Verbal Skills
Analogies, synonyms, antonyms, logic, and verbal classification — the fastest-paced section on the test.
The HSPT® specialists · since 1996
Ace the HSPT. You Only Take It Once.
The High School Placement Test is a one-time test, and the score your child earns is the one schools see. We've prepared 10,000+ students since 1996, and our live-course students average in the 90th percentile.
HSPT® Score Report
Live-course avg.
90th
National PercentileComposite Score
National percentile90th
Verbal
Quantitative
Reading
Math
Language
Average across Saso Prep live-course students
1996
HSPT-only since
10,000+
Students prepared
90th
Average percentile
97%
Catholic HS acceptance rate
First, the test itself
One exam decides admission, placement, and scholarships.
The HSPT® is a 298-question, ~2.5-hour exam that Catholic high schools use to decide who gets in, and who earns honors placement and merit aid. It rewards pacing and strategy as much as knowledge, which is exactly what preparation builds.
By the numbers
Questions
298 total
Sections
5 required
Testing time
~2.5 hours
Score scale
1–99 %ile
No penalty for wrong answers; every question should be answered.
The five subtests
What's actually on the HSPT
Every section is scored, weighted equally, and timed separately. Our courses cover all five in depth.
Quantitative Skills
Number series, geometric comparisons, and non-routine reasoning — pattern recognition over rote arithmetic.
Reading
Reading comprehension passages plus vocabulary in context — which makes up nearly half the test. Often weighted heavily for honors placement.
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, measurement, and stats & probability — concepts plus multi-step problem solving, no calculator allowed.
Language
Grammar (punctuation, capitalization, usage), spelling, and composition — spotting errors and organizing clear writing.
Science · Religion · Mechanical
Some schools add a 40-question optional subtest. It doesn't affect the overall score but can inform placement.
Prep that actually moves scores
Choose your path to a top percentile
Prepare live with Mr. Saso, or study on your own schedule with our self-paced products. Students in our Live Online Course average in the 90th percentile, and every registration includes all three self-paced products free. Those products are also sold individually, below.
Save $299
Most complete prep
The Complete Program
$1,599Live Online Course + Weekend Review
Everything in the Live Online Course, plus the two-day live Weekend Review.
- Everything in the Live Online Course
- Plus the 2-day live Weekend Review
- All 3 self-paced products included free
- Saves $299 vs. buying separately
See live class dates
Best for maximum live support
Best results
Taught live by Mr. Saso
Live Online HSPT® Course
$1,29910 live sessions
Ten live, interactive Zoom sessions taught by Mr. Saso, the class behind our 90th-percentile average. Every registration includes all three self-paced products, free.
- 10 live, interactive Zoom sessions with Mr. Saso
- 90th-percentile average among live students
- Assessment + Self-Study Course + Mock Exam included free ($700+ value)
See live class dates
Summer · Fall · Winter, timed to your test window
2-day intensive
Final-stretch review
HSPT® Weekend Review
$5992 days, live
A two-day live online review for students who have already done their prep: all-new material and a full practice test to reinforce every section right before test day.
- Built for students who've already prepared
- Two full days of live online review + all-new material
- A full paper-and-pencil practice test right before test day
See the Weekend Review
Best after a course or other prep, not a starting point
Study at your own pace
The three self-paced products
All three come free with the Live Online Course, or buy any of them on their own. Checkout happens securely on Saso Prep Online.
Full preparation
Ultimate HSPT® Self-Study Course
$499all 5 sections
Mr. Saso's complete on-demand course: 18 in-depth video lessons, 1,000+ practice problems, 2½ full-length model HSPT practice tests, and a video explanation for every problem. Study anytime, at your pace.
- 18 video lessons across every section
- 1,000+ timed & untimed practice problems
- 2½ full-length model HSPT practice tests
- A video explanation for every problem (20+ hrs)
- Optional 10- and 20-day study plans
Enroll now
Complete instruction for all five sections
Final dress rehearsal
HSPT® Mock Exam
$149full-length
The perfect practice test before the real thing: same format, timing, and breaks, with 3+ hours of video explanations to review every problem.
- True-to-test format, timing & breaks
- Automatically timed and scored
- 3+ hours of video explanations
Take the mock exam
Extra-time version also available
Not sure where to begin?
HSPT® Diagnostic Assessment
$79full-length
A full-length, video-guided model exam, automatically timed and scored, with a fillable score sheet that maps the results to an approximate percentile and pinpoints which areas to fix.
- Full-length, realistic model HSPT
- Fillable score sheet with question-type breakdown + approximate percentile
Get the assessment
See where you stand before you start
Why families choose us
Only the HSPT. Since 1996.
Most tutoring companies prep a dozen different tests. We've done one thing since 1996, and we've turned that focus into a method that consistently lands students in the top percentiles.
- Taught by Mr. Saso himself, the same HSPT expert leads both our live course and self-study
- Materials engineered to match real HSPT format and difficulty
- Choose live online classes or self-paced study, same proven method either way
Generalists
Cover the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT and HSPT with the same recycled materials and rotating tutors.
Saso Prep
One test, one expert, and a method refined since 1996: purpose-built lessons, practice, and pacing drills for the HSPT alone.
Free PDFs
Generic practice that often misreflects the test's real format, difficulty, and timing.
Saso Prep
Materials matched to the real HSPT: accurate in format, difficulty, and timing, down to the question.
Results from real families
Top scores, scholarships, and the schools they wanted
"Our son did better than 90% on the HSPT, which earned a $10K scholarship at his first-choice school and a $9K scholarship at another — both with Honors placement. It's worth every penny."
"We tried books first — not fun and poorly explained. The self-study course was amazing and well organized. He scored 98% and got into all the high schools he applied to. The best thing to prepare your child for the HSPT."
"He got accepted to all the high schools and will be attending Bellarmine, his first-choice school! We know your HSPT course helped him achieve this goal."
Free download
Get the free HSPT® Study Guide
The fastest way to understand the test before you spend a dollar. Learn the format, see how it's scored, work model problems, and get 10 tips for test day.
- How the HSPT is structured and scored
- Model problems with a practice quiz
- 10 tips for test day
Parent questions
HSPT FAQs
What is the HSPT?
The HSPT (High School Placement Test) is a standardized entrance exam from Scholastic Testing Service taken by 8th graders applying to Catholic high schools. It's 298 multiple-choice questions across five sections (Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language) in about 2.5 hours. Schools use it for admissions, course placement, and scholarships. The HSPT Explained →
What is a good HSPT score?
Scores are reported as national percentiles from 1 to 99. For the competitive Catholic high schools most families target, aim for the 80th percentile and up; the 90th and above is a strong score that earns honors placement and the best scholarships. Scores & Percentiles →
How long should my child study for the HSPT?
Most students need 20–40 hours of quality preparation to achieve a top score. That can be spread over a couple of months or concentrated into a shorter, intensive stretch; what matters is the hours, not the number of weeks. How to Study →
Can you retake the HSPT?
No. Retakes are extremely rare. The HSPT is a single-attempt exam taken once in 8th grade, and the few schools that permit one count the lower score. That's why thorough preparation up front matters so much. Always confirm policy with each target school.
How is the HSPT different from the ISEE or SSAT?
Unlike the ISEE and SSAT, where families can test multiple times and submit a best score, the HSPT is a one-shot exam, and it's the test Catholic high schools specifically use for admissions, placement, and scholarship decisions.
#HWPO: Hard Work Pays Off
Give your child their best shot at the HSPT.
Pick a course or start with an assessment. Whatever the next step, we'll help you get there.