The high school placement test is held every year in January for the following school year.   It is important that you do a good job demonstrating your abilities at this test.  Various different tests are given depending on the school you will attend.  These include the COOP-HSPT, the Terra Nova, and the Explore Test.  Some schools allow calculators, others do not.  The links to the right will provide you with good practice questions to help you be better prepared for the test.

The first site, "Learn-A-Test" from the Evergreen Park Public Library, requires you to create a username and password.  Click "New User" to do this.  When you get into the site, start with the "Catholic High School Entrance Practice Tests" under Middle School Skills Improvement.  There are also good practice materials in this section on Data Analysis, Probability and Statistics, Geometry and Measurement, Math Course Series, Math Practice Tests, and Number Sense and Operations.  You will have the ability to work on a portion of the test and come back to it later.  There are also language arts practice tests here.

EdInformatics provides state tests at various levels.  Click on Math, Grade 8.  You can also practice science test questions here. 

The Terra Nova Practice site provides printable practice tests in terra nova for all grade levels in language arts, reading and math.  I would advise spending time on the 7th and 8th grade materials. 

Some other advice for test-taking:

  • Pace yourself.  Don't spend too much time on one question -- if it's difficult, skip it and try to go back to it later.
  • Draw a picture.  This often helps with math problems.
  • Read all the answers before you select your answer.
  • Use process of elimination.  Cross out answers that you know are incorrect.
  • If there is no penalty for incorrect answers, guess!  If there is a penalty, only guess if you can narrow down your choices to two possibilities.
    Get a good night's sleep before the test, and eat a healthy breakfast.
  • Bring sharpened pencils, and a calculator if it is allowed.
  • Have confidence in yourself.

    Good luck to all! 
Learn-A-Test
EdInformatics
Terra Nova Practice
Explore Knowledge
 
 
 
 
 
 

Home