Practice Tests for Middle School Students
TUTORS: Please read this overview of high school admissions testing before getting started with clients.
Why practice for the 7th grade NWEA MAP test? This test score constitutes one-third of students' complete application score when seeking admission to CPS Selective Enrollment high schools as freshmen.
Key Facts about the MAP: It's computerized. There's no time limit. The questions get easier or harder depending on how well you're doing. Math, reading, and vocabulary are tested. A calculator is sometimes but not always provided on the screen.
Why practice for high school admissions tests as an 8th grader? High school admissions in Chicago are highly competitive, and depending where students plan to apply (public, private or Catholic schools) they may need to take multiple exams (HSAT, ISEE and/or HSPT).
Key Facts about High School Admissions Testing: Read our comparison chart for more information about the content and format differences among these three exams. Learn more about the admissions process for various Chicago area high schools here.
Links to specific types of admissions tests:
CPS HSAT (new!) | HSPT | ISEE | SSAT
Why practice for the 5th grade NWEA MAP test? Students must do well on this test to be eligible to take the 6th grade gifted test, which in turn, determines admission to CPS Academic Centers in 7th grade.
Key facts about the MAP: It's computerized. There's no time limit. The questions get easier or harder depending on how well you're doing. Math, reading, and vocabulary are tested. A calculator is sometimes but not always provided on the screen.
Why practice for the 6th grade gifted test? This is the entrance exam for CPS Academic Centers — advanced programs for 7th and 8th graders at CPS selective enrollment high schools.
Key facts about the Academic Center test: This timed, paper-and-pencil test assesses logical, spatial, verbal, and quantitative reasoning, the types of questions typically found on an IQ test. We only have anecdotal information about the exact content and format because only test-taking students are allowed to see it.
HSAT (CPS High School Admissions Test)
Key Facts about the HSAT: This timed test is used for admission to selective enrollment high schools and other programs in Chicago Public Schools. It includes four sections: Mathematics (worth 50% of your score) has one section; ELA (worth 50% of your score) has three sections: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Language/Grammar.
HSPT (High School Placement Test)
Key Facts about the HSPT: This timed test is used for admission to Catholic schools. It includes four sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, and Mathematics. Some Catholic schools add their own timed essay component to the test. The HSPT is only offered once a year, and many schools require that you take it at the school where you hope to matriculate.
ISEE (Independent Schools Entrance Exam)
Key Facts about the ISEE: This timed test is used for admission to independent schools. It includes five sections: Verbal Reasoning (synonyms and sentence completion), Quantitative Skills (math), Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and a timed essay.
Practice the Middle Level ISEE (for entrance to grades 7 & 8)
SSAT (Boarding School Admissions Test)
Key Facts about the SSAT: This timed test is used for admission to boarding schools across the country. It includes five sections: Quantitative (Math), Verbal, Reading, Writing and an experimental section that does not count toward your score. The SSAT has a guessing penalty, which means you lose more points for getting a question wrong than for leaving it blank. Students should adjust their test-taking strategies accordingly.