The HSPT is a placement examination used by admissions offices at private high schools.
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized assessment that some religious or private high schools consider in their admissions process. Although most students take the examination in the 8th grade, students interested in transferring to a private or parochial school in the 11th grade may be asked to complete the examination as part of their application. The examination includes five multiple-choice sections that test your verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics and language expression skills. Preparing for the examination includes familiarizing yourself with the examination's contents and format.
Instructions
Registered for the HSPT
1. Contact the admissions office of the school to which you are applying to gather information about the test materials they require. Some schools may ask you to register for additional supplemental test, in addition to the core tests in the HSPT. Supplemental tests assess mechanical skills, science skills and religious aptitude.
2. Request information from the admissions office regarding minimum scores required for late admissions. The school may post minimum score requirements on their website, but as a transferring student at an advanced grade level, the requirements may be higher.
3. Register for the fall examination session through the admissions office of the school to which you are applying. Registering for the fall session ensures that your scores will be ready for consideration before the spring enrollment period.
Studying for the HSPT
4. Secure an HSPT study guide. You may purchase materials online or you can check with your local library for the availability of study guides or CD-ROMs for rent.
5. Familiarize yourself with the test format. The HSPT is a paper-and-pencil examination with five main multiple-choice sections. Each section is timed to create a 3.5-hour testing period, including several breaks for reading directions, filling out paperwork or resting.
6. Familiarize yourself with the test content material. The verbal section assesses your knowledge of analogies, synonyms, antonyms, logic and classification. Quantitative skills assess your knowledge of number patterns, number manipulation and geometric and nongeometric comparison. Reading comprehension requires you to read and interpret various text passages. Mathematical skills require you to answer basic algebra and word problems. Language expression skills assess your knowledge of the rules of written language, including grammar and punctuation.
7. Take a timed HSPT practice examination. Most booklets will include several practice tests, but several online self-assessments are also available. Record your answers on a piece of paper and score yourself, using the answer key.
8. Identify which sections of the test are the most difficult for you, based on your practice test scores. Consult your test materials booklet to determine the types of materials covered in the sections that challenge you. For example, if your lowest scores occur in the verbal skills area, consult your booklet to determine if the low scores are a result of trouble with synonyms, antonyms, analogies, logic or verbal classification.
9. Create or purchase study flashcards for the sections in which you have the lowest scores. The flashcards should include important definitions or formulas, as well as sample questions with the answers printed on the back.
10. Review your flashcards with a study partner or tutor. Remove flashcards as you develop understanding of a challenging concept; add additional flashcards, if there are concepts with which you continue to struggle.
11. Retake a timed practice test on the sections you have been studying. Compare your original scores with your retake scores. If you have seen no improvement, consider hiring a professional tutor to assist you in your studying.
12. Familiarize yourself with best practices for taking the HSPT. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer all test questions. Manage your time effectively; the average time per question on the HSPT is 30 seconds, but each section is timed differently.
13. Review your test study materials the day before the test to refresh your memory and get yourself into a test-taking mindset.
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