For most test takers, Social Studies is the easiest test in HiSET. This section focuses on critical thinking and interpreting visuals—such as charts, maps, and political cartoons—rather than memorizing facts. The easiest test in HiSET requires reasoning skills many adults already use when reading news or analyzing current events.
The Social Studies test includes 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 70 minutes. Topics cover U.S. history, government, economics, and geography. However, you don’t need prior knowledge of specific dates or leaders. All answers can be found in the provided passages or data.
Over half of the questions involve analyzing graphs, comparing viewpoints, or identifying cause-and-effect relationships—skills that are easy to practice with official materials.
Why Social Studies Stands Out
- No essay or short answer required
- Calculator not needed—reducing technical stress
- High pass rate compared to Math and Writing
- Logical questions often feel familiar or intuitive
That said, “easiest” depends on your strengths. Strong readers may find Language Arts – Reading simpler. Those comfortable with numbers may prefer Science. But overall, Social Studies is widely regarded as the easiest test in HiSET due to its accessible content and real-world focus.
To prepare:
- Review basic economic terms (supply/demand, inflation)
- Practice interpreting election results or historical documents
- Take the official HiSET Practice Test at hiset.ets.org
Many test takers start with Social Studies to build confidence before tackling more challenging subjects like Mathematics.
You can take each subject separately, so use the easiest test in HiSET to gain momentum. Passing one section early keeps motivation high for the rest.
With light review, this test is often the quickest path to a passing score.