Education and Equivalency Exams
Education and equivalency exams open the next door: a high school credential, a place in nursing school or a teaching license. This hub covers the GED and HiSET high school equivalency tests, the ATI TEAS nursing entrance exam and Praxis Core, each with a free practice test, an exam guide and official scoring rules.
High School Equivalency Exams
High school equivalency exams give adults who did not finish high school a recognised credential for jobs, training and college. The two main options in the US are the GED and the HiSET, and your state decides which one it offers. Each exam on this hub has a guide and a free practice test.
High school equivalency test in four subjects, each scored 100–200; a 145 is needed on every subject to pass.
High school equivalency exam in five subtests scored 1–20; pass with 8+ on each, 45+ total and 2+ on the essay.
ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), Version 7
Nursing and allied health school admission test: 170 questions in 209 minutes across reading, math, science and English.
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
ETS basic skills tests for teacher candidates: Reading 5713, Writing 5723 and Math 5733, or all three as Combined 5752.
GED Test
The GED test has four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Each is scored from 100 to 200, and you need at least 145 on every subject to pass, because scores cannot be averaged. The full test takes 425 minutes, but you can schedule subjects separately.
Free GED Practice Test
Our free GED practice test is a free online GED practice test with original questions in all four subjects. Each attempt draws 30 random questions, so it works as a free GED practice test with answers and explanations, useful for adult learners and as a GED practice test for high school students who are leaving school early.
HiSET Exam
The HiSET exam has five subtests: Language Arts – Reading, Language Arts – Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. It contains 285 multiple-choice questions plus one essay, with 425 minutes of testing in the English versions. Each subtest is scored 1–20 and the essay 1–6.
HiSET Practice Test
The HiSET practice test covers all five subtests, so it doubles as a HiSET practice test with answers explained after you submit. Use the section breakdown to find the subtest most likely to fall below the minimum score of 8.
Nursing School Entrance: TEAS Test
The TEAS test (ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills, Version 7) is the nursing entrance exam many nursing and allied health programs require. It has 170 questions, 150 scored and 20 unscored, in 209 minutes across four sections: Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage.
TEAS Practice Test
The TEAS practice test is a free TEAS practice test with answers across all four sections, including TEAS practice test math and science questions on anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and scientific reasoning. ATI sets no pass mark, so our test uses a 70% readiness benchmark; your program sets the real cutoff.
Teacher Certification Exam
Praxis Core is the basic skills teacher certification exam used by many states and teacher preparation programs before candidates move on to subject tests. Each state or licensing agency sets its own passing scores, so check your state’s requirements before you register.
Praxis Core
Praxis Core is made up of Reading (5713), Writing (5723) and Mathematics (5733), or all three as the combined test 5752. The combined test lasts 4 hours 30 minutes and costs $150, and an individual subtest costs $90. The Praxis Core exam is scored on a 100–200 scale for each test.
Praxis Core Practice Test
The Praxis Core practice test is a Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators practice test covering reading, writing and mathematics questions. Because passing scores vary by state, it uses a 70% readiness benchmark.
Tools for Education Exams
GED practice test prep, TEAS review and Praxis study all work better with a schedule. These free tools help you plan weekly study, track the days to your test and memorise formulas and vocabulary.
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Free study planner for exams: enter your test date and hours per week to get a day-by-day study schedule with spaced review, weekly goals and practice tests.
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Free exam countdown: enter your test date to see the days, weeks and study days left, set a countdown timer for each exam and link it to your study planner.
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Free flashcards online maker: create your own decks with no sign-up, study with spaced repetition, and use ready-made civics, road signs and CompTIA A+ decks.
Create a weekly plan with the study planner, set an exam countdown for each subject you book, and make flashcards online for math formulas, science terms or grammar rules.
GED vs HiSET: Choosing an Equivalency Test
Choosing between the GED and the HiSET usually comes down to which test your state offers; some states offer both. If you have a choice, compare the format: the GED has four subjects and a pass mark of 145 on each, while the HiSET has five subtests and a combined total requirement.
| GED | HiSET | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | 4 | 5 |
| Total testing time | 425 minutes | 425 minutes (English) |
| Score scale | 100–200 per subject | 1–20 per subtest, essay 1–6 |
| Passing rule | 145 on each subject | 8+ on each, 45+ total, 2+ on essay |
What Are the 5 Tests for GED
The current GED has four tests, not five: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Older GED versions split language arts into separate reading and writing tests, which is why the five-test idea persists. The HiSET is the equivalency exam with five subtests.
What Is on the HiSET Test
The HiSET test covers reading comprehension, writing and editing with an essay, mathematics, science and social studies:
- Language Arts – Reading: 50 questions in 65 minutes.
- Language Arts – Writing: 60 questions plus 1 essay in 120 minutes.
- Mathematics: 55 questions in 90 minutes.
- Science: 60 questions in 80 minutes.
- Social Studies: 60 questions in 70 minutes.
Can You Take the HiSET Test Online at Home
Some states allow remote-proctored HiSET testing at home, while others require a test center. Availability, equipment requirements and fees vary by state, so check the official HiSET site for your state before you book.
How to Pass an Equivalency or Entrance Exam
How to pass the HiSET test, the GED or the TEAS follows the same pattern: take a practice test first, target the weakest section and finish with timed full-length practice.
- Take a practice test to set your baseline for each section.
- List the sections below your target, starting with the one furthest behind.
- Study one weak area at a time and use study mode to read every explanation.
- Switch to timed mode in the final weeks to build pacing.
- Book the exam when you consistently clear the readiness benchmark.
Easiest Way to Pass the TEAS Test
The easiest way to pass the TEAS test is to focus on the science section early, since it has 50 questions and many applicants have not studied anatomy and physiology recently. A TEAS practice test for nursing applicants shows which science topics need work.
How Hard Is the Praxis Core
The Praxis Core is not designed to be hard; it checks reading, writing and math at a level expected of teacher candidates. Many candidates find the math subtest the most challenging, especially if they have not studied algebra and geometry for several years.
Is the GED Practice Test Hard
The GED practice test is about as hard as the real test, because it mirrors the subjects and question styles. If you score below the readiness benchmark at first, that is useful information rather than a bad sign: it shows exactly which subject to study next.
Education and Equivalency Exams FAQ
Is There a Free GED Practice Test?
Yes, our free GED practice test covers all four GED subjects with original questions, explanations and a section breakdown, and it needs no account. GED Testing Service also sells the official GED Ready practice test, which matters if you want to test online, because online GED testing requires a recent green GED Ready score.
Can You Take the GED Practice Test Online?
Yes, you can take the GED practice test online on this site from any browser, on a computer, tablet or phone. Choose timed, untimed or study mode, answer 30 random questions and review every explanation. Your last 10 results are saved on your device so you can track progress between sessions.
How Hard Is the HiSET Test?
The HiSET is comparable to high school level work and is passable with focused preparation. You need at least 8 out of 20 on each of the five subtests, at least 2 out of 6 on the essay and a total of 45 or more. The total score rule means one strong subject can help, but no subtest can be skipped.
Can You Take the TEAS Test at Home?
It depends on your nursing program. ATI offers the TEAS at testing centres, at schools and through remote proctoring, but each program decides which results it accepts. Check your school’s admission page before you register, because a result from the wrong delivery method may not be sent to the program.
Is the TEAS Test Easy?
No, the TEAS test is not easy for most applicants, mainly because of its length and science content. It has 170 questions in 209 minutes across reading, math, science, and English and language usage. ATI sets no pass mark, so you need to reach the score your nursing program requires, which can be competitive.
What Is Praxis Core?
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is a set of ETS basic skills tests in reading, writing and mathematics used by many states and teacher preparation programs. You can take the three subtests separately or together as the combined test 5752, which lasts 4 hours 30 minutes and costs $150. Passing scores are set by each state.