California School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 44 in-depth prep guides covering 26 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in California, including Archbishop Mitty High School, Archbishop Riordan High School, BASIS Independent Fremont, BASIS Independent School, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Bellarmine HSPT, Bishop O'Dowd High School, and 18 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

HSPT Quantitative Reasoning & Verbal Skills: The STEM Thinking Edge for Bay Area Catholic High School Applicants

Saint Francis High School

July 15, 2026 9 min read

HSPT Quantitative Reasoning & Verbal Skills: The STEM Thinking Edge for Bay Area Catholic High School Applicants

Getting into Saint Francis High School in Mountain View means tackling the HSPT — 298 questions in 150 minutes — plus three separate Ravenna essays. This post shows Bay Area 8th graders how STEM critical thinking is the fastest lever for improving HSPT quantitative reasoning and verbal scores, and what the full Diocese of San Jose admissions timeline looks like.

HSPT quantitative reasoning prep HSPT verbal skills analogies practice

The SI Post-HSPT Writing Prompt: What It Is, How It's Scored, and How to Practice (2026 Guide)

St. Ignatius College Preparatory

July 21, 2026 9 min read

The SI Post-HSPT Writing Prompt: What It Is, How It's Scored, and How to Practice (2026 Guide)

St. Ignatius College Preparatory is one of the only Bay Area Catholic high schools that requires a same-day timed essay immediately after the HSPT. This guide explains exactly what the SI Post-HSPT writing prompt is, how admissions staff evaluate it, and how to build a realistic 8–10 week practice plan before December 6, 2025.

SI HSPT writing prompt St. Ignatius Post-HSPT writing prompt

HSPT Quantitative Skills Practice: What East Bay Catholic School Applicants Need to Know

St. Joseph Notre Dame High School

September 05, 2026 8 min read

HSPT Quantitative Skills Practice: What East Bay Catholic School Applicants Need to Know

Your 8th grader gets exactly one shot at the HSPT — and the Quantitative Skills section is where most East Bay Catholic school applicants lose the most ground. This post breaks down what the section tests, how Diocese of Oakland scoring works at SJND, and why STEM critical thinking practice is the most efficient way to prepare before January test day.

HSPT quantitative skills practice HSPT quantitative reasoning East Bay

St. Joseph Notre Dame High School

July 22, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the HSPT at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School (2026 Guide)

The St. Joseph Notre Dame High School HSPT is a one-shot test administered every January by the Diocese of Oakland — and your child's score affects admission, course placement, and scholarship eligibility all at once. This guide covers what SJND actually reviews, which sections matter most, and how to build the quantitative reasoning skills that move 8th graders from average to honors placement.

St. Joseph Notre Dame High School HSPT SJND HSPT prep

The Bishop's School

September 07, 2026 9 min read

ISEE vs. SSAT for The Bishop's School (2027 Admissions): Which Test Should Your Child Take?

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.

ISEE vs SSAT Bishop's School Bishop's School San Diego test prep

The Bishop's School

July 26, 2026 9 min read

How to Ace the Bishop's School Proctored Writing Sample: Tips, Prompts & Practice (2026–27)

The Bishop's School proctored writing sample travels directly to the admissions committee alongside your ISEE scores — yet almost no prep resource tells you how to prepare for it. This post explains exactly what the essay is, how it's evaluated, and how to practice for it before your November or January test date.

Bishop's School admissions ISEE writing sample

Science Academy STEM Magnet vs. Other LAUSD Magnet Schools: Which Is Right for Your Child? (2026)

The Science Academy STEM Magnet

September 09, 2026 10 min read

Science Academy STEM Magnet vs. Other LAUSD Magnet Schools: Which Is Right for Your Child? (2026)

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.

Science Academy STEM Magnet admissions LAUSD STEM magnet school comparison

The Science Academy STEM Magnet

July 30, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the Science Academy STEM Magnet Admissions Test (2026–2027 Guide)

The Science Academy STEM Magnet requires every applicant to pass the Science-Specific Verification Eligibility Assessment before entering the LAUSD lottery — regardless of GPA or gifted status. This guide explains exactly what the SVEA tests by grade level, how the full admissions sequence works, and how STEM Critical Thinking practice tests can give your child a real preparation edge.

Science Academy STEM Magnet admissions test Science-Specific Verification Eligibility Assessment