There are two parts of the HiSET Writing Test: multiple choice and essay writing. There are three parts of the preparation process: preparing for each part of the test and planning your time management in advance so that you leave time for both.
In addition to this page on our website, you can also look on the HiSET Website for test takers, under both the Practice and Resources tabs.
Sample Writing Test
Review a HiSET sample writing test to know what the questions look like. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this. You can use it as a way to study and to get familiar with the format of the questions.
Sample Essay Question
Check out this sample essay question to get familiar with what it looks like. The format will be the same every time: Directions, two reading passages, and a position to take on the issue raised in the reading. What will change each time is the issue you’ll be reading and writing about.
Examples of Student Grades
Be sure to look at these graded writing samples from other students.
Components of an Essay
To see all the requirements of an argumentative essay, here is a checklist.
Preparing to Write
An important part of a persuasive essay is to talk not only about your opinion, but to show that you understand the opinions of others and to counter them, or present counter arguments. Here is an interesting tool to help you prepare for writing a HiSET essay, including counter arguments.
If you like the idea, you could draw this shape on your note paper, and take notes in each “section”. Then you’ll have an overview of the ideas, opinions, experiences and facts you can include in your essay.
How To
Here’s a guide to writing an HiSET essay.
Drawing Conclusions
This document gives a nice overview of writing conclusions. In the scoring guide below, you’ll see that you are not graded specifically on the development of your conclusion. However, it might give you ideas for how to give your essays a strong finish.
Scoring Guide
And finally, this document gives you an idea how your essay will be scored. There are five characteristics by which an essay is evaluated.
Once you understand how the essay question is presented, how much time you will have, and how the essays will be scored, you are welcome to write a practice essay and send it to me for feedback.