Florida School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 6 in-depth prep guides covering 6 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Florida, including Academy of the Holy Names (High School), Berkeley Preparatory School (Upper Division), Jesuit High School, Pine View School for the Gifted, Tampa Catholic High School and Tampa Preparatory School — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

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

Academy of the Holy Names (High School)

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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How to Prepare for the OLSAT for Private High School Admissions (Berkeley Prep & Tampa Schools)

Berkeley Preparatory School (Upper Division)

June 11, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the OLSAT for Private High School Admissions (Berkeley Prep & Tampa Schools)

Most Berkeley Prep families spend months on SSAT prep — and completely overlook the on-campus OLSAT reasoning test and timed writing sample that admissions reviews directly. This post gives 8th graders a complete, Berkeley-specific prep strategy for all three assessments, including OLSAT Level G skill-building that almost no test prep resource covers for private high school applicants.

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Jesuit Tampa Supplemental Writing Portion: How to Prepare for the 4 Brief Essays (2026)

Jesuit High School

June 27, 2026 9 min read

Jesuit Tampa Supplemental Writing Portion: How to Prepare for the 4 Brief Essays (2026)

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.

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Pine View School for the Gifted

July 11, 2026 11 min read

Pine View School for the Gifted Admissions: The Complete 2026 Step-by-Step Guide for Sarasota Parents

Pine View School for the Gifted admissions is a five-part evaluation process — not a single test — with an IQ cutoff of 130, a 127+ academic achievement target, and a January screening deadline. This guide maps every component, deadline, and score target so Sarasota families can plan from first counselor conversation through Day 1 at Pine View.

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What Is the HSPT STEM Critical Thinking Section? A Complete Prep Guide for 8th Graders Applying to Tampa Catholic (2026)

Tampa Catholic High School

July 25, 2026 9 min read

What Is the HSPT STEM Critical Thinking Section? A Complete Prep Guide for 8th Graders Applying to Tampa Catholic (2026)

The HSPT STEM Critical Thinking section is the most overlooked part of Tampa Catholic High School's admissions test — and it directly affects honors course placement. This guide explains exactly what the section tests, what scores matter, and how 8th graders in the Tampa Bay area can prepare before the one-shot November test date.

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Tampa Preparatory School

July 26, 2026 9 min read

Tampa Preparatory School SSAT Score Guide: What You Need to Know in 2026

Getting into Tampa Preparatory School starts with knowing the SSAT — which level your child takes, what scores are competitive, and how the admissions timeline runs from October to February 1. This guide covers school code 7612, the SSAT writing sample, and how to prepare for Tampa Prep's holistic review in 2026.

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