High School Entrance Exams: What You Need to Know

If your student applying to a private high school? Many private and independent schools require students to take entrance exams such as the High School Placement Test (HSPT), Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or their own entrance test. Learn more about each exam and how your student can start preparing today:  

The high school entrance exam your child will take  depends on the specific school they are applying to. You can find this information on the school’s website or by contacting their admissions office.  

An Overview of High School Admissions Tests 

Some high schools offer their own admissions tests to evaluate applicants, but many use one of the tests mentioned above: the HSPT, ISEE or SSAT. Before we get into how to prepare for high school entrance tests, here’s an overview of each:  

• The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is for eighth grade students applying to parochial high schools. It has 298 multiple-choice questions and is 2 hours and 30 minutes long. Sections include: 

• • Verbal Skills | 16 minutes, 60 questions 

• • Quantitative Skills | 30 minutes, 52 questions 

• • Reading | 25 minutes, 62 questions 

• • Math | 45 minutes, 64 questions 

• • Language | 25 minutes, 60 questions 

• • Optional Science | 25 minutes, 40 questions 

• • Optional Catholic Religion | 20 minutes, 40 questions 

• The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is used by many independent schools as part of their admissions process. It is offered at four levels, based on the grade your child is entering:   

• • Primary: Grades 2-4  

• • Lower: Grades 5-6  

• • Middle: Grades 7-8 

• • Upper: Grades 9-12 

The Upper Level ISEE has 160 multiple-choice questions and an essay and is 2 hours and 40 minutes long. Sections vary by level; the Upper ISEE has these sections: 

• • Verbal Reasoning | 20 minutes, 40 questions 

• • Quantitative Reasoning | 35 minutes, 37 questions 

• • Reading Comprehension | 35 minutes, 36 questions 

• • Mathematics Achievement | 40 minutes, 47 questions 

• • Essay | 30 minutes, 1 prompt 

• The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is used by many private schools for students entering grades 4-12. It’s offered at three levels:  

• • Elementary: For students currently in grades 3-4 

• • Middle: For students currently in grades 5-7 

• • Upper: For students currently in grades 8–11  

The Upper Level SSAT includes 160 multiple-choice questions and a writing sample. The test takes  approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes to complete. While sections vary by level, the Upper Level SSAT includes: 

• • Writing sample | 25 minutes, choose a general or personal prompts 

• • Quantitative I | 30 minutes, 25 questions  

• • Reading Comprehension | 40 minutes, 40 questions 

• • Verbal | 30 minutes, 60 questions 

• • Quantitative II | 30 minutes, 25 questions 

• • Experimental/Mixed Verbal, Reading and Math | 15 minutes, 16 questions 

Test Prep Tips for Students  

No matter the entrance exam your student is preparing for – HSPT, ISEE, SSAT or another – having a focused study plan makes all the difference. Here are a few key strategies for success:   

1. Understand the test format Familiarity is key. Your student should know what each section covers, the types of questions on the test, and the skills being assessed. The more they understand the test structure, the more confident they’ll feel on test day.   
2. Develop a test prep plan. A personalized schedule helps students stay on track and focus on areas that need the most attention. Have your student start with a practice test to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, then tailor their prep time accordingly.  
3. Take timed practice tests. Simulating real testing conditions with full-length, timed practice tests helps students build stamina and reduces their test-day anxiety. Reviewing results allows students to adjust their strategies and improve performance over time.  
4. Practice time management. Many entrance exams have strict time limits. Learning how to pace themselves efficiently—by strategies like eliminating wrong answers quickly—can help your student answer more questions correctly under pressure.