The HiSET exam consists of five subtests that evaluate an examinee’s proficiency in key subject areas they would have learned in high school. One of these subtests is the HiSET Language Arts – Writing test, which requires test-takers to compose two essays within a three-hour time limit. The first essay is a persuasive or position essay, where test-takers must take a stance on a provided issue or claim. The second essay is an explanatory or informational essay, where test-takers are asked to objectively explain ideas, processes, or historical events.
In this article, we will provide examples of actual HiSET essays that received high scores, analyze their strengths, and discuss strategies test-takers can employ on their own HiSET essays. By examining model responses, test-takers can gain a better understanding of what assessors look for in terms of content, organization, writing style, and mechanics. Let’s begin by analyzing a sample persuasive essay:
Sample Persuasive Essay:
“Prompt: Some people believe that a good solution to high gasoline prices would be requiring all new vehicles to be electric vehicles. Others argue that this idea limits consumer choice too much. Write a persuasive essay for or against requiring all new vehicles to be electric vehicles. Support your position with relevant reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.”
“All new vehicles should not be required to be electric vehicles. While electric vehicles have benefits like not using gasoline, requiring them limits personal freedom too much. People have different needs and lifestyles, so they should be able to choose the type of vehicle that best fits them.
Some families need large vehicles like SUVs or minivans to carry kids and equipment for their activities. Electric vehicles currently do not offer as many large vehicle options. They also do not have as much cargo space or towing capacity as gas-powered vehicles. For people who need to transport a lot of gear, electric vehicles may not meet their needs.
Location is another factor. For those who live in rural areas far from cities, electric vehicle range can be an issue. Charging stations are not as widely available in more remote locations yet. Being stranded without a way to charge could be dangerous. Gasoline vehicles do not have this potential problem since gas stations are located throughout the country, even in very rural areas.
Cost is another valid concern. While electric vehicle technology is improving, electric vehicles currently cost more than comparable gas-powered cars. Requiring them could present a significant financial burden to many families. Their higher costs could lead some people to keep driving old, less safe gas vehicles instead of being able to afford a newer electric option.
While electric vehicles provide environmental benefits, requiring them limits choices too much, especially considering the technology has not advanced enough yet for all lifestyle needs. The government should encourage but not mandate their use, to allow people freedom in choosing what fits best for their individual situation.”
Let’s analyze what makes this a strong sample persuasive essay:
It takes a clear stance for its thesis that all new vehicles should not be required to be electric.
It provides three relevant reasons to support its position – needs/lifestyles, location/range, and cost – backed up with specific details and examples.
The introduction establishes the issue being debated and previews the supporting points to follow.
Each body paragraph is dedicated to a different reason and uses facts and details to persuade the reader of that point’s validity rather than just making bare assertions.
The conclusion restates the thesis and key takeaway of limiting choice before the technology can accommodate all needs.
Transitions connect the ideas between sentences and paragraphs for cohesion.
Formal language and objective tone is maintained throughout rather than becoming emotional.
This response demonstrates the critical thinking, organization, and composition skills assessed on the HiSET. While not perfect, it achieves the goal of taking a clear stance and supporting it convincingly through well-developed paragraphs.
Let’s now examine a sample explanatory essay:
Sample Explanatory Essay:
“Prompt: Explain how the invention of the cotton gin influenced the economy and development of the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Consider its economic and social impacts.”
“The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 by Eli Whitney had immense impacts on both the American economy and society in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Prior to the gin’s invention, removing the seeds from raw cotton was an arduous, time-intensive process done entirely by hand. Whitney’s machine automated this step, greatly increasing the speed at which cotton could be processed.
This sparked a boom in cotton production across the Southern states which had ideal growing conditions. Landowners invested in large cotton plantations as the crop became highly profitable to grow on a mass scale. To meet the heavy labor demands, the use of enslaved people expanded dramatically. By 1860 on the eve of the Civil War, over four million African Americans were enslaved and the ‘cotton kingdom’ had become a major economic force nationwide.
The growth of the cotton industry supported critical infrastructure development like railroads to transport goods. Southern ports flourished as cotton exports increased. Meanwhile, textile mills proliferated in the North, fueled by the raw material now abundantly available. This helped usher in the Industrial Revolution and establish the United States as a manufacturing power on the global stage.
The economic reliance on slave labor also deepened the divisions between North and South. The interests of plantation owners in maintaining their “peculiar institution” conflicted with Northern opposition to the moral questionable practice. Ultimately, the tensions created by the cotton gin’s effects became an underlying cause of the Civil War.”
Let’s analyze what makes this explanatory essay strong:
It directly answers the prompt by thoroughly explaining the two main impacts – economic and social – in the given time period.
Context and background on the cotton gin’s invention are provided.
Each impact is broken into separate, well-developed paragraphs with clear examples.
Causal relationships are drawn between the gin, resulting boom, and broader influences regionally and nationally.
The conclusion ties the analysis back to how the impacts ultimately built toward civil war.
Factual information is synthesized objectively without personal commentary.
This response demonstrates a high level of understanding through its detailed, logically organized analysis of how the cotton gin fundamentally transformed the economy and society in ways directly addressed in the prompt. Strong explanatory writing requires marshalling concrete facts to fully illuminate broader impacts and processes.
These sample essays demonstrate qualities assessors look for in high-scoring HiSET responses:
Taking a clear stance or directly answering the assigned topic
Using relevant, well-developed reasons and examples rather than vague assertions
Logical organization with effective introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions
Coherence achieved through transitions and a formal, objective writing style
Depth of thinking displayed through nuanced analyses rather than superficial treatments
Synthesizing facts to fully illuminate impacts, processes, relationships as required
The above essays exhibit control of standard writing conventions as well. While not flawless, they achieve the primary goals of properly addressing the task while cogently organizing and expressing ideas. Examining model responses helps test-takers understand what quality looks like.
Of course, all essays will vary in focus depending on the specific prompt and individual experiences. The most important thing is to select a stance supported by sufficient evidence, remain consistently on topic, and thoughtfully consider multiple perspectives or interpretations when applicable. With practice applying these lesson from examples, test-takers can feel prepared to compose their own high-quality responses on the actual HiSET exam. Understanding what assessors evaluate gives test-takers an advantage in demonstrating their abilities to the fullest.
Andrew Stroud