How Does the New PreACT 9 Compare to the HSPT and ISEE?

The announcement that Chicago Public Schools has replaced the CPS HSAT with the PreACT 9 for Selective Enrollment High School admissions marks a big change to the city's high school application process. Although all three exams are designed to assess a student's academic readiness for high school, they were created for different school systems and each has its own structure, format, and testing philosophy. Understanding where the exams overlap, and where they differ, can help families prepare more efficiently.

Overall, like the HSPT and ISEE, the PreACT 9 is designed to measure a student's overall academic readiness through multiple sections rather than focusing primarily on math and reading as the old CPS HSAT did. Students will now complete Math, Reading, English, and Science sections over approximately two and a half hours, making the exam much more comparable in length and scope to the HSPT and ISEE.

While the tests have more in common with each other than with the old CPS HSAT, there are still differences in format, structure, and content. The PreACT 9 consists of four sections: Math, Reading, English, and Science. Students complete the exam digitally in approximately two and a half hours, are permitted calculators on the Math section, and receive no guessing penalty. The HSPT is organized somewhat differently, as it includes five multiple-choice sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading, Math, and Language. The HSPT is administered using paper and pencil, calculators are not allowed, and students receive very little time per question, making pacing one of the biggest challenges on the exam. The ISEE similarrly contains five sections, including Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math, and an optional essay. Unlike the HSPT, students may take the ISEE once per testing season, giving families more flexibility when scheduling the exam. Schools may administer the ISEE digitally or on paper, but calculators are not permitted.

Despite these structural differences, the exams test many of the same core academic skills. All three include substantial reading comprehension and math components designed to measure middle school academic readiness. Students are expected to analyze passages, solve multi-step math problems, think logically, and work efficiently under timed conditions. Regardless of which exam a student is taking, strong reading, careful reasoning, and solid math knowledge foundations remain essential.

The English and language components illustrate both the similarities and differences among the exams. The HSPT's Language section focuses on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and composition through standalone multiple-choice questions. The PreACT 9 also evaluates grammar and writing skills, but it does so through ACT-style editing passages in which students choose the best revisions for sentences and paragraphs. Instead of simply identifying grammar rules, students must consider clarity, organization, style, and rhetorical effectiveness within the context of a longer passage. The ISEE, on the other hand, approaches language somewhat differently. Rather than including a dedicated grammar section, it places greater emphasis on vocabulary through Verbal Reasoning questions involving synonyms and sentence completion. Students with strong vocabularies often have an advantage on the ISEE, while students taking the PreACT 9 may spend more time applying grammar and writing conventions in context.

The reasoning sections also distinguish the exams from one another. Both the HSPT and ISEE include separate quantitative reasoning sections that combine math with logic and pattern recognition. Students encounter number series, comparisons, and reasoning-based problems that extend beyond straightforward math problems and calculations. The PreACT 9 does not include a standalone reasoning section; instead, reasoning is integrated directly into the Math portion of the exam alongside algebra, geometry, functions, statistics, probability, and other grade-level math concepts.

Perhaps the most significant difference is the Science section, which appears only on the PreACT 9. For many families, this initially sounds like the biggest obstacle, but the section is somewhat different from a traditional science test. Students are presented with graphs, tables, experimental results, and scientific scenarios, then asked to interpret data, evaluate investigations, and draw logical conclusions. The emphasis is on scientific reasoning and data analysis rather than memorizing scientific facts, formulas, or vocabulary.

Timing is another important consideration. Although all three exams require students to work efficiently, they do so in different ways. The HSPT is known for its exceptionally fast pacing, with students often having well under a minute, and sometimes only seconds, to answer each question. The ISEE generally provides more time per question for students, while the PreACT 9 falls somewhere in between depending on the section. The English section of the PreACT 9 is particularly fast-paced, while the Math, Reading, and Science sections allow students slightly more time to analyze each problem.

Families should also keep in mind that preparing for one exam does not automatically prepare a student for another. A student applying to CPS selective enrollment high schools and Catholic high schools will likely need to prepare for both the PreACT 9 and the HSPT. Likewise, students applying to independent schools will still need to take the ISEE, even if they are also applying to selective enrollment high schools. However, preparation is far from independent. Improving reading comprehension, strengthening math skills, developing vocabulary, mastering grammar, and learning effective pacing strategies all benefit students across multiple exams.

Overall each exam is designed for a different school system. Students applying to multiple types of schools will need to take more than one exam, which is why it is important for families to understand which test each school requires and what differentiates them before beginning the admissions process. Though there is some overlap in terms of content, preparing for these exams presents different challenges. Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for any combination of exams that they plan to take. With the end of the school year just around the corner, now is the right time to get started! Parents can view our 8th-Grade HSEE Prep course offerings for the summer here and our one-day workshops for HSEE Prep here. Students can also sign up for individual tutoring for any combination of HSEEs here.

Comparing the CPS HSAT, HSPT, and ISEE: A Look at the Most Common High School Entrance Exams

Families applying to high schools in Chicago often hear about the CPS HSAT, HSPT, and ISEE, but these exams are used for different types of schools, and vary in content, length, and administration. Understanding the differences can make the admissions process much less confusing and simplify preparation. 

The CPS HSAT, or CPS High School Admissions Test, is the entrance exam for Chicago Selective Enrollment High Schools in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Students applying to schools like Walter Payton, Northside, Whitney Young, or Jones take this exam during 8th grade, typically in October. The test is relatively short compared to other admissions exams, lasting only 60 minutes, and features only two sections: Math and Reading. It is designed to measure how well students have mastered middle school academics rather than advanced reasoning or vocabulary, and students take it online. As such, often, the biggest challenge students face is time management. Since students only get 30 minutes for 25 reading questions and multiple passages, and 30 minutes for approximately 39 math questions, moving quickly, but accurately, through the exam is an important skill for students taking the test to develop. Learn more about the CPS HSAT here.

The HSPT, or High School Placement Test, is the entrance exam commonly used by Catholic high schools. In the Chicago area, schools such as Loyola Academy, St. Ignatius, Fenwick, and DePaul Prep use HSPT scores as part of admissions decisions; many of these schools also use the HSPT to determine decisions around scholarships and financial aid. Note that most Chicago parochial high schools require students to sit for the exam, which is taken in December of a student's 8th-grade year, at the school to be considered for admission or scholarships (learn more about individual school requirements here). The HSPT is longer and much more fast-paced than the CPS HSAT. In addition to Math and Reading sections, similar to those on the CPS HSAT, it includes Verbal Skills, Quantitative Reasoning, and Language sections that test vocabulary, grammar, and mathematical reasoning/logic. Many students find the pacing challenging because so many questions are packed into a relatively short amount of time: students have 16 minutes to answer 60 questions on the Verbal Skills section, 30 minutes for 52 questions on the Quantitative Reasoning section, 25 minutes for 62 questions on the  Reading section, 30 minutes for 64 questions on the Math section, and 25 minutes for 60 questions on the Language section. Some schools also add an optional essay or science section. The entire exam takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete, not including additional sections, and is administered via paper/pencil. This results in an exam that requires high stamina and an extreme level of focus from students throughout the duration of the test. Learn more about the HSPT here.

The ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Exam, is used by many private and independent schools across the country, including in Chicago. Unlike the CPS HSAT, the ISEE places a stronger emphasis on reasoning and problem-solving skills in addition to academic knowledge. It includes Verbal Reasoning (20 minutes, 40 questions), Quantitative Reasoning (35 minutes, 37 questions), Reading Comprehension (35 minutes, 36 questions), and Math (40 minutes, 47 questions) sections, as well as an optional unscored Essay (1 prompt, 30 minutes). Many families consider the ISEE the most academically demanding of the three exams, because of its advanced vocabulary and reasoning components. Not including the additional essay portion, the exam runs a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes, and is typically offered online (though there is a paper/pencil option), with options to take the test in the fall, winter, and spring/summer. Learn more about the ISEE here.

Although all three are admissions tests, each is designed for a different school system. Students applying to multiple types of schools will need to take more than one exam, which is why it is important for families to understand which test each school requires and what differentiates them before beginning the admissions process. Though there is some overlap in terms of content, preparing for these exams presents different challenges. Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for any combination of exams that they plan to take. With the end of the school year just around the corner, now is the right time to get started! Parents can view our 8th-Grade HSEE Prep course offerings for the summer here and our one-day workshops for HSEE Prep here. Students can also sign up for individual tutoring for any combination of HSEEs here.

When Should Students Begin Preparing for Chicago’s 8th Grade High School Entrance Exams?

With springtime of 2026 moving along quickly, many 7th-grade parents want to know: when should students begin to prepare for the CPS HSAT for Selective Enrollment Schools, HSPT for Catholic High Schools, and ISEE for Independent Schools? All three of these exams are important parts of the high school application process, and many parents begin to get anxious about admissions requirements and testing as the summer approaches. Below, Test Prep Chicago is happy to provide recommendations for when to begin test prep for each of these exams. 

For students in Chicago who plan to apply to Selective Enrollment High Schools, the CPS High School Admissions Test (CPS HSAT) is an important part of the process. It is scheduled each fall; for example, CPS students took the CPS HSAT in early October in 2025 for the 2025-2026 season, with non‑CPS students following on later weekend dates in October. This year, we expect the exam to be taken on Wednesday, October 7th by CPS students, and subsequent weekends in October by non-CPS students. Because the CPS HSAT is offered only once per year and there are no retakes, preparation timing matters. At Test Prep Chicago, we recommend starting during the summer before 8th grade, about three months before the test begins. Beginning prep in July or August gives students a gentle ramp‑up period to build familiarity with the test format and strengthen core math and reading skills before 8th grade gets busy.

For students in Chicago who plan to apply to Catholic High Schools, they will take the High School Placement Test (HSPT). The exam is scheduled the same way each year for all schools, and will take place on the first Saturday of December. For the 2026-2027 application season, this will fall on Saturday, December 5th. As such, we recommend that all students planning to take the HSPT begin prep around 3 months in advance of the exam, around early September to mid-October. For students planning to take both the CPS HSAT and HSPT, we recommend that students begin with foundational Math and Reading prep that will be applicable to both exams over the summer before their 7th grade year, and round out with preparing for the remaining sections once the CPS HSAT has been taken.

Finally, for students across the country planning to apply to Independent or Private High Schools, exam dates for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) vary. Students can find out about potential 2026-2027 application season testing dates here, and may take the exam once per season (fall, winter, or spring/summer). Most 8th grade students end up taking the exam in early January, and we recommend beginning prep for this around October of a student’s 8th grade year. If a student is also taking the CPS HSAT and/or the HSPT, TPC recommends that students, again, begin with preparation for the Math and Reading sections that appear on all three exams, before branching out into material that is applicable to the additional sections on the HSPT and ISEE.

If you have any questions about our recommendations for 8th Grade High School Entrance Exam (HSEE) prep, please contact our team at info@testprepchicago.com! Come June and July of 2026, parents will be able to see our 8th Grade HSEE Prep course offerings for the summer here, our one-day workshops for HSEE Prep here. Students can also sign up for individual tutoring for any, or all, of the HSEEs here.

Test Prep Chicago Students Improve HSEE Scores by 37.89%!

This past year alone, the students who participated in our courses and individual tutoring programs in preparation for the CPS HSAT for Selective Enrollment High Schools, the HSPT for Catholic High Schools, and the ISEE for Independent High Schools, completed a diagnostic and final exam at the start and end of their time tutoring. Across the board, our students demonstrated remarkable growth in both math and reading, the two sections that are on the CPS HSAT, after working through TPC's course material.

In Math, our students saw 60.82% improvement from their diagnostic exam to their final exam.

On average, students scored 15/45 (33.33%) on the diagnostic exam's Math section. On the final exam's Math section, taken after students had been through all of our material, the average score improved to 24.12/45 (53.6%). This means that on average, students' scores improved by 9.12 points from the diagnostic to the final exam! This improvement comes directly from the deeper conceptual understanding, strategic problem-solving, and the confidence that comes from learning and working through TPC's challenging math material. 

In Reading, our students saw 24.61% improvement from their diagnostic exam to their final exam.

On average, students scored 25.88/40 (64.7%) on the diagnostic exam's Reading section. On the final exam's Reading section, taken after students had been through all of our material, the average score improved to 32.25/40 (80.62%). This means that on average, students' scores improved by 6.37 points from the diagnostic to the final exam! This improvement comes directly from the stronger comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills that come from working through and learning TPC's difficult reading material.

Overall, our students saw a 37.89% total score increase from their diagnostic exam to their final exam.

On average, students scored 40.88/85 (48.09%) on the diagnostic exam. On the final exam, taken after students had reviewed all of our material, the average score improved to 56.37/85 (66.31%), reflecting a total score improvement of 15.49 points, or 37/89%, showing how Test Prep Chicago’s methods deliver measurable success.

Overall, TPC's practice exams are intentionally more difficult than the actual CPS HSAT and other entrance exams. By preparing students under tougher conditions, we ensure they enter the real test with confidence. Time and again, our students report that the official exams feel easier after our rigorous preparation.

If you are looking to help improve your students' standardized test scores for High School Entrance Exams, the Academic Center Entrance Exam/Regional Gifted Center Test, or a College Entrance Exam like the ACT, SAT, or even PSAT, Test Prep Chicago can help. TPC still has one day workshops (click here) and individual tutoring offerings (click here) available for students preparing for the HSPT for Catholic High Schools and the ISEE for Independent High Schools. We also have courses, one-day workshops, and individual tutoring offerings available for other exams, with more information available on our website.