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Mark Twain IS 239 offers two rigorous talent programs — Computer/Math and Science — each with its own aptitude test format. This post compares both tests in detail, explains the dual-application strategy, and shows you exactly how to prepare for the redesigned STEAM-oriented exam.
Marist High School requires the HSPT — and the sections that demand HSPT STEM critical thinking skills are the ones that decide both admission and merit scholarship eligibility. This post breaks down exactly what the Quantitative Skills and Mathematics sections test, which percentile scores matter at Marist, and how targeted STEM Critical Thinking practice tests can move your 8th grader from the 75th to the 95th percentile before the December test date.
Getting into Latin School of Chicago starts with the ISEE Upper Level — but most prep guides skip the details that actually matter: what stanine scores the committee looks for, how the unscored essay fits holistic review, and why the one-score-per-season rule makes your first test your best test. This guide gives 8th graders and their parents a school-specific, section-by-section prep plan built around Latin's November application deadline.
Every parent of an 8th grader applying to Malden Catholic asks the same question: what HSPT score does my child actually need? This guide covers score benchmarks by program tier, the one-attempt Archdiocesan rule, and how to build a top-quartile Quantitative score before test day.
Getting into La Jolla Country Day School means mastering the ISEE — and two separate written components most families never see coming. This guide covers LJCDS-specific ISEE stanine benchmarks, a prep calendar tied to the February 1 deadline, and exactly how STEM critical thinking practice connects to the sections LJCDS weighs most.
Writing a 100–250 word admissions essay for Lakeside School is harder than it sounds — especially for students in grades 5–9 who've never had to compress their ideas that tightly. This guide gives you a concrete framework, sample prompt analysis, a before/after revision, and timed Essay Writing Practice Tests to build the skill before application season opens.
Getting into the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science means mastering two things: your GPA and the NWEA MAP Growth test. This guide explains O'Bryant's exact 70/30 admissions formula, the RIT scores you need, and a step-by-step prep plan built around the May and December test windows.
Junipero Serra High School requires the HSPT for 9th-grade admission — and the Serra Scholars benchmark sits at the 90th percentile. This guide gives Bay Area 8th graders a concrete, section-by-section prep plan to hit that target before the one-shot December 6, 2025 test date.
The IHP Placement Assessment at Walter Reed Middle School is one of the most demanding middle school entrance exams in Los Angeles — and LAUSD releases zero official practice materials. This guide breaks down all four tested domains, the 2026–27 admissions timeline, and exactly how to prepare your child before the January exam.
Jesuit High School Tampa requires four brief essays on the same morning as the HSPT — a requirement no other Tampa Bay Catholic high school matches. This post explains exactly what the Jesuit Tampa supplemental writing portion evaluates, how your son can practice timed short-form writing, and how to build a preparation plan that covers both the essays and the HSPT's demanding quantitative sections.