HSPT Practice Test 2025
High School Placement Test
The HSPT or the High School Placement Test is a nationally recognized Catholic private school entrance examination. The test is used as a component of the Catholic school’s application process. Moreover, the exam is only intended for grades 8 and 9 students.
The examination is developed by the Scholastic Testing Services (STS) and designed to measure a student’s knowledge and skills in five sections:
- Verbal Skills
- Quantitative Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Language
Unlike other exams, the HSPT has no fixed or standardized passing score. As a matter of fact, every Catholic High School can set their own standards when it comes to the amount of weight of the examination.
HSPT Registration and Test Administration
To register for the HSPT exam, students are advised to contact the Catholic High School that they are planning to attend. The HSPT tests are administered at the prospective Catholic High Schools. Additionally, students are also asked to list other schools where they would like to send their HSPT exam scores.
Scholastic Testing Services does not directly offer testing accommodations for test-takers with special needs. Furthermore, the accommodations might be available at the school where the student takes the examination. If a student wants to take advantage of such testing accommodations, he/she should inquire about it during the registration process.
Important Note: Retakes are not allowed unless special permission is granted. In such rare circumstances, the lower score will be accepted.
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HSPT Exam Structure and Format
The HSPT exam consists of 298 multiple-choice questions, which need to be completed in 141 minutes or 2 hours and 35 minutes in total.
For the complete breakdown of the HSPT format and structure, please refer to the table below:
| HSPT Exam Format and Structure | |||
| Exam Section | Content Area/Skills | No. of Questions | Allotted Time |
| Verbal Skills | Verbal Analogies | 10 Questions | 16 minutes |
| Synonyms | 15 Questions | ||
| Logic | 10 Questions | ||
| Verbal Classifications | 16 Questions | ||
| Antonyms | 9 Questions | ||
| Total | 60 Questions | ||
| Quantitative Skills | Number Series | 18 Questions | 30 minutes |
| Geometric Comparison | 9 Questions | ||
| Non-Geometric Comparison | 8 Questions | ||
| Number Manipulation | 17 Questions | ||
| Total | 52 Questions | ||
| Reading | Comprehension | 40 Questions | 25 minutes |
| Vocabulary | 22 Questions | ||
| Total | 62 Questions | ||
| Mathematics | Concepts | 24 Questions | 45 minutes |
| Problem-Solving | 40 Questions | ||
| Total | 64 Questions | ||
| Language Skills | Punctuation & Capitalization | 12 Questions | 25 minutes |
| Usage | 28 Questions | ||
| Spelling | 10 Questions | ||
| Composition | 10 Questions | ||
| Total | 60 Questions | ||
| Total | — | 298 Questions | 141 minutes |
Note: Examinees are prohibited to use calculators on the test.
HSPT Exam Scoring System
Students are given one point for each correct answer they get on the HSPT exam. Unlike some other tests, there will be no penalty for any incorrect answers on the test. The total number of points a student gets for each correct answer will be his/her raw score. The raw score will then be converted to a scaled score ranging from 200-800.
The scaling process of the HSPT exam is designed to compare scores across the various iterations of the examination. Other than that, test-takers will also receive a national percentile rank for each HSPT section.
The Composite Score covers the student’s performance on all 5 sections of the HSPT exam, while the Total Cognitive Skills score consists of the scores on the Verbal and Quantitative Skills subtests and the Total Basic Skills score includes the Reading, Math, and Language subtests’ performances.
STS also presents a Cognitive Skills Quotient (CSQ) and a Grade Equivalent (GE) Score. Slightly similar to an IQ score, the CSQ extends from 55 to 145 and is said to show the test taker’s learning potential based on his or her test performance and age.
The GE score shows a correlation between a test taker’s performance and the average performance of students at other grade levels, shown as a decimal showing a grade level and month. A GE of 10.4, for instance, describes the score of an average student in the fourth month of the 10th grade.
Best HSPT Prep Book
These are some of the top HSPT test prep book to help you prepare for the High School Placement Test and pass it on your first try.
- HSPT Secrets Study Guide
- HSPT Practice Questions: HSPT Practice Tests & Exam Review For The High School Placement Test
- Barron’s Strategies And Practice For The HSPT
- HSPT Flashcard Study System
- HSPT Prep Book 2025-2022: High School Placement Test Study Guide
- Kaplan HSPT Catholic High School Entrance Exams
HSPT Study Guide
Every good preparation starts with a good idea. This is the reason why we’ve outlined each section of the HSPT exam to help you understand them better. This will not only help you increase your familiarity with the subjects but will also benefit you in terms of developing effective preparation and test-taking strategies.
Verbal Skills Section
The Verbal Skills section on the HSPT exam assesses the students’ ability to analyze and interpret words correctly and obtain connections in their definition or context. Test-takers will be asked to compare a chosen set of words with answer choices and pick the most appropriate word to complete the sequence.
While the questions are based on vocabulary knowledge, this section also tests the critical thinking and reasoning abilities of the students. Mastering verbal analogies will help students think accurately, recognize critical details, and communicate more efficiently.
The Verbal Skills section includes the following content areas:
- Verbal Analogies
- Synonyms
- Logic
- Antonyms
Quantitative Skills Section
The Quantitative Skills section on the HSPT exam is designed to assess a student’s ability to reason quantitatively, understand basic concepts, and solve problems in a quantitative setup.
The Quantitative Skills section includes the following content areas:
- Number Series
- Geometric Comparison
- Non-Geometric Comparison
- Number Manipulation
Reading Section
The Reading section of the HSPT is composed of short passages that focus on topics like History and Humanities. Based on the table we’ve provided earlier, the time limit for the Reading section can be quite challenging for test-takers.
The Reading section includes the following content areas:
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
Mathematics Section
The Mathematics section of the HSPT exam is designed to evaluate a student’s knowledge of basic math concepts. This includes exponent rules, arithmetic, fluency with mathematical vocabulary, and order of operations. Keep in mind that the questions are not necessarily focused on the particular math lessons that students are being taught about in their respective grade levels.
The Mathematics section includes the following content areas:
- Concept
- Problem-Solving
Language Skills Section
The Language Skills Section of the HSPT concentrates on grammar rules and spelling. This section aims to measure a student’s ability to use the English language based on its fundamental rules.
The Language Skills section includes the following content areas:
- Punctuation & Capitalization
- Usage
- Spelling
- Composition
HSPT Prep Strategies and Best Practices
There are numerous methods that you can do to ensure that your preparation for the HSPT exam is effective. Aside from utilizing HSPT practice exam materials such as HSPT practice test PDF books, developing solid HSPT test prep strategies and best practices can also help you in ways you can’t imagine.
To help you learn these strategies and best practices, we’ve gathered a few of the most effective ones below:
#1 Avoid Procrastination
One of the most challenging parts of every test preparation is the tempting urge to procrastinate. Giving up on procrastination will not benefit you at the end of the day. Apart from wasted time, procrastination will eventually lead to broken plans and expectations. One way to avoid this is to remain focused and determined to accomplish your goal. Try your best to stay away from distractions and things that can interrupt your prep time.
#2 Create and Follow a Prep Schedule
Doing random preparation every day is not the best way to maximize your study time. It is highly advisable to set a specific prep schedule if you want to acquire the best possible results. Setting a specific time of the day to study is also more effective than doing it randomly. As much as possible, do your best to follow a well-organized study plan so you won’t have a problem covering all the necessary sections on the HSPT exam.
#3 Never Cram at the Last Second
Trying to study for 60-90 minutes every day is the best way to prepare for an upcoming test. Never allow yourself to cram on the day of the exam, as this will only make you have a disorganized thought process that will not benefit you when you take the exam. This is one of the main reasons why you need to prepare effectively to ensure that you’ll be able to achieve your objective of earning a good score of the test.
HSPT Practice Test PDF
Because the HSPT is a challenging exam, it was necessary to select media that could be used to assess intellectual capacity. It is well-known for having many questions to answer in a short time. All of the questions are multiple-choice, with three or four answer options. Individually studying for each area might help you reinforce and expand your HSPT content understanding. If you’re studying for the HSPT exam and looking for resources such as HSPT answer sheet PDF, HSPT practice test PDF 2025, HSPT practice test PDF 2025, and HSPT practice test PDF free, you’ve come to the right place. Taking a mock test like the HSPT practice test is an excellent approach to preparing for the HSPT. Practice tests can assist you in various ways, including mastering your timing. Practice examinations might also assist you in identifying your weak spots.
HSPT Questions and Answers
The HSPT scores range from 200-800, thus, the average score for the test is 500. Getting a score of above 500 can put you in an above-average percentile.
Individual private high schools and dioceses conduct the High School Placement Test (HSPT) as part of the admissions process for their students. Students in the eighth grade should take this test.
The HSPT or the High School Placement Test is a nationally recognized Catholic private school entrance examination. The test is used as a component of the Catholic school’s application process. Moreover, the exam is only intended for grades 8 and 9 students.
On the HSPT exam, calculators are not permitted.
In comparison with other standardized tests, the HSPT is quite easy. But since it is an examination that evaluates your cognitive abilities and skills, its difficulty level can be compared to that of the SSAT exam.
Parents and guardians of students taking the HSPT will receive an email with a copy of their child’s HSPT results.
Each section will take16 minutes.
As mentioned earlier, the HSPT exam does not have a defined passing or failing score. Moreover, if you want to get a high HSPT score, the best way to do it is through effective HSPT preparation.
A score of 600 or higher is generally considered “above average,” or in the 80th percentile.
In January, families receive their test results through email. The test results are emailed to the email address provided on the HSPT registration form in the third week of January.
A score of 75 on the HSPT is considered good.
There is no essay section on the HSPT.
The HSPT exam is graded on a scale of 200 to 800, with 200 representing the lowest possible score and 800 representing the highest possible score. However, each institution has its own definition of what constitutes “passing.” This standardized test assesses your fundamental abilities and achievement in preparation for high school.
Parents and students must wait 3-5 weeks after the exam date to receive results.
The HSPT can last up to 141 minutes in total.
There are a total of 298 questions on the HSPT exam that are broken down into 5 subtests.
Pay close attention to all of the instructions for the exam. Read the questions carefully, but don’t devote too much attention to any one of them. Choose the best option and try to answer as many questions as possible.
The total number of right answers in each subtest is added up to get a raw score.
In contrast to the HSPT or ISEE, the Verbal portion contains analogies. The HSPT is generally the most simple of the three exams. Even for skilled students, the ISEE’s arithmetic sections can be challenging. For well-prepared students, the SSAT can be difficult yet manageable.
The percentile of test takers who performed better and worse than you will be used to compute your score. To put it another way, if your score is in the 95th percentile, you are in the top 5% of all test takers. Furthermore, you outperformed 95 percent of test participants.
HSPT stand for High School Placement Test
Verbal, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language Skills are the five multiple-choice portions of the HSPT. The HSPT may include an optional portion covering Science, Mechanical Aptitude, or Catholic Religion, depending on the school.
On the HSPT, the average scaled score is 500. The Cognitive Skills Quotient has an average score of 100.
Students should bring two Number 2 pencils and leave calculators, as well as cell phones and other electronic devices, at home (unless they have special permission to use one). If you paid for the test online, bring your registration receipt with you on the day of the test.
HSPT Exam Sample Questions
Practice Test Question #1
Choose the sentence that contains an error in punctuation or capitalization. If there are no errors, select Choice D.
- On Fridays, we always go out to eat.
- Gizelle went to the movie theater every Tuesday in October.
- We sent an email to Dr. Branson expressing our congratulations.
- No errors.
Practice Test Question #2
Nocturnal animals are active mostly during the night. Squirrels are active mostly during the day. Squirrels are considered nocturnal animals. If the first two statements are true, the third is:
- True
- False
- Uncertain
Practice Test Question #3
Johnny earns $2334.50 from his job each month. He pays $1437 for monthly expenses. Johnny is planning a vacation in 3 months’ time that he estimates will cost $1750 total. How much will Johnny have left over from three months of saving once he pays for his vacation?
- $948.50
- $584.50
- $852.50
- $942.50
Practice Test Question #4
Kimberley earns $10 an hour babysitting, and after 10 p.m., she earns $12 an hour, with the amount paid being rounded to the nearest hour accordingly. On her last job, she worked from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. In total, how much did Kimberley earn on her last job?
- $45
- $57
- $62
- $42
Practice Test Question #5
A shipping box has a length of 8 inches, a width of 14 inches, and a height of 4 inches. If all three dimensions are doubled, what is the relationship between the volume of the new box and the volume of the original box?
- The volume of the new box is double the volume of the original box.
- The volume of the new box is four times as large as the volume of the original box.
- The volume of the new box is six times as large as the volume of the original box.
- The volume of the new box is eight times as large as the volume of the original box.
Online Sources: https://www.ststesting.com/hsp/index.html