What is the TASC?The Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) is a high school equivalency assessment. It measures whether test takers have high-school-level knowledge. It tests on everything taught in high school, so that if you didn’t earn a diploma, you can still prove you have the equivalent knowledge.
Do I need to take the TASC?If you need your high school equivalency, then passing the TASC is essential.
How do I schedule the TASC?The TASC is administered at private testing facilities—you can find a list of these locations at www.tasctest.com. Each location may administer the exam slightly differently, so ask at your particular location about the details of test administration.
What is on the TASC?The TASC tests on five basic subjects: reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Sections assessed on each subtest cover areas such as algebra, geometry, statistics, writing, grammar/usage, informational and literary texts, physical sciences, life sciences, U.S. and world history, civics/government, and economics.
What kind of questions are on the TASC?The TASC test assesses your proficiency in high-school-level subject areas using multiple-choice, grid-in, and essay questions. Constructed-response questions are short open-ended questions that help scorers of your test to measure your skills in a way that cannot be determined by simple multiple-choice questions. There is only one open-ended question in each subtest of the TASC. When you take the computerized test, you will be expected to answer one technology-enhanced question on each subtest.answer++
How long is the TASC?There are approximately 241 questions plus an essay question, for a total of 7 hours and 45 minutes. The breakdown of test questions and time is as follows:
Math: 105 minutes, 42-43 questions
Writing: 110 minutes (includes 45 minutes for essay writing), 50-51 questions
Reading: 85 minutes, 48-49 questions
Science: 75 minutes, 48-49 questions
Social Studies: 75 minutes, 48-49 questions
Can I use a calculator on the TASC?You are permitted to use a TI-30XS calculator for half of the math portion of the exam.
How is the TASC administered?The TASC is administered as a paper-and-pencil test or as a computerized test; you can opt to choose whichever format is most comfortable for you. There is no difference in difficulty between the two versions; both have the same time limit and cover the same content.
How is the TASC scored?Each subtest is scored separately on the TASC. Each correctly answered question counts as 1 point, and then scores are scaled to a number between 300-800. A passing score is 500. The essay is scored a number from 0 – 4 and then doubled to create your scaled score from 0 – 8. To pass the writing subtest of the TASC, you need a score of at least 500 on the multiple-choice and a 2 on the writing section. You must pass each subtest to pass the overall test.
How do I check my TASC score?Scores are reported up to ten days after your testing date. You can access your score on your online account. Score reports contain the overall scaled score, the passing status, and indices that pinpoint your performance on each content area of the test. You can use the indices to better understand your strengths and weaknesses in the material.
Can you fail the TASC?If you do not receive at least a 500 on the multiple choice component and and 2 on the writing section, you will not be able to receive your high school equivalency.
Can you retake the TASC?You can take the TASC three times without a waiting period. After the third attempt, you have to wait 60-days before retaking the exam.
