candidates should expect to work with data presented in passages, tables, graphs, and experimental descriptions drawn from physical science, life science, Earth and space science, and the practices of scientific inquiry - roughly a quarter of the content from each area. Preparation works best as a routine: review each content area, practice reading charts and experimental setups critically, and take a full-length practice test under timed conditions so pacing problems surface early. The HiSET Science study guide has 4 sections and about 1,162 words.
01Science as Inquiry
Science as Inquiry tests how scientists ask questions and how evidence supports conclusions. Know the parts of an experiment: a hypothesis is a testable prediction; the independent variable is what the experimenter changes; the dependent variable is what is measured; controlled variables are kept constant; and a control group receives no treatment or a standard treatment for comparison.
294 words, about 1 min02Physical Science
Physical Science covers matter, energy, and motion. Matter has mass and volume; atoms are the smallest units of an element, and the periodic table organizes elements by atomic number and properties.
302 words, about 2 min03Life Science
Life Science focuses on cells, heredity, evolution, and ecosystems. Cells are the basic unit of life; plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts, while animal cells do not.
293 words, about 1 min04Earth and Space Science
Earth and Space Science includes Earth's structure, plate tectonics, rocks, water and weather, and the solar system. Earth has layers (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core).
273 words, about 1 min