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Seattle Prep is Washington's top-ranked Catholic high school, and every applicant must take the HSPT by early January. This guide covers the December test window, competitive score targets, and the class placement stakes that most prep resources completely miss.
The 30-question Critical Thinking section is the largest — and least-practiced — part of the BCPS magnet assessment. This guide breaks down Argument Analysis, Identifying Assumptions, and Facts vs. Opinion with worked examples built specifically for Western Tech applicants and the BCPS Career, Humanities, and STEM Magnet Assessment.
Beacon High School's admissions essay counts for roughly 50% of your score — and the format may have changed for the 2026–27 cycle. This post breaks down exactly what Beacon's published rubric rewards, shows annotated strong vs. weak response examples, and gives you a week-by-week prep plan for before November.
The Detroit examination high school essay is 750 words that can make or break your child's application. This guide covers all 4 required essay questions, how the essay is scored, and exactly how to help your 8th grader write a winning persuasive response for Cass Tech, Renaissance, and all five exam schools.
The Loyola Academy HSPT is administered just once — on the first Saturday in December — and there are no retakes. This prep timeline maps every milestone from summer through exam day, with a focus on the Quantitative Skills section most 8th graders overlook and the scores needed for admission and merit scholarships.
Boston Public Schools now uses the MAP Growth Assessment — not the ISEE — for exam school admissions. This guide explains the 70% GPA / 30% MAP scoring formula, key dates for 2026, and exactly how to prepare your child for Boston Latin School and beyond.