Cracking theHSPT - Chapter 12 - What is the HSPT?

Sep 15, 2026

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High School Placement Test (HSPT) overview for students preparing for Catholic school admissions, explaining purpose, timing, structure, and scoring. Covers the test’s five sections, total number of questions, and how scores map to correct answers. Compares closed versus open exams and clarifies the role of the testing organization versus the school. Introduces optional subject tests and then provides a structured nine-session study plan with practice testing and targeted review.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages97

Reading Time4 h 4 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 12 What is the HSPT?

HSPT basics and scoring

Closed vs open exams

Optional tests

HSPT format

HSPT Study Plan

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

Session 7

Session 8

Session 9

WHICH ONE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS?

What is an Analogy?

Part II # Cracking theHSPT # Chapter 12What is theHSPT? J The High School Placement Test(HSPT)is a21/2 hour,five-section test designedto help Catholichigh schools make admissions decisions.Your score of 200 to 800will be based on how many of the 298 questions you get right.The HSPT is fairlyvocabulary-intensive,so concentrate on Chapter 2 and begin learning vocabularyas soon as possible.The test changes from year to year,so the information pre-sented in this book is the most accurate for the year it was printed. There are two types ofHSPT exams:closed andopen.The closed exam isadministered by the schoolbut scored by ScholasticTesting Service,Inc.(STS).Those scores are used incomputing nationwidepercentiles.The openexam is administered andscored by the school,soSTS does not deal withstudent results. Along with the basic HSPT,you may be offered an optional test in Catholic reli-gion,science,or mechanical aptitude,depending on the type of school to whichyou are applying.The score on these optional tests does not count toward yourHSPT score,and very few schools ask for them,so we won't cover these areas inthis book. Here is the format of the HSPT. · Verbal skills(16 minutes) · Quantitative skills (30 minutes) · Reading comprehension and vocabulary(25 minutes) · Mathematics(45 minutes) · Language(25 minutes) Be sure to review Chapter 1 of this book("General Test-Taking Skills")to learnthe basic techniques that willhelp you score high on HSPT—and most any stan-dardized test.Also review “An Introduction for Students”for basic strategy onhow to approach this book.Chapters 13 to 17 will take you through each of thetest sections in detail,and will review the types of problems you'll likely see.Makesure to take the practice tests in the back of the book and study the explanationsto find out which areas you need to review the most to earn a high score on theHSPT.Good luck! # HSPT Study Plan If you are taking the HSPT,follow this nine-session study plan. # Session 1 · Before you do anything else,besides reading this introduction,takethe first practice HSPT in this book.Correct it and pay particularlyclose attention to your mistakes. · Write down anything you notice that you had difficulty with,such as"triangle problems."This will help you remember to pay extra atten-tion to those concepts when you study those chapters. · Ifyou got more than 25%incorrect in any section,tellyourself toslow down and do fewer problems.You are much better off doingonly75%of the questions and getting more of them correct thandoing all of the problems and getting many of them wrong. # Session 2 · Read Chapter 1:General Test-Taking Skills # Session 3 · Read Chapter 12:What is the HSPT? · Read Chapter 2:Vocabulary # Session 4 · Read Chapter 13:Verbal Skills Session 5 · Read Chapter 14:Quantitative Skills # Session 6 · Read Chapter 15:Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary # Session 7 · Read Chapter 16:Mathematics # Session 8 · Read Chapter 17:Language Skills # Session 9 · Take the second practice HSPT test in this book.Correct the test,"ooh"and“ahh”over how much your score improved,and thenreview the concepts in the book for the questions you answeredincorrectly. · Use any additional days before the test to continue to review theconcepts and test-taking techniques covered in the book. SII!'IS TeqIACI J21deyo ## WHICH ONE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS? Several of the questions in the verbal skills section of the HSPT will give you fourwords and ask you which word does not belong with the other words.Here's atypical example: 1.Which word does not belong with theothers? a.pencil b.chalk c.ruler d.pen Here's How to Crack It All of the choices will usually have something to do with each other—in this case,each of these objects is something that you might use at school.So we have to findsomething else that three of these words have in common.Then we'll know whichone of them is the

FAQs

What is the HSPT and what is it used for?

The HSPT is a 2.5-hour, five-section placement test designed to help Catholic high schools make admissions decisions based on student performance.

How is the HSPT scored, and what does your score represent?

Your score ranges from 200 to 800 and is determined by how many of the 298 questions you answer correctly.

What is the difference between closed and open HSPT exams?

In a closed exam, the school administers it and STS scores it, and the results are used for nationwide percentiles. In an open exam, the school both administers and scores it, so STS does not process student results.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Eden