It is proven that holding a high school equivalency diploma (HSED, also known as a GED) in Iowa brings more job opportunities and career training for those who cannot earn a traditional high school diploma for a variety of reasons. 

The HiSET exam was created to aid adults who were unable to complete high school in their pursuit of an equivalent diploma. Government agencies, employers, and academic institutions across North America regard and accept the diploma granted after passing the five HiSET subtests in the same manner as a regular high school diploma.

The High School Equivalency Test (known as HSED), which assesses skills and knowledge at the level of graduating high school, was used to replace the GED (General Education Development) in the state of Iowa a few years ago. This article will place more emphasis on the Iowa GED. Let’s check it out!

 

1. Iowa GED Requirements For Test Eligibility

 

Here are some exam eligibility requirements for the GED test. 

 

1.1. Age 

 

To take the HiSET exam without special permission, you must be at least 18 years old. 

To take the HiSET exam at age 16, you must fit one of the following criteria: 

  • You are a resident of an Iowa Juvenile Institution (State Training School(s) or the Iowa Juvenile Home) 
  • You are under the supervision of a Juvenile Probation Office 
  • You are participating in the Job Corps program 

If you are 17 years old, not enrolled in an Iowa juvenile detention facility or state training school, and not under the supervision of a probation office, you are still eligible to take the HiSET exam. Please take note that even if you meet these requirements and take and pass the HiSET exam, you won’t be able to get your high school equivalency diploma from the state until you turn 18 and your 9th grade class has graduated. 

 

1.2. Residency:

 

Anyone, not just residents of Iowa, may take the HiSET examination. 

 

1.3. Test Preparation or Instruction: 

 

Before taking the HiSET exam, all test-takers in Iowa must complete adult education coursework. The amount of instruction varies by testing center. Visit Iowa’s adult education programs to find an adult education program. 

 

1.4. Practice Test: 

 

Before taking the official HiSET exam in Iowa, you must take the official HiSET half-length practice test. The Adult Education and Literacy program can provide official practice test verification, which is necessary for testing admission. 

 

1.5. Identification: 

 

On the day of the exam, you must show identification at the HiSET testing facility. Identification that is out of date or expired won’t be accepted. Identification that is recognized includes: 

  • valid driver’s license 
  • passport 
  • military ID 
  • other form of government-issued (national or foreign) identification that shows name, address, date of birth, signature and photograph 

Note: On test day, official practice test verification is also required.  A drop form or documentation of non-enrollment is also required for candidates who are 18 years of age or younger. 

 

2. About the Iowa GED Test

 

2.1. GED Test Sections

 

These exams demand that test takers use their critical thinking, reading, math, and language skills. As long as writing and math are not the last tests taken, tests are taken at a time and in any order. Students can obtain their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) by passing the HiSET test series. The Iowa GED (formally known as HiSET) exam is made up of 5 subject tests as follows: 

  •  Language Arts – Reading

Time: 65 minutes (80 minutes for Spanish)

Format: Multiple Choice

Content: This section evaluates your comprehension, interpretation, and critical thinking skills across a wide range of literary and informational texts.

  • Language Arts – Writing

Time: 120 Minutes

Format: Multiple-choice and an essay prompt

Content: The purpose of this section is to assess your proficiency in using standard American English, editing and revising written work, and producing and organizing ideas in writing.

  •  Mathematics

Time: 90 Minutes

Format: Multiple Choice

Content: This component evaluates candidates’ skills and understanding in mathematics. For this part, a calculator is permitted.

  •  Science

Time: 80 Minutes

Format: Multiple Choice

Content: This section assesses your capacity to use scientific inquiry principles, analyze scientific data, and interpret scientific knowledge.

  •  Social Studies

Time: 70 Minutes

Format: Multiple Choice

Content: The history, political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, geography, and economics analysis and evaluation skills are tested in this area.

 

2.2. GED Test Fee

 

The costs for each subtest are as follows:

  • Computer-delivered tests: $10.75 per subtest.
  • Paper-delivered tests: $15.00 per subtest.

You will get two retakes for that price, but each one will cost you an extra $15.00 at the testing facility.

 

3.  Iowa GED Testing Centers

 

iowa ged testing centers
Iowa GED Testing Centers

 

Here is a list of testing centers for high school equivalency exams. Let’s check it out and search for the closest testing site near you!

  • Ames

Des Moines Area Community College

Ames Hunziker Center

1420 S Bell Avenue, Room 220

Ames, IA 50010

515-428-8120

  • Anamosa

Kirkwood-Anamosa State Penitentiary

406 N High Street

Anamosa, IA 52205

319-462-3504

  • Ankeny

Des Moines Area Community College

2006 S Ankeny Blvd., Bldg. 17

Ankeny, IA 50023

515-964-6255

  • Atlantic

Iowa Western Community College

705 Walnut Street

Atlantic, IA 50022

712-325-3267

  • Boone

Des Moines Area Community College

1125 Hancock Drive, Room 102

Boone, IA 50036

515-433-5096

  • Calmar

Northeast Iowa Community College

Student Center, Testing Center

1625 HWY 150 South

Student Center, Room 111

Calmar, IA 52132

563-562-3263

  • Carroll

Des Moines Area Community College

906 N Grant Road, Room 107

Carroll, IA 51401

712-792-8333

  • Cedar Rapids

Kirkwood Community College

6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, 2055 Cedar Hall

Cedar Rapids, IA 53404

319-398-5411

  • Centerville

Indian Hills Community College

Centerville Campus

721 N 1st Street

Centerville, IA 52554

641-683-5233

  • Cherokee

Western Iowa Tech Community College

200 Victory Drive

Cherokee, IA 51012

712-274-8733

 

___

 

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Cherokee Mental Health Institute

1251 W Cedar Loop

Cherokee, IA 51012

712-225-2594

  • Clarinda

Clarinda Correctional Facility

2000 N 16th Street

Clarinda, IA 51632

712-542-5634

 

___

 

Iowa Western Community College

Rowland Hall

923 E Washington

Clarinda, IA 51632

712-325-3267

  • Clinton

Eastern Iowa Community College

Clinton Community College

1000 Lincoln Blvd.

Clinton, IA 52732

563-244-7001

  • Coralville

Kirkwood Community College

Iowa Medical Classification Center

Education Department

2700 Coral Ridge Drive

Coralville, IA 52241

319-626-2391

  • Council Bluffs

Iowa Western Community College

Adult Education & Literacy Program

2700 College Road, Kinney Hall

Council Bluffs, IA 51503

712-325-3266

  • Creston

Southwestern Community College

Creston Assessment Center

Instructional Center

1501 W Townline Street, Room 215

Creston, IA 50801

641-782-1497

  • Davenport

Eastern Iowa Community College

Scott County Juvenile Detention Center

Annex Building

500 W 4th Street

Davenport, IA 52804

___

 

Eastern Iowa Community College

Scott County Jail

2950 N Fairmount Street

Davenport, IA 52804

563-328-7690

___

 

Eastern Iowa Community College

Scott Community College Urban Campus

101 W Third Street

Davenport, IA 52801-1215

563-336-5200

 

___

 

Pearson Professional Centers

100 E Kimberly Road, Suite 401

Davenport, IA 52806

563-386-0906

  • Denison

 

Western Iowa Tech Community College

11 N 35th Street

Denison, IA 51442

712-274-8733

  • Des Moines

 

Des Moines Area Community College

Southridge Campus

1111 E Army Post Road, Suite 2004, Room 3

Des Moines, IA 50315

515-287-8720

 

___

 

Des Moines Area Community College

Urban Campus

1100 7th Street, Bldg. 1, Room 207

Des Moines, IA 50314

515-248-7204

 

___

 

Des Moines Public Schools Option Academy

1000 Porter Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50315

515-242-8323

  • Dubuque

Northeast Iowa Community College

Dubuque Center for Education

700 Main Street

Dubuque, IA 52001

844.642.2338 x3700

  • Eldora

IVCCD – Eldora State Training School

3211 W Edgington

Eldora, IA 52001

641-844-5652

  • Emmetsburg

Iowa Lakes

3200 College Drive

Emmetsburg, IA 50536

712-362-7936

  • Estherville

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville College Library

300 S 18th Street

Estherville, IA 51334

712-362-2604

  • Fairfield

Indian Hills Jefferson County

112 S Court Street

Fairfield, IA 52556

641-683-5233

  • Fort Dodge

Iowa Central Community College

Academic Resource Center

One Triton Circle

Fort Dodge, IA 50501

515-574-1044

 

___

 

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge Correctional Facility

1550 L Street

Fort Dodge, IA 50501

515-574-4700

  • Fort Madison

Southeastern Community College

Iowa State Penitentiary

2111 330 Avenue

Fort Madison, IA 52627

319-208-5302

 

___

 

Southeastern Community College

Iowas State Penitentiary JBU

PO BOX 316

Fort Madison, IA 52627

___

 

Southeastern Community College

1602 Avenue F

Fort Madison, IA 52627

319-376-2286

  • Grinnell

Iowa Valley Community College

123 6th Avenue West

Grinnell, IA 50112

641-754-1348

  • Harlan

Iowa Western Community College

1901 Hawkeye Avenue, Suite 102

Harlan, IA 51537

712-755-3568

  • Hiawatha

New Horizons Computer Learning Center

1850 Boyson Road

Hiawatha, IA 52233

319-294-9035

  • Iowa City

Kirkwood Community Colege

1816 Lower Muscatine Road

Iowa City, IA 50126

319-887-3656

  • Iowa Falls

Iowa Valley Community College

Technology and Industry Building

1100 College Avenue

Iowa Falls, IA 50126

641-754-1348

  • Keokuk

Southeastern Community College

335 Messenger Street

Keokuk, IA 52632

319-313-1923

  • Marshalltown

IVCCD Education and Training Center

206 E Church Street

Marshalltown, IA 50158

641-754-1348

  • Mason City

North Iowa Area Community College

Acitivity Center

500 College Drive,

Room 210 & Room 118

Mason City, IA 50401

641-422-4237

  • Mitchellville

Iowa Correctional Institution for Women

420 Mill Street SW

Mitchellville, IA 50169

515-725-5-5042

  • Monticello

Kirkwood Community College

Jones County Regoinal Center

220 Welter Drive

Monticello, IA 52310

  • Mount Pleasant

Southeastern Community College

Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility

1200 E Washington

Mount Pleasant, IA 52641

 

___

 

Southeastern Community College

200 N Main Street

Mount Pleasant, IA 52641

  • Muscatine

Eastern Iowa Community College

Gaekle Hall

152 Colorado Street, Room 205

Muscatine, IA 52761

  • Newton

Des Moines Area Community College

Newton Campus, Building One

600 N 2nd Avenue West, Room 109

Newton, IA 50208

641-791-1730

___

 

Newton Correctional Facility

Building H Correctional Release Center

Room E11A, Room 6

Newton, IA 50208

  • Osceola

Southwestern Community College

2520 College Drive

Osceola, IA 50213

641-782-1497

  • Oskaloosa

Indian Hills Community College

William Penn Center

1710 N Market

Oskaloosa, IA 52577

641-683-5233

  • Ottumwa

Indian Hills Community College

Trustee Hall Testing Center

525 Grandview Avenue

Ottumwa, IA 52501

641-683-5233

 

___

 

Indian Hills Community College

North Campus

15260 Truman Street, Suite 2

Ottumwa, IA 52501

641-683-5233

  • Peosta

Northeast Iowa Community College

8342 NICC Drive

Peosta, IA 52068

844-642-2338

  • Red Oak

Southwestern Community College

2300 N 4th Street

Red Oak, IA 51566

641-782-1497

  • Rockwell City

Iowa Central Community College

North Central Correctional Facility

3330 Lanedale Avenue

Rockwell City IA 50579

  • Sheldon

Northwest Iowa Community College

Learning Center, Building A

603 W Park Street

Sheldon, IA 51201

712-324-5061

  • Shenandoah

Iowa Western Community College

1001 W Sheridan Avenue

Shenandoah, IA 51601

  • Sioux City

Pearson Professional Centers

4300 S Lakeport, Suite 204

Sioux City, IA 51106

712-274-2114

___

 

Western Iowa Tech Community College

4647 Stone Avenue

Sioux City, IA 51106

712-274-8733

  • Spencer

Iowa Lakes Community College

1900 Grand Avenue, Suite B-1

Spencer, IA 51301

877-807-9585

  • Storm Lake

Iowa Central Community College

916 N Russell Street

Storm Lake, IA 50588

515-574-1959

  • Tama

Iowa Valley Community College

Tama Education Center

215 W 9th Street 2nd Floor

Tama, IA 52339

641-754-1348

  • Tipton

Kirkwood Community College 

Cedar County Center

100 Alexlander Drive, Suite 2

Tipton, IA 52772

563-886-2950

  • Urbandale

New Horizons Computer Learning Center

4414 114th Street

Urbandale, IA 50322

515-226-3265

  • Vinton

Kirkwood Community College

Benton County Center

111 W 3rd Street

Vinton, IA 52349

319-472-2318

  • Washington

Kirkwood Community College

Washington County Center

2192 Lexington Blvd.

Washington, IA 52353

319-398-5456

  • Waterloo

Hawkeye Community College

Van G. Miller, Adult Learning Center

120 Jefferson Street

Waterloo, IA 50701

319-296-4278

___

 

Hawkeye Community College

Hawkeye Center, Student Services, Upper Level

1501 E Orange Road

Waterloo, IA 50701

319-296-4014

  • Webster City

Iowa Central Community College

1725 Beach Street

Webster City, IA 50595

515-574-1959

  • West Burlington

Southeastern Community College

1500 W Agency Road

West Burlington, IA 50266

319-208-5000

  • West Des Moines

Pearson Professional Centers

Colony Park Office Building

3737 Woodland Avenue, Suite 340

West Des Moines, IA 50266

515-226-0502

 

 

4. Free Iowa GED Online Practice Test 

 

Free Iowa GED Online Practice Test
Free Iowa GED Online Practice Test

GED Test Pro provides you with a number of free online GED practice questions covering 4 GED subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning through Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. Each practice question is accompanied with a detailed explanation. 

With GED Test Pro, you might sharpen your high school knowledge, enhance your confidence and readiness for your upcoming test. Now, let’s start taking GED online practice tests to get well-prepared for your Iowa GED exam. Take our free GED Practices Test today!

To sum up, this article has already provided you with a brief overview of Iowa GED. Hopefully, you might find it useful. Don’t forget to follow us to see more informative blogs.