Skip to main content

Maryland School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 28 in-depth prep guides covering 14 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Maryland, including Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic High Schools (HSPT Cohort), Baltimore City College High School, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Eastern Technical High School (Magnet Programs), G.W. Carver Center for Arts and Technology — Information Technology / Interactive Media Production (IT-AI/IMP) Magnet, Montgomery Blair Magnet, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Poolesville High School — Science, Math, and Computer Science (SMCS) House Magnet Program, and 6 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

HSPT Quantitative Skills: The STEM Critical Thinking Section Baltimore Catholic Schools Actually Care About
Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic High Schools (HSPT Cohort)
August 13, 2026 9 min read

HSPT Quantitative Skills: The STEM Critical Thinking Section Baltimore Catholic Schools Actually Care About

The HSPT Quantitative Skills section is Baltimore's most overlooked STEM critical thinking test — 52 questions, 30 minutes, no calculator, and one shot to get it right. This post explains what's on it, why schools like Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield care about it, and how to build a prep plan before November test day.

Read More →
HSPT Quantitative Skills practice HSPT STEM critical thinking
The Baltimore Parent's Complete HSPT Prep Guide (2026–2027 Test Dates & Deadlines)
Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic High Schools (HSPT Cohort)
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.

Read More →
Archdiocese of Baltimore HSPT prep Baltimore Catholic high school HSPT test prep
MCAP ELA and Math Practice Tests for 8th Graders Applying to Baltimore City College (2025-2026 Guide)
Baltimore City College High School
August 03, 2026 9 min read

MCAP ELA and Math Practice Tests for 8th Graders Applying to Baltimore City College (2025-2026 Guide)

Baltimore City College uses your child's spring MCAP ELA and Math percentile scores — alongside GPA — to calculate the composite that determines admission. With nearly 2,900 applicants competing for 425 seats and an average admitted composite around 721, every MCAP percentile point matters. This guide explains exactly how the BCC composite works and how targeted MCAP practice test prep can raise your child's score before the April-May exam.

Read More →
MCAP practice test 8th grade MCAP ELA prep Baltimore
How to Get Into Baltimore City College High School in 2026: MCAP Scores, BCC Composite Score Formula, and What It Really Takes
Baltimore City College High School
June 02, 2026 9 min read

How to Get Into Baltimore City College High School in 2026: MCAP Scores, BCC Composite Score Formula, and What It Really Takes

Baltimore City College High School admits roughly 425 students from nearly 3,000 applicants each year. This post breaks down the BCPS composite score formula — including how MCAP ELA and Math percentiles feed into your child's total — and tells you what score range is actually competitive, not just the 610 minimum floor.

Read More →
Baltimore City College High School admissions BCC composite score
MCAP Practice Test 8th Grade Baltimore: Boost Your Poly Composite Score
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
August 04, 2026 9 min read

MCAP Practice Test 8th Grade Baltimore: Boost Your Poly Composite Score

Your child's spring MCAP scores directly determine their BCPSS Composite Score for Baltimore Polytechnic Institute admissions — and most families don't find that out until it's too late. This post shows exactly how the composite formula works, what MCAP percentile your child needs to be competitive, and what STEM critical thinking practice can do to move the needle before the January deadline.

Read More →
MCAP practice test 8th grade Baltimore MCAP ELA math prep for Poly admissions
How to Get Into Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly): BCPSS Composite Score Guide 2026
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
June 04, 2026 9 min read

How to Get Into Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly): BCPSS Composite Score Guide 2026

Getting into Baltimore Polytechnic Institute means mastering the BCPSS Composite Score — a formula most parents have never seen explained. This guide breaks down every component of the composite, shows the MCAP score ranges competitive Poly applicants actually hit, and tells you exactly what your child can do starting in 7th grade to build a winning application.

Read More →
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute admissions requirements BCPSS composite score Poly
Eastern Technical High School Admissions: Complete Parent Guide for Baltimore County Families (2026-2027)
Eastern Technical High School (Magnet Programs)
August 17, 2026 9 min read

Eastern Technical High School Admissions: Complete Parent Guide for Baltimore County Families (2026-2027)

Eastern Technical High School admissions are more competitive than most Baltimore County families expect — and the 30-question Critical Thinking section catches many 8th graders off guard. This guide covers the full BCPS magnet assessment format, how the total evaluation score is calculated, and what your child should be doing right now to prepare.

Read More →
Eastern Technical High School admissions Eastern Tech magnet program requirements
Eastern Tech Magnet Assessment 2027: How to Prepare for All 3 Sections (ELA, Math & Critical Thinking)
Eastern Technical High School (Magnet Programs)
June 20, 2026 9 min read

Eastern Tech Magnet Assessment 2027: How to Prepare for All 3 Sections (ELA, Math & Critical Thinking)

The Eastern Tech magnet assessment includes 70 multiple-choice questions — and the biggest section is 30 questions of pure Critical Thinking. This guide breaks down every section, explains the lottery scoring system, and gives Baltimore families a concrete prep plan for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.

Read More →
Eastern Tech magnet assessment BCPS magnet assessment how to prepare
How to Prepare for the Carver Center IT/IMP Admissions Assessment (2026-2027 Guide)
G.W. Carver Center for Arts and Technology — Information Technology / Interactive Media Production (IT-AI/IMP) Magnet
June 23, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the Carver Center IT/IMP Admissions Assessment (2026-2027 Guide)

The Carver Center IT/IMP admissions assessment has more moving parts than most Baltimore County families expect — a pre-made brochure, an on-site math test, a practical drawing, and a 70-question centralized test with a 30-question Critical Thinking section. This guide covers every component with a concrete prep plan for the January 2026 dates.

Read More →
Carver Center IT IMP admissions assessment G.W. Carver Center InfoTech Interactive Media Production test prep
MAP-M Test Prep for Montgomery Blair Magnet: 10 Critical Thinking Strategies 8th Graders Need
Montgomery Blair Magnet
September 17, 2026 9 min read

MAP-M Test Prep for Montgomery Blair Magnet: 10 Critical Thinking Strategies 8th Graders Need

MAP-M test prep for Blair Magnet looks nothing like studying for a regular school math test. This guide covers 10 critical thinking strategies built specifically for the Blair Magnet math preparation your 8th grader needs — from adaptive test mechanics to essay writing tips, with a complete application timeline.

Read More →
MAP-M test prep Blair Magnet math preparation
Blair Magnet vs Poolesville vs Richard Montgomery IB: Which Montgomery County Program Is Right for Your Child?
Montgomery Blair Magnet
September 13, 2026 10 min read

Blair Magnet vs Poolesville vs Richard Montgomery IB: Which Montgomery County Program Is Right for Your Child?

Choosing between Blair Magnet, Poolesville, and Richard Montgomery IB is one of the hardest decisions MCPS families face. This post compares all three programs side by side — curriculum, admissions tests, acceptance rates, and MAP-M prep strategy — so your child applies with a plan, not a guess.

Read More →
Blair Magnet vs Poolesville Montgomery County magnet programs