Families applying to more than one kind of school often discover that the schools want different tests. Here is how the four common ones compare, so you can tell which your child needs and how the preparation overlaps.
Which schools use which test
| Test | Who uses it | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| HSPT | Most Catholic high schools nationally, organized by diocese | Scholastic Testing Service (STS) |
| TACHS | Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island) | Administered for the three dioceses; details at tachsinfo.com |
| ISEE | Independent schools, including some independent Catholic schools; Upper Level for grades 9 to 12 entry | ERB, now part of the Enrollment Management Association (admission.org) |
| SSAT | Independent and boarding schools; Upper Level for grades 8 to 11 applying to 9 to 12 | Enrollment Management Association (admission.org) |
The school's admissions page is the only reliable answer. Some schools accept either the HSPT or the SSAT, for example Fairfield Prep in Connecticut. If a school is on your list, check its page before registering for anything.
Format and timing
| HSPT | ISEE Upper Level | SSAT Upper Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scored questions | 298 | 160 | 150 |
| Timed sections | 5 | 4 + unscored essay | 4 + unscored writing sample + unscored experimental |
| Timed testing | 141 min | 130 min + 30-min essay | about 3 hours 10 min including breaks |
| Seconds per question | 16 to 42 depending on section | 30 to 58 | 30 to 72 |
| Calculator | No | No | No |
| Guessing penalty | None | None | Quarter point per wrong answer |
HSPT sections: Verbal Skills (60 questions, 16 minutes), Quantitative Skills (52, 30), Reading (62, 25), Mathematics (64, 45), Language (60, 25). Some schools add an optional 40-question section.
ISEE Upper Level sections: Verbal Reasoning (40 questions, 20 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (37, 35), Reading Comprehension (36, 35), Mathematics Achievement (47, 40), and an unscored 30-minute essay sent to schools.
SSAT Upper Level sections: a 25-minute unscored writing sample, two 30-minute Quantitative sections (50 questions total), Reading (40 questions, 40 minutes), Verbal (60 questions, 30 minutes, half synonyms and half analogies), and a 16-question unscored experimental section.
TACHS: given in early November on a computer, with students assigned to a morning session. It covers reading, written expression, mathematics, and a reasoning ("ability") section. Registration for fall 2026 runs from August 24 to October 28, with testing on Friday, November 6 for the Archdiocese of New York and Saturday, November 7 for Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre, and results released online on January 22, 2027.
The practical difference is pace. The HSPT asks roughly twice as many questions as the ISEE or SSAT in about the same time. A student prepared for the SSAT's rhythm will feel rushed on the HSPT; a student trained for the HSPT will find the others roomy.
Scoring
- HSPT: standard scores from 200 to 800 per section and composite, national and local percentiles, stanines, and the Cognitive Skills Quotient. No penalty for wrong answers. See how HSPT scoring works.
- ISEE: scaled scores per section, percentile ranks, and stanines from 1 to 9, compared with applicants to the same grade over the prior three years. No penalty for wrong answers.
- SSAT: scaled scores per section and a total, with percentile ranks against the prior three years of test-takers in the same grade and gender. Wrong answers cost a quarter point, so strategic omission matters on the SSAT in a way it never does on the HSPT.
- TACHS: results are released as a home report through the TACHS site, and schools receive scores directly.
How many times
- HSPT: once per admissions season in nearly every diocese, and several forbid retakes outright. Where a diocese gives more than one date, they are alternatives, not retakes. Our directory lists each diocese's rule.
- ISEE: once per testing season (fall, winter, spring/summer), up to three times a year.
- SSAT: offered many times a year; the testing year runs August through July, and Upper Level students may take several standard tests plus a flex test.
- TACHS: once, on the diocese's assigned date.
Cost
Fees change each year; these are the published figures as of September 2026.
- HSPT: set by the diocese or school, commonly $25 to $70, and free in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Some schools fold it into the application fee.
- ISEE: $170 for grades 5 to 12 at a school or at home with school administration, more for late registration, in-office, or Prometric testing.
- SSAT Upper Level: $177 for a standard test date, more for Prometric or at-home options.
- TACHS: under $100; check the current fee at tachsinfo.com when registration opens.
Does HSPT preparation transfer?
Mostly, yes. Vocabulary, analogies, reading comprehension, arithmetic, pre-algebra, and grammar are shared ground. Three things do not transfer:
- Pace. The HSPT is the fastest of the four. Train for its clock and the others feel manageable.
- Guessing strategy. On the HSPT and ISEE, always answer. On the SSAT, an unsure guess with no eliminations is a slight net loss.
- Question formats unique to each test. The HSPT's number series and geometric comparison items, the ISEE's quantitative comparisons, and the SSAT's heavy analogy load each need a short familiarization.
If your child is taking the HSPT and one other test, prepare for the HSPT first and add a week of format-specific practice for the second test.
The Pre-HSPT
Some Catholic high schools also offer a 7th-grade practice sitting. It is not an admissions test. Details in the Pre-HSPT for 7th graders.