Are you considering applying to a private school in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, for high school? If so, you will likely be required to take one of the standardized school entrance tests such as the SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT as part of your application process, usually in December or January just prior to the school's application deadline.
Unsure of which test you need to take or what scores you need for admissions? We are here to help you navigate the high school admissions test process.
Everest provides eighth-grade students with SSAT prep, ISEE prep, or HSPT prep, as well as guidance on the high school entrance application process, with in-person or online tutoring available seven days a week.
Unsure of which test you need to take or what scores you need for admissions? We are here to help you navigate the high school admissions test process.
Everest provides eighth-grade students with SSAT prep, ISEE prep, or HSPT prep, as well as guidance on the high school entrance application process, with in-person or online tutoring available seven days a week.
Register for High School Entrance Practice Tests This Fall
Contact us to sign up for an upcoming HSPT practice test or ISEE practice test.
Testing is offered at our center by appointment on Saturdays and school holidays in the fall.
Testing is offered at our center by appointment on Saturdays and school holidays in the fall.
High School Entrance Test Options
The majority of private schools in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, use one of these tests in their admissions process:
These tests focus on verbal skills, reading comprehension, quantitative skills (pre-algebra to geometry), and in the case of the HSPT, grammar.
Because schools use the SSAT and ISEE exams to test students as far along as eleventh grade, their difficulty stretches past the abilities of an average eighth grader. This can be a challenge to most applicants but an opportunity for others.
- Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
- Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT)
- High School Placement Test (HSPT)
These tests focus on verbal skills, reading comprehension, quantitative skills (pre-algebra to geometry), and in the case of the HSPT, grammar.
Because schools use the SSAT and ISEE exams to test students as far along as eleventh grade, their difficulty stretches past the abilities of an average eighth grader. This can be a challenge to most applicants but an opportunity for others.
Our Process
Our process for high school admissions test prep begins by reviewing your target school(s) and identifying the potential test(s) available for the student to take. Each school has different requirements, with some only accepting scores from one test and others accepting both the SSAT or ISEE. If you are considering a Catholic high school, many schools of the Archdiocese of Washington require the HSPT, but some, including Georgetown Prep and Stone Ridge, only accept the SSAT.
Based on the options available, we administer diagnostic testing to establish a baseline score and identify areas for improvement. Students then receive an individual preparation plan and begin private, one-on-one prep with our experienced verbal and math tutors on a schedule customized to work within your busy life. We offer tutoring on afternoons, nights, and weekends and see students once or twice a week for 60 to 90-minute sessions, depending upon the student’s needs and goals.
Based on the options available, we administer diagnostic testing to establish a baseline score and identify areas for improvement. Students then receive an individual preparation plan and begin private, one-on-one prep with our experienced verbal and math tutors on a schedule customized to work within your busy life. We offer tutoring on afternoons, nights, and weekends and see students once or twice a week for 60 to 90-minute sessions, depending upon the student’s needs and goals.
Entrance Exam Preparation
Our prep for any high school entrance test focuses first on reinforcing the knowledge a student already has, filling in their gaps, and, as time allows, preparing them for content and skills they have not seen in middle school. We also review strategies for tackling each type of question on the test.
Our verbal preparation teaches students skills to understand the context of unfamiliar words, how to read for critical information, and strategies for answering verbal and reading comprehension questions.
For the quantitative sections, we review known concepts, teach any gaps for grade-level skills, and if possible, expand their abilities beyond this core set so they can demonstrate a higher level of math knowledge on the test.
Our verbal preparation teaches students skills to understand the context of unfamiliar words, how to read for critical information, and strategies for answering verbal and reading comprehension questions.
For the quantitative sections, we review known concepts, teach any gaps for grade-level skills, and if possible, expand their abilities beyond this core set so they can demonstrate a higher level of math knowledge on the test.
Timing
Most schools have application deadlines from December into mid-January. Our students prep September through December and take their entrance test in the Fall and Winter, up until the first week of January. All three tests are offered year-round if you wish to get it done during the summer before eighth grade. Whenever you decide to take it, plan on allowing six to eight weeks to prep for your exam for best results, and even more if you plan to take the test twice.
Key Decision Point
A student’s choice of high school is a key decision point on their college admissions journey. Finding the best fit for a student that will push them academically while providing them with enriching opportunities is critical for their success in high school. It is worth the investment of time to explore all the options that might be available to facilitate the right learning environment, including scholarships and merit-based assistance.
We have worked with local families since 2007 to prep students for entrance testing to the top secondary schools in the Washington, DC metro area. If you need help preparing for an entrance test or have questions about the local high school admissions process, give us a call today. The consultation is free, and we are here to help you complete the process successfully.
We have worked with local families since 2007 to prep students for entrance testing to the top secondary schools in the Washington, DC metro area. If you need help preparing for an entrance test or have questions about the local high school admissions process, give us a call today. The consultation is free, and we are here to help you complete the process successfully.