Why the HSPT Prep Course? 

Because students want to walk into their exam feeling prepared & confident! 

Excitement. Anticipation. Nerves. Fear. Test anxiety is real, and your student might be feeling it if they're getting ready to study for the Catholic High Schools Entrance Exam, HSPT for short.

For 15 years, I have helped 8th graders make a mole hill out of the HSPT mountain so that can feel the relief and self-assurance that comes with being thoroughly prepared on exam day.

I created this course because a student’s familiarity and time spent with the exam holds the key to their success. Trust me when I say: Slow and steady is going to win this race. 

Together, we will: 

  • Thoroughly cover the entire exam and all of its contents and pitfalls so there are no surprises  
  • Take the questions one by one & discuss how to answer each correctly


Ideal for All Students
Not taking the test but want to supplement learning? The HSPT material serves as a comprehensive review of the math and language concepts students should know as they exit middle school. From algebra and geometry readiness to reading comprehension, grammar, and essay writing, we'll cover it all in this course!

Students Will Learn How To:

  • Methodically approach a large, long-term project and break it up into small, achievable chunks

  • Master essential math and language concepts which will serve them both in school and on test day

  • Become familiar with all 5 exam sections to answer each type of question confidently & accurately

  • Employ test taking strategies that increase accuracy and save time & energy while maintaining focus and composure

  • Write well-organized essays that highlight their character & values by answering actual test day essay prompts collected from former students

  • Arrive on exam day feeling prepared and confident

Meeting Info 

This course will meet once a week over 13 weeks on Monday nights from 7:30-8:30PM Pacific Time from Sept. 9th through Dec. 2nd, 2024. 

  • Class dates: 
    Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
    Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28
    Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25
    Dec. 2


Weekly meetings take place live online via Zoom and are facilitated by me, Penny Kostaras, Wise Student Founder & CEO and Academic Success & Life Skills Coach. 

Testimonials

JOYFUL LEARNING

“Penny is an outstanding teacher! Three of my children have worked with Penny for test preparation, and all of them looked forward to seeing her each week. She has an encouraging teaching approach that helps kids build confidence and truly enjoy learning.  One of my kids even said, ‘School would be so much better if Penny was my teacher all of the time.’”

— Jen N., Hillsborough, CA 


SKILLS THAT LAST

"At first I was nervous about the test because I didn't know what to expect. I learned so much working with Penny. She's really positive and every trick she shared stuck with me and I was able to use so many of them on the test. What we went over also helped me at school. I always felt like I was ahead of the class, which was great." 

— Jacob C., San Mateo, CA

Purchase Options

Your student is ready to rock this test! You can make a one-time payment with credit card, PayPal, or Apple pay. Additionally, when you click on the "Let's Do This!" button, you will also be able to choose a payment plan through Afterpay, Affirm, or Klarna! 

FAQ

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is for 8th graders who are applying to Catholic High Schools that accept the High School Placement Test (HSPT). 7th graders who want to get ahead of the testing process are also are welcome to join. In addition, I invite students to join us if they are a 7th or 8th grader who would like to strengthen their math, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. This exam offers a fantastic opportunity for students to hone their study skills and solidify the major concepts of middle school to prepare them for high school.

  • How do I enroll my student?

    Once you select a purchase option, you'll be prompted to create a new account with the student's first name, last name, email, and password. Please make sure to enter the student's first & last name and email in these main fields so that the proper name appears on the course site. There are also optional fields where you can add a parent or guardian's name and email address to receive emails from me.

  • How do meetings work with Zoom?

    Weekly meetings take place via Zoom every Monday night. You'll need to download the Zoom driver to your computer first to connect to the meeting via a link that you can access once you sign up. Download the program a few days before the first meeting to make sure it works. Once the meeting starts, I conduct it like a classroom. We go through each question one by one and I have a whiteboard that I write on which students can see on their screens while also being able to view me as I speak.

  • Will students be able to ask questions?

    Yes! All students will be able to ask questions and we will go at a pace that suits all learners. To streamline time, I will go through how to answer each question one by one so that we cover all our bases. Remember, slow and steady wins this race. If it seems like we went over an answer too quickly, students can always go back to the recording and re-watch and pause the video.

  • What about privacy?

    Students have the option of participating with their cameras on or they can choose to keep them off and still have voice capability and use of chat features. When a student speaks with their camera off, only their voice can be heard when they talk. If a student prefers, they can go by an alias that only I know and I will call them by that name.

  • What if my student has to miss a meeting?

    If students have to miss a meeting, a video recording will be available within 24 hours after the live session. Recordings will be saved and filed by date within the course.

  • Does this course include a proctored exam?

    Yes, I have created a video of a full exam, proctored by me, so students can take an entire test at their convenience. There is a proctored video for students who will take the test for the standard time allotment and for those who qualify for extended time.