About The Tests

HSPT (The High School Placement Test)

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is an admission test given to eighth graders who are seeking entrance into specific Catholic high schools. Schools make admissions decisions, place applicants, and determine scholarship awards based on the exam results.

Registration for the placement test for high school must be done directly with the school a student is applying to. The exams take place at the schools themselves, not at a designated testing site. Students should confirm with target schools for specific registration procedures.

Students may take the exam at only one Catholic school in order to be considered for admission. In the event the HSPT is taken more than once by a student, the lower score is considered to be the final score.

Section Time Number of Questions Content Covered
Verbal Skills 16 minutes 60 multiple-choice questions Synonyms and antonyms, analogies, logic-based questions, and verbal classifications.
Quantitative Skills 30 minutes 52 multiple-choice questions Number series, geometric and non-geometric comparisons, and number manipulations.
Reading Comprehension 35 minutes 36 multiple-choice questions Ability to understand main themes, to extract salient details, and to understand meaning in context. Questions are based on humanities, science, and social studies reading passages.
Reading Comprehension 25 minutes 62 multiple-choice questions Reading aptitude for humanities and short nonfiction and narrative passages, and vocabulary.
Mathematics 45 minutes 64 multiple-choice questions Skills, comprehension, and knowledge of arithmetic, basic algebra, and geometry.
Language Skills 25 minutes 60 multiple-choice questions Capitalization, grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure.

Scoring

Each section of the HSPT is reported as a scaled score from 200 to 800. The Scholastic Testing Service (STS) compiles correct answers to obtain a raw score, which it then converts to a scaled score, adjusting for small variations in difficulty among different test administrations. The HSPT scoring does not penalize guessing, so students make their best guess on every question.

Test Dates

High School Placement Test dates vary by individual schools or dioceses, so contact your target school directly to find out their testing date(s).

Cost

The cost to take the HSPT varies from school to school. Many schools include the test as part of the application fee, though some may charge an additional $20-$40 to take the test.

Accommodations

Individual schools have varying policies and procedures around accommodations and should be contacted directly for what those policies and procedures are. The Scholastic Testing Service, which supplies the tests, does provide large print bubble test booklets and answer sheets for those who are visually impaired. These can be requested through the individual school.

Ready to get started?

Hidden
Hidden