Test Prep

The HSPT is a test that many private Catholic high schools require for 8th-grade students. It has five sections:

• Verbal: This section has questions about word relationships, analogies, synonyms and antonyms, and verbal logic puzzles.
• Quantitative: This part includes comparing figures and values, sequences, and working through basic math operations.
• Reading: This section tests how well you understand reading passages and vocabulary words in context.
• Mathematics: This covers algebra, geometry, fractions, decimals, unit conversions, and problem-solving.
• Language: This part tests your skills in grammar, spelling, and writing.

HSPT scores are required for most Catholic high schools and can also affect what math and English classes you are placed into.

The ISEE is a test used by private and independent schools for admissions. Students from 2nd to 12th grade can take it. There are different levels depending on the grade: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The test includes the following sections:

• Verbal Reasoning: This part tests your vocabulary and how well you understand words in context.
• Quantitative Reasoning: This section focuses on math calculations and critical thinking skills.
• Reading Comprehension: Students will read passages and answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, tone, and style.
• Mathematics Achievement: This part tests your knowledge of number sense, geometry, word problems, probability, and other math topics.
• Essay: Students write a personal essay in response to a prompt.

The SAT is a computer-based standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It can be taken by students in their junior or senior year of high school. The test is around 2 hours and 14 minutes long and covers the following topics:

• Math: This section covers topics such as algebra, geometry and measurement, statistics and probability, and operations with numbers. 
• Critical Reading: This section is a mix of sentence completion exercises and reading passages with multiple-choice questions. 
• Writing: This section checks how well a student responds to a prompt with original thoughts and reasoning, as well as their understanding of grammar, word choice, usage, and organization.

The ACT is a standardized test used for college and university admittance within the United States, often given to junior and senior high school students. The test is around 3 hours in length and covers the following areas:

• English: This section tests on punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, and rhetoric. The test also offers an optional essay (which adds another 30 minutes to the test time). The essay gives a prompt where the student shows their writing skills and ability to defend their position. 
• Mathematics: This section covers pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, which become more difficult as students progress through the section.
• Reading: This section has four reading passages of various lengths and topics, where the student finds evidence to best support their answer choices. 
• Science: This section covers content such as data interpretation, analysis, reasoning, and problem-solving in the context of science.

The MAP test is a computer-adaptive test used by private schools to track students’ progress during the school year. It is given to students in grades K-12 and tests math and English Language Arts (ELA). The results help teachers know which areas students are strong in and where they would need more help.