The TASC Test Has Been Discontinued
The TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) was a high school equivalency (HSE) exam from Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), launched in 2014 as an alternative to the GED. It had five subtests: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
DRC discontinued the TASC on December 31, 2021. It is no longer offered in any state. New York, the largest TASC state, switched to the GED as its high school equivalency exam on January 1, 2022, and California stopped offering the TASC on January 1, 2020.
Dr. Donnelly is the author of "TASC For Dummies" (Wiley) and prepared many students for the TASC. Today he helps former TASC test-takers move to the GED or HiSET.
What to Take Instead of the TASC
If you were planning to take the TASC, you can still earn a high school equivalency credential. Most states now offer the GED, the HiSET, or both.
The GED
Four computer-based tests (Math, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science, Social Studies), taken at a test center or online where your state allows it. You need 145 on each subject to pass. New York now uses the GED, and it is free for eligible New York residents.
GED OverviewThe HiSET
Five subtests, like the TASC, including a written essay, on paper, on computer, or online at home where allowed. Offered in about two dozen states; in Iowa and Maine it is the only option. California accepts both the GED and the HiSET.
HiSET OverviewPassed Some TASC Subtests?
Your old scores may still count. New York, for example, still counts passing TASC subtest scores earned from 2014 to 2021 toward its high school equivalency diploma. Rules vary by state, so check with your state’s HSE office before you register.
GED FAQsMoving From TASC Prep to the GED or HiSET
What Carries Over
The core skills are the same: reading closely, writing a clear evidence-based essay, algebra and data skills, and interpreting science and social studies passages, charts, and graphs. If you studied for the TASC, much of that work still helps.
What Changes
The GED combines reading and writing into one Reasoning Through Language Arts test, is taken only on computer, and uses item types such as drag-and-drop, drop-down, and fill-in-the-blank. The HiSET is closer to the TASC format, with five mostly multiple-choice subtests and a paper option. Dr. Donnelly can help you choose the test that fits your state and goals.