HiSET Writing

Updated for 2027. The HiSET® Writing subtest is two very different tests packed into one sitting — and most prep books treat it like an afterthought. Part 1 is 60 multiple-choice items where you revise and edit short passages (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, organization, word choice). Part 2 is a 45-minute argumentative essay where you read two source passages, take a position, and back it up with evidence from both. All-in-one HiSET books give you 40 pages and a generic rubric and say "good luck." This book is built differently.

Part 1 is taught skill by skill, the way the test actually asks for it. Every chapter takes one editing skill — subject-verb agreement, fragments, run-ons, parallel structure, punctuation rules, transitions, organization, formal vs. informal register — explains it in plain English with real adult-context examples, shows you exactly how the test frames the item, then gives you "Try It" practice with full explanations. Only then do you reach chapter-review items in real test format (passage with numbered edit points). "Common Mistake" callouts warn you about the high-frequency distractor patterns. "Test Tip" boxes give you the pacing to get through 60 items in your allotted minutes without losing easy points.

Part 2 — the essay — gets the most thorough treatment in any HiSET prep book. You'll learn the five-step workflow for the 45-minute argumentative essay: read both source passages actively, take a position, plan a four-paragraph outline, draft, then proofread. You'll see annotated model essays at every score on the 6-point ETS rubric (a 1, a 3, and a 6), with line-by-line explanations of what works and what doesn't. You get a reusable outline template you can carry into the test. You'll learn how to handle conflicting evidence between sources, how to cite evidence inside an essay, and what "language facility" actually means to a scorer.

Two full-length practice tests close the book, each with a 60-item Part 1 and a Part 2 prompt with source passages and a scored model response. 100% original content — zero overlap with ETS published items. Written for adult learners. HiSET® is a registered trademark of ETS.