Most schools accept either SSAT or ISEE scores. The HSPT is not as common as it is typically a requirement for admissions to Catholic or Parochial schools. It’s important to take the test that will highlight your child’s skills. Here are some of the differences between these standardized tests:

1. The ISEE can only be taken three times a year, while the SSAT can be taken as many times as possible. The HSPT, on the other hand, may only be taken once.   
2. There is a guessing penalty for the Middle and Upper-Level SSAT, where students receive 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for unanswered questions, and lose one-fourth of a point for each wrong answer. Neither the ISEE nor the HSPT have a guessing penalty. Students get 1 point for each correct answer and 0 points for every incorrect answer or unanswered question. 
3. Students may begin taking the ISEE as early as 2nd grade, whereas the SSAT may be taken starting grade 3. These two tests scale in difficulty accordingly, and there are elementary, middle school, and upper school versions. The HSPT may only be taken by current 8th-grade students. 
4. Students complete an unscored writing sample for both the ISEE and SSAT. The writing is sent to schools together with the scores for the multiple-choice sections of the test. This is part of a student’s application portfolio submitted to the admissions officers. The HSPT, on the other hand, does not require a writing sample.

Finding the best test prep option for your child is crucial when it comes to preparing for San Diego Private School admissions. There are a slew of options, from personalized private tutoring to structured test prep courses. Parents often opt for private tutoring due to the customized support that is specific to their child’s needs. There are several locations across San Diego that specialize in private school admissions tests.  

As expert private school consultants, Cardinal Education understands what it takes to help your child excel in any standardized test. What sets us apart from other test prep programs is our belief in teaching your child how to study and not just what to study. We focus on developing test-taking strategies, such as time management and decision-makin,g to ensure your child’s confidence. Apart from SSAT, HSPT, and ISEE practice tests, we have exclusive books and other teaching materials developed by our very own CEO and his team of educational consultants. The bespoke exercises and practice tests in these books have proven to be highly effective and enabled our students to achieve the highest possible scores on every test.

How many times your child may take a standardized test depends on the test itself and its specific rules. The HSPT  (High School Placement Test) is only offered to current 8th-grade students and may only be taken once, meaning there are no opportunities for retakes. 

On the other hand, the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) and SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) have different policies. The ISEE can be taken up to three times in a single admissions cycle, once in each testing season (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer). The SSAT offers more flexibility, allowing students to retake the test multiple times, with up to eight administrations per academic year. It’s important to understand these guidelines when planning your child’s test preparation strategy to ensure they have the best chance of achieving their desired scores.

Which standardized test your child should take depends on both your child and the private school to which they will be applying to. If a school is test-optional, then we suggest that your child takes whichever test reflects their academic ability best. This is why practice tests are important in order to properly gauge test-taking strengths and weaknesses.

If a school is test-blind, we highly recommend still taking a standardized test, as it is common for families to apply to more than one private school at a time, and test-blind policies are not always commonplace. For schools that accept the ISEE, SSAT, or the HSPT, then, just like for test-optional schools, we highly recommend taking practice tests of each test in order to gauge which one highlights your child’s strengths. If your child is going to a Parochial school, then they should definitely take the HSPT