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Marist High School requires the HSPT — and your score determines both admission and up to $4,000 per year in merit scholarships. This guide covers every section of the exam, Marist's scholarship percentile thresholds, the one-school testing rule, and a month-by-month prep plan built around STEM Critical Thinking skills.
Mark Twain IS 239 has redesigned its Computer/Math and Science talent tests into a new STEAM-Oriented Aptitude format — and most prep resources still describe the old exam. This guide covers exactly what changed, what's on each test, and how your 5th grader can build the reasoning skills the new format demands.
Applying to La Jolla Country Day School starts with choosing the right ISEE level — and that one decision shapes your entire prep calendar. This guide covers ISEE Middle Level vs. Upper Level for LJCDS, competitive stanine benchmarks, and a month-by-month prep plan for every pathway into one of San Diego's top private schools.
The Malden Catholic HSPT has three test dates in fall 2025 — and you only get one shot. This month-by-month prep plan maps exactly what Boston 8th graders should study from September through December to hit the 90th percentile and qualify for the Saint Francis Xavier Scholars Program.
The MAP Growth test is the gateway to John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science — and knowing exactly how it scores, what it tests, and how to prepare your child's STEM reasoning skills can make the difference between an invitation and a waitlist. This guide gives you the O'Bryant-specific MAP strategy that no other resource covers, including the full scoring formula, spring vs. fall test timing, and the STEM critical thinking skills your child needs before test day.
Serra's HSPT gives your son exactly 30 minutes and 52 quantitative skills questions — under 35 seconds each — to show abstract reasoning with no calculator. This post breaks down every question type, what a competitive Serra score looks like, and how Bay Area 8th graders can build the critical thinking speed they need before the one-shot December 6 test date.
The IHP Mandatory Assessment at Walter Reed Middle School includes a high-stakes writing component — and LAUSD releases no official practice materials. This guide explains exactly what the IHP Walter Reed essay writing test demands, who qualifies to apply, and how to prepare your 5th grader before the January exam.
The Mark Twain IHP Interdisciplinary Assessment is one of LAUSD's most demanding middle school admissions tests — and the official school site offers zero prep guidance. This guide breaks down every section, explains the four critical thinking skills the rubric actually evaluates, and gives you a concrete preparation timeline from August through January test day.
The SHSAT is the only path into the High School of American Studies at Lehman College — and the 2026 format raises the stakes on critical thinking skills. This post breaks down exactly which SHSAT question types demand STEM reasoning, what cutoff score to target for HSAS, and how targeted practice can close the gap.
The Hunter College High School entrance exam awards roughly 170 seats based almost entirely on essay quality among top scorers. This guide covers the two-stage scoring process, the no-first-person convention, and how to prepare for the updated January 2026 exam format — including the announced ISEE-based math sections.