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The William B. Travis Vanguard admissions test has two parts — a 30-minute NNAT3 nonverbal reasoning exam and a typed argumentative essay — and together they make up half your child's total score. This guide covers both components, the 100-point scoring breakdown, and exactly how to practice for each one before your assigned test date.
Science Academy STEM Magnet admissions require passing a mandatory science assessment before the lottery — a step most comparison guides skip entirely. This post walks you through the full process, compares Science Academy to other LAUSD STEM magnet schools, and shows you exactly how to prepare your child for the Science-Specific Verification Eligibility Assessment.
Western High School Baltimore admissions comes down to one number: your daughter's composite score. This guide explains exactly how that score is calculated using MCAP ELA, MCAP Math, and GPA — and how targeted practice can push her above the 610 minimum and ahead of the competition.
The Wheeler Magnet PSAT 8/9 admissions test is the single biggest lever for earning one of roughly 150 freshman seats at Cobb County's premier STEM magnet. This guide covers the October test dates, what scores are competitive, and exactly how to prepare — whether your child attends a CCSD middle school or a private or homeschool program.
Getting into the Ingenuity Project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute means sitting two separate admissions tests on the same Saturday morning — the CogAT Form 7 and an Algebra I exam. This guide breaks down exactly how both tests feed into the composite score and what Baltimore 8th graders should do right now to prepare.
Tampa Catholic High School requires the HSPT for all 9th-grade applicants — and you only get one shot at it. This guide covers TC's exact admission score floor, Pope Leo XIV Merit Scholarship thresholds, and a month-by-month prep plan built around the sections that matter most.
Bishop's School accepts both the ISEE and SSAT, but the right choice depends on your child's strengths — and picking the wrong test can cost real percentile points. This guide breaks down the key differences, explains what competitive scores look like at Bishop's, and gives you a month-by-month prep plan for the 2027 admissions cycle.
St. Pius X High School in Houston requires the ISEE Upper Level for all incoming 9th graders — and most families prep for the wrong sections. This guide covers what SPX actually looks for, what stanine scores are competitive, and how to use STEM critical thinking practice tests to boost your child's quantitative reasoning score before the January deadline.
Staten Island Technical High School admits fewer than 2% of SHSAT test-takers. The math section's multi-step reasoning questions are where most students lose ground. This post shows exactly how STEM Critical Thinking practice — not formula drilling — builds the analytical skills needed to hit the 527+ cutoff and earn a seat at one of NYC's most competitive STEM high schools.
St. Mary's Academy Denver accepts both the HSPT and the ISEE — but which test your daughter takes directly affects her scholarship eligibility. This guide compares both exams, explains the 90th-percentile Academic Excellence Award threshold, and lays out why the HSPT one-shot rule makes September prep non-negotiable for SMA applicants.