HSPT

Thehighschoolplacementtest(Hspt)

The High School Placement Test is a multiple-choice admissions and placement test for students in the eighth grade. It is developed by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. (STS) and administered by the participating high schools and dioceses, usually on scheduled dates in the late fall and winter before ninth grade. High schools use the results to make admission decisions, to place students in courses, and often to award scholarships.

Exam Pattern

The HSPT contains 298 multiple-choice questions in five timed subtests, given in the order shown below. Actual testing time is 2 hours and 21 minutes; with directions and short breaks, the full session lasts about 2½ to 3 hours. Most questions have four answer choices; verbal logic questions have three (true, false, or uncertain). The test is most often taken on paper, though some schools offer an online version. Calculators are not permitted except as an approved accommodation.

Subtest	Questions	Time	QuestionTypes
1 VerbalSkills .	60	16min	Synonyms antonyms verbalanalogies verballogic verbalclassification , , , ,
2 QuantitativeSkills .	52	30min	Number series number manipulation geometric comparison non- , , ,
			geometriccomparison
3 Reading .	62	25min	Comprehensionofinformationalandliterarypassages(about40);
			vocabulary(about22)
4 Mathematics .	64	45min	Mathematicalconceptsandproblemsolving:numeration measurement , ,
			geometry algebra statisticsandprobability , ,
5 Language .	60	25min	Punctuation capitalization usage spelling composition , , , ,

Quantitative Skills30 minutes · cognitive 52 Reading25 minutes · basic skills 62 Mathematics45 minutes · basic skills 64

Language25 minutes · basic skills 60

Scoring

Each correct answer earns one point, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so every question should be answered. Raw scores are converted to several reported scores:

Score	WhatItMeans
Standardscore	Ascaledscorefrom200to800foreachsubtestandcomposite with500astheaverage ,
Nationalpercentile	1to99:thepercentageofstudentsinthenationalnormgroupwhoscoredlower
Localpercentile	Acomparisonwithstudentsinthesameschool diocese orregion whenreported , , ,
Stanine	Abroadbandfrom1(low)to9(high)
Gradeequivalent	Thegradelevelwhosetypicalstudentwouldearnthesamescore
CognitiveSkillsQuotient(CSQ)	AnestimateoflearningpotentialbasedontheVerbalandQuantitativescoresandage ,
	averaging100
Composites	TotalCognitiveSkills(Verbal+Quantitative) TotalBasicSkills(Reading+Mathematics+ ,
	Language) andaBatteryCompositeofallfive ,

There is no single passing score. Each high school decides how to weigh the results with grades, recommendations, and other factors, and many use percentiles for placement and scholarship decisions.

Exam at a Glance

ExamAspect	Details
Developer	ScholasticTestingService Inc (STS) , .
Administeredby	ParticipatingCatholicandprivatehighschoolsanddioceses
Whotakesit	Eighth -grade students applying for admission to ninth grade
Questions	298 multiple-choice questions in five subtests
Time	2hours21minutesoftesting;about2½to3hourswithdirectionsandbreaks
Format	Usuallypaperandpencil;someschoolsofferanonlineversion
Calculator	Notpermitted exceptasanapprovedaccommodation ,
Scoring	Standard scores 200–800 (mean 500) percentiles stanines grade equivalents CSQ and , , , , ,
	composites;nopenaltyforguessing
Optionaltests	SomeschoolsaddaScience CatholicReligion orMechanicalAptitudetest , ,
Registration	Throughthehighschoolordiocese whichsetsthetestdate location andanyfee , , ,
Retakes	Mostschoolsanddiocesesallowoneattemptperadmissioncycleandsendthescorestotheschools
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