High School Placement Test (HSPT®)

High School Placement Test (HSPT®) - OVERVIEW

The High School Placement Test (HSPT®) was the first test battery designed specifically to deal with selection and/or placement of students entering high school from various elementary schools. Since 1955, the HSPT has provided measures in the major skill areas as well as cognitive skill criteria resulting in the most comprehensive placement test available. The entire battery is standardized at the same time with a population of entering high school students. This produces results that are directly comparable for all test areas and can be related to the level of the students as entering freshman.

Scholastic Testing Service offers the following HSPT products and services. (Select one of the above links to read more).

Closed HSPT - A secure version of the Closed HSPT is produced annually. The content of the test is based on select items, which have been piloted and studied to determine their effectiveness. Piloted items are later introduced into test forms to help ensure testing integrity. Specific procedures are followed to make certain that reliable comparisons can be made from year to year and form to form.
Open HSPT - Available for school purchase and local scoring for fast results. (see Testing Options).
Pre-HSPT - To prepare seventh graders for the HSPT, STS offers this seventh grade edition of the Closed HSPT. Schools will find it to be perfect for use as a practice test. The Pre-HSPT is scored with seventh grade norms with all of the same scoring and reporting services as the Closed HSPT.

Request the HSPT Preview Sample (high schools only).

Attention families: the HSPT Parent’s Page provided to help you gather information about the High School Placement Test, the score reports and the answers to frequently asked questions.

The Closed HSPT

The Closed High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a secure test, with a new edition produced annually. The Closed HSPT is only offerred to high schools as part of a lease/score program.

The content of the test is based on select items, which have been piloted and studied to determine their effectiveness. Piloted items are later introduced into test forms to help ensure testing integrity. Our dependable processing service means that you will always see consistent, reliable test results every year. A “long form” answer sheet to record student address information is available for an additional cost. With it’s use, schools can receive student address lists, address labels and notification forms.

The Closed HSPT provides normative measures in the following cognitive and basic skills areas: verbal and cognitive skills as well as reading, mathematics, and language. Optional tests in science (25 minutes) and Catholic religion (20 minutes) are available at no additional cost. The scores from the optional test are not included in the computation of the Battery Composite score.

Cognitive skills quotients (CSQs), standard scores, national and local percentiles, as well as grade equivalents are standard features of Closed HSPT reports. The Rasch Item-Response Theory one-parameter model was used to develop the standard score scale and enables reliable year-to-year comparisons to be made.

Testing materials and Standard Scoring Service are included in the lease/score price (per student scored). STS ships a kit with your order to easily facilitate the return of testing materials when testing is complete.

Click on the Reports/Scoring tab to read about standard scoring and reporting and additional reports.

HSPT Testing Options

Open HSPT - This format allows high schools to purchase their testing materials and score locally. The Open HSPT provides national normative measures in the following cognitive and basic skills areas: verbal and quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language. It is available in large print. Schools can also purchase an optional science test.

Cognitive skills quotients (CSQs), standard scores, national and local percentiles, as well as grade equivalents are standard features of Open HSPT reports. The Rasch Item-Response Theory one-parameter model is used to develop the standard score scale and enables reliable year-to-year comparisons to be made.

Pre-HSPT - The Pre-HSPT is a seventh grade edition of the HSPT available only to high schools as part of a lease/score program. As part of this program, high schools can lease Pre-HSPT materials and receive the Pre-HSPT Standard Scoring Service at no additional cost. A return kit is also provided to easily facilitate the return of testing materials when testing is complete. Additional services include: Performance Profiles, Student Score Report, Individual and Group Item Analysis Reports, and standard reports for alternate groups. A long form answer sheet containing student address information may be ordered at an additional cost so schools can receive student address lists, address labels and notification forms.

Large print, Braille and audio versions - These specialized materials are available upon request. Contact us for additional details product descriptions and ordering information.

Reports and Scoring
Samples of all HSPT reports can be viewed and downloaded here.

Closed HSPT/Pre-HSPT Standard Scoring Service and Sample Reports

HSPT® Interpretive Manual (download) The Interpretive manual is a guide to understanding HSPT scores and drawing conclusions about student performance.

Rank-Order List Reports arrange students from high to low based on their composite scores (two copies).

Student Score Labels are adhesive labels that show each student’s cognitive skills quotient (CSQ), standard scores, national and local percentiles, as well as grade equivalents for basic skills subtests—reading, mathematics, and language (one per student).

Group Summary Statistical Reports summarize overall group performance on all subtests and overall group performance on each subtest (two copies).

Alphabetical List Reports organize students in alphabetical order and provide cognitive skills quotients (CSQs), standard scores, national and local percentiles, as well as their grade equivalents for the basic skills subtests—reading, mathematics, and language (two copies).

National Percentile Group Summary Results A feature of Closed HSPT® Standard Scoring Service, it allows schools to look at three different subpopulations of their testing groups and compare their performance to the national averages of up to nine different scores. A horizontal line indicates where the performance of a testing group would match the national average (one copy).

Closed HSPT/Pre-HSPT Additional Reports

Performance Profiles are individual diagnostic profiles. They are generated for each student and report his or her scores, identify corresponding national and local norms, and give information about performance on skills within each subtest (two copies). (See below). The Performance Profile Group Summary is included at no additional cost.

Student Score Reports is a one-page report provided for an individual student and his/her parents or guardian. This report provides a graphic representation of the student’s “National Percentile Rank” for each subskill taken, total basic skills, and composite. In addition, the report provides a detailed explanation for “What the Test Measures” and “What the Score for Each Test Means.” (one copy).

Individual Item Analysis Reports show item responses for each student listed alphabetically. Items are grouped by objective and responses are designated by a “+” sign or the letter of the incorrect response. Individual Item Analysis Reports are available only for basic skills subtests (two copies).

Group Item Analysis Reports provide local and national p-values for each item grouped by objective. These reports show the group’s mastery percentage for each objective. Group Item Analysis Reports are available only for basic skills subtests—reading, mathematics, and language (two copies).

Two Group Summary This one-page report allows you to look at two different populations of your testing group and compare the median performance of one group to the other. The school must identify the two populations/groups to compare.

Alternate Score Rank-Order List present results from high to low based on students’ subtest scores rather than on their composite scores (two copies).

Student Address Services are notification forms for mailing scores to students’ homes, address lists, and/or pressure-sensitive address labels. Schools must record student information on a special four-page answer sheet in order to receive one or more of these services-.

Alternate Group Reports Alphabetical and Rank-Order List Reports for alternate groups identified on student answer sheets. They provide the same information as standard Alphabetical and Rank-Order List Reports (two copies).

Alternate Group Summary Statistical Reports provide standard group summary information for alternate groups identified on student answer sheets (two copies).

Parent’s Page

The HSPT Parent’s Page is provided to help families gather information about the High School Placement Test, reporting and and to answer frequently asked questions.

Electronic Services

HSPT E-Score - An online answer sheet can be the solution for make-up or late admissions testing. Students can test in small groups or on an individual basis. Score reports are generated that same day.

Student Data Reports - Electronic reporting available in PDF or CSV format. Results can be emailed, shipped on CD-ROM or posted on the STS Report Center.

Online Registration - This system allows schools to manage applicants in real time and ends the need to compile records by hand. Students can sign up to take the HSPT at your school and easily pay their testing fees online. As a result, schools and parents receive immediate registration confirmation. All online registrants receive a registration number to code on their answer sheet on test day. The HSPT Online Registration also allows for a special mailing service of the Student Score Report directly to families.

STS Report Center - Schools can look to the STS Report Center to access their Closed or Pre-HSPT Test reports. Online access saves time and cuts shipping costs. Your data will be retained on the Report Center for the entire academic year. All reports can be downloaded in CSV or PDF formats (excludes pressure sensitive labels).