The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is used throughout the United States as an admissions exam primarily for Catholic high schools. Schools such as Brophy, Xavier, or Notre Dame Prep will require this test as part of the application process. Students may take the official version (referred to as the "Closed HSPT") only one time, in the eighth grade. Some schools use the results of that exam for admission. This test is very challenging and requires preparation.
Private Tutoring Recommendation: 18-24 hours.
When Is the Test?
The test is usually the 1st or 3rd Saturday of every January. You can take the test in one school and submit the results to more than one school.
FORMAT HSPT
The test has 298 questions which are numbered sequentially and should be answered
over a period of 2 hours and 21 minutes without the use of calculators. Below is a
breakdown and the order in which the Sub-test questions will appear.
Sub‐test # of Questions Time
Verbal Skills 60 16 minutes
Quantitative Skills 52 30 minutes
Reading 62 25 minutes
Mathematics 64 45 minutes
Language 60 25 minutes
HSPT TEST PREP AT VOGEL PREP
Our small group program has been developed around 18‐hours of tutoring and includes two practice tests: one before the start and one along the way. Tutoring hours will be split between the English (verbal, reading, language) subjects and the Analytical (mathematical and quantitative) ones. We will be using two instructors that specialize in either English or Analytical parts of the test. All Vogel Prep instructors have at least a Master’s degree and are certified to tutor students in the strategies and tactics of the HSPT.
Small-Group Class for HSPT 2021 (3-6 students)
HSPT test for 2020 has been scheduled for January 9th or January 23rd.
SCHEDULE
An initial assessment should be taken before the start of the program.
The HSPT class consists of 6 Saturdays of classes from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, for a total of 18 hours in class.
The first class begins on October 30th, and the last class ends on December 11th.
There is no class on Thanksgiving Saturday, Nov 27th.
An additional practice test is available during the Christmas Holiday on either Monday,12/20 or Monday, 12/27 - call the office to make an appointment.
HSPT PREPARATION CLASSES $900
SSAT Private School Entrance Exam
What’s on the SSAT?
Quantitative (Math): One section of 30 questions composed of math computation.
Verbal: One section of 30 vocabulary and analogy questions.
Reading: One section of 28 questions based on reading passages.
Writing Sample: There is one writing prompt. The writing sample is not scored, but schools use it to assess writing skills.
Experimental: One section of mixed content questions (verbal, reading, and math). This section does not count toward reported scores.
Middle- and Upper-Level SSAT Test Structure
The test is 3 hours, 10 minutes. Here is the format:
Writing Sample: 25 minutes (1 prompt)
Break: 10 minutes
Quantitative I: 30 minutes (30 questions)
Reading: 40 minutes (28 questions)
Break: 10 minutes
Verbal: 30 minutes (30 questions)
Quantitative II: 30 minutes
Experimental: 15 minutes (15-20 questions)
Middle level is for grades 5–7. Upper Level is for grades 8–11.
Elementary-Level SSAT Test Structure
The test is 2 hours, 5 minutes. Here is the format:
Quantitative I: 30 minutes (30 questions)
Verbal: 20 minutes (30 questions)
Break: 15 minutes
Reading: 30 minutes (28 questions)
Writing Sample: 15 minutes (1 prompt)
Experimental: 15 minutes (15-17 questions)
Elementary Level is for grades 3–4.
Ways to take the SSAT?
The Enrollment Management Association (EMA) is the organization that develops and executes the test. Due to the uncertain times we live in, EMA is offering many testing options for students the offer safety and convenience. The SSAT is currently offered on both computer-based tests at home or at a Prometric Test Center, or on a smaller scale a paper-based test.
To register and to find dates, please visit www.ssat.org/testing/about-the-test.
ISEE Test Preparation
Students may register to take the ISEE up to three times in a 12-month admission cycle, once in any or all of three testing seasons. The seasons are Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March), and Spring/Summer (April–July).
Admission officers may implement the ISEE seasonal testing policy in a way that best fits the requirements of their individual offices. For example, some schools may ask a family to submit all score reports for an admission season; others may ask that only one score report be submitted. This decision is completely up to each individual admission office. Families should review and abide by the application guidelines set by each ERB member school to which they are applying.
Vogel Prep Test Prep Program for ISEE has been developed around a 18‐hours of tutoring and includes two practice tests: one before the start and one along the way. Tutoring hours will be split between the English (verbal, reading) subjects and the Analytical (mathematical and quantitative) ones. We will be using two instructors that specialize in either English or Analytical parts of the test. All Vogel Prep instructors have at least a Master’s degree and are certified to tutor students in the strategies and tactics of ISEE tests.
Based on the target grade that students are applying, they should prepare to take Lower, Middle or Upper Level of the ISEE. Higher levels require a longer and more complex test as per list below.
ISEE Upper Level (Grades 9-12) ~ 160 minutes (plus breaks)
ISEE Middle Level (Grades 7-8) ~ 160 minutes (plus breaks)
ISEE Lower Level (Grades 5-6) ~ 120 minutes (plus breaks)
Students may take the test more than once!
The ISEE Format for Elementary Levels varies by grade but takes about 50-60 minutes, plus time for the Essay.
Students may register to take the ISEE one time in any or all of three testing seasons. The ISEE does not encourage multiple testing, but we do offer students and families that option.
