Colorado State High School Equivalency Eligibility Requirements
- You do not have to be a resident of Colorado, but you must be 17 years of age. Students who are 16 may take the test if they are approved by the Colorado HSE Office for a HSE Age Waiver.
- You cannot be enrolled in an accredited high school or be a high school graduate.
- Cost: The GED Test is $37.50 (per subject), $150 (all subjects) and the HiSET Exam is $30 for each sub-test for a total of $150 for the entire test.
- Passing Score: The GED Test requires a 145 (minimum) to each subject to pass. The HiSET Exam requires an 8 in each sub-test with a combined score of 45; minimum of 2 on the Language Arts, Writing essay.
- Accommodations for the GED test can be requested on the GED Testing Service page. Find out about disability accommodations and fill out your HiSET Accommodations Request Form on HiSET website.
- The State of Colorado will award you an HSE certificate that will show you have achieved the same level of knowledge as a high school graduate after you pass either the GED test or HiSET exam. Be sure to learn more about other HiSET exam rules and GED test policies.
Below you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about how to get a high school equivalency in Colorado.
There are two high school equivalency exams given in Colorado: GED, and HiSET. Both are equivalent to a high school diploma, and are accepted at 99% of colleges. You can go on to get a great job, get a degree, or join the military with a Colorado HiSET and Colorado GED.
The GED test in Colorado tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts. The Colorado HiSET exam tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Writing.
GED TEST
SUBJECT
TIME
Math
115 minutes
Social Studies
90 minutes
Science
90 minutes
Language Arts
150 minutes
Total
7 hours, 41 minutes
HiSET EXAM
SUBJECT
TIME
Math
90 minutes
Social Studies
70 minutes
Science
80 minutes
Reading
60 minutes
Writing
120 minutes
Total
7 hours
GED TEST
SUBJECT
# OF QUESTIONS
Math
46
Social Studies
35
Science
34
Language Arts
46
HiSET EXAM
SUBJECT
# OF QUESTIONS
Math
40-50
Social Studies
40-50
Science
40-50
Reading
40-50
Writing
40-50 + essay
TEST
PER SUBJECT
TOTAL
GED® Test
$28.75
$115
HiSET® Exam
$17
$85
- A passing score on the Colorado GED test is 145 (minimum) in each subject.
- A passing score for the HiSET exam in Colorado is 8 in each subtest, combined score of 45; minimum of 2 on the Language Arts, Writing essay.
TEST
SCORE
GED® Test
145 minimum per subject
HiSET® Exam
8 minimum per subject, combined minimum of 45, 2 minimum on the essay
You can retake each subject up to 3 times without waiting. The fourth retake requires a 60 day waiting period. You will be offered a discounted price for your first two retakes ($12 per retake instead of $32). To receive additional discounted retakes, you must wait 60 days, pay the full price of $32, and then you will receive two more discounted retakes. All retakes must occur within 12 months of the initial attempt.
Yes! The Colorado GED and HiSET tests can be taken at an official testing center in Colorado or online*. You can find the closest center to you on our list of testing centers in Colorado.
*Online Proctored GED test notification update: 7-26-2021
Beginning September 1st, 2021, there will be an Online Proctored (OP) GED test option, which means that you will have the option to take your GED test remotely (online). For more information, please visit our article Getting GED Online.
You must be a legal resident of Colorado to take the GED or HiSET in Colorado.
Find a Colorado testing center nearest you that offers the GED or HiSET tests here.
How old do I have to be to take the test in Colorado?
You must be 18 years of age.
If you are 17, you can take the test with the following conditions:
- You have a government (national or foreign) issued photo ID;
- You are a resident of Colorado
- You are not enrolled in school (you are excepted if you are enrolled in an approved in-school GED preparation program)
- You are not a high school graduate
- You must have parental/guardian permission.
If you are 16 you must meet the above requirements, and must be in the care of a state agency, under a court order, or in a Job Corps training program.
If you are under 18, you are required to attend school in the state of Colorado.
How do I get an age wavier in Colorado?
If you are under 18 and require an age waiver, you can request it from your local school board. You’ll need to receive permission from the school board in order to take the test.
If you have a disability, you can apply for disability accommodations through the GED test’s accommodations page. Don’t know if you qualify? Be sure to find out if you qualify for accomodations.
To get a copy of your Colorado transcript, you can request it through the GED Testing Service or HiSET.
There are two high school equivalency exams given in Colorado: GED, and HiSET. Both are equivalent to a high school diploma, and are accepted at 99% of colleges. You can go on to get a great job, get a degree, or join the military with a Colorado HiSET and Colorado GED.
The GED test in Colorado tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts. The Colorado HiSET exam tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Writing.
| GED TEST | |
|---|---|
| SUBJECT | TIME |
| Math | 115 minutes |
| Social Studies | 90 minutes |
| Science | 90 minutes |
| Language Arts | 150 minutes |
| Total | 7 hours, 41 minutes |
| HiSET EXAM | |
|---|---|
| SUBJECT | TIME |
| Math | 90 minutes |
| Social Studies | 70 minutes |
| Science | 80 minutes |
| Reading | 60 minutes |
| Writing | 120 minutes |
| Total | 7 hours |
| GED TEST | |
|---|---|
| SUBJECT | # OF QUESTIONS |
| Math | 46 |
| Social Studies | 35 |
| Science | 34 |
| Language Arts | 46 |
| HiSET EXAM | |
|---|---|
| SUBJECT | # OF QUESTIONS |
| Math | 40-50 |
| Social Studies | 40-50 |
| Science | 40-50 |
| Reading | 40-50 |
| Writing | 40-50 + essay |
| TEST | PER SUBJECT | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|
| GED® Test | $28.75 | $115 |
| HiSET® Exam | $17 | $85 |
|
|
- A passing score on the Colorado GED test is 145 (minimum) in each subject.
- A passing score for the HiSET exam in Colorado is 8 in each subtest, combined score of 45; minimum of 2 on the Language Arts, Writing essay.
| TEST | SCORE |
|---|---|
| GED® Test | 145 minimum per subject |
| HiSET® Exam | 8 minimum per subject, combined minimum of 45, 2 minimum on the essay |
You can retake each subject up to 3 times without waiting. The fourth retake requires a 60 day waiting period. You will be offered a discounted price for your first two retakes ($12 per retake instead of $32). To receive additional discounted retakes, you must wait 60 days, pay the full price of $32, and then you will receive two more discounted retakes. All retakes must occur within 12 months of the initial attempt.
Yes! The Colorado GED and HiSET tests can be taken at an official testing center in Colorado or online*. You can find the closest center to you on our list of testing centers in Colorado.
*Online Proctored GED test notification update: 7-26-2021
Beginning September 1st, 2021, there will be an Online Proctored (OP) GED test option, which means that you will have the option to take your GED test remotely (online). For more information, please visit our article Getting GED Online.
You must be a legal resident of Colorado to take the GED or HiSET in Colorado.
Find a Colorado testing center nearest you that offers the GED or HiSET tests here.
You must be 18 years of age.
If you are 17, you can take the test with the following conditions:
- You have a government (national or foreign) issued photo ID;
- You are a resident of Colorado
- You are not enrolled in school (you are excepted if you are enrolled in an approved in-school GED preparation program)
- You are not a high school graduate
- You must have parental/guardian permission.
If you are 16 you must meet the above requirements, and must be in the care of a state agency, under a court order, or in a Job Corps training program.
If you are under 18, you are required to attend school in the state of Colorado.
If you are under 18 and require an age waiver, you can request it from your local school board. You’ll need to receive permission from the school board in order to take the test.
If you have a disability, you can apply for disability accommodations through the GED test’s accommodations page. Don’t know if you qualify? Be sure to find out if you qualify for accomodations.
To get a copy of your Colorado transcript, you can request it through the GED Testing Service or HiSET.
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