High School Placement Test Information
Register here for the High School Placement
Test!
What is the HSPT?
- How is this test used in the high school admissions process?
- How do the HSPT
and Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) differ?
- Are
accommodations available for students with a service plan, IEP, or recent
evaluation?
- When and where
is the HSPT administered?
- What time does
the HSPT start? When is it over?
- What is the
registration process for the HSPT?
- What is the
payment process?
- What is needed
on testing day?
- Are breaks
offered during the testing period?
- Are calculators
permitted?
- What happens if
I arrive late to the test?
- What happens if
there is inclement weather on the day of the test?
- May I take the test
more than once?
- Will there be a
make-up test?
- Can 7th graders
take the HSPT?
- When are score
reports sent?
- How do I read
the scores?
- Should I
complete questions if I am not exactly sure of the correct answer?
- Are prep courses
a good way to prepare for the HSPT?
The HSPT is a standardized, timed
test required of every 8th grader applying to attend a Catholic high school in
the Diocese of Arlington. It contains five sections that measure verbal
ability, quantitative ability, reading comprehension, mathematics, and
components of written language. The questions are designed to test students at
their curriculum level.
How is this test used in the high school
admissions process?
This assessment tool is used by high
schools for scholarship selection, and course placement. Each high school has
its own guidelines for evaluating applicants for admission, including
performance on the HSPT. Students should contact the admissions department at
their schools of choice with questions regarding the admissions process.
Are accommodations available for
students with a service plan, IEP, or a recent evaluation?
Yes, every testing site offers
extended time to students with a documented need. Other accommodations vary
according to the testing site. When registering for the HSPT, there will
be a yes or no question asking whether a student needs accommodations. If
indicated yes,
When
and where is the HSPT administered?
Students who currently attend a
diocesan elementary school will take the test on Thursday, November 21, 2019
during the school day.
Public school students may take the
exam at any of our four high schools on Saturday, November 23, 2019.
- St. Paul VI
- 10675 Fairfax Blvd. Fairfax, VA
22030
- Bishop O’ Connell
- 6600 Little Falls Rd Arlington, VA
22213
- St. John Paul the Great
- 17700 Dominican Dr. Dumfries, VA
22026
- Bishop Ireton
- 201 Cambridge Rd. Alexandria, VA
22314
What time does the HSPT start? When
is it over?
Check in begins at 8:30am, and the
test lasts from approximately 9:00am to 12:00pm.
What is the registration process for
the HSPT?
Each high
school within the diocese has a registration form on its respective website or
you may click on the link at the top of this page. Download the form, print and
fill out the required information. Mail the form and payment to the high school
where your student will sit for the exam.
What is the payment process?
The cost of the HSPT is $35. The $35
fee covers scoring the test and sending score reports to parents and high
schools chosen by the student. Score reports may be sent to as many as three
high schools in the Diocese of Arlington and one school in the Archdiocese of
Washington (indicated as fourth choice only).
What is needed on testing day?
Two number
two pencils are all that each student needs to bring to the testing site.
Are breaks offered during the
testing period?
Brief breaks are offered between the
five sections of the test. Students qualifying for accommodations may receive
more frequent breaks. Please keep this in mind when planning pick-up, as the
test may last longer than three hours.
Are calculators permitted?
Students may not use a calculator,
unless they have submitted qualifying documentation for accommodations, and
been approved for calculator use by the testing site in advance.
What happens if I arrive late to the
test?
Those arriving after the test has
begun will be asked to leave and register for another test date.
What happens if there is inclement
weather on the day of the test?
In the event
of inclement weather, each testing site administering the HSPT follows the
county their school typically adheres to for closings and delays. If weather
forces a cancellation, registered students will be instructed to test on the pre-determined
snow date. If weather forces cancellation of the test date, those sites
will hold the test on (in addition to all of the sites originally scheduled to
test on November 23, 2019). If weather forces cancellation of the November
test date, those sites will hold the test on December 9, 2019.
May I take the test more than once?
No. The HSPT may be taken only once,
and only by 8th grade students. It cannot be repeated under any circumstances.
Will there be a make-up test?
Each year, the Diocese of Arlington determines
whether a make-up test date is needed due to inclement weather or excessive
absences. Any potential make-up date is not an opportunity to retake the HSPT;
doing so would invalidate the studdent’s scores. Those who miss their December
test date should contact the high school testing site for more information.
Can 7th graders take the HSPT?
No. The HSPT is designed to test the
knowledge and achievements of 8th grade students, and scores are compared to
that age group. If a 7th grader takes the HSPT, the score achieved is used as
the final score, and the student will not be permitted to take the test again
the following year.
When are score reports sent?
The schools chosen by students
receive scores directly from Scholastic Testing Services (STS). Students
must limit their selection to three schools in the Diocese of Arlington and one
school in the Archdiocese of Washington (designated as the fourth choice only).
STS will not send reports to additional schools. If you have not
received scores, please check your junk/spam email or contact STS at
1-800-642-6787.
How do I read the scores?
The score report includes five
sections – verbal, quantitative, reading comprehension, mathematics, and
language. Each score is used to calculate a composite score. The sub scores
provide information on a student’s strength in these areas. It is important to
review the full range of scores, and not just the composite score. The HSPT
compares each student’s correct score to the national norm (a large group of
students of similar age across the U.S.). The score represents not the
percentage correct, but where that score falls compared to the large group of
students. For example, a score of 75% indicates that your correct answers are
where 75% of the norm group scored; it does not mean that 75% of the questions
were answered correctly. The score is a comparison of test performance, not a
measure of actual performance. Any questions regarding interpretation of scores
should be directed to the admissions office of your high school of choice.
Should I complete questions if I am
not exactly sure of the correct answer?
Students should answer all
questions, as they are not penalized for wrong answers. The proctor explains
all details prior to the start of the test.
Are prep courses a good way to
prepare for the HSPT?
STS administers the HSPT, and offers
the following guidance for students who want to adequately prepare:
Testing can be an anxious, yet
exciting experience for students and their parents. STS offers the following
tips to best prepare for a successful testing experience:
- Listen to and read the directions
for each subtest carefully.
- Pace yourself – time limits are set
for each sub-test. Test administrators announce when time is halfway through so
students can check their pace. Avoid spending too much time on one item.
- Read each question carefully.
- Work out the problem – Calculators
are not permitted for the Mathematics subtest. Use scratch paper or the test
booklet to do any figuring.
- Answer every question – If you are
unsure of an answer, take your best guess. Your score is determined by the number
of items answered correctly; there is no penalty for answering incorrectly.
- Check your work – If there is time
left, go back and review your answers. Make sure each item has only one
response. Throughout the test, check that the answer you are marking on your
answer sheet corresponds to the item number in the test booklet.
- While many test prep guides, books,
and courses are available for purchase, STS is not affiliated with any of these
products and does not endorse them. STS believes that parents and teachers are
best advised to avoid expensive preparation materials, trusting that a
well-rounded education is the best form of test preparation.