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HiSET Language Arts—Writing: Online Practice Test 1

60 single-best-answer questions and one evidence-based essay · 120 minutes total. Answers and explanations are released only after submission.

Time remaining: 120:00

How to use this form: Read each complete draft before answering its questions. Plan and write the essay after the multiple-choice section. This is independent HiSET-style practice, not an official test or score report.

Draft 1 · Questions 1–12

A Letter About a Damaged Sidewalk

Ellen Ferriday wrote this first draft of a letter to her city clerk. The sentences are numbered.

Dear Ms. Okonjo:

(1) I am writing this letter because the sidewalk by our house is in bad shape and somebody ought to do something about it. (2) The concrete on the 400 block of Dunmore Avenue has broke apart in three places since the water line was replaced last spring. (3) At the corner of Dunmore and Ninth, a cracked uneven slab forces walkers off the sidewalk and into the gutter. (4) About forty children use this block each morning on their way to Pike County Elementary School. (5) Last month a crossing guard watched a driver swerve around two students, the children were walking in the traffic lane. (6) Neither the school nor the city have posted a warning sign at that corner.

(7) For a route that young children walk alone, this condition is totally messed up. (8) In the event that the city cannot rebuild the whole block this year, a temporary patch would still help. (9) The city repaired a similar stretch of walk near the Ashfield Library in 2022. (10) That repair took only two days.

(11) Walking to school every morning, the broken slabs are a daily hazard for these children. (12) My brother-in-law once poured a driveway, and he says concrete work is harder than it looks. (13) I am asking the city to inspect the block, to patch the worst slabs, and that the curb ramp be rebuilt. (14) Anyway, that is my whole complaint.

Sincerely,

Ellen Ferriday

Question 1

Which revision of sentence 1 makes the most effective opening for this letter?

AI am writing to request repair of the damaged sidewalk on the 400 block of Dunmore Avenue.BSidewalks are something every city has to maintain sooner or later.COur street has a problem that I hope somebody in your office will finally take seriously.DBefore I explain my request, let me describe the history of our block, the water line work, and the neighbors who have complained about it.

Question 2

Which change should be made in sentence 2?

Achange “has broke” to “has broken”Bchange “has broke” to “had broke”Cchange “was replaced” to “was replacing”DNo change is needed.

Question 3

Which replacement for “totally messed up” in sentence 7 best fits the purpose and audience of this letter?

Areally bad newsBunsafeCa total disasterDnot the greatest

Question 4

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 5?

Atwo students the children were walking in the traffic laneBtwo students, who were walking in the traffic laneCtwo students, however the children were walking in the traffic laneDtwo students; the children walking in the traffic lane

Question 5

Which is the correct punctuation of the underlined portion of sentence 3, “cracked uneven”?

Acracked-unevenBcracked; unevenCcracked, unevenDNo change is needed.

Question 6

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 6, “Neither the school nor the city have”?

ANeither the school or the city haveBNeither the school nor the city areCNeither the school nor the city wereDNeither the school nor the city has

Question 7

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 8, “In the event that”?

AIfBIn the event whenCIn the case in whichDDue to the fact that

Question 8

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 9 and 10?

AThe city repaired a similar stretch of walk near the Ashfield Library in 2022, that repair took only two days.BIn 2022 the city repaired a similar stretch of walk near the Ashfield Library in only two days.CThe city repaired a similar stretch of walk near the Ashfield Library in 2022, but that repair took only two days.DThe city repaired a similar stretch of walk near the Ashfield Library in 2022, and taking only two days.

Question 9

Which is the best revision of sentence 11?

AThe broken slabs, walking to school every morning, are a daily hazard for these children.BWalking to school every morning, a daily hazard for these children is the broken slabs.CWalking to school every morning, these children face a daily hazard in the broken slabs.DFor these children walking to school every morning, the broken slabs being a daily hazard.

Question 10

Which is the best way to handle sentence 12?

AKeep it, because it shows that the writer knows something about how concrete work is done.BKeep it, but move it after sentence 2.CRevise it to name the year the driveway was poured.DDelete it, because a relative's opinion about concrete work does not support the request.

Question 11

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 13, “that the curb ramp be rebuilt”?

Athat the curb ramp be rebuilt by the cityBrebuilding the curb rampCto rebuild the curb rampDthe curb ramp should be rebuilt

Question 12

Which revision of sentence 14 makes the most effective closing for this letter?

AAnyway, I have said what I wanted to say, so please do something soon.BIn conclusion, sidewalks are an important part of any city's public property.CIf I do not hear from your office within two weeks, I will bring this matter to the next council meeting and ask for an answer there.DThank you for your time; please let me know when an inspector can visit the block.

Draft 2 · Questions 13–24

A Report on the Extended-Hours Trial

A staff member wrote this first draft of a report for the Ashfield Library board. The sentences are numbered.

(1) This report is about the thing the library tried with its hours last fall. (2) From September through November, the Ashfield Library stayed open until nine o'clock on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (3) The trial required two extra staff shifts each week and the neccessary custodial coverage for the later closing. (4) The nightly count of evening visitors has rose from twenty-two in September to thirty-eight in November. (5) The computer stations, the tutoring tables, and the quiet study room were all busier after six o'clock than they had been at midday.

(6) The September numbers were kind of disappointing, but the later months made up for them. (7) A three-month trial proves that the community wants evening service. (8) The tutoring tables filled up on most Thursdays the computer stations filled more slowly. (9) Circulation of physical books did not change during the trial. (10) Reference questions at the desk increased by about a fifth.

(11) The evening clerks had wrote a short summary of each late shift, and every summary described a steady, quiet room. (12) Therefore, two patrons reported that the parking lot felt too dark at closing time. (13) A recommendation that the two evening openings be continued is being made by the staff. (14) Two of the tutoring volunteers are retired teachers from Pike County schools. (15) If the board approves, the staff will keep an eye on the same three services through the spring.

Question 13

Which revision of sentence 1 makes the most effective opening for this report?

AEveryone seems to have an opinion about library hours these days.BThis report summarizes the library's fall trial of extended evening hours and recommends a next step.CLast fall was a busy season for the library staff, as this report will show.DThe purpose of this report is to describe, in order, every decision the staff made about hours between September and November.

Question 14

Which change should be made in sentence 3?

Achange “shifts” to “shift's”Bchange “neccessary” to “necesary”Cchange “neccessary” to “necessary”DNo change is needed.

Question 15

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 4, “has rose”?

Ahas risenBhad roseChave risenDNo change is needed.

Question 16

Which replacement for “kind of disappointing” in sentence 6 best fits the tone of a report to a board?

Asort of a letdownBa real bummerCpretty roughDlower than expected

Question 17

Which is the best revision of sentence 8?

AThe tutoring tables filled up on most Thursdays, the computer stations filled more slowly.BThe tutoring tables filled up on most Thursdays, then the computer stations filled more slowly.CThe tutoring tables filled up on most Thursdays; the computer stations filled more slowly.DThe tutoring tables filled up on most Thursdays and, the computer stations filled more slowly.

Question 18

Which change should be made in sentence 11?

Achange “had wrote” to “had written”Bchange “had wrote” to “have wrote”Cchange “described” to “describes”DNo change is needed.

Question 19

Which transition best replaces “Therefore” at the beginning of sentence 12?

AFor example,BEven so,CAs a result,DIn other words,

Question 20

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 9 and 10?

ACirculation of physical books did not change during the trial, reference questions at the desk increased by about a fifth.BCirculation of physical books did not change during the trial, so reference questions at the desk increased by about a fifth.CCirculation of physical books did not change during the trial, and reference questions at the desk increased by about a fifth because of that.DAlthough circulation of physical books did not change during the trial, reference questions at the desk increased by about a fifth.

Question 21

Which is the most effective revision of sentence 13?

AThe staff recommends continuing the two evening openings.BA recommendation for the continuation of the two evening openings is what the staff is making.CIt is being recommended by the staff that the two evening openings be continued.DThe continuing of the two evening openings is a thing that the staff recommends.

Question 22

Sentence 14 interrupts the report's closing recommendations. Where is the best place for sentence 14?

Awhere it is nowBafter sentence 2Cafter sentence 8Dafter sentence 15

Question 23

Which replacement for “proves” in sentence 7 best reflects what a three-month trial can show?

AconfirmsBguaranteesChintsDsuggests

Question 24

Which replacement for “keep an eye on” in sentence 15 best fits a report to a library board?

Akeep tabs onBmonitorCstay on top ofDpeek at

Draft 3 · Questions 25–36

The County Fair Returns

A reporter wrote this first draft of an article for a county newspaper. The sentences are numbered.

(1) The county fair is happening again this year, which a lot of people are pretty happy about. (2) The fairgrounds on the county road east of town have been closed since floodwater covered the midway in 2023. (3) Advance ticket sales have came in ahead of the fair board's estimate. (4) Carla Bassett, the fair board president, said the midway, the livestock barns, and the exhibit hall were fixed with county grant money. (5) The fair board told the vendors that they would need to arrive by six o'clock.

(6) The livestock barns, the 4-H pavilion, and the new picnic shelter, sit along the eastern fence. (7) Bassett said the board wanted the fair to feel familiar, affordable, and it should welcome new families. (8) Volunteers spent the spring doing the work of clearing silt from the exhibit hall floor. (9) The 4-H auction returns on the final evening. (10) It raised money for scholarships before the closure.

(11) Organizers also plan a smaller harvest weekend next Fall. (12) Bassett said the two-year gap was a real drag for the vendors who depend on the fair. (13) Damaged by the flood, the county replaced nearly two hundred feet of fence. (14) Gates open at ten o'clock each morning, and parking in the north lot is free.

Question 25

Which revision of sentence 1 makes the most effective opening for this article?

AFairs are a tradition that many counties in this part of the state have kept alive for generations.BIf you like funnel cake and livestock shows, you are going to want to read this article.CThe Pike County Fair will return on August 14 after two years of flood repairs.DThis article will explain what happened to the fairgrounds, how the repairs were paid for, and when the gates will open.

Question 26

Which change should be made in sentence 3?

Achange “Advance” to “advance”Bchange “ticket sales” to “ticket sale's”Cchange “estimate” to “estimates”Dchange “have came” to “have come”

Question 27

Which replacement for “fixed” in sentence 4 most precisely describes what county grant money paid for?

ArebuiltBdoneChandledDtaken care of

Question 28

Which revision makes the meaning of sentence 5 clearest?

AThe fair board told the vendors that they will need to arrive by six o'clock.BThe fair board told the vendors to arrive by six o'clock.CThe fair board told the vendors that they would be needing to arrive by six o'clock.DThe vendors were told by the fair board that they would need to arrive by six o'clock.

Question 29

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 7, “it should welcome new families”?

Anew families should be welcomeBthat new families would be welcomeCwelcoming to new familiesDit welcomes new families

Question 30

Which change should be made in sentence 6?

Adelete the comma after “barns”Bdelete the comma after “pavilion”Cinsert a comma after “sit”Ddelete the comma after “shelter”

Question 31

Which is the most concise revision of the underlined portion of sentence 8, “doing the work of clearing”?

Aengaged in the clearing ofBclearingCinvolved in work to clearDat the task of clearing

Question 32

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 9 and 10?

AThe 4-H auction, which raised money for scholarships before the closure, returns on the final evening.BThe 4-H auction returns on the final evening, it raised money for scholarships before the closure.CThe 4-H auction returns on the final evening, but it raised money for scholarships before the closure.DThe 4-H auction returns on the final evening, and it having raised money for scholarships before the closure.

Question 33

Which change should be made in sentence 11?

Achange “harvest” to “Harvest”Bchange “weekend” to “Weekend”Cchange “plan” to “planned”Dchange “Fall” to “fall”

Question 34

Which replacement for “a real drag” in sentence 12 best fits the tone of a news article?

Aa bummerBkind of roughCa serious lossDa total catastrophe

Question 35

Which is the best revision of sentence 13?

AThe county replaced nearly two hundred feet of fence damaged by the flood.BThe county, damaged by the flood, replaced nearly two hundred feet of fence.CDamaged by the flood, replacing nearly two hundred feet of fence was done by the county.DThe county replaced, damaged by the flood, nearly two hundred feet of fence.

Question 36

The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 2 that helps readers understand why the fairgrounds could not reopen sooner. Which sentence best accomplishes this goal?

ACounty fairs have been part of rural life in this part of the state for well over a hundred and fifty years.BCrews had to rebuild the drainage lines and pass a county inspection first.CThe fairgrounds sit on low ground near the river.DMany families said they missed the fair during the two years it was closed.

Draft 4 · Questions 37–48

Learning the Van at Forty

A driver wrote this first draft of a personal account for a workplace newsletter. The sentences are numbered.

(1) I want to tell you all about the time I learned to drive a delivery van. (2) I was forty years old, and until that spring I had drove nothing larger than a hatchback. (3) The parts store hired me in March, and my trainer, Dale, met me in the lot at six every morning. (4) For the first hour I moved the van between the cones Dale had set out.

(5) The loading dock behind the store sat at the bottom of a steep alley. (6) Which meant that every delivery began with a blind turn. (7) I could not hardly see the curb from the driver's seat. (8) On account of the fact that the alley was narrow, I learned to back in without stopping. (9) Dale never raised his voice. (10) He asked me to try the turn again.

(11) The van I inherited had been drove through two winters before it reached my route. (12) When Dale handed the route sheet to the new driver, he said the alley stop was the hard one. (13) I delivered a pallet of brake rotors to a garage in the rain that had no dock. (14) After six months I was no longer afraid from the alley. (15) So that is my van story, more or less.

Question 37

Which revision of sentence 1 makes the most effective opening for this account?

ADriving a van is not at all the same as driving a car, as a great many people have discovered over the years.BThis account will describe my training, my first week, and the route I drive now.CLet me start at the beginning of the whole thing.DAt forty, I climbed into a delivery van and could not find its front bumper in the mirrors.

Question 38

Which change should be made in sentence 2?

Achange “had drove” to “had driven”Bchange “had drove” to “have drove”Cchange “was” to “am”DNo change is needed.

Question 39

The writer wants a verb that shows slow, careful movement. Which replacement for “moved” in sentence 4 is most precise?

AputBshovedCeasedDhauled

Question 40

Which revision corrects sentence 6?

AWhich meant every delivery began with a blind turn.BThat meant every delivery began with a blind turn.CWhich, meaning that every delivery began with a blind turn.DMeaning that every delivery began with a blind turn.

Question 41

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 8, “On account of the fact that”?

AIn view of the fact thatBOwing to the circumstance thatCOn account of howDBecause

Question 42

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 7, “could not hardly”?

Acould hardlyBcould not scarcelyCcouldn't hardlyDNo change is needed.

Question 43

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 9 and 10?

ADale never raised his voice, he asked me to try the turn again.BDale never raised his voice, so he asked me to try the turn again.CInstead of raising his voice, Dale asked me to try the turn again.DDale never raised his voice, and asking me to try the turn again.

Question 44

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 11, “had been drove”?

Ahad droveBhad been drivenChas been droveDNo change is needed.

Question 45

Which is the best revision of sentence 13?

AIn the rain that had no dock, I delivered a pallet of brake rotors to a garage.BI delivered a pallet of brake rotors to a garage that had no dock in the rain.CTo a garage in the rain, I delivered a pallet of brake rotors that had no dock.DI delivered a pallet of brake rotors in the rain to a garage that had no dock.

Question 46

Which revision makes the meaning of sentence 12 clearest?

AWhen Dale handed the route sheet to the new driver, Dale said the alley stop was the hard one.BWhen Dale handed the route sheet to the new driver, he said that the alley stop was the hard one.CWhen Dale handed the route sheet to the new driver, the alley stop was said to be the hard one.DWhen Dale handed the route sheet to the new driver, they said the alley stop was the hard one.

Question 47

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 14, “afraid from”?

Aafraid atBafraid aboutCafraid ofDNo change is needed.

Question 48

Which revision of sentence 15 makes the most effective closing for this account?

AIn conclusion, delivery driving is a job that requires a great deal of practice and patience from anyone who tries it.BI still check my mirrors before the key turns, and the alley no longer looks narrow to me.CAnyway, I have told you what happened, so that is the end of my story.DIf I write again someday, I might describe the other routes I have driven since then.

Draft 5 · Questions 49–60

Why Some Towns Want the Train Back

A writer prepared this first draft of an informational essay for a regional magazine. The sentences are numbered.

(1) This essay is going to be about trains and some towns that are getting them back. (2) For much of the last century, passenger service disappeared from small towns while the tracks themselves stayed in place. (3) In many of these towns, the old depot and the platform beside it needs only modest repair. (4) Towns bring the stops back for a variety of different reasons. (5) The new platform in one river town is a short, level slab of concrete with a steel canopy.

(6) Older residents who no longer drive gain a way to reach a hospital or a college. (7) Younger workers gain a commute they can afford. (8) Therefore, the freight companies that own the rails must agree to share them. (9) A stop that no one uses is a big waste of money, so planners study ridership before they build. (10) The state grant program pays part of the cost, and the towns budget covers the rest.

(11) It is a fact that the reason many towns are interested is because a stop can bring visitors downtown. (12) The number of daily riders on one restored line has grown every year since it opened. (13) Towns that succeed usually start small, with one or two trains a day and a platform rather than a full station. (14) A restored stop works best when a town not only repairs the platform but also is adding sidewalks and lighting. (15) For a town that still has rails running through the middle of it, the question is no longer whether a train could stop there but whether the town will be ready when it does.

Question 49

Which revision of sentence 1 gives the essay the most effective opening?

ASmall towns across the country are restoring passenger rail stops, and the reasons are practical.BTrains are an interesting subject that many people enjoy reading about.CIn the pages that follow, I will discuss trains, towns, freight companies, grants, platforms, and several other related matters.DHave you ever wondered what happened to the train that used to stop in your town?

Question 50

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 3, “needs”?

Ais needingBneededCneedDhas needed

Question 51

Which is the most concise revision of the underlined portion of sentence 4, “a variety of different reasons”?

Aa number of various reasonsBseveral reasonsCmany different varied reasonsDa diverse variety of reasons

Question 52

A reviewer questions the comma after “short” in sentence 5. Which change, if any, should be made?

ADelete the comma after “short.”BReplace the comma with a semicolon.CInsert a comma after “level.”DNo change is needed.

Question 53

Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 6 and 7?

AOlder residents who no longer drive gain a way to reach a hospital or a college, and younger workers gain a commute they can afford.BOlder residents who no longer drive gain a way to reach a hospital or a college, younger workers gain a commute they can afford.COlder residents who no longer drive gain a way to reach a hospital or a college, but younger workers gain a commute they can afford.DOlder residents who no longer drive gain a way to reach a hospital or a college, younger workers gaining a commute they can afford.

Question 54

Which transition best replaces “Therefore” at the beginning of sentence 8?

AFor example,BIn addition,CHowever,DAs a result,

Question 55

Which replacement for “a big waste of money” in sentence 9 best fits an informational essay?

Aa bummer for taxpayersBan expensive mistakeCa total ripoffDkind of pointless

Question 56

Which change should be made in sentence 10?

Achange “towns” to “town's”Bchange “pays” to “pay”Cchange “grant” to “grant's”DNo change is needed.

Question 57

Which is the most effective revision of sentence 11?

AThe reason many towns are interested is because a stop can bring visitors downtown.BIt is a fact that many towns are interested, the reason being that a stop can bring visitors downtown.CMany towns are interested because a stop can bring visitors downtown.DThat a stop can bring visitors downtown is the reason for the interest that many towns have.

Question 58

A reviewer questions the verb in sentence 12, “has grown”. Which change, if any, should be made?

Achange “has grown” to “have grown”Bchange “has grown” to “has grew”Cchange “number” to “numbers”DNo change is needed.

Question 59

The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 8 that helps readers understand why freight companies hesitate. Which sentence best accomplishes this goal?

AFreight railroads have operated in this country for a very long time and have seen many changes over the decades.BA passenger train on a shared line has to run on schedule, which limits when freight can move.CFreight companies own most of the track outside the largest cities.DSome towns have waited years for an answer from a railroad.

Question 60

Which is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence 14, “is adding sidewalks and lighting”?

Ais adding sidewalks and lighting to itBsidewalks and lighting are addedCadding sidewalks and lightingDadds sidewalks and lighting

Part 2 · Essay

Evidence-Based Essay

Read the two texts that follow. They present different views on the same issue: whether a public library should open on Sundays if the only way to pay for those hours is to close on one weekday. Then write an essay in which you develop your own position on the issue. Support your position with evidence drawn from both texts and from your own experience and knowledge. There is no single correct position; your essay is judged on how well you develop and support the position you choose.

Pacing advice, not an official rule: the HiSET sets only the 120-minute total for the whole subtest. Many test takers reserve about 45 minutes for this essay—enough to plan, draft, and reread.

Your essay will be evaluated on: development of a central position or claim; organization of ideas; language facility (word choice, sentence structure, and voice); and writing conventions (grammar, usage, and mechanics). Scorers rate the essay from 1 to 6 on those four categories; an essay must earn at least 2 for the Writing subtest to pass.

Text 1: Move the Hours to the People

by Grace Nakamura, branch manager

On a Tuesday morning our reading room holds four people: two retirees with newspapers and two of us behind the desk. On the Sundays we opened during a holiday trial, the same room held ninety. That difference is the whole argument.

A library's hours are not a statement of principle. They are a schedule, and a schedule should follow the people it serves. Most of the adults in our service area work Monday through Friday, and many of them work Saturdays too. For a parent on a rotating shift, Sunday afternoon is not a preference. It is the only window there is.

I am not asking for more money, because there is none to ask for. I am asking to move seven hours from the emptiest morning of the week to the fullest afternoon. Closing on a Tuesday costs us the four readers I described, and nearly all of them tell me they would simply come on Wednesday. Opening on Sunday reaches families who cannot come at all under the schedule we have now.

Every schedule is a choice about whose time counts. Ours was written when one parent stayed home and the stores closed at five. Those weeks are gone in most of this county. The hours should follow.

Text 2: The Weekday Is Not Empty

by Anton Ruel, coordinator of an adult literacy program

I run tutoring sessions in a library meeting room on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. My students are adults learning to read well enough to pass a licensing exam. If the branch closes a weekday to pay for Sunday, one of those mornings disappears, and I have nowhere to move it.

That is my objection, and it is not an objection to Sunday hours. I would like Sunday hours. What I question is the arithmetic that treats an hour as an hour.

A quiet Tuesday morning is not empty time. It is the hour when a caseworker meets a client, when a job seeker prints an application, when an aide picks up large-print books for a homebound reader. Those visits are few, and they are scheduled, which is exactly why they cannot be moved. A crowded Sunday serves more people, but many of them could spend that afternoon elsewhere.

Trading a weekday for a Sunday moves service from people with few options to people with several. If a library wants Sunday hours, it should ask its town for them plainly and let the town decide whether to pay. Making the swap quietly avoids that conversation and charges the cost to the people least able to argue about it.

Essay Prompt. Should a public library open on Sundays if paying for those hours means closing on one weekday? Weigh the arguments in both texts, take a clear position, and support it with evidence from the texts and from your own experience or knowledge. Strong responses usually acknowledge and answer at least one argument on the other side.

Plan your response

Position and thesisEvidence from both texts and your own knowledgeCounterargument and response

Write your essay

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