There are two high school equivalency exams given in Tennessee: 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 Tennessee HiSET or Tennessee GED.

• The Tennessee GED test will test you on Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts.
• The Tennessee HiSET exam tests you on Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Writing.

• A passing score on the Tennessee GED test is 145 (minimum) in each subject.
• A passing score for the Tennessee HiSET exam is 8 in each subtest, combined score of 45; minimum of 2 on the Language Arts, Writing essay.

GED:

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center:

• In Tennessee, there is no waiting period for your first two retakes. After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting. There’s no limit to how many times you can test in a year.

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• The Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a 60-day waiting period. After taking a test subject two times online, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting.

HiSET: HiSET test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year. If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center in the months of February and March, you would not be permitted to take that subtest again until the next calendar year starting in January, and you would then need to pay the full test price. You may retake each subtest two times over the 12 months following your first attempt by paying only the test center fee or the at-home online proctor fee for each at-home subtest.

The Tennessee GED and HiSET tests can be taken at an official testing center in Tennessee or online. You can find the closest center to you on our list of testing centers in Tennessee.

GED: You must apply for disability accommodations through the GED Testing Service page. HiSET: Find out about disability accommodations and fill out a HiSET Accommodations Request Form.

To get a copy of your Tennessee transcript, you can request it through the GED Testing Service or HiSET.

Find the closest Tennessee GED or HiSET testing centers.

No, you do not have to be a resident of Tennessee to take the GED or HiSET test in Tennessee.

You must be 18 years old to test in Tennessee.

GED: If you are 17, you can take the test with the following conditions:

1. Fill out the HSE Recommendation for 17-Year-Old Student form.
2. Testers must have the superintendent of school or his/her designee, or home school-parent complete and sign the HSE Recommendation for 17-Year-Old- Student form.
3. The HSE Recommendation Form needs to be uploaded to the TN Age Waiver Zendesk Site and complete the information required.
4. Once the form is uploaded to the site, the Tennessee State Administrator will approve you to test.
5. After approval through the Zendesk, then the tester signs up for the test on the GED website.

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• A parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in.

HiSET: If you are 17, you must not be presently enrolled in high school and you must provide the test center an age waiver form signed by the director of the school system (aka Director of Schools) where you currently reside before you can test.

If you are under 17, you are not eligible to take the HiSET exam in Tennessee.