Preparing for the HSPT from Luxembourg is a multi-step process that combines strategic planning and consistent effort. Look for tutors who know the test like the back of their hands and understand what it takes to get the best scores. At Cardinal Education, we believe a comprehensive approach is essential because the HSPT covers a wide range of skills—Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Mathematics, and Language.

We begin by having your child take a full-length diagnostic test. This initial assessment is crucial because it helps pinpoint their specific strengths and weaknesses, which in turn allows us to create a highly focused and personalized study plan. This plan ensures that your child spends their time efficiently, concentrating on the areas that need the most improvement.

Given the fast-paced nature of the HSPT, practicing time management and pacing is a key part of our prep. We also leverage valuable online resources, including practice tests and skill-building exercises, to get them familiar with the format. Our experienced HSPT tutors are specifically accustomed to working with international students, providing personalized guidance and teaching effective test-taking strategies from the convenience of your home in Luxembourg. By committing to consistent, focused practice over several months, your child will build the confidence needed to perform their best on test day

Unfortunately, there are no HSPT test centers in Luxembourg. The HSPT (High School Placement Test) is typically administered by individual Catholic high schools in the United States as part of their admissions process. This means that generally, there aren’t dedicated, open HSPT test centers in international locations like Luxembourg in the same way there might be for other standardized tests. Most students take the HSPT directly at one of their target Catholic high schools in the US. However, for international students, some schools might offer specific arrangements, or you might need to coordinate travel for your child to take the exam at a school in the US. We suggest contacting the school’s admissions office to know if they offer remote-proctored testing.

A “good” HSPT score is often relative to the competitiveness of the specific schools your child is interested in. The HSPT provides scaled scores for each of its five sections, typically ranging from 200 to 800, which are then combined for a total composite score. Schools often look at percentile rankings, which compare your child’s performance to other students who took the test. For highly selective Catholic high schools, aiming for scores in the 80th percentile or higher across all sections is generally considered competitive. Since there’s no penalty for incorrect answers on the HSPT, a key strategy to maximize the score is to answer every single question. This ensures that your child has the best chance to earn points, even on questions they might be unsure about. While scores are important, remember that Catholic high schools also consider academic records, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement in their holistic admissions process.

While all three—the HSPT, SSAT, and ISEE—are standardized entrance exams for private schools in the US, they have distinct differences. The most significant distinction is their primary purpose: the HSPT is almost exclusively used by Catholic high schools, whereas the SSAT and ISEE are more broadly accepted by independent private schools (both boarding and day schools). In terms of format and scoring, a key difference is the guessing penalty. The HSPT generally has no guessing penalty, meaning students should always answer every question. In contrast, the SSAT has a guessing penalty (points are deducted for wrong answers), requiring a more strategic approach to skipping questions. The ISEE also has no guessing penalty. Content-wise, while all three test verbal, reading, and math skills, the specific question types vary. For example, the HSPT’s verbal section often includes analogies, synonyms, classifications, and logical reasoning. The ISEE’s verbal section focuses on synonyms and sentence completions, while the SSAT uses synonyms and analogies. Math content and emphasis can also differ, with the ISEE sometimes featuring more advanced math topics or unique quantitative comparison questions. Lastly, the HSPT is typically taken only once, usually at the target school, while the SSAT and ISEE offer multiple testing opportunities throughout the year.