The HSPT—short for High School Placement Test—is basically the gatekeeper for many of LA’s top Catholic high schools. It covers five sections: verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading comprehension, mathematics, and language. Translation? It checks if your child has the academic chops to thrive. Schools love it because it offers a standardized snapshot of students’ skills, no matter where they’re coming from.

Grades and recommendations still count, of course. But in a competitive city like Los Angeles, a strong HSPT score can tip the scales from waitlist to welcome letter. Some schools even use those scores to place students into honors or advanced courses once they’re in. We help kids learn the ropes—how the test works, what to expect, and how to approach it all with clarity, strategy, and zero panic. Think of us as your child’s academic co-pilot on the road to Catholic school success.

The HSPT is usually offered in December or January of 8th grade, which means your prep game should start by late summer or early fall. That gives you a nice, comfy runway—enough time for skill-building, mock testing, and learning how to navigate the format without stress-eating through the holidays.

We recommend 3 to 5 months of prep for most students. It sounds like a lot, but between volleyball practice, school plays, and cousins visiting from out of town, time disappears fast. Our approach keeps things structured but flexible. We run diagnostics to see where your child stands and build a smart plan from there. And if you’re a little late to the game, don’t worry—we’ve got turbo-charged prep plans that still get results. Early prep means less pressure, more confidence, and a calmer path to test day.

While all three exams open doors, the HSPT is its own unique beast. It’s used almost exclusively by Catholic high schools, only offered once a year, and—brace yourself—there are no retakes. So it’s a one-and-done situation. That’s a lot of pressure on one morning.

Unlike the SSAT or ISEE, the HSPT doesn’t include an essay, but it does toss in sections like Language and Verbal that are heavy on tricky wording. It’s also faster-paced and shorter overall, but that speed can throw students off. The ISEE changes depending on grade level, the SSAT’s got its own quirks, but the HSPT is a one-size-fits-all test for 8th graders across the board. We help LA students prep specifically for its format, pacing, and scoring so there are no surprises and no regrets.

Join the club—plenty of students freeze up when the clock starts ticking. The good news? That’s exactly what we’re here for. We don’t just teach the content of the HSPT; we teach the mindset. Our coaches work on everything from pacing to confidence to what to do when a question makes zero sense (spoiler: don’t panic).

For students who need a little extra help calming their nerves, we start with smaller drills and build up to full-length timed tests. We show them how to use tools like process of elimination, smart guessing, and what we call a “mental reset” when things go sideways. Our goal isn’t just a higher score—it’s a calmer, more confident student who walks into that test room knowing they’ve got this. Because let’s face it, preparation beats panic every time.