GED In Massachusetts

Last Updated on April 23, 2024.

If you want to earn your GED diploma in Massachusetts, you can take the GED or HiSET exam at one of the state’s official test centers. The state does NOT offer online testing.

Students must register for the exams via GED.com or hiset.org. Best GED Classes provides free GED online classes and practice tests as well as a lot of information about the GED and HiSET exams.

With the free online GED classes and practice tests published here, you can get a good idea of whether online learning with video lessons is right for you.

If so, you can easily register with Onsego GED Online Prep, a full-scale, accredited GED prep course that generously provides the free lessons published here.

So Massachusetts is using two options for the state’s High School Equivalency testing program, the GED® and HiSET® exams. Both assessments offer persons who didn’t complete high school the chance to obtain an equivalent degree.

The HiSET exam is still available in paper-and-pencil format, whereas the GED is only offered in an entirely computer-based format.

The GED has four individual subtests in these fields:

• Social Studies
• Science
• English Language Arts
• Math

The HiSET has separate Language Reading and Language Writing tests (so 5 in total). The HiSET exam is offered online as well.

Having the diploma will certainly improve employment options and open doors toward a college education.

This page informs you about all GED & HiSET resources that will successfully prepare you to take the exam successfully, such as our free GED practice tests and free video lessons.

GED Massachusetts Requirements

• In Massachusetts, the minimum age to qualify for GED or HiSET testing is 16.
• Applicants 16 and 17, however, must meet specific restrictions, such as a statement from your last school that includes the date of discharge and a parent’s or guardian’s signature on the required registration form.
• Applicants must be state residents and live at a physical Massachusetts address. On test day, you will need to sign a verification form.
• Massachusetts does not require applicants to first take a prep course or a practice test, though proper preparation is strongly encouraged as the HiSET, like the GED, is a rigorous examination. To qualify for online GED testing, however, taking and passing the GED Ready® test is required.
• Applicants cannot already have a high school diploma and not be registered for a school program either.

Free GED and HiSET Testing for Massachusetts Residents

Massachusetts’ Department of Elementary & Secondary Education has announced that the state will cover the cost of GED or HiSET testing for state residents (read more at the bottom of this page).

The Massachusetts regular fee for the complete exam of five HiSET tests is $103.75 when taken on a computer or $125 when the exam is taken on paper. Paper-based testing is only offered at test centers.

The Massachusetts GED exam regularly costs $36.00 per subtest ($144 for the entire battery) at Massachusetts testing sites.

You may take the GED test in a state other than Massachusetts. To qualify for online GED testing, applicants need to reach “green” (likely to pass) results on the GED Ready practice test.

There is a GED Ready test for each of the four GED subtests, and you can purchase these tests on the website GED.com at $6.99 each. You can add that ($28) to your cost!

If you fail a GED subtest at a test center, there is no wait time to retake that subject test, but if you fail that module three times, you’ll have to wait for 60 days before you can take it again. You can retest as many times as you need.

Your first two retakes are offered at a reduced fee ($10 for the testing site), but these retests must be taken within a year; otherwise, regular fees will apply again. This does NOT apply to online testing.

GED Prep Classes in Massachusetts

Online preparation is perfectly okay, but you can also choose a traditional GED prep class near you. Click on your city or a city near you to see all the available prep sites.

• Barnstable
• Boston
• Brockton
• Fall River
• Lawrence
• Lowell
• Lynn
• New Bedford
• Pittsfield
• Plymouth
• Quincy
• Springfield
• Taunton
• Worcester

Massachusetts GED Testing Centers

Allston
Jackson Mann Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 500 Cambridge St – Allston – MA 02134 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Attleboro
Bristol Comm. College (HiSET) – 11 Field Rd – Attleboro – MA 02703 – Ph: (774) 357.3978
Boston
Tobin Comm. Center (GED, HiSET) – 1483 Tremont St – Boston – MA 02120 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Roxbury Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 1234 Columbus Ave – Boston – MA 02120 – Ph: (617) 708.3628 or (857) 701.1405
Bunker Hill Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 250 New Rutherford Ave – Boston – MA 02129 – Ph: (617) 228.2377/2368
Bourne
Upper Cape Tech (GED) – 220 Sandwich Rd – Bourne – MA 02532 – Ph: (508) 759.7711
Brockton
Massasoit Comm. Coll. (GED) – 1 Massasoit Blvd – Brockton – MA 02302 – Ph: (508) 588.9100
Canton
Massasoit Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 900 Randolph St – Canton – MA 02021 – Ph: (508) 588.9100
Charlestown
Charlestown Adult Ed. (HiSET) – 76 Monument St – Charlestown – MA 02129 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Charlton
Bay Path Regional Vo-Tech HS (HiSET) – 57 Old Muggett Hill Rd – Charlton – MA 01507 – Ph: (508) 248.5974
Chelsea
Bunker Hill Comm. Coll. (HiSET, GED) – 70 Everett Ave – Chelsea – MA 02150 – Ph: (617) 228.2368/2377
Clinton
Clinton Adult Learning Ctr (GED, HiSET) – 150 School St – Clinton – MA 01510 – Ph: (978) 365.4226
Danvers
North Shore Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 1 Ferncroft Rd – Danvers – MA 01923 – Ph: (978) 739.5409
Devens
Mount Wachusett Comm Coll (GED, HiSET) – 27 Jackson Rd – Devens – MA 01432 – Ph: (978) 630.9173
Dorchester
Perkins Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 155 Talbot Ave – Dorchester – MA 02124 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
East Boston
BCYF Paris St Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 112 Paris St – East Boston – MA 02128 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Harborside Comm. Center (HiSET) – 312 Border St – East Boston – MA 02129 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Falmouth
Falmouth High (HiSET) – 874 Gifford St – Falmouth – MA 02540 – Ph: (508) 540.2200
Fall River
Bristol Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 777 Elsbree St – Fall River – MA 02720 – Ph: (774) 357.3978
Gardner
Mt Wachusett Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 444 Green St – Gardner – MA 01440 – Ph: (978) 630.9173
Gloucester
Wellspring House (HiSET) – 302 Essex Ave – Gloucester – MA 01930 – Ph: (978) 281.3221
Great Barrington
Berkshire Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 343 Main St – Great Barrington – MA 01230 – Ph: (413) 236.1656
Greenfield
Greenfield Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 1 College Dr – Greenfield – MA 01301 – Ph: (413) 775.1821/1147
Haverhill
Northern Essex Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 100 Elliott St – Haverhill – MA 01830 – Ph: (978) 556.3448
Holyoke
Holyoke Comm. Coll. (GED) – 303 Homestead Ave – Holyoke – MA 01040 – Ph: (413) 552.2112
PAFEC (HiSET) – 206 Maple St – 4th Fl – Holyoke – MA 01040 – Ph: (413) 552.2292/2112
Hyde Park
Hyde Park Community Ctr (HiSET) – 1179 River St – Hyde Park – MA 02136 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Jamaica Plain
Curtis Hall Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 20 South St – Jamaica Plain – MA 02130 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Lawrence
Lawrence Adult Learning Ctr (GED, HiSET) – 51 Lawrence St – Lawrence – MA 01840 – Ph: (978) 722.8114
Leominster
Mt. Wachusett Comm. College (HiSET, GED) – 100 Erdman Way – Leominster – MA 01453 – Ph: (978) 630.9173
Lowell
Abisi Adult. Ed. Ctr (GED, HiSET) – 408 Merrimack St – Lowell – MA 01854 – Ph: (978) 937.8989
Lynn
North Shore Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 300 Broad St – Lynn – MA 01901 – Ph: (781) 477.2135
Malden
Triangle-Malden (GED) – 157 Pleasant St – Malden – MA 02148 – Ph: (781) 388.4320
Mattapan
Mildred Ave Community Ctr (HiSET) – 5 Mildred Ave – Mattapan – MA 02126 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Nantucket
Nantucket Comm. School (GED) – 56 Centre St – Nantucket – MA 02554 – Ph: (508) 228.7285
Nantucket Comm. School (HiSET) -10 Surfside Rd – Nantucket – MA 02554 – Ph: (508) 228.7285
New Bedford
New Bedford Adult Ed. (GED) – 181 Hillman St – New Bedford – MA 02740 – Ph: (508) 997.4511
New Bedford High (HiSET) – 230 Hathaway Blvd – New Bedford – MA 02740 – Ph: (508) 997.4511
North Adams
Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts (HiSET) – 275 Church St – North Adams – MA 02147 – Ph: (413) 236.1656
Northampton
James House Comm. Learning Ctr (HiSET) – 42 Gothic St – Northampton – MA 01060 – Ph: (413) 552.2112
Oak Bluffs
Martha’s Vineyard Reg. High (HiSET) – 100 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd – Oak Bluffs – MA 02557 – Ph: (508) 560-2085
Pittsfield
Berkshire Comm. College (GED) – 1350 West St – Pittsfield – MA 01201 – Ph: (413) 236.1655
Quincy
Quincy College (HiSET) – 1250 Hancock St – Quincy – MA 02169 – Ph: (617) 984.1700/1650
Roslindale
Thomas M Menino Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 125 Brookway Rd – Roslindale – MA 02131 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Roslindale Community Ctr (HiSET) – 6 Cummins Hwy – Roslindale – MA 02131 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Roxbury
Vine Street Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 339 Dudley St – Roxbury – MA 02119 – Ph: (617) 959.9400
Shelburne Comm. Ctr (HiSET) – 2730 Washington St – Roxbury – MA 02119 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Boston Adult Ed (HiSET) – 55 Malcolm X Blvd – Roxbury Crossing – MA 02120 – Ph: (617) 635.9300
Roxbury Crossing
Roxbury Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 1234 Columbus Ave – Roxbury Crossing – MA 02120 – Ph: (857) 701.1400
Salem
Triangle Inc.-Salem (HiSET, GED) – 45 Congress St – Ste 4171 – Salem – MA 01970 – Ph: (617) 312.2871
Somerville
SCALE (HiSET) – 167 Holland St – Somerville – MA 02144 – Ph: (857) 829.1831
South Boston
Tech Computers, Inc. (GED, HiSET) – 453 W 4th St – South Boston – MA 02127 – Ph: (617) 622.5600
Condon Comm. Center (HiSET – 200 D St – South Boston – MA 02127 – Ph: (617) 635.4920
Springfield
Technical Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 1 Armory Sq – Springfield – MA 01105 – Ph: (413) 755.4657
Springfield Schools (GED, HiSET) – 204 Boston Rd – Springfield – MA 01109 – Ph: (413) 787.7210
Wakefield
Galvin Middle School (HiSET) – 525 Main St – Wakefield – MA 01880 – Ph: (781) 246.6410 x 24107
Wareham
Wareham High School (HiSET) – 7 Viking Dr – Wareham – MA 02571 – Ph: (508) 291.3510
West Barnstable
Cape Cod Comm. Coll. (HiSET) – 2240 Iyannough Rd – West Barnstable – MA 02668 – Ph: (508) 362-2131
Westfield
Westfield Athenaeum Library (HiSET) – 6 Elm St – Westfield – MA 01085 – Ph: (413) 552.2112
Worcester
Quinsigamond Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 25 Federal St – Worcester – MA 01608 – Ph: (508) 854.7529
Worcester Adult Education (GED, HiSET) – 24 Chatham St – Worcester – MA 01609 – Ph: (508) 799.3090

Free GED Online Prep in Massachusetts

• GED and HiSET Online classes
• GED and HiSET Practice Tests
• GED Online-Fast Track to Your Diploma

GED and HiSET Passing Scores

The three HiSET passing criteria are as follows: you must score no less than 8 (out of 20) on each of the 5 sub-tests, reach a score of at least 2 (out of 6) on your essay, and your total score cannot be under 45 (out of a possible 100).

The GED passing score is 145 (on a 100-200 scale). Scoring is as follows:

• 100-144 is the below-passing score
• 144-164 is labeled the high school equivalency score
• 165-174 is the college-ready score
• 175-200 is the college-ready plus college credit score

Online GED and HiSET Testing

In many states, there is now also the option to take the HiSET or GED exam online. Until recently, that was not possible, but that has changed with the arrival of online options for both the HiSET and the GED exam. In Massachusetts, however, online testing is NOT possible.

Learn all about how the HiSET can be taken online <- in this post, and to qualify for online GED testing, students need to attain “green” scores on the GED Ready® practice test. Learn more in this post -> The online GED exam.

GED vs. HiSET in Massachusetts

The HiSET and GED exams provide applicants with the opportunity to acquire the high school equivalency credential, which is recognized as an important document for better job options, career improvement, and continued academic education.

The HiSET exam includes five tests in the areas of Literacy Reading, Literacy Writing, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics.

The Massachusetts fee for computer-based testing: your first HiSET subject test is $24,75, and each subsequent subject test is $19,75, and you can take one test at a time or schedule the entire exam at the same time. Per subtest, you’re entitled to two free retests within a year, but each time you take a retest, you need to pay the test center a $9 fee. Paper-based HiSET testing costs $125, but now, the state pays for testing.

The latest version of the GED exam brought the language sections together and reduced the number of separate tests to four.

The Massachusetts fee for the GED test is $36.00 per subject test when taken at a test center ($144 for the full test). Retakes are cheaper. Massachusetts now takes up the tab (see below).

The HiSET, like the GED, is used in America to measure applicants’ skills and knowledge at the level that high school students are expected to command after four years of education and training. A student can view his or her scores right after GED testing and see how they did on this test that assesses secondary education-level knowledge and skills.

Students can also visit some main employment events or job fairs to learn all about the job market and follow as well this website’s news posts to be aware of all options regarding high school equivalency testing. The practice tests and lessons offered at no cost on this website are courtesy of Onsego GED Prep, a full GED and HiSET prep course that is entirely aligned to the latest editions of the exams.

Jobs with a GED in Massachusetts

The GED program has supported tens of millions of Americans with getting access to higher education, better jobs, and better lives in general. Over the last few years, Massachusetts has seen a lot of new jobs added to the economy, but most of these new positions require at least a secondary education.

The Health Care sector has been creating over 9,500 new jobs annually in Massachusetts alone over the last few years, and most of these new positions are entry-level positions for jobs like nursing and medical assistants, but also in other sectors. To be a competitive applicant, you are required to have at least a secondary school credential and often some vocational certification.

One more strongly growing sector is Massachusetts’s information technology industry.

Each year, more than 6,100 jobs are added to this sector. So, when you would like to secure a well-paying job and a lasting career, make sure to spend your time and energy on completing your high school education via the HiSET/GED program. All across the state, you can find numerous locations where proper preparation and guidance are offered.

To summarize, in Massachusetts, you can get your High school equivalency (HSE) diploma if you pass one of these exams: GED or HiSET. You can find many locations in key Massachusetts areas where HiSET or GED preparation is offered.

For more information:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
High School Equivalency Office
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone: 781.338.6625/3836

FAQ about GED in Massachusetts

How to get a GED in Massachusetts?

To earn your High School Equivalency (HSE) credential in Massachusetts, you’ll need to pass the four tests that make up the GED exam or the five subtests that the HiSET exam consists of. Massachusetts is using two alternatives for earning its HSE diploma: the computer-based GED exam and the HiSET exam, which is available both on a computer and on paper. Online testing is NOT possible in Massachusetts.

What are the Massachusetts GED testing requirements?

Both the GED and HiSET are for people who never finished high school. In Massachusetts, testers must be state residents, and the minimum age to qualify for high school equivalency testing is 16. 16/17-year-olds, however, must meet some pretty strict additional requirements. Applicants cannot already hold a high school degree.

What is the GED cost in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, the regular GED testing fee is $144 or $36.00 per subtest that must be taken at one of Massachusetts’ testing sites. Bear in mind, however, that if you want to take the test online in another state, you must also buy 4 GED Ready tests for, in total, $28 if you want to qualify for online GED testing!

The HiSET exam costs $103.75 (computer-based) or $125 (paper-based), and testing must be done at a testing site. You have the option to take the GED or HiSET subtests one (or more) at a time.

Free GED and HiSET Testing in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education announced that the state now covers the cost of HiSET and GED testing for Massachusetts residents. Included are the exams and two retakes. To claim the fees covered, Massachusetts residents need to enter a promo code (rather than making a payment) upon registration for the exams. Here are the codes:

• When scheduling the GED test, use MAFREEGED
• When scheduling a GED retest, use MARETAKE
• When scheduling a HiSET test, use MAHISET

Are adjustments required? Should a facility be unlisted or included? Please inform us here.