CPS Announcement Regarding NWEA MAP Testing for Non-CPS Students

With a multitude of standardized tests for students in grades 5-9, it can be difficult to keep track of which one is happening when especially since many testing windows are different for Chicago Public School (CPS) and non-Chicago Public School students. Luckily, thanks to CPS’s recent announcement regarding non-CPS testing windows, it may become a little bit simpler.

In the 2020-2021 school year (and all others moving forward), both CPS and non-CPS students alike will have the same NWEA MAP testing window: spring. This MAP test window will encompass ALL students testing to attend a selective enrollment high school, academic center or elementary school. In a letter from the CPS Office of Access and Enrollment they stated, “CPS is implementing this change so that all testing students will have completed a more similar level of instruction by the testing window, which will allow for better comparison of the student’s level of preparation for the schools to which they are applying.”

This means that all rising non-CPS 5th and 7th graders will take the NWEA MAP test in the spring of 2020 rather than in the fall of 2020. Furthermore, this will not affect rising non-CPS 6th or 8th graders who will take the NWEA MAP in the fall of 2019 for admission to an academic center or selective enrollment high school. Additionally, CPS hasn’t announced test dates yet for the NWEA MAP exam this coming fall of 2019, but it will likely be in September as it was last year. To be informed as soon as CPS releases the fall NWEA MAP test dates, subscribe to our newsletter on our homepage.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the High School Placement Test

Used by parochial and Catholic schools nationwide for 8th graders applying to high school, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) is the shortest in length of time of the three high school entrance exams but includes the most questions (298). Students have two hours and thirty minutes to complete the exam, and the exam includes the following five sections: mathematics (64 questions, 45 minutes); quantitative skills (52 questions, 30 minutes); reading (40 questions in reading comprehension, 22 questions in vocabulary, 25 minutes); verbal skills (60 questions, 16 minutes); and language (60 questions, 25 minutes). There is no essay or writing sample required with this test, and as with the other two high school entrance exams, a calculator is not permitted, and there is no guessing penalty.

This test, designed by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. is administered by St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, as well as other parochial schools on the first Saturday in December. However, since the test is so infrequent, there are sometimes make-up exams in the cases of illnesses or emergencies. Where a student sits for the HSPT is very important. If students want to be considered for St. Ignatius OR Loyola Academy, they MUST sit for the HSPT at the respective school. Additionally, if students would like the chance to earn a scholarship at their first-choice school, they must test at that school. Students will not be considered for scholarships at schools in which they don’t sit for the HSPT.

Lastly, similar to the ISEE but unlike with the selective enrollment high school process, the HSPT is viewed in conjunction with a student’s transcript. Thus, a student’s score on the HSPT isn’t the only thing considered for admission but is still of great importance. To learn more about how to prepare for the HSPT, visit testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the Independent School Entrance Exam

Created for students nationwide for application into Independent Schools, the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the entrance exam used by independent schools throughout the country. Students applying to high school (grades 9-12) must take the Upper Level ISEE. Though it may sound unfair that an 8th grader is required to take the same exam as an 11th grader, 8th graders’ scores are only compared to the scores of other 8th graders, 9th graders’ scores are only compared to the scores of other 9th graders, and so on.

Designed by the Educational Records Bureau, this test is approximately two hours and forty minutes long and includes 160 questions. There are four multiple choice sections on the ISEE: mathematics achievement (47 questions, 40 minutes); quantitative reasoning (37 questions, 35 minutes); reading comprehension (36 questions, 35 minutes); and verbal reasoning (40 questions, 20 minutes). Additionally, students are required to complete an essay (30 minutes). The essay, though not graded, is sent to the schools to which students are applying and is used much like a personal statement. A calculator is not permitted and there is no guessing penalty on the ISEE.

The ISEE is administered on Saturdays throughout the year at various independent schools throughout the city. To learn more about how to register for the ISEE, visit the Educational Records Bureau website.

Lastly, dissimilar to the selective enrollment high school process, the ISEE is viewed in conjunction with a student’s transcript. Thus, a student’s score on the ISEE is of similar importance as the score a high school student needs to get on their ACT/SAT to get into college. It’s certainly important, but it isn’t the only thing considered for admission. To learn more about how to prepare for the ISEE, visit testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam

Designed specifically for the high school selective enrollment process in Chicago, the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam is an achievement skills test. The exam, created by Chicago Public School’s Office of Access and Enrollment (OAE), is broken into four sections: math, reading comprehension, language, and vocabulary. The test takes approximately three hours to complete, and the number of questions can range from 40-56 per section. A calculator is not permitted and there is no guessing penalty on the SEHS.

To take the SEHS, Chicago Public School, parochial school, and private school students must sign up for the exam in the fall of their 8th grade year. The test is administered several times in the fall/winter season, with testing dates in October, November, December, and January. Like the NWEA MAP test (refer to our previous blog post), the SEHS counts as 1/3, or 300 of the 900 attainable points, to get into a selective enrollment high school. The final 300 points are taken from a student’s 7th grade grades in math, reading, science, and social studies.

Test Prep Chicago has prepared students for the SEHS the past 8 years through group courses and individual tutoring sessions. We have received very positive feedback from parents and students about our tutoring programs. To learn more about how to set-up private tutoring for the SEHS or to enroll in an SEHS prep course, please visit our website: testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the NWEA MAP Exam

Used by the state of Illinois to measure students’ progress throughout each school year, the NWEA MAP test is a common core aligned, computer-adaptive test designed to quantify a student’s knowledge of math and reading. Chicago Public Schools administer the test multiple times each year to measure the growth of their students’ understanding of both math and reading concepts. However, what sets the NWEA MAP test apart from other standardized tests is its computer adaptive quality. This means that it adapts its difficulty level based on whether or not a student selects a correct answer. Accordingly, for 7th and 8th graders, if students continue to answer questions correctly, the test will go out of grade level, asking high school level questions.   

For Chicago Public School students, the NWEA MAP is a common part of the school year. However, the NWEA MAP taken in the spring of the 7th grade year is more than just a benchmark test. This test provides 1/3 of the points required to attend a Selective Enrollment High School. Each section of the test is worth 150 points, with a total of 300 points up for grabs based on their NWEA MAP score. An additional 300 points are taken from a student’s 7th grade grades, with a final 300 points available from the Selective Enrollment High School Exam (SEHS). Additionally, for those attending Catholic or private schools, students must take the NWEA MAP test in the fall of their 8th grade year. For more information on how to prepare for the NWEA MAP test, visit our homepage: testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the Selective Enrollment High School Admissions Process

If you have a rising 7th grader, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed about the Selective Enrollment High School admissions process. Below is information about the process which should help clarify things!

To get into a selective enrollment high school, students need three things: good grades in 7th grade, a high score on their NWEA MAP exam, and a high score on the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam (SEHS). Each of these three designations is worth 300 points, with a total of 900 points available. CPS looks at a student’s grades in the following four subjects: math, reading, science, and social studies. Each A grade is the equivalent of 75 points, totaling at 300 points, or 1/3 of the 900 points obtainable. Each B grade results in 50 points, each C grade results in 25 points, and no points are awarded for grades of D or F.

The second third of the 900 points comes from a student’s NWEA MAP score (see next week’s blog post for more information about the NWEA MAP Exam). This test is divided into two sections: math and reading. Each section is worth 150 points, totaling at 300. For Chicago Public School students, this test is administered in the spring of 7th grade and this year’s testing window runs from May 13th to June 14th. Each school has discretion on when they test within that window. For private and parochial school students, they will take the NWEA MAP exam in the fall of their 8th grade year. Generally, this occurs in mid-September, but CPS will release the exact date over the summer. (I recommend subscribing to our newsletter as we will email all of our subscribers as soon as CPS makes an announcement).

The final third of the 900 points comes from the Selective Enrollment High School Exam (we will post more information about the SEHS in the coming weeks). This test has four sections: math, reading comprehension, language, and vocabulary. Testing for the SEHS is held on weekends in October, November, December, and January.

In addition to the 900 points, students will also need to fill out a Selective Enrollment application using the CPS website. On the application, parents will have to declare in which neighborhood tier their family lives (to find out in what tier your neighborhood is, visit the CPS website). The final score a student needs out of 900 to be granted admission for each selective enrollment high school will be determined by their socio-economic tier. These applications are usually due in mid-December, but official dates will be released by CPS in the fall.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS Announces Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam (SEHS) Test Dates

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced the test dates for the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam (SEHS). This year, the SEHS will be offered 5 times. The 5 dates are listed below.

SEHS Test Dates 
Saturday, October 20
Saturday, November 17
Saturday, December 1
Saturday, December 15
Saturday, January 19

The SEHS will be offered at five sites:  King College Preparatory High School, Lane Tech High School, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Westinghouse College Preparatory High School, and Whitney Young Magnet High School.

Applicants who apply using the GoCPS online application will schedule their exam after they submit their application. Applicants who apply using a paper application will have their test scheduled by the Office of Access and Enrollment and will be notified of their test date, time, and location via U.S. mail.

The application process for the 2019-2020 school year opens October 1st and ends December 14th.

CPS Announces Application Process For 2019-2020 School Year

Last month, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released information regarding the application process for the 2019-2020 school year. This refers to students who will be beginning high school during the 2019-2020 school year. The Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress exam (NWEA MAP) will once again be used for the eligibility and selection to Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools and to public high schools with academic requirements (Selective Enrollment High Schools).

For students who attended a CPS elementary school during the 2017-2018 school year, their 2018 spring NWEA MAP scores will be used for the admissions process.

Students who attended a non-CPS elementary school during the 2017-2018 school year will be required to take the NWEA MAP exam this fall. CPS will be administering the NWEA MAP exam free of charge throughout the city. The test will be offered at four sites: (1) Curie Metropolitan High School, (2) Lane Tech High School, (3) Lindblom Math and Science Academy, and (4) Westinghouse College Preparatory High School. Students will be scheduled for the test location closest to their residence.  

CPS will offer the NWEA MAP exam on six dates in September (dates listed below). Parents must submit the registration form to the Office of Access and Enrollment by no later than 5 PM on Friday, September 7, 2018.

Test Dates

• Saturday, September 15, 2018
• Sunday, September 16, 2018
• Saturday, September 22, 2018
• Sunday, September 23, 2018
• Saturday, September 29, 2018
• Sunday, September 30, 2018

For more information about the application process for the 2019-2020 school year, please visit https://go.cps.edu/. Also, feel free to contact Charlie Howard with any questions.

Charlie Howard, Owner Test Prep Chicago
charlie@testprepchicago.com
(872) 221-0175

Three Selective Enrollment High Schools Ranked in the top 10 Nationally

Three Chicago Selective High Schools -- Walter Payton, Northside College Prep and Whitney Young -- have been ranked by Niche.Com as among the top ten public high schools in the nation. Walter Payton was rated the number one public high school, with Northside College Prep ranked number two and Whitney Young ranked number 6.

Niche annually ranks the best public high school in the United States. The company reviews more than 17,000 schools and analyzes them based on an examination of several factors including data from the U.S. Department of Education, SAT and ACT test scores, graduation rates, and reviews from students and parents. 

Feel free to contact Charlie Howard with any questions.

Charlie Howard, Owner Test Prep Chicago
charlie@testprepchicago.com
(872) 221-0175

CPS Announces Application Process For 2018-2019 School Year

Yesterday, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released information regarding the application process for the 2018-2019 school year. The Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress exam (NWEA MAP) will once again be used for the eligibility and selection to Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools and to public high schools with academic requirements (Selective Enrollment High Schools).

For students who attended a CPS elementary school during the 2016-2017 school year, their 2017 spring NWEA MAP scores will be used for the admissions process.

Students who attended a non-CPS elementary school during the 2016-2017 school year will be required to take the NWEA MAP exam this fall/winter. CPS will be administering the NWEA MAP exam free of charge throughout the city. The test will be offered at three sites: (1) Lane Tech High School, (2) Lindblom Math and Science Academy, and (3) Westinghouse College Preparatory High School. Students will be scheduled for the test location closest to their residence.  

CPS will offer the NWEA MAP exam on two dates in September , two dates in October, and on two dates in January (dates listed below). CPS recommends that parents register their children to take the test in September or October. Parents must submit the registration form to the Office of Access and Enrollment by Friday, September 1, 2017 if they want their children to sit for the exam in September.  For students to test in October, parents must submit the registration form by Monday, October 2, 2017. For students to test in January, parents must submit the registration form by Friday, December 1, 2017.

Test Dates

• Saturday, September 23, 2017
• Sunday, September 24, 2017
• Saturday, October 21, 2017
• Sunday, October 22, 2017
• Saturday, January 13, 2018
• Sunday, January 14, 2018

For more information about the application process for the 2018-2019 school year, please visit www.cpsoae.org. Also, feel free to contact Charlie Howard with any questions.

Charlie Howard, Owner Test Prep Chicago
charlie@testprepchicago.com
(872) 221-0175