Texas School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 19 in-depth prep guides covering 14 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Texas, including Cistercian Preparatory School, Energy Institute High School, Episcopal High School Houston, GCISD ASPIRE Academy for the Highly Gifted, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center (TAG), School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center (SEM), St. Agnes Academy, and 6 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

ISEE Upper Level Practice Test Prep for St. Pius X Houston: What 8th Graders Need to Know (2026)

St. Pius X High School

September 06, 2026 9 min read

ISEE Upper Level Practice Test Prep for St. Pius X Houston: What 8th Graders Need to Know (2026)

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.

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St. Pius X High School

July 23, 2026 10 min read

How to Get Into St. Pius X High School Houston (2026–2027 Complete Guide)

St. Pius X High School admissions requires the ISEE Upper Level, two written components, and a January 15 application deadline. This guide covers every requirement for the 2026–2027 cycle — from target stanine scores to the portal essay prompt — so your 8th grader walks in prepared.

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St. Thomas High School

July 24, 2026 8 min read

ISEE Upper Level Essay Tips for St. Thomas High School Houston: The Section Everyone Ignores (But Admissions Reads Carefully)

Most ISEE prep guides call the essay unscored and move on — but St. Thomas High School's Admissions Committee reads every word of it. This post explains what St. Thomas really looks for in the ISEE Upper Level essay, how stanine scores affect merit scholarships, and how to prepare your son for one of Houston's most competitive Catholic all-boys admissions processes.

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ISEE Upper Level Essay Section: What Private Schools Like Strake Jesuit Actually Want to See (2026)

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

July 25, 2026 8 min read

ISEE Upper Level Essay Section: What Private Schools Like Strake Jesuit Actually Want to See (2026)

The ISEE essay is unscored — but Strake Jesuit admissions readers see every word your son writes. This post explains what Houston private school admissions teams actually look for in the 30-minute writing sample, how Jesuit values shape that review, and how timed essay practice can turn those unscored minutes into your strongest admissions asset.

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Kinkaid School Admissions Essay & Student Short Answers: What to Write and How to Stand Out

The Kinkaid School

July 29, 2026 8 min read

Kinkaid School Admissions Essay & Student Short Answers: What to Write and How to Stand Out

If your child is applying to The Kinkaid School, the written parts of the application — student short answers and the ISEE essay — carry more weight than most families realize. This guide gives you concrete writing strategies, ISEE score targets, and a practice framework tied directly to Kinkaid's admissions process for 6th and 9th grade entry.

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How to Prepare for the Travis TAG On-Site Test in 2026: NNAT3 + ECR Essay Guide

William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted

September 10, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the Travis TAG On-Site Test in 2026: NNAT3 + ECR Essay Guide

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.

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Travis TAG ECR Essay Tips: How to Write a Top-Scoring Argumentative Essay for William B. Travis Vanguard Admissions (2026)

William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted

August 02, 2026 9 min read

Travis TAG ECR Essay Tips: How to Write a Top-Scoring Argumentative Essay for William B. Travis Vanguard Admissions (2026)

The Travis TAG on-site assessment includes a scored argumentative essay — and most families are still prepping for the wrong format. This post breaks down the ECR essay structure, the 60/40 scoring rubric, and a repeatable writing framework for 3rd–5th graders applying to William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted in Dallas ISD.

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