HSPT Preparation:
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What is the HSPT?
The HSPT stands for the High School Placement Test and is meant for 8th Graders applying to Catholic high schools. The fast-paced exam consists of nearly 300 multiple choice questions. Each school often has their own unique registration process, so students and parents should reach out to their schools of interest directly to learn about testing dates and how to register. If a student is interested in applying to multiple schools, they should take the exam at the school they are most interested in attending and then request to have their scores sent to their other top considerations. Unlike most other entrance exams, the HSPT is unique in that students are only allowed to take the exam once, so students have to make their first and only attempt count!
What is on the HSPT?
The HSPT has 5 sections:
Verbal (16 minutes, 60 questions)
Quantitative Reasoning (30 minutes, 52 questions )
Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 62 questions)
Mathematics (45 minutes, 64 questions)
Language Skills (25 minutes, 60 questions)
Students are given about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam. The portions of the exam centered around reading and writing skills are generally considered to be at the 8th Grade level. However, certain portions of the mathematics section have content that is generally considered above grade level, such as certain topics from geometry, and is most probably not covered in typical catholic middle school math programs in the Bay Area. If you have further questions about the content on the exam, feel free to contact us!
How is the HSPT scored?
The HSPT is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. Where a student falls in this range is entirely dependent on the raw percentage of questions they answered correctly compared with the annual tested population. So, while the HSPT may change slightly in difficulty from one year to the next, what ultimately matters is how students do in relation to their peers. Each year, 500 is set as the average score on the HSPT. However, it is worth noting that while a score of 500 may be considered average, there is often nothing average about the population of students who take the HSPT. As a whole, the body of students who take the HSPT tend to be highly competitive academically, so parents should keep this in mind when viewing their student’s scores or any other score statistics.
Which Bay Area schools accept the HSPT?
Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose
Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo
Mercy High School in Burlingame and San Jose
Notre Dame High School in Belmont
Sacred Heart Prep High School in Atherton
Saint Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco
Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley
How long is the HSPT preparation?
Preparing for a 298 question exam like the HSPT can be a daunting process, especially for an 8th grader. That’s why we have broken the HSPT down into a handful of short, manageable, 1hour lessons. Generally, we typically recommend 10 sessions total, but given that each student is different, we may recommend more or less depending on the situation. Throughout the course of a prep, students can expect targeted content review, timing drills to get them used to the lighting pace of the exam, and getting to review at least 2 full practice tests with their tutor.
Free HSPT Diagnostic:
If you are interested in gauging the types of questions on an HSPT, feel free to use our free HSPT practice test and diagnostic tool. This is a shortened practice test, but it does represent a cross section of the types of questions students will see on test day.
ISEE Vs HSPT
The ISEE is a common entrance exam used by many K-12 independent schools. The HSPT alternatively is a common entrance exam used by many Catholic high schools in the Bay Area. If you’re applying into grades K-8, you’ll most likely take the ISEE if the schools you’re applying to require it. However, when applying into 9-12, some schools accept both the ISEE and HSPT for admissions. Check out our infographic here to see which test is right for you.
What is a good HSPT Score? >>
The average score on the HSPT is a 500. While many schools want students who score above average, some schools recognize that the population of students who take the HSPT is already extremely competitive, so they assign more weight to other portions of a student's application such as GPA, letters of recommendation, and admission essays.
How important is the HSPT? >>
The HSPT is just one data point among many that admission boards look into. Other factors such as GPA, extra-curriculars, relation to alumni, and letters of recommendation also play a significant role in the selection process.
When is the HSPT? >>
There is no national test date for the HSPT; it can be administered as early as October or as late as January. You can visit the websites of your particular schools of interest to see their offered test dates.
How many practice HSPT exams should I take? >>
We generally recommend taking 2-3 practice exams over the course of a preparation.
How long is a typical HSPT test preparation? >>
Our preparation is generally ten 1-hour sessions. This allows our tutors and students to cover standardized test taking techniques, practice time management drills, and review 2-3 practice tests. For those seeking additional support, we do offer extended preparations.