As the new school year approaches, 8th graders across the country are already looking ahead to their next big chapter: high school. With so many options available—from rigorous academic programs to schools with strong arts or athletic offerings—families must weigh a variety of factors, including their child’s interests, learning style, and long-term goals. If your family is considering applying to an independent or private high school, you’ve likely come across acronyms like ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or HSPT (High School Placement Test)—and you may have more than a few questions.
What is the ISEE and HSPT?
The ISEE is an entrance exam used by many independent schools such as the Latin School of Chicago. The HSPT is an entrance exam used by many Catholic high schools such as Chicago’s St. Ignatius College Prep.
*The ISEE has three levels – Upper, Middle, and Lower – depending on which grade your student is applying to enter. When applying to enter high school, students must take the Upper Level ISEE.
The ISEE and HSPT have many common features. Both tests have four-answer, multiple-choice questions. The tests include sections on vocabulary skills, quantitative math, reading comprehension, and an additional mathematics section.
The ISEE includes an essay section that is graded separately from the rest of the exam. The HSPT includes a unique Language section, where students answer common grammar questions such as spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and more.
Below is a quick overview comparing the two exams.
Challenges of the ISEE or HSPT?
The ISEE and HSPT cover much of the same material. Since they test many years of academic knowledge, students may encounter material that they do not know or have not seen recently.
The HSPT is considered a very fast-paced test, so timing is one of the biggest challenges. Students have less time per question on the HSPT than they do on other high school entrance exams. For example, in the Language section, students have 25 minutes to answer 60 questions.
The ISEE provides more time per question but can include more advanced multi-step math problems. In addition, the essay component is seen by many students as one of the most difficult sections.
How do I Register for a Test?
Students may take the ISEE at any time by registering directly through the test company’s website (www.erblearn.org).www.erblearn.org). The test is available throughout the year at many testing locations. Students should receive their results within a week and can then include them as part of their school applications.
For students applying to a Catholic high school, the process is less straightforward. Rather than register for the HSPT through the company’s website, students register for the HSPT directly with a school when completing their admissions application. Every Catholic high school administers the HSPT only once, and usually at the same time. In Chicago, all schools administer the test on the first Saturday of December.
Scores are sent directly to the school, each of which has their own policy regarding sharing results. Some schools will share the results with you, but others will not.
For many of the most selective Catholic high schools, the only way to apply for admission is to take the HSPT at their school. This means, students can only apply to one Catholic high school. While some schools will allow you to submit your HSPT scores completed at a different school, they give preference to students who take the HSPT at their school. For this reason, we recommend students take the HSPT at their first-choice school.
When should I start studying?
Exam scores are an important part of your student’s application. If your child struggles with testing or could benefit from academic tutoring to bring up their overall grades, fear not! With over 20+ years of experience, Academic Approach knows the High School Entrance Exam material and high school admissions process backwards and forwards. We have an incredible team and outstanding instructors ready to help. We offer both prep classes and 1on1 tutoring. Give us a call and sign your student up today!