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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?
The HSPT takes two and a half hours to complete.
What does the test cover?
Five required sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language. Some schools also add optional sections in Science, Mechanical Aptitude, or Catholic Religion, depending on the school administering the test.
When is the test offered?
Individual schools set their own HSPT dates, so check directly with the school you’re applying to for the date, time, and location.
How many times can you take the test?
Just once — the HSPT is a single-administration test.
How is the HSPT scored?
Each section’s raw score (number correct) converts to a standard score and a national percentile rank. Composite scores are also calculated for verbal-plus-quantitative skills, for the more basic-skills-focused sections together, and for all five required sections combined.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No — there’s no deduction for a wrong answer, so it’s worth answering every question.
Are calculators permitted on the test?
No, calculators aren’t allowed on the HSPT.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Questions
How long does the ISEE last?
The Primary Level (for students currently in grades 2–4) is much shorter, running about 53 to 60 minutes depending on the grade. The Lower Level runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes; Middle and Upper Level run about 2 hours and 40 minutes. All levels include short breaks.
What are the various levels?
There are four levels: Primary Level for students currently in grades 2–4, Lower Level for students entering grades 5–6, Middle Level for grades 7–8, and Upper Level for grades 9–12.
What is the format of the test?
Lower, Middle, and Upper Level all cover Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement, plus an unscored essay. The Primary Level is simpler — just Reading, Mathematics, and an untimed writing sample, with no Verbal or Quantitative Reasoning. The number of questions and time per section varies by level.
How is the ISEE scored?
Raw scores from the four scored sections convert to scaled scores and a stanine (a 1–9 percentile-based ranking). The essay isn’t scored, but a copy is sent along to the schools you’re applying to.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No — there’s no penalty for an incorrect answer on the ISEE.
Are calculators permitted on the ISEE?
No, calculators aren’t allowed.
What is the cost of the ISEE?
Pricing depends on how the test is administered — standard group testing (paper or online) is the least expensive option, with higher fees for small-group or individual administration at a testing center. Additional fees apply for late or walk-in registration. Fee waivers are available for families in need.
When is the test offered?
Online testing is available on demand, any day. In-person testing is offered at member schools and testing centers on a rolling basis. Students can test once in each of three annual testing seasons — fall, winter, and spring/summer.
Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) Questions
How long does the test last?
The Elementary Level runs about 2 hours and 5 minutes; Middle and Upper Level run about 3 hours and 5 minutes, including scheduled breaks.
What is the format of the test?
All levels test Verbal, Quantitative (Math), and Reading skills, along with an unscored writing sample. Middle and Upper Level each include two quantitative sections.
What are the various levels?
Elementary Level is for students currently in grades 3–4, Middle Level for grades 5–7, and Upper Level for grades 8–11.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
Yes, for Middle and Upper Level — a small deduction applies to wrong answers. There’s no penalty on the Elementary Level.
Are calculators permitted on the test?
No, calculators aren’t allowed on the SSAT.
When is the test offered?
The SSAT is offered roughly eight Saturdays a year at official testing centers, plus additional dates set by individual schools. Current dates and fees are posted on the SSAT’s official registration site.