If your student is applying to a Catholic high school, there's a good chance the HSPT is part of the admissions process. The test covers a lot of ground across five sections, and knowing what to expect before sitting down to take it makes a real difference. Here's a breakdown of each section.
Section 1: Verbal Skills
The Verbal Skills section has 60 questions and a 16-minute time limit — making it the fastest-paced section on the test. It covers five question types:
Synonyms: Students are given a word and are asked to choose the answer choice that most closely matches the meaning of the original word.
Antonyms: Students are given a word and are asked to choose the answer choice with the opposite meaning of the original word.
Analogies: Students are given a pair of words, determine the relationship between them, and then identify a second pair of words that shares the same relationship.
Word Classifications: Students are given a list of four words and are asked to identify the word that does not fit with the other three.
Logic: Students are given three statements. The first two statements are true, and students need to determine if the third statement is true, false, or uncertain based on the first two statements.
Section 2: Quantitative Skills
The Quantitative Skills section has 52 questions and a 30-minute time limit. It covers four question types:
Sequences: Students are given a series of numbers or letters and need to identify the pattern to determine the next term, next few terms, or a missing term.
Reasoning: Students translate a mathematical statement into an equation and solve it.
Non-Geometric Comparisons: Students are given three quantities and choose the answer that correctly describes the relationship between them.
Geometric Comparisons: Students are given geometric figures and choose the answer that correctly compares quantities related to those figures.
Section 3: Reading
The Reading section has 62 questions and a 25-minute time limit. It's split into two parts:
Reading Comprehension: The first 40 questions in the section are reading comprehension questions. Students read short passages covering topics like history, art, science, and literature, then answer questions testing their understanding of main ideas, inferences, style, details, and vocabulary.
Vocabulary: The last 22 questions in the section are vocabulary questions. Students are given a short phrase with one word underlined and choose the answer choice that most closely matches the meaning of that word.
Section 4: Mathematics
The Mathematics section has 64 questions and a 45-minute time limit, making it the longest section on the test. The questions are more traditional than those in the Quantitative Skills section and cover a wide range of math topics — a mix of straightforward calculations and word problems. Having a strong grasp on math fundamentals is crucial for this section.
Section 5: Language
The Language section has 60 questions and a 25-minute time limit. It covers three question types:
Grammar: Students are given three sentences, one of which may contain an error in capitalization, punctuation, or usage. Students select the sentence that contains an error, and if no sentences contain an error, students choose “no mistake.”
Spelling: Students are given three sentences, one of which may contain an error in spelling. Students select the sentence that contains an error, and if no sentences contain an error, students choose “no mistake.”
Composition: There are a variety of composition questions that show up on the test. Students may be asked to choose the most clearly written sentence, choose the best transition word for a sentence, choose the best topic sentence for a paragraph, and understand sentence placement in paragraphs.
Getting Started with HSPT Prep
Now that you know what the test looks like, the best next step is finding out where your student stands. If you have questions about how to get started or how to structure your student's prep, feel free to reach out at info@elevateprep.com — I'm always happy to help point you in the right direction.