The HSPT test is a multiple-choice exam with 4 distinct sections and 1 optional science section:

1. Reading – 62 questions

2. Language skills – 74 questions

3. Mathematics – 64 questions

4. Cognitive Skills – 112 question

5. Science Test (optional) – Question topics include: biological sciences, earth sciences, physical sciences, implications of scientific technology, and principles of scientific research and experimentation

The full exam is over 300 questions and takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.

The HSPT test is an entrance examination for eighth-grade students who want to attend a Catholic or private high school beginning in ninth grade.

The TACHS exam scores involve a percentile rank between 1 (low) and 99 (high) where 50 is the average. Students will receive an NPR (National Percentile Rank) and LPR (Local Percentile Rank) for Reading, Written Expression, Mathematics, Total Achievement Score (this is a weighted average of Reading, Written Expression, and Math), and Ability Score. A student’s TACHS score is an important factor in the admissions process for Catholic high schools. Schools use TACHS scores to gauge a student’s academic abilities and potential. TACHS scores may also determine academic placement within the school and whether students are eligible for scholarships or other academic programs.

Along with your school records, your HSPT test score will be sent to the principals of the high schools that you’re applying to, so that they can make an admissions decision. The HSPT test is also used in scholarship awards selections, and curriculum placement determinations.

High schools nationwide use score results on the HSPT to make admissions decisions, scholarship award selections, and curriculum placement determinations. That said, there are no set guidelines for how schools use score results, empowering each school to set its own rules for evaluating your scores.

When determining your HSPT scores, the number of questions that you answered correctly on each of the subtests will be added up, which will give you a raw score for each subtest.

Your raw scores will then be converted into standardized scores and national percentile rankings for each subtest, which will clearly show how you stack up against other test takers nationwide on a scale from 1 (low) to 99 (high) where 50 is average.

HSPT scores are reported in percentiles. Scores ranked in the 76th to 99th percentiles are considered a high score and 1st to 23rd percentiles are low. A good HSPT score is anything in the 75th percentile and above, while the 50th percentile is considered an average HSPT score.