Reading Introduction
Welcome to the HiSET Language Arts: Reading test study guide! In this guide, you will review content and strategies that will help you do your best on test day. That said, let’s jump in by examining the basics.
The HiSET Language Arts: Reading Test | |
Number of Multiple-Choice Questions | 50 |
Time Limit | 65 minutes |
You have just over one minute per question. However, with all the reading you’ll do on this part of the test, you might be working up until the last second. That said, how does the content break down?
Content Area | Approx. Number of Questions |
Informational Texts | 30 |
Literary Texts | 20 |
No matter the type of text, questions assess one of four key skills. Here, they are listed from easiest to hardest, as well as sample questions to help you identify which HiSET questions assess them.
No matter the type of text, questions assess one of four key skills. Here, they are listed from easiest to hardest, as well as sample questions to help you identify which HiSET questions assess them.
- Comprehension
- Can you identify the meaning behind words, phrases, and specific details?
- Can you identify how word choice affects meaning?
- Inference/Interpretation
- Can you support inferences using evidence?
- Can you infer what individuals or characters are thinking/feeling?
- Can you interpret information in charts/graphs?
- Can you identify figurative language and symbolism?
- Analysis
- Can you identify/summarize the main idea?
- Can you analyze the author’s style, literary devices, and key ideas?
- Synthesis/Generalization
- Can you draw conclusions based on a text?
- Can you make predictions based on what you’ve read?
- Can you compare/contrast authors’/characters’ points of view?
When you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you’ll be ready to tackle the HiSET Language Arts: Reading test. The following pages cover related ideas that’ll help you do your best on test day. This guide makes things easier by breaking down relevant skills by informational and literary texts. You’ll also have the chance to assess your knowledge with plenty of practice questions.
That said, let’s jump in and start with informational text skills.