High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Science Syllabus

Science syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Science in High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning

   4 topics

   • The Scientific Method
     • Forming hypotheses and predictions
     • Independent, dependent, and control variables
   • Designing and Evaluating Experiments
     • Controls and sources of error
     • Reliability and validity
   • Interpreting Scientific Data
     • Reading graphs, tables, and diagrams
     • Identifying trends and relationships
   • Drawing Evidence-Based Conclusions
     • Distinguishing observation from inference
     • Evaluating competing explanations
2. 2

   Life Science

   5 topics

   • Cells and Cellular Processes
     • Cell structure and organelles
     • Photosynthesis and cellular respiration
     • Cell division
   • Genetics and Heredity
     • DNA, genes, and chromosomes
     • Dominant and recessive traits, Punnett squares
   • Human Body Systems
     • Digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems
     • Nervous and immune systems
   • Evolution and Natural Selection
     • Adaptation and survival
     • Evidence for evolution
   • Ecology and Ecosystems
     • Food chains, food webs, and energy flow
     • Population dynamics and interdependence
3. 3

   Physical Science

   4 topics

   • Structure and Properties of Matter
     • Atoms, elements, and the periodic table
     • States and changes of matter
   • Chemical Reactions
     • Reactants, products, and conservation of mass
     • Acids, bases, and pH
   • Forces and Motion
     • Newton's laws
     • Speed, velocity, and acceleration
   • Energy
     • Kinetic and potential energy
     • Heat, light, sound, and electricity
4. 4

   Earth and Space Science

   4 topics

   • Earth Materials and Geologic Processes
     • Rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle
     • Plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes
   • Earth's Cycles
     • Water cycle
     • Carbon and nitrogen cycles
   • Weather, Climate, and the Atmosphere
     • Weather systems and patterns
     • Climate change and human impact
   • Astronomy and the Solar System
     • Earth, Moon, and Sun relationships
     • Planets, stars, and the universe

Science flashcards for High School Equivalency Test (HiSET)

23 of 63 cards from the Science deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the typical ordered steps of the scientific method?

   Make an observation, ask a question, form a hypothesis, make a prediction, test it with an experiment, analyze the data, and draw a conclusion (then communicate/repeat).

2. What is a scientific hypothesis?

   A testable, falsifiable proposed explanation for an observation, often stated as an 'if...then...' prediction.

3. In an experiment, what is the difference between the independent and dependent variable?

   The independent variable is the factor the experimenter deliberately changes; the dependent variable is what is measured in response to that change.

4. What is a controlled variable (constant) in an experiment?

   A factor kept the same across all groups so it does not influence the results, isolating the effect of the independent variable.

5. Why does a well-designed experiment include a control group?

   The control group does not receive the experimental treatment, providing a baseline for comparison to show the treatment caused any observed effect.

6. What is the purpose of a large sample size and replication in an experiment?

   They reduce the effect of random variation and chance, making results more reliable and the conclusions more valid.

7. What is the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?

   A law describes WHAT happens (often mathematically); a theory explains WHY it happens, supported by a large body of evidence.

8. On a line graph, what does the slope of a line represent?

   The rate of change of the dependent (y) variable with respect to the independent (x) variable.

9. What does correlation between two variables NOT prove?

   Correlation does not prove causation; two variables can be related without one causing the other (a third factor may be involved).

10. What distinguishes a valid evidence-based conclusion from an opinion or assumption?

    A valid conclusion is supported directly by the data collected and stays within what the evidence actually shows, without going beyond it.

11. What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living things?

    The cell.

12. What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

    Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles; eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

13. What is the function of the mitochondria?

    It is the site of cellular respiration, producing ATP (energy) for the cell; the 'powerhouse' of the cell.

14. Write the overall word equation for photosynthesis.

    Carbon dioxide + water + light energy → glucose + oxygen.

15. Write the overall word equation for cellular respiration.

    Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP).

16. What is the function of the cell membrane?

    It is a selectively permeable barrier that controls what enters and leaves the cell.

17. What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?

    Diffusion is the movement of any solute from high to low concentration; osmosis is specifically the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane.

18. What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

    Mitosis produces two identical diploid body cells; meiosis produces four genetically varied haploid gametes (sex cells).

19. What molecule carries the genetic instructions in cells, and what are its base pairs?

    DNA; adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G).

20. What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

    Genotype is the genetic makeup (alleles, e.g., Bb); phenotype is the observable physical trait (e.g., brown eyes).

21. What is the difference between a dominant and a recessive allele?

    A dominant allele is expressed whenever present; a recessive allele is only expressed when two copies are present (homozygous recessive).

22. In a Punnett square cross of two heterozygous parents (Bb x Bb), what is the genotype and phenotype ratio?

    Genotype ratio 1 BB : 2 Bb : 1 bb; phenotype ratio 3 dominant : 1 recessive.

23. What determines biological sex in humans by chromosomes?

    XX produces a female and XY produces a male; the father's sperm carries the X or Y that determines sex.

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