About the HSPT
The HSPT, section by section
The format has been stable for years: paper, multiple choice, five timed sections, no calculator, no guessing penalty.
| # | Section | Questions | Minutes | Sec / question | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verbal Skills | 60 | 16 | 16 | Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Verbal classification, Verbal logic |
| 2 | Quantitative Skills | 52 | 30 | 34.6 | Number series, Geometric comparison, Non-geometric comparison, Number manipulation |
| 3 | Reading | 62 | 25 | 24.2 | Comprehension, Vocabulary in context |
| 4 | Mathematics | 64 | 45 | 42.2 | Arithmetic, Pre-algebra / elementary algebra, Basic geometry, Concepts & problem solving |
| 5 | Language | 60 | 25 | 25 | Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage & grammar, Spelling, Composition |
| Total | 298 | 141 | |||
Some schools add an optional 40-question section (Science, Mechanical Aptitude, or Catholic Religion). It is not part of the national percentile scores.
How it is scored
- Standard scores from 200 to 800 per section, average 500.
- National and local percentile ranks, and stanines (1–9).
- Cognitive Skills Quotient (CSQ), an IQ-style index with an average of 100.
- Composites: Total Cognitive (Verbal + Quantitative), Total Basic (Reading + Math + Language), and the Battery Composite.
When and where
Most students test once, on a Saturday between late September and January, at the Catholic high school they list first. Dates, fees, and registration steps are set by each diocese.
Find your diocese