HSPT Subtests Exam Survival Guide

Audience: Catholic HS | Subtests: Verbal • Quant • Reading • Math • Language

Must-do

• Verbal: syn/ant/analogies; verbal logic.
• Quant: series, comparisons, equation sense.
• Reading: main idea, inference, tone; time-boxing per passage.
• Math: fractions/percent/ratio, pre-algebra, geometry.
• Language: S-V agreement, pronouns, commas/semicolons, capitalization, spelling.

Top traps

• Treating Language as afterthought (easy points lost).
• Over-solving series; often it’s a simple +, ×, alternating.
• Reading: ignoring purpose of the question.

Quick checks (1 per subtest)

• Verbal: LIBERATE : FREE :: RESTRAIN : ? → LIMIT.
• Quant series: 5, 9, 13, 17, ? → 21 (+4).
• Reading: underline thesis & 2 supports.
• Math: 15% of 240 = 36.
• Language: “Neither of the options is available.”

You will make

• Language Punctuation Card (comma splice fixes).
• Series Rules Grid (add/mult/alt/square).
• Percent Wheel (%–fraction–decimal).
• Reading Purpose Cards.

Last-48h

• 20 Language edits; 15 Verbal; 15 Math; 2 Reading sets; 8 Quant.
• Review error log: 3 patterns to avoid.

Speed tactics

• Two-pass strategy across all subtests.
• For series: try difference, then second difference, then pattern.
• Reading: stem first → targeted skim.

Day-of plan

• 10-min warm-up: 5 Lang + 4 Math + 4 Verbal.
• Bubble carefully; watch alignment after long passages.