Chicago Catholic HS Entrance (HSPT-based) Exam Survival Guide

Use: Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic HS admissions (test taken at the first-choice school)
Sections: Verbal • Quantitative • Reading • Math • Language

Must-do

• Verbal: synonyms/antonyms, analogies, verbal logic.
• Quant: series, comparisons, equation sense.
• Reading: main idea, inference, author’s purpose, tone.
• Math: fractions/percent/ratio, pre-algebra, geometry basics.
• Language: punctuation, capitalization, usage, spelling.

Top traps

• Treating Language as low-value → easy points lost.
• Getting stuck on one series rule (>60s).
• Reading “phrase match” traps (choose idea match).
• Fractions/percent conversions done from memory, not method.

Quick checks

• Percent: 30% of 250 = 75.
• Series: 4, 9, 16, 25, ? → 36 (squares).
• Usage: “Neither of the players is ready.”
• Geo: area of 8×6 rectangle = 48.

You will make

• Percent ↔ Fraction ↔ Decimal wheel.
• Series Rules Grid (add/mult/alt/squares).
• Comma/semicolon cheat card.
• Reading stem bank (main idea, inference, tone).

Last-48h

• 20 Language edits; 15 Verbal; 15 Math; 2 Reading sets; 8 Quant.
• Rework 10 missed questions from the last practice.
• Sleep early; route/arrival plan (schools start on time).

Speed tactics

• Two-pass every section; bank quick wins first.
• Reading: skim intro & final para → answer stems by type.
• Math: set up proportion/equation before arithmetic.

Day-of plan

• 8-min warm-up: 6 vocab + 4 math + 3 language.
• Bubble in 5-item batches; verify row alignment.