Essential Education: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Alternative Paths to a High School Equivalency

The pursuit of education takes many forms, and the path to a high school equivalency is no exception. For individuals who haven't completed traditional high school, options like the GED (General Educational Development) and HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) exams offer a route to achieving this crucial credential. Furthermore, the rise of Open Educational Resources (OERs) presents both opportunities and challenges within the educational landscape. This article delves into the advantages and disadvantages of these alternative educational pathways, providing a comprehensive overview for those considering their options.

Understanding High School Equivalency Exams: GED and HiSET

For millions of Americans without a high school diploma, the GED and HiSET exams provide a second chance to earn an equivalency certificate. Currently, there are 40 million Americans without a high school education. Earning a GED can lead to a job one is passionate about and provide more financial stability. With a GED, one can earn an average of $10,000 more per year and join an industry with terrific growth potential. It’s important to be prepared to take a high school equivalency test like the GED or HISET. Taking the mystery out of getting a GED® certificate.

Both the GED and HiSET are recognized by employers and universities throughout the United States as equivalent to a high school diploma, opening doors to employment, higher education, and other opportunities. Completing the HiSET has the same benefits and privileges as passing the GED. When searching for a job or applying to colleges and technical programs, the HiSET diploma is recognized and accepted by employers and universities throughout the United States. After you pass each test section, the HiSET testing service will issue your high school equivalency diploma.

GED vs. HiSET: Key Differences

While both exams serve the same purpose, several key differences exist between the GED and HiSET:

Availability: GED is only offered in Bermuda and the Virgin Islands. HiSET is only offered in the Marshall Islands and Palau. To determine your ability to take the HiSET, you must first find out if the exam is available in your state. Like the GED, the HiSET has a unique set of state rules and regulations.

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Subject Divisions: The HiSET is sectioned into five subtests: math, science, social studies, reading, and writing. The GED is divided into four subtests: math, science, social studies, and language arts.
Question Types: The HiSET exam is entirely multiple-choice except for the essay, while the GED has a wide variety of question types. The GED includes a significant number of multiple-choice questions as well, but the GED exam also asks fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, radio button, and multiple-select questions. The GED is a perfect fit for testers who enjoy variety in the way questions are asked.
Testing Method: All GED testing options are computerized. Whether testing online or in-person, the GED exam is taken on a computer. The HiSET, however, can be taken on a computer or in a pencil-to-paper option. The option to take the HiSET on a computer or manually with a test booklet varies by testing center.
Scoring: The max score for each subtest on the GED is 200. The highest score for each subject exam on the HiSET is 20. To pass the HiSET exam, testers must receive a minimum score of 8/20. You must get approximately 40% of the questions correct to pass. If there are 50 questions on an exam you’d need to get roughly 20 of those answers right. You can miss more than half of the exam questions and still pass! Just like the GED, the HiSET has a benchmark for honors-level testing. The HiSET only requires 40% of the questions on each subtest to be answered correctly, while the GED requires 45% correct responses.
Essay Component: The essay questions on the GED and HiSET differ slightly. Both tests will ask you to write an argumentative essay. Two reading passages from two different authors will address the same topic from two different perspectives. The GED essay question prompts testers to read, evaluate, and decide which author has the strongest opinion and why. Those taking the HiSET will be asked to express their personal opinions on the topic. The GED essay intimidates a lot of people.

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Preparing for the Exams

Proper preparation is key to successfully passing the GED. Both tests are challenging, but with the right preparation, you can gain the confidence to pass either exam. Each exam covers the same subject matter and is at a similar level of difficulty. The HiSET and the GED exams test individuals on their math, science, social studies, and language arts knowledge.

Math: The HiSET math exam allows each tester 90 minutes to answer 55 multiple-choice questions. Like the GED, the HiSET math section allows a calculator to be used for some questions. Your test proctor will let you know when you can use it.
Reading: The reading portion of the HiSET exam allows students 65 minutes if taken in English and 80 minutes if taken in Spanish to answer 50 multiple-choice questions. Fiction-based reading passages account for 40% of the HiSET reading portion, compared to 25% fiction-based passages on the GED. 60% of the HiSET reading passages are non-fiction, informational texts. 75% of the GED reading is based on nonfiction passages. The HiSET reading skills tested are nearly identical to those on the GED.
Writing: To complete the writing portion of the exam, HiSET testers must answer 61 questions in 120 minutes. The exam has 60 multiple-choice questions and one essay question.
Science: HiSET science asks 60 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes. Testers are permitted to use a calculator for some questions. Both the GED and HiSET science exams encourage testers to use observational skills and, at times, math skills to work through science content.

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Social Studies: The HiSET social studies portion of the exam allows 70 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. Many test takers erroneously think that they must memorize a ton of facts and figures to pass the social studies portion of the HiSET. This is simply not true. You will not be asked to name and number the presidents of the United States, recite key dates, or discuss war chronology. The test-makers want to see you read and reason. Just like the GED, the HiSET measures critical thinking. Each question is designed to assess reading and reasoning skills.

Key Considerations When Choosing Between HiSET and GED

When weighing the pros and cons of taking the HiSET vs GED, there are some key differences to consider. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

Personal Preference: The GED is a perfect fit for testers who enjoy variety in the way questions are asked.
Testing Format: One big reason for the difference in how the questions are asked on the GED and HiSET is the difference in how students are asked to take and answer test questions.
Perceived Difficulty: The HiSET only requires 40% of the questions on each subtest to be answered correctly, while the GED requires 45% correct responses. This leads some to believe the HiSET exam is easier. Perhaps, but consider all the exam differences before deciding which option is right for you.

HiSET and GED: Costs and Retakes

The HiSET costs vary by state and are comparable to the fees required to take the GED. The cost of taking the GED also varies by state. For instance, there is no fee to take the HiSET exam if you are a resident of Maine. Test fees also depend on the test format: paper, computer, or test-at-home. The cost for paper-based testing is around $23 per subtest. Computer-based testing can cost roughly $37 per subtest. Test-at-home options are approximately $55 per subtest. Most states offer two free retakes for the HiSET and the GED but check your specific area and test center to see what's available.

HiSET and GED: Rights and Benefits

Remember, both tests come with the same rights and benefits. Yes! You can apply to join the military with a HiSET credential. You must obtain an 8/20 on each section of the HiSET in order to pass. Of course! Most states offer two free retakes for the HiSET and the GED. Policies vary by state and are subject to change. The national testing center for the HiSET, hiset.org, is your primary contact for all official testing and credentialing information. Yes. If you have a diagnosed learning difference, be sure to check into the accommodations available to you. These can include extra testing time, special test formatting, a solo testing environment, etc. You must apply for these accommodations in advance and provide supporting documents.

Open Educational Resources (OERs): A Paradigm Shift in Education

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are learning, teaching, and research materials that are free of cost and access restrictions, residing in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. OERs represent a significant shift in how educational materials are created, distributed, and utilized.

Advantages of OERs

The adoption of OERs offers numerous benefits for students, educators, and institutions:

Less expense for students. The use of OERs instead of traditional textbooks or course packs, etc.
Expanded access to learning.
Scalability.
Augmentation of class materials. Enhancement of regular course content. For example, multimedia material such as videos can accompany text.
Increase student interaction with course resources. Students can interact directly with OERs in a way that commercial textbooks don’t allow.
Quick circulation.
Showcasing of innovation and talent.
Ties for alumni.
Continually improved resources. Unlike textbooks and other static sources of information, OERs can be improved quickly through direct editing by users or through solicitation and incorporation of user feedback.
Modify course resources to better align with learning outcomes.

Disadvantages of OERs

Despite their potential, OERs also present certain challenges:

Quality issues.
Extra effort required to adopt OERs. Adopting OERs in the classroom involves additional work on the part of faculty, instructional designers, editors, digital rights specialists, and others in order to find the OERs, adapt/modify them, check them for accessibility, verify any copyright issues, publish the resources in the institution’s LMS, and so forth.
Lack of human interaction between teachers and students.
Language and/or cultural barriers. Although efforts are being made to make OERs available in multiple languages, many are only available in English, limiting their usefulness to non-English speakers.
Technological issues. Some students may have trouble using some OERs if they have a slow or erratic internet connection.
Static formats.
Intellectual property/copyright concerns.
Sustainability issues.

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