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High School Placement Test (HSPT) Questions
- How long does the test last?
- What does the test cover?
- When is the test offered?
- How many times can you take the test?
- How is the HSPT scored?
- Is there a penalty for guessing?
- Are calculators permitted on the test?
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Questions
- How long does the ISEE last?
- What are the various levels?
- What is the format of the test?
- How is the ISEE scored?
- Is there a penalty for guessing?
- Are calculators permitted on the ISEE?
- What is the cost of the ISEE?
- When is the test offered?
Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) Questions
- How long does the test last?
- What is the format of the test?
- What are the various levels?
- Is there a penalty for guessing?
- Are calculators permitted on the test?
- When is the test offered?
High School Placement Test (HSPT) Questions
How long does the test last?
2 hours and 30 minutes.
What does the test cover?
The HSPT is broken up into 5 sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language. It also includes 3 optional sections of Science, Mechanical Aptitude, and Catholic Religion.
When is the test offered?
The HSPT is offered by individual schools at times and dates they select. Check with the school you’re interested in to see when they will be offering it.
How is the HSPT scored?
The raw score (the number of correct answers) for each section is converted to a standard score and then a national percentile ranking. Composite scores for Total Cognitive Skills (verbal and quantitative sections), Total Basic Skills (reading, math, and language sections), and Battery Composite (verbal, quantitative, reading, math, and language sections) are computed in the same way.
How many times can you take the test?
Once.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No.
Are calculators permitted on the test?
No.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Questions
How long does the ISEE last?
2 hours and 20 minutes for Lower, and 2 hours and 40 minutes for Middle and Upper. Additionally, there are two 5-minute breaks following the Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement sections.
What are the various levels?
Lower: entrance to grades 5 – 6
Middle: entrance to grades 7 – 8
Upper: entrance to grades 9 – 12
What is the format of the test?
LOWER LEVEL
| Section | Number of Questions | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
MIDDLE LEVEL
| Section | Number of Questions | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
UPPER LEVEL
| Section | Number of Questions | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
How is the ISEE scored?
The raw scores (the number of correct answers) from the first four sections are converted to scaled scores ranging from 760 to 940 and stanine scores (based on percentile ranks) ranging from 1 to 9. The essay is not scored, but it is sent to the schools to which you are applying.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No
Are calculators permitted on the ISEE?
No
What is the cost of the ISEE?
A family pays $110 when their child is testing as part of a large group administration, either paper/pencil or online. Small group testing at an office is $180 and an individual administration at a Prometric testing center is $190. Additional fees apply for phone registration, late registration and walk-in registration. Fee waivers are available for families in need, and ISEE test site schools decide which students receive waivers.
When is the test offered?
Online administration is available on-demand, any day, any time. Paper/pencil administration is available at ERB member schools, ERB offices, and over 400 Prometric sites in the U.S. and abroad at various times. A listing of Prometric locations in Houston can be found on page 6 of this document.
Students may register to take the ISEE once in each of three testing seasons: Fall (August – November), winter (December – March), and Spring/Summer (April – July). ISEE does not encourage multiple testing, but they do offer students that option. Scores are available within a week of testing.
Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) Questions
How long does the SSAT last?
3 hours and 5 minutes for Middle and Upper; 2 hours and 5 minutes for Elementary. Additionally, there is one 15-minute break for Elementary and one 5-minute and one 10-minute break for Middle and Upper.
What is the format of the test?
LOWER
| Section | Number of Questions | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative/Math | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Verbal | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reading | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Writing | 1 | 15 minutes |
| Experimental | 15-17 | 15 minutes |
MIDDLE & UPPER
| Section | Number of Questions | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample | 1 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative I | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Reading | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Verbal | 60 | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative II | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Experimental | 16 | 15 minutes |
What are the various levels?
Lower/Elementary: Students currently in Grades 3-4
Middle: Students currently in Grades 5-7
Upper: Students currently in Grades 8-11
How is the SSAT scored?
SSAT scores are broken down by section (verbal, quantitative/math, reading). Your raw score is converted to a scaled score (ranging from 300 to 600 for Lower, 440 to 710 for Middle, and 500 to 800 for Upper). The total score is the sum of the scores from the three sections. Your score report will also include your SSAT percentile, which compares your performance with that of other students of the same grade and gender who have taken the SSAT in the previous three years.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
Yes for Middle and Upper. No for Lower/Elementary.
Are calculators permitted on the test?
No.
When is the test offered?
A listing of testing centers is available at the SSAT Testing Center website. The test is offered 8 Saturdays per year and at other times by individual schools. Fees and dates are available on the SSAT Registration website.