For parents of 8th graders
Everything about the HSPT, in one calm place.
Test dates and fees for your diocese, plain-English score guides, and timed practice built around the real exam's pace. Free to read, no account needed.
The test at a glance
- Questions
- 298
- Timed minutes
- 141
- Sections
- 5
- Guessing penalty
- None
Paper-based, multiple choice, no calculator. Full format
Test dates & schools
Dates, fees, registration links, and retake rules by diocese, with the date we last checked each one.
Browse the directoryUnderstand the scores
Percentiles, stanines, CSQ, composites, and what a “good” score means for admissions and scholarships.
Read the parent guidePractice at the real pace
A short timed diagnostic shows which sections need work and whether the clock is the real problem.
Start the free diagnosticUpcoming HSPT dates by diocese
All dioceses| Diocese | Next test date | Fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia | Check with the school | Check with the school | Sep 12, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of BaltimoreBaltimore and central/western Maryland | Nov 14, 2026 | $45 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of BostonGreater Boston, Massachusetts | Oct 24, 2026 | $40 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of ChicagoChicago and Cook and Lake counties, Illinois | Dec 5, 2026 | $25 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of CincinnatiCincinnati and Dayton, Ohio | Nov 21, 2026 | $30 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of DenverDenver metro, Colorado | Dec 5, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of DetroitMetro Detroit, Michigan | Nov 7, 2026 | $50 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonHouston, Texas | Jan 9, 2027 | $50 | Sep 12, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of IndianapolisIndianapolis, Indiana | Sep 19, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of Los AngelesLos Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, California | Jan 23, 2027 | Check with the school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky | Dec 12, 2026 | Free | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of MiamiMiami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties, Florida | Dec 5, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin | Nov 6, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana | Jan 9, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of NewarkNorthern New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union) | Nov 6, 2026 | $70 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of OmahaOmaha, Nebraska | Jan 9, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs | Sep 21, 2026 | Free | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of Portland in OregonPortland metro and western Oregon | Dec 4, 2026 | $25 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of San FranciscoSan Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties, California | Dec 5, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of SeattleSeattle and Puget Sound, Washington | Nov 7, 2026 | $40 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri | Nov 14, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Archdiocese of WashingtonWashington, DC and suburban Maryland | Dec 2, 2026 | $70 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of ArlingtonNorthern Virginia | Nov 14, 2026 | $50 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of BridgeportFairfield County, Connecticut | Oct 24, 2026 | $50 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of CamdenSouth Jersey | Oct 31, 2026 | $30 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of CharlotteCharlotte and western North Carolina | Feb 6, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 12, 2026 |
| Diocese of ClevelandGreater Cleveland, Ohio | Oct 3, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Diocese of DallasDallas, Texas | Check with the school | Varies by school | Sep 12, 2026 |
| Diocese of Kansas City–St. JosephKansas City metro, Missouri and Kansas | Dec 5, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Diocese of OaklandAlameda and Contra Costa counties, California | Jan 9, 2027 | Check with the school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of OrangeOrange County, California | Jan 16, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of PhoenixPhoenix metro, Arizona | Dec 5, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Nov 21, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Diocese of RaleighRaleigh and eastern North Carolina | Nov 21, 2026 | Check with the school | Sep 12, 2026 |
| Diocese of SacramentoSacramento, California | Jan 9, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Diocese of San DiegoSan Diego and Imperial counties, California | Jan 9, 2027 | Check with the school | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Diocese of San JoseSanta Clara County, California | Jan 9, 2027 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
| Diocese of St. PetersburgTampa Bay, Florida | Nov 7, 2026 | Varies by school | Sep 4, 2026 |
Why pacing matters
Most students lose more points to the clock than to hard questions. Here is how much time each section actually allows per question.
Verbal Skills
16sec
60 questions · 16 min
Quantitative Skills
34.6sec
52 questions · 30 min
Reading
24.2sec
62 questions · 25 min
Mathematics
42.2sec
64 questions · 45 min
Language
25sec
60 questions · 25 min