Your child may make a huge impact on their experience during this crucial phase of their life in high school.

An excellent high school provides:

1. Complex and diverse classes.
2. Competitive and enjoyable extracurricular activities.
3. There is a supportive network of caring professors who sincerely have each student’s best interests.

These variables work together to effectively prepare students for the difficulties awaiting them in college and their future employment. Taking the high school entrance test is the first step toward earning admission to top high schools around the country.

The High School Placement Test is one of many pupils’ high school admission exams (HSPT). Many Catholic high schools need the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as an admission exam. Its material is comparable to the SSAT and ISEE, but the HSPT is quicker-paced: the HSPT includes nearly twice as many questions as the other two exams, although the test lasts around the same length of time. On the other hand, individual inquiries are less intense and have fewer moving pieces.

Basics and test structure

The HSPT lasts around two and a half hours, with two brief breaks. Pupils are instructed to complete 298 questions as quickly as possible during that time. The Verbal section contains 60 questions and lasts 16 minutes; the Quantitative section contains 52 questions and lasts 30 minutes; the Reading section includes 62 questions and lasts 25 minutes; the Math section consists of 64 questions and lasts 45 minutes; and the Language section consists of 60 questions and lasts 25 minutes. There is no penalty for wrong responses, and each question is worth one point. The exam is entirely multiple-choice, with no short answer or essay problems.

Optional portions in Catholic Religion, Mechanical Aptitude, and Science are also available, which some institutions need, so verify with the schools your child is applying to before signing up.  

Sections on Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning

The Math and Quantitative parts of the exam focus on fundamental math abilities and vocabulary and do not permit the use of a calculator. The HSPT does not include the multi-part word problems seen on the SSAT and ISEE; instead, the questions are shorter and get to the heart of certain fundamental arithmetic abilities. These parts include a lot of arithmetic, exponent rules, order of operations, and mathematical language fluency. Still, they do not presume that a student is taking an algebra course, nor do they go into great detail on geometry.

Because the questions do not always focus on the specific math that a student will learn in eighth grade, kids must revisit some particular areas to guarantee familiarity with all of the curriculum. 

Sections on Verbal, Reading, and Language

The Verbal component of the test focuses on vocabulary and includes a jumble of synonyms, antonyms, sentence completions, analogies, and basic logic problems involving word parallels and contrasts. Students are more familiar with the vocabulary on the HSPT than they are with those on the SSAT or ISEE, but they do not have as much time to consider things completely. As is often the case with the HSPT, moving fast and confidently is essential.

The Reading part comprises brief excerpts concentrating on historical and humanities issues; no prior knowledge of the topic is expected. The tempo of this segment can be very difficult for certain pupils. Thus practicing the pacing can be beneficial. Furthermore, students should be informed that there is a brief, 22-question synonym portion at the end of the reading.

The Language part focuses on grammar and spelling requirements. While some of these questions may be answered simply by “hearing” the phrase and identifying solutions that seem incorrect, many of them deal with the more delicate application of grammatical principles. This section frequently discusses the finer elements of punctuation, parallelism, and subject/verb agreement. Because the approaches to grammar training in the area schools appear to differ quite a deal, some specialized studies of these areas might be valuable.

Here are some tips to ace the exam

Break it down.

Because the HSPT has over 300 questions divided into five sections, one of the most effective study techniques is to divide the exam into its parts. For example, if you start your preparation with Math, finish reviewing these ideas before going to Verbal.

Individually studying for each area might help you reinforce and expand your HSPT material understanding. Review the subjects you have already addressed at the start of each study session. Begin your preparations as soon as possible, rather than later. 

Practice, practice, and more practice

While taking a practice test after a practice exam might be exhausting, it is an excellent approach to preparing for HSPT. Completing practice examinations can be beneficial in a variety of ways.

First and foremost, you have mastery over your timing. Each component of the exam has a time limit. Therefore the more you practice finishing the HSPT within this timeframe, the quicker you will get. Practice examinations might also assist you in identifying trouble areas. You’ll immediately notice where your knowledge is lacking — whether you need more help in Math or perhaps a specific type of Reading question is causing you problems. 

Establish a space.

Make an effort to establish an environment that encourages productive study habits. This might entail shifting your workstation to a quieter area or finding a library with hours that work for you. Your ultimate objective should be to choose a location that allows you to study successfully while also maximizing your prep time. 

Get help from a tutor.

You may be apprehensive about the exam. A tutor will help in achieving your target score. Here at Miles Smart Tutoring, we use strategy to create a match between the tutor and student that will make a strong partnership. Because several levels integrate different material, the private tutor that advises their student must be familiar with the details of the material on the HSPT. Our private tutors are trained to assess their current weaknesses and diligently work to enhance their understanding by reviewing the material and then practicing problems together.

Remember that you have prepared for this day – you are more prepared than you may believe, so be confident and demonstrate your knowledge to the HSPT. Success is only a matter of hours away!