Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 19:19     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Anonymous wrote:We came from public school and had no idea what HSPT exam was...never heard of it until about a week before needing to take the test. Catholic school kids are definitely at huge advantage. My kid just showed up and took the test without studying or knowing the format. Scored average in math and in the 90s for reading/writing part. Accepted into 1st choice so all worked out. Non athlete too.


This was our experience. I went to Catholic school and remember taking a test to get into high school. I hadn't realized that others take prep classes for the HSPT. DC took it with no prep and got into first choice which was one of the big schools talked about here. But, if DC had not gotten in, I would have felt bad that I didn't realize others were doing test prep.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 13:39     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
I would not necessarily recommend Mr. Dugan’s class for kids with learning differences. Our DC with dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD just finished his class in which he made comments like “normal kids cannot use a calculator for the test”. On the other hand, it did provide a structure for DC to practice over several weeks.

If you are applying to programs for kids with mild learning differences anyway the schools say they do not put as much weight towards HSPT anyway.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 12:37     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
save your money
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 07:56     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Many people in the area take the group prep courses with Mr. Dugan or private lessons through the Capital Learners group in Bethesda.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2024 19:02     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The questions on the HSPT are easier than SSAT (much easier in math), but the test puts a premium on speed. Whether your kid needs a class might come down to whether you're in the situation of trying to go from a 95% to a 98% and a scholarship. If not, a book or two and self practice might do the trick.



My child got a 96% on the official practice given at an ADW school this spring. We would be very interested in trying to go for scholarships. I’m wondering if the score will naturally increase (like many who take the SAT junior spring simply do better senior fall) or if one of these courses would be needed to push it up that last bit.

And do the schools look at the national percentile or local percentile? All I see on applications is that one of the check boxes is to submit the scores, but not any info on how they are considered.


For scholarships, schools are using the national percentiles, typically 98-99th percentile.


Is the material essentially the same from a pre-hspt compared to the real one?

And should one expect the upper percentiles to be more competitive as kids start putting in real prep work?
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2024 10:22     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The questions on the HSPT are easier than SSAT (much easier in math), but the test puts a premium on speed. Whether your kid needs a class might come down to whether you're in the situation of trying to go from a 95% to a 98% and a scholarship. If not, a book or two and self practice might do the trick.



My child got a 96% on the official practice given at an ADW school this spring. We would be very interested in trying to go for scholarships. I’m wondering if the score will naturally increase (like many who take the SAT junior spring simply do better senior fall) or if one of these courses would be needed to push it up that last bit.

And do the schools look at the national percentile or local percentile? All I see on applications is that one of the check boxes is to submit the scores, but not any info on how they are considered.


For scholarships, schools are using the national percentiles, typically 98-99th percentile.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2024 10:19     Subject: Re:Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Yes. Definitely

My sons raised score to 98 pretty quickly after some private prep
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2024 10:14     Subject: Should I have my kid take an HSPT prep course?
Anonymous wrote:We bought a study guide (with practice tests) on Amazon for like $30 and used that; it seemed to be enough in our case.


Same