ISEE vs HSPT
If you are interested in a private school in the Bay Area, you have probably heard about the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or maybe the HSPT. Many parents and students might be confused about which exam to take, or how to best prepare for either exam. If that is the case, you are in the right place. In this article we will discuss the admissions requirements and the formatting difference between the two exams.
Should I take the HSPT or the ISEE?
When deciding which exam to take, it is important to consider which schools, and which grade, you are interested in. The ISEE is a common entrance exam used by many K-12 independent schools. The HSPT is a common entrance exam used by many Catholic high schools. If you’re applying into grades K-8, you will most likely need the ISEE. The ISEE has three levels—Upper Level,Middle Level, and Lower Level—pending which grade level your student is entering. Most private elementary schools require the Lower-Level ISEE, and most private middle schools require the Middle-Level ISEE. However, when applying to private high schools, some schools accept both the ISEE and HSPT for admissions. Regardless it is best to check with the school directly to find what exams are require.
Which is harder the HSPT or the ISEE?
You may have heard that the ISEE is the more difficult than the HSPT. In truth, the ISEE and HSPT cover much of the same material. However, the ISEE and HSPT present the material in different ways that could impact the student’s ability to answer the questions or pace themselves appropriately. A student may thrive on the fast paced, straight-forward style, questions on the HSPT math section, but become overwhelmed by the slower paced, but multi-step style math of questions on the ISEE math section. Below is a quick overview of the formatting and timing differences between the HSPT and ISEE.
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How should I prepare for the HSPT or ISEE?
First, it is important to get an idea of where your student is at; we need to know where the weakness are to address them. You can download our diagnostic for free below to get an idea about which content areas to concentrate on. Additionally, you will want to consider working on test taking techniques and approaches: test taking is an important skill, so pay attention to ‘silly mistakes’ and best practice like showing work, and eliminating answer choices.
Summary
Both the ISEE and HSPT test the same concepts in math and reading. To do well on both exams students must have a strong understanding of these subjects.
The most important difference between the ISEE and HSPT is which exam is required by the school you are interested in.
If a students must take both the ISEE and the HSPT, there is significant overlaps in tested material, so preparing for one exam would generalize to success on the other.
Conclusion
The most significant difference between the ISEE and HSPT is based on the admissions policy of your school of interest. The content itself is pretty much the same and the formatting varies slightly. If you would like to learn more about the HSPT you can read more here , or if you’re interested in learning more about the ISEE you can read more here. Additionally, if you would like a free consultation on which exam to take and how to best prepare you can schedule a consultation today!
Sources
https://houstonschoolsurvey.com/isee-vs-hspt.html
https://www.latutors123.com/hspt-vs-isee-vs-ssat-whats-the-difference/