HSPT Test Prep
Calm Readiness, Confident Results
For many 8th graders, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) is more than just an entrance exam—it’s a gateway to Catholic and independent high schools, a tool for placement into advanced classes, and often a deciding factor for merit-based scholarships.
At The Chicago Family Tutor, we believe HSPT test prep should do more than prepare students for a single morning in December. The process of preparing can, in and of itself, be valuable, helping students to build habits, resilience, and executive functioning skills that will benefit them for years to come. Our philosophy is simple: calm readiness over stressful striving.
What’s on the HSPT?
The HSPT is a fast-paced, multiple-choice exam given to 8th graders applying to Catholic or parochial schools. It includes five timed sections:
- Verbal Skills – Synonyms, antonyms, logic, and verbal classification
- Quantitative Skills – Number series, geometric comparisons, quantitative reasoning
- Reading Comprehension – Short and long passages with detail, inference, and main idea questions
- Mathematics – Algebra, geometry, applied math problems (no calculator)
- Language Skills – Grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization
While content knowledge matters, timing is the factor that takes most students by surprise—and that’s why taking HSPT practice tests is so important. The ability to manage the clock confidently often makes the biggest difference in performance.
HSPT Exam Practice Test Resources
At The Chicago Family Tutor, we don’t hand students a generic prep book or HSPT practice questions and hope for the best. Instead, we partner with Pinpoint Learning to give each student a diagnostic exam that functions like an HSPT practice test—but with deeper analysis.
Unlike a one-off practice exam, Pinpoint provides ongoing assessments that deliver real-time insights into a student’s strengths, gaps, pacing tendencies, and test-taking habits. This means we can continuously fine-tune strategy, target the right skills, and make sure no area goes unaddressed.
What’s a Good HSPT Score?
Parents often ask, “What’s a good HSPT score?” While each school has its own benchmarks, we believe readiness matters more than chasing a specific number. A “good” score is the natural result of:
- Strong content mastery
- Effective timing strategies
- Confidence under pressure
When students know how to pace themselves, stay on task, and trust the work they’ve put in, they walk into the HSPT confident and ready—the scores follow naturally.
The Executive Function Edge
- Time management – pacing effectively through each section
- Organization – keeping track of materials and strategies
- Self-monitoring – knowing when to move on or review an answer
- Stress management – maintaining focus even when a question feels tricky
By weaving executive function coaching into test prep, we help students build lasting habits that make them not only more confident test-takers, but stronger learners prepared to thrive in high school and beyond.
Read more about our approach to test-taking and executive function skills »Our HSPT Tutoring Approach
Personalized Plans
Every student’s plan is built from their diagnostic data and evolves based on ongoing Pinpoint feedback.Expert Coaches
Our HSPT tutoring team is made up of skilled educators who are also accomplished test-takers.Calm, Steady Preparation
No cramming, no burnout—just focused, consistent progress.Executive Function Skills
We teach pacing, organization, self-monitoring, and focus—skills that serve students well beyond the HSPT.HSPT Test Dates 2025
While exact HSPT test dates vary by school, most take place in early to mid-December. Because spots can fill quickly and timing is tight, we recommend starting HSPT exam prep in early fall to maximize results.
Confident, Capable, and Ready for What’s Next
The best HSPT results don’t come from last-minute cramming—they come from targeted, positive preparation that builds skill, confidence, and perspective. Our HSPT tutoring goes beyond a standard HSPT practice test. Instead we use ongoing, real-time insight into exactly where a student can grow.
By the time test day arrives, our students have worked through HSPT practice questions with purpose, learned to manage the clock, and developed the resilience to handle challenges calmly. More importantly, they understand that the HSPT exam is just one milestone in a much bigger journey—and that the focus, organization, and confidence they’ve built will serve them far beyond a single test date.
If you’re ready to help your child step into the HSPT exam feeling prepared and self-assured, contact us today to learn more about our personalized HSPT test prep and Pinpoint diagnostic approach.