Grade 8 · Ages 13-14
HSPT Tutor for Catholic High School Entrance
Five subtests, one tutor: verbal, quantitative, reading, math and language practice for 8th graders.
Prefer to ask a question first? Chat on WhatsApp
How it works, in short
TaleemSquare HSPT tutoring is live, one-to-one preparation for the High School Placement Test that many Catholic high schools use for admission, placement and scholarships. In 45-minute online lessons, one tutor covers all five subtests: verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics and language, the full mix of math and English the test checks.
In the Archdiocese of Washington, for example, the HSPT has 298 questions and takes about 3 hours with breaks, and standard scores run from 200 to 800. Each school or diocese sets its own test date. Plans start at $85 a month after a free assessment.
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online
- Lesson length
- 45 minutes
- Level
- Ages 13-14
- Price
- From $85 a month
What changes after a term of lessons
Quick on the short subtests
Works through the timed verbal (16 minutes) and quantitative (30 minutes) subtests without stalling on one question.
Solid 8th-grade math
Handles the arithmetic, algebra, geometry and word problems in the 45-minute mathematics subtest accurately.
Careful with language
Reads sentences closely for grammar, usage and spelling errors in the 25-minute language subtest.
What we cover
Lessons follow your child's own school or homeschool curriculum. These are the areas we work on most at this level.
Verbal skills
Vocabulary, word relationships and verbal reasoning, practised in short timed bursts to match a 16-minute subtest.
Quantitative skills
Number patterns, comparisons and reasoning with numbers and shapes, where spotting the idea matters more than long calculation.
Reading
Comprehension of short passages and words in context, with a pacing plan for a 25-minute subtest.
Mathematics
Arithmetic, fractions, percents, algebra, geometry and word problems up to 8th-grade level, the content of the 45-minute math subtest.
Language
Grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling, reviewed through your child's own writing as well as practice questions.
Optional tests
Some schools add an optional science or Catholic religion test. Those scores are not part of the composite, and we can help with the science content.
Timed practice
Practice subtests on the real time limits, followed by a review of every missed question.
Signs your child could use help
- Applying to Catholic high schools for next fall
- Hoping for a scholarship or an honors placement
- Slow on timed number or verbal questions
- Math grades are fine but test scores lag
- Has never taken a long multiple-choice test
- The school's test date is coming up soon
One of these on its own is normal. Two or three together usually point to a specific gap, and finding it is what the free assessment is for.
Taught to your curriculum, wherever you live
The HSPT in US Catholic high schools
Many Catholic high schools give the HSPT to 8th graders, and some dioceses run one shared test day. In the Archdiocese of Washington the 2026 test is on Wednesday, December 2, and 12 Catholic high schools there consider the scores.
Families moving from the UK
The HSPT is a US test. Families moving from the UK to a US Catholic high school should ask the school for its test date and arrangements. For UK school entry, see our 11+ and Key Stage 3 maths pages.
Level: Year 9
Families moving from Canada
Canadian families applying to a US Catholic high school take the HSPT on the date that school or diocese sets. Lessons can follow Canadian time zones and Grade 8 content.
Level: Grade 8
Families moving from Australia
Families relocating from Australia to the US take the HSPT on the date the receiving school or diocese sets. Lessons can start before the move, comparing Year 8 maths with the US 8th-grade content the test expects.
Level: Year 8
Inside a 45-minute HSPT lesson
One 45-minute session. Tutors adjust the timings to your child.
6 min
Verbal drill
A short timed set of vocabulary and reasoning questions.
14 min
Math or quantitative focus
One skill taught, then practised at test pace.
12 min
Reading or language set
A passage or editing set from the week's target subtest.
9 min
Review
Every miss explained and the fix practised.
4 min
Next steps
Practice for the week and a WhatsApp note for you.
How we prepare 8th graders for the HSPT
Five subtests, one plan
The free assessment shows which subtest is weakest, and lessons rotate through all five with extra time where it is needed.
Speed with accuracy
The verbal subtest allows only 16 minutes, so short timed drills train quick, careful answers rather than rushing.
Real 8th-grade math
Math lessons rebuild any gaps in fractions, percents, algebra and geometry, which also pays off in 9th grade.
Progress you can see
A note after each lesson and a timed practice subtest every few weeks show what is improving and what is not yet.
Simple monthly plans
$85a month for 2 one-to-one math lessons a week
- Free 45-minute assessment first
- No contract, cancel any month
- No registration fee
- 4-class money-back promise
- Switch tutor at no cost
- WhatsApp update after every class
Starter
2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school
$85/mo
GrowthMost chosen
3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence
$119/mo
Intensive
4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement
$149/mo
Common worries, honest answers
“Our school's test date is only weeks away.”
Short preparation can still help. We use the free assessment to find the subtest costing the most, focus lessons there and add timed practice so the format feels familiar on the day.
“Will you guarantee a scholarship-level score?”
No. Each school decides admission, placement and scholarships, and no tutor can promise a score. We promise focused practice and honest feedback on where your child stands.
“My child is good at math. Why prepare?”
The quantitative subtest rewards quick pattern spotting more than school math does, and the time limits are tight. A few weeks of practice in that format helps even strong students.
Frequently asked questions
What is on the HSPT?
How is the HSPT scored?
What are the Closed and Open HSPT?
How much does an online HSPT tutor cost?
When is the HSPT given?
Do Catholic high schools look only at the HSPT?
Book a free 45-minute assessment
Your child meets a tutor for a real one-to-one session. You get an honest read on where they are and what would help, even if the answer is that they don't need tutoring right now.
- 1
We reply on WhatsApp
Usually within 10 minutes, to find a time that suits your family.
- 2
Your child meets the tutor
A relaxed 45-minute session to see their level and how they learn.
- 3
You decide
You get a recommendation and a plan. No card details, no pressure.