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Cathedral Catholic High School Placement Test 2026: What It Covers and How to Prepare
School Prep Guides
June 16, 2026 9 min read

Cathedral Catholic High School Placement Test 2026: What It Covers and How to Prepare

The Cathedral Catholic High School placement test is CCHS's own proprietary exam — not the HSPT — and your student's results shape honors placement and scholarship consideration. This guide covers exactly what's on the January 2026 test, how the optional English Honors Writing Supplement works, and how to prepare for the math and English sections efficiently.

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TACHS Ability Section: The Hidden STEM Reasoning Test Most Students Aren't Preparing For (2026 Guide)
School Prep Guides
June 16, 2026 10 min read

TACHS Ability Section: The Hidden STEM Reasoning Test Most Students Aren't Preparing For (2026 Guide)

The TACHS Ability section — covering figure matrices, paper folding, and figure classification — is the one section no school teaches and almost no student prepares for. This guide explains why spatial reasoning is trainable, how it affects Catholic high school admissions and scholarships, and how to build the skill before November test day.

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How to Write a High-Scoring MAP Argumentative Essay for Boston Latin Academy (With Sample Prompts)
School Prep Guides
June 15, 2026 9 min read

How to Write a High-Scoring MAP Argumentative Essay for Boston Latin Academy (With Sample Prompts)

The MAP Argumentative Essay is a scored, rubric-graded component of Boston Latin Academy admissions — and most families don't prepare for it at all. This post walks you through the exact BPS scoring rubric, step-by-step writing strategies, sample prompts, and a model response so your child walks into test day with a plan.

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BHSEC Admissions Scoring Rubric Explained: How Grades, Writing, Math, and Interview Are Weighted (2026)
School Prep Guides
June 14, 2026 8 min read

BHSEC Admissions Scoring Rubric Explained: How Grades, Writing, Math, and Interview Are Weighted (2026)

The BHSEC admissions rubric splits your child's score across four components — and most families don't learn the weights until it's too late to prepare strategically. This post breaks down exactly how Bard High School Early College Manhattan scores applicants and tells you where to focus prep time first.

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BASIS Independent Fremont Essay Tips: How to Prepare for the 30-Minute Writing Section (Grades 5–9)
School Prep Guides
June 14, 2026 9 min read

BASIS Independent Fremont Essay Tips: How to Prepare for the 30-Minute Writing Section (Grades 5–9)

The BASIS Independent Schools entrance exam includes a 30-minute timed essay that directly influences admissions decisions — and most families treat it as an afterthought. This post gives Grades 5–9 applicants to BASIS Independent Fremont a concrete structure template, grade-specific word-count targets, and a 6-week timed practice plan. If your child is applying for Fall 2026 or beyond, start here.

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How to Prepare for the AHN HSPT: Academy of the Holy Names Tampa Admissions Test Guide (2026–27)
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 13, 2026 11 min read

How to Prepare for the AHN HSPT: Academy of the Holy Names Tampa Admissions Test Guide (2026–27)

The Academy of the Holy Names HSPT is a one-shot exam that includes a school-specific Written Response no other prep resource covers. This guide gives Tampa Bay 8th graders a concrete preparation plan for both the HSPT's five sections and AHN's unique writing prompt. Learn what AHN actually weighs in its holistic review and how to hit the Scholars Distinction benchmarks.

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The Baltimore Parent's Complete HSPT Prep Guide (2026–2027 Test Dates & Deadlines)
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 13, 2026 11 min read

The Baltimore Parent's Complete HSPT Prep Guide (2026–2027 Test Dates & Deadlines)

Every 8th grader applying to one of the 18 Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic high schools takes the HSPT once — no retakes. This guide covers the November test dates, no-retake rule, the hardest section most students ignore, and how to build a prep plan before the December 10 common application deadline.

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The Complete Guide to the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment for Academies of Loudoun (2026)
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 12, 2026 10 min read

The Complete Guide to the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment for Academies of Loudoun (2026)

The STEM Thinking Skills Assessment for the Academies of Loudoun is one of the least-documented high-stakes tests in Virginia — and with AOS accepting only 4–5% of applicants, preparation matters enormously. This post breaks down all five subsections, the 250–300 scoring scale, the ACL Writing Assessment, and exactly how to prepare before the October/November test window.

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PSAT 8/9 for Cobb County Magnet Admissions: What Parents Need to Know in 2026
School Prep Guides
June 12, 2026 9 min read

PSAT 8/9 for Cobb County Magnet Admissions: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

Your 8th grader has one October shot at the PSAT 8/9 that directly feeds ARMS admissions scoring at South Cobb High School. This post covers competitive score ranges, the separate private-school testing date at Kennesaw Mountain High School, how the essay is weighted, and exactly what to do before the December 2 deadline.

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