How to Study for the Omaha Catholic Schools High School Placement Test (HSPT)

Scholarships and Placement for Omaha Catholic Schools

Taking the Placement Exam An important rite of passage for those going to Omaha Catholic high schools is the High School Placement Test (HSPT.) Gross Catholic is administering its HSPT Admissions Exam for all 8th graders on January 13, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Every Catholic High School in the Omaha area gives the HSPT. A student is only allowed to take the exam at one school. Sign up now for the exam at Gross Catholic.

Also of note, public Omaha high schools do not give admissions exams. Neither do the public high schools in Papillion or Bellevue. Interestingly, Gross Catholic High School is the only Catholic High School near the Papillion or Bellevue metro areas.

6th or 7th Grader?

If you are a 6th or 7th grader, then you can begin your conquering of the HSPT by taking our practice exam. Gross Catholic’s 6th & 7th grade Practice Exam also will be held the same day as the 8th grade exam. Register now for the practice exam at Gross Catholic.

Opportunity for Significant Scholarships

Catholic schools in the Omaha area use the HSPT to place 8th grade students in courses according to their ability as measured by the test. The HSPT is also used to award scholarships to the students who take the exam. Gross Catholic awards a total scholarship amount of almost $50,000 to the top test takers.

One of the scholarships at Gross Catholic is tied to the taking of the HSPT Admissions Exam at Gross. The scholarship is named the “$1000 Campus Visit Grant.” If an 8th grader takes the exam at Gross Catholic and completes an official campus visit before the end of the school year, then the student receives $1000 off of their tuition when they attend Gross Catholic. This is unique to Gross because other Omaha Catholic schools do not offer such a grant.

Tips and Tricks for the Omaha Catholic Schools Placement Test!

There are five parts to the HSPT: The Verbal Skills section has 60 questions, and goes for 16 minutes. Quantitative Skills has 52 questions and is 30 minutes in length. Reading: 62 questions and lasts 25 minutes. The Mathematics section lasts 45 minutes and is composed of 64 questions. Language is 25 minutes long and has 60 questions.

Each Catholic school uses the test differently. Gross Catholic uses the HSPT as our Admissions Exam. We then use the HSPT scores, the student’s grades, as well as teacher recommendations, to place students in appropriate classes. For example, if you have a high score on the test, you may be placed in Advanced English and/or Advanced Biology. Of course, we take into account the academic history of a student, not just one snapshot on test day. Remember, at Gross Catholic, the students who received the highest scores on the HSPT also receive substantial scholarships.

Study Guide

Teachers help a student at the Admissions Exam To study for the HSPT, we highly recommend purchasing one of the many HSPT study guides. They are well designed and give numerous hints. Be sure to purchase a current guide that includes practice tests.

When you are taking the study guide practice tests, remember that those taking the HSPT are not penalized for wrong answers. Therefore, don’t leave questions unanswered. Instead of leaving blanks, go ahead and guess on the study guide questions as well as on the actual HSPT. While practicing, set a timer in order to become acclimated to the test’s time restrictions. After you correct your practice test, spend time going through the wrong answers to figure out why you answered incorrectly. Don’t forget to also review your correct answers.

Carve Out Time to Study

School breaks are a great time to carve out some quality time with your HSPT Study Guide. Set a schedule and stick to it. Start with study sessions of 20-30 minutes, then increase the time to 60 minutes. A daily schedule over a number of weeks is a much better strategy than cramming everything in a few days before the test.

The Perfect Scenario

The best way to ace the Gross Catholic Admissions Exam is all about preparation. First, take the Practice Exam as a 6th grader without any studying. Once you get your scores back, then create a plan of action. Over the next year, focus on strengthening areas where there were lower scores. For example, if you struggled with the math section on fractions, spend extra time practicing fractions. Ask your math teacher for suggestions. Spend a lot of time reading for comprehension since that is usually an important factor in a high score. A couple of months before taking the Practice Exam as a 7th grader, purchase an HSPT Study Guide. Follow the instructions and make time in your schedule to study every week. After taking the Practice Exam in 7th grade, repeat the process. Work on your weak areas over the next year. Purchase a current study guide a few months prior to the real HSPT, just in case the test has changed, and study, study, study!

Exam Guru

Our Gross Catholic standardized test “guru,” Mr. Rick Sloup, has some important suggestions: “A student’s performance on the HSPT depends primarily on several factors. Most important is a student’s level of reading comprehension. In general, the better a student’s reading comprehension, the better his or her performance will be on all sections of the HSPT, even the mathematics portions. Obviously a firm grasp of basic arithmetic and pre-algebra topics such as fractions, decimals, and percentages will also aid immensely with the math tests. In addition, the overall quality of a student’s grade school education, and the information they have acquired through family and other social interactions, will be directly related to how they score on the placement exam. Familiarity with standardized tests, particularly the HSPT, and how they are structured also impacts a student’s performance. “

Breakfast, Rest, and Pace

Eat a good breakfast and get plenty of rest the night before the test. How you feel physically on test day, can impact your score. When taking the actual HSPT, it is best to pace yourself. Know how much time you can spend on a question in each section beforehand. If a question is giving you trouble, skip it, answer questions you know, and then come back and answer them at the end. Again, if you are in the 6th or 7th grade, we highly recommend taking our Practice Exam. Taking our Practice Exam prepares you for the exact circumstances of our real Admissions Exam. and, it’s a great idea to be prepared, right?

The day of the exam, just stay calm and breathe easy. You can do this! Good luck!

Remember, the Gross Catholic HSPT Admissions Exam is being held on January, 13th, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Learn more about the test at Gross Catholic.

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About Gross Catholic

Gross Catholic, a co-educational, college preparatory high school, began its proud heritage of academic excellence rooted in the Marianist tradition in 1968. We consider ourselves one of the best Catholic schools in Omaha, Bellevue, and Papillion. The school motto Dux Esto (“Be a Leader”) is at the core of its extraordinary mission, innovative spirit, and fundamental values. The school offers a challenging environment and outstanding quality of life, both in academics and co-curricular activities, with a strong focus on STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education. The spirit of Christian service and giving back is part of everything the school does. Gross Catholic’s top-tier status is reflected in its talented faculty, staff, and coaches who take great pride in seeing virtually every graduate head to college, often to the most prestigious domestic and international universities and service academies. Together with families and alumni, Gross Catholic forges relationships for a lifetime, helping to ready the next generation to be exemplary, principled leaders of the world.

To discover the Gross Catholic difference, contact us at 402.734.2000 or visit our Admissions page.