HSPT Tutoring
Customized, one-to-one tutoring with Nurturing Wisdom will help your child get into a school they love!
The Nurturing Wisdom Approach
We've helped students gain admission to Chicagoland's most competitive Catholic high schools, including St. Ignatius, Fenwick, Loyola, Benet, and Nazareth, as well as to schools across the country. Here’s how we keep our in-person and online tutoring dynamic and engaging!
We start with a consultation and diagnostic HSPT pre-test
Both help us understand your child and how they learn: their strengths and weaknesses, school experience, personality, interests, talents, and schedule. This is key information for making a strong tutor match. We also talk with you about other entrance tests your child may want to tutor for.
Our team develops a customized tutoring plan
The plan is based on your child’s starting point and goals. It includes a recommended number of sessions and dates for practice and real tests.
Your tutor tailors lessons to your child's needs
Your tutor adjusts instruction based on how your child does in session, on homework, and on practice tests. Lessons incorporate test-taking strategies and test-related academic skills, as well as timing practice and test anxiety reduction strategies as needed. If your child is approved for accommodations, we teach how to apply them.
Your director guides you through the entire process
We’re also responsive to your needs as a parent! Your tutoring director checks in regularly, answers any questions along the way, and shares reminders and test-related information.
Getting Started
To get started, you can either contact us to learn more or dive right in with a diagnostic pre-test.
Contact Us
When you contact Nurturing Wisdom, you'll connect with a tutoring director. If your child wants to prep for other entrance tests (like the CPS PreACT 9 Secure (formerly CPS HSAT), ISEE, and/or SSAT) as well, it will be especially helpful to talk with a director before taking a pre-test.
Diagnostic Pre-Test
We offer several options for taking a practice HSPT pre-test. After the pre-test, we'll provide a score analysis and recommendations for the number of tutoring sessions.
All About the HSPT
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is used for admission to Catholic high schools.
What's on the HSPT?
The HSPT is a paper-and pencil test with five sections:
- Verbal: We teach targeted strategies for each question type, including synonyms, antonyms, analogies, logic, and classifications.
- Quantitative: We focus on math translation, number patterns, and strong mental math skills and scratch paper skills, since calculators are not allowed.
- Reading: We teach active reading, efficient question strategies, and pacing to improve comprehension and speed.
- Mathematics: We build core skills and teach strategies for breaking down and solving complex word problems.
- Language: We focus on grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure to help students master this detail-oriented section.
How long is the HSPT?
This is a 2.5-hour test with 298 questions. It's not unusual for students to run out of time the first time they take the HSPT! Learning how to handle this tight timing is key to significantly increasing scores.
- Verbal: 60 questions in 16 minutes
- Quantitative: 52 questions in 30 minutes
- Reading: 62 questions in 25 minutes
- Math: 64 questions in 45 minutes
- Language: 60 questions in 25 minutes
How does scoring work? Are there other factors in admissions decisions?
Selective schools typically look for HSPT scores at or above the 85th percentile. This measure shows how your child performed compared to other students. If your child is in the 90th percentile, that means that they scored as well as or better than 90% of the test takers they’re being compared to.
Admission decisions also take into account a student’s grades and teacher recommendations. Some schools may consider whether a student is a practicing Catholic and/or attended a Catholic grade school.
In addition to admissions, HSPT scores may be used to determine scholarship eligibility and class placement (such as honors or advanced courses).
When and where is the HSPT?
In the Chicagoland area, the HSPT is administered only once per year, usually on the first Saturday in December. Students must take the test at their top-choice school!
In other regions of the country, the test may be offered anytime between October and January. Some schools offer more than one date to choose from.
My child is allowed testing accommodations. Will they be able to use them on the HSPT?
Each school determines its own policy on accommodations. This means that some schools don't offer any accommodations, and those that do may offer only a small number of them. We strongly recommend talking with your current school counselor or the high school to secure accommodations for your child.
