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How to Prepare for the HSPT for Bishop O'Dowd High School (2027 Admissions Guide)
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 08, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the HSPT for Bishop O'Dowd High School (2027 Admissions Guide)

Bishop O'Dowd's HSPT is a single-sitting, no-retake exam administered through the Oakland Diocese — and your 8th grader gets exactly one chance per admissions cycle. This guide covers score targets, Oakland Diocese test logistics, the Presidential Scholarship threshold, and how STEM Critical Thinking practice tests prepare students for the quantitative reasoning sections that matter most at O'Dowd.

Cathedral High School Boston HSPT Score: Admission, Scholarships & Prep (2026)
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 08, 2026 8 min read

Cathedral High School Boston HSPT Score: Admission, Scholarships & Prep (2026)

If your child is applying to Cathedral High School in Boston, the HSPT is the one test they take once — no retakes allowed. This post breaks down exactly what HSPT scores Cathedral looks for, how percentile rankings affect scholarship awards, and how to prepare your 8th grader before the fall testing window opens.

HSPT Quantitative Skills Prep: The Hidden STEM Critical Thinking Test Inside Carondelet's Admissions Exam
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 07, 2026 9 min read

HSPT Quantitative Skills Prep: The Hidden STEM Critical Thinking Test Inside Carondelet's Admissions Exam

The HSPT Quantitative Skills section is the most logic-intensive part of Carondelet High School's required admissions exam — and most prep resources miss it entirely. This post covers exactly what the section tests, why calculators are banned, and how targeted STEM critical thinking practice before January 2026 gives East Bay girls a concrete edge.

How to Get Into CAMS: The Complete 2026 Admissions Guide for 8th Graders
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 07, 2026 10 min read

How to Get Into CAMS: The Complete 2026 Admissions Guide for 8th Graders

Getting into the California Academy of Mathematics and Science means clearing four separate admissions hurdles — SBAC scores, transcripts, a Saturday student interview, and a parent interview. This guide walks you through every requirement, exact benchmarks, and preparation steps for the 2026 application cycle.

Brother Rice High School HSPT Prep Guide 2026: What 8th Graders in Detroit Need to Know
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 06, 2026 9 min read

Brother Rice High School HSPT Prep Guide 2026: What 8th Graders in Detroit Need to Know

Brother Rice High School requires every applicant to take the HSPT — and the Archdiocese of Detroit allows only one attempt, ever. This guide covers what's on the test, how scores determine APEX vs. PREP placement, and when Detroit 8th graders need to start preparing to compete.

HSPT Quantitative Skills Practice for Brophy Prep: STEM Reasoning Strategies That Actually Work
Essay Writing & STEM Critical Thinking
June 06, 2026 9 min read

HSPT Quantitative Skills Practice for Brophy Prep: STEM Reasoning Strategies That Actually Work

The HSPT Quantitative Skills section is the most under-prepared part of Brophy College Preparatory's entrance exam — and it makes up nearly 40% of the test alongside Mathematics. This guide gives Phoenix-area 8th graders and their parents a STEM critical thinking approach to number series, abstract reasoning, and timed writing strategies that most prep books never cover.