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EXCERPT
About Research & Education Association
Research & Education Association (REA) is an organization of educators, scientists, and engineers specializing in various academic fields. Founded in 1959 with the purpose of disseminating the most recently developed scientific information to groups in industry, government, high schools, and universities, REA has since become a successful and highly respected publisher of study aids, test preps, handbooks, and reference works.
REA's Test Preparation series includes study guides for all academic levels in almost all disciplines. Research & Education Association publishes test preps for students who have not yet completed high school, as well as high school students preparing to enter college. Students from countries around the world seeking to attend college in the United States will find the assistance they need in REA's publications. For college students seeking advanced degrees, REA publishes test preps for many major graduate school admission examinations in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, law, and medicine. Students at every level, in every field, with every ambition can find what they are looking for among REA's publications.
While most test preparation books present practice tests that bear little resemblance to the actual exams, REA's series presents tests that accurately depict the official exams in both degree of difficulty and types of questions. REA's practice tests are always based upon the most recently administered exams, and include every type of question that can be expected on the actual exams.
REA's publications and educational materials are highly regarded and continually receive an unprecedented amount of praise from professionals, instructors, librarians, parents, and students. Our authors are as diverse as the fields represented in the books we publish. They are well-known in their respective disciplines and serve on the faculties of prestigious high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada.
Chapter 1: ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book will provide you with an accurate and complete representation of the Scholastic Testing Service's High School Placement Test (HSPT) and CTB/McGraw-Hill's Cooperative Admissions Examination (COOP). Inside you will find reviews which are designed to provide you with the information and strategies needed to do well on these tests. Two practice tests, based on the official HSPT and COOP exams, are provided as well. The practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on test day. Following each of our practice tests, you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you master the test material.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
To thoroughly prepare for the actual tests, it's best to first read over the subject reviews and suggestions for test-taking. Studying the reviews will reinforce the basic skills you need to do well on the test. Be sure to take the practice tests to become familiar with the format and procedures involved with taking the actual COOP or HSPT examinations.
To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule located in the front of this book. Brushing up on areas you did well on wouldn't hurt either.
When Should I Start Studying?
It is never too early to start studying for these exams. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material. The sooner you learn the format of the exam you are taking, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with its content.
THE REVIEW SECTIONS
The reviews in this book are designed to help you sharpen the basic skills needed to approach the HSPT and the COOP, as well as to provide strategies for attacking each type of question. You will also find drills to reinforce what you have learned. By using the reviews in conjunction with the practice tests, you will better prepare yourself for the actual exams themselves.
TIPS FOR TAKING THE HSPT AND COOP
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED - Fear will ruin your chances of doing the best that you can on the test. Studying this book will help you to approach the HSPT or COOP with confidence and poise.
GET TO KNOW THE TEST FORMAT - Our practice tests have been specially designed to reflect the way the actual HSPT and COOP will look. Take some time to get familiar with the different tests that you will be taking. There shouldn't be any surprises for you on test day.
USE THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION - This is possibly the easiest and quickest way to increase your score. Eliminating answer choices will lead you to the right answer almost every time. Neither CTB McGraw-Hill or STS will deduct points for incorrect answers. This means that even if you can't seem to get an answer, just pick one letter. If you blindly guess, you'll get 1 answer in 5 right. If you can eliminate just 1 answer choice, you'll get 1 answer in 4 right. Either way, you'll raise your score because you don't lose points for leaving an answer blank.
PAY ATTENTION - Be sure that the answer oval that you are marking corresponds to the question number in the test booklet. Otherwise, you run the risk of filling in all of the wrong ovals.
ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT)
Who Takes the Test and What Is It Used For?
The HSPT examination is taken by junior high students who plan on applying for admittance to private or parochial high schools. This examination is used to evaluate a student's knowledge and determine if the student has adequate knowledge and understanding in specified subject areas.
Who Administers the Test?
The HSPT is developed and administered by Scholastic Testing Service and is updated each year to ensure test security. The test development process is designed and implemented to also ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When Is the HSPT Taken?
Students are required to take the HSPT in the fall of 8th Grade so that they will have another opportunity to take it if they do not pass. Taking our practice tests will familiarize you with the types of questions on and the format of the HSPT exam to eliminate the anxiety of only being able to become familiar with the test as you take it.
When and Where Is the Test Given?
The HSPT is administered in the Fall and once more in the Spring, but you should check with the school you are applying to for the exact date. Also, since the test is used in different ways (again, specific to the school), you will need to take the exam at the school to which you are applying (contact the admissions office of the school for more details).
To receive information on the exam or upcoming administrations of the HSPT, contact:
Scholastic Testing Service
480 Meyer Road
Bensenville, IL 60106-1617
Phone: (800) 642-6STS
Website: www.ststesting.com
Is There a Registration Fee?
Not exactly. Schools do not actually purchase the HSPT exams; rather, they "rent" them. To ensure test security, all materials provided to a school are returned to STS when the exams are completed. Therefore, your registration costs will most likely be added to the school's admission fees. Since each school is different, you should contact the school(s) in which you are interested to find the exact cost.
FORMAT OF THE HSPT
Section / Questions / Time Length
Verbal / 60 questions / 16 minutes
Quantitative / 52 questions / 30 minutes
Reading / 62 questions / 25 minutes
Mathematics / 64 questions / 45 minutes
Language / 60 questions / 25 minutes
OPTIONAL HSPT SECTIONS
Science / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Mechanical Aptitude / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Catholic Religion / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Here is a quick breakdown of the test sections on the HSPT and their subjects:
Verbal Skills - This section tests synonyms, logic, verbal classification, antonyms, and analogies.
Quantitative Skills - This section tests geometric comparisons, non-geometric comparisons, number series, and number manipulations.
Reading Skills - This section tests the ability to recall information from reading material, vocabulary, intuitive thinking (what would happen next), and locating main ideas.
Mathematic Skills - This section tests mathematical concepts and problem solving ability dealing with arithmetic, basic geometry, and elementary algebra.
Language Skills - This section tests an examinee's ability in capitalization, punctuation, word usage, spelling, and composition.
SCORING THE HSPT
Since the HSPT is taken for admittance to private high schools, the score required for admittance varies from institution to institution. HSPT scores are reported on a 200 to 800 scale. Before assigning you a score from the scale, STS first calculates a raw score. The raw score is figured by adding up all of your correct answers. Since STS does not deduct for incorrect answers, it is in your best interest to answer all the questions you can. Your raw scores are scaled to compensate for the slight variations that may arise between different exams.
After you take the actual HSPT examination, the test results you receive will include five different types of scores.
1. The Composite Score - This is the sum of the raw scores you receive on the five parts of the HSPT which is then converted into a standard score (standard scores are a cumulative average of the nation's test-takers per grade).
2. National Percentile Rank (NP) - Your score is ranked on a range from 1 to 99 which compares your HSPT results with that of other students at the same grade lev...
About Research & Education Association
Research & Education Association (REA) is an organization of educators, scientists, and engineers specializing in various academic fields. Founded in 1959 with the purpose of disseminating the most recently developed scientific information to groups in industry, government, high schools, and universities, REA has since become a successful and highly respected publisher of study aids, test preps, handbooks, and reference works.
REA's Test Preparation series includes study guides for all academic levels in almost all disciplines. Research & Education Association publishes test preps for students who have not yet completed high school, as well as high school students preparing to enter college. Students from countries around the world seeking to attend college in the United States will find the assistance they need in REA's publications. For college students seeking advanced degrees, REA publishes test preps for many major graduate school admission examinations in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, law, and medicine. Students at every level, in every field, with every ambition can find what they are looking for among REA's publications.
While most test preparation books present practice tests that bear little resemblance to the actual exams, REA's series presents tests that accurately depict the official exams in both degree of difficulty and types of questions. REA's practice tests are always based upon the most recently administered exams, and include every type of question that can be expected on the actual exams.
REA's publications and educational materials are highly regarded and continually receive an unprecedented amount of praise from professionals, instructors, librarians, parents, and students. Our authors are as diverse as the fields represented in the books we publish. They are well-known in their respective disciplines and serve on the faculties of prestigious high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada.
Chapter 1: ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book will provide you with an accurate and complete representation of the Scholastic Testing Service's High School Placement Test (HSPT) and CTB/McGraw-Hill's Cooperative Admissions Examination (COOP). Inside you will find reviews which are designed to provide you with the information and strategies needed to do well on these tests. Two practice tests, based on the official HSPT and COOP exams, are provided as well. The practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on test day. Following each of our practice tests, you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you master the test material.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
To thoroughly prepare for the actual tests, it's best to first read over the subject reviews and suggestions for test-taking. Studying the reviews will reinforce the basic skills you need to do well on the test. Be sure to take the practice tests to become familiar with the format and procedures involved with taking the actual COOP or HSPT examinations.
To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule located in the front of this book. Brushing up on areas you did well on wouldn't hurt either.
When Should I Start Studying?
It is never too early to start studying for these exams. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material. The sooner you learn the format of the exam you are taking, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with its content.
THE REVIEW SECTIONS
The reviews in this book are designed to help you sharpen the basic skills needed to approach the HSPT and the COOP, as well as to provide strategies for attacking each type of question. You will also find drills to reinforce what you have learned. By using the reviews in conjunction with the practice tests, you will better prepare yourself for the actual exams themselves.
TIPS FOR TAKING THE HSPT AND COOP
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED - Fear will ruin your chances of doing the best that you can on the test. Studying this book will help you to approach the HSPT or COOP with confidence and poise.
GET TO KNOW THE TEST FORMAT - Our practice tests have been specially designed to reflect the way the actual HSPT and COOP will look. Take some time to get familiar with the different tests that you will be taking. There shouldn't be any surprises for you on test day.
USE THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION - This is possibly the easiest and quickest way to increase your score. Eliminating answer choices will lead you to the right answer almost every time. Neither CTB McGraw-Hill or STS will deduct points for incorrect answers. This means that even if you can't seem to get an answer, just pick one letter. If you blindly guess, you'll get 1 answer in 5 right. If you can eliminate just 1 answer choice, you'll get 1 answer in 4 right. Either way, you'll raise your score because you don't lose points for leaving an answer blank.
PAY ATTENTION - Be sure that the answer oval that you are marking corresponds to the question number in the test booklet. Otherwise, you run the risk of filling in all of the wrong ovals.
ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT)
Who Takes the Test and What Is It Used For?
The HSPT examination is taken by junior high students who plan on applying for admittance to private or parochial high schools. This examination is used to evaluate a student's knowledge and determine if the student has adequate knowledge and understanding in specified subject areas.
Who Administers the Test?
The HSPT is developed and administered by Scholastic Testing Service and is updated each year to ensure test security. The test development process is designed and implemented to also ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When Is the HSPT Taken?
Students are required to take the HSPT in the fall of 8th Grade so that they will have another opportunity to take it if they do not pass. Taking our practice tests will familiarize you with the types of questions on and the format of the HSPT exam to eliminate the anxiety of only being able to become familiar with the test as you take it.
When and Where Is the Test Given?
The HSPT is administered in the Fall and once more in the Spring, but you should check with the school you are applying to for the exact date. Also, since the test is used in different ways (again, specific to the school), you will need to take the exam at the school to which you are applying (contact the admissions office of the school for more details).
To receive information on the exam or upcoming administrations of the HSPT, contact:
Scholastic Testing Service
480 Meyer Road
Bensenville, IL 60106-1617
Phone: (800) 642-6STS
Website: www.ststesting.com
Is There a Registration Fee?
Not exactly. Schools do not actually purchase the HSPT exams; rather, they "rent" them. To ensure test security, all materials provided to a school are returned to STS when the exams are completed. Therefore, your registration costs will most likely be added to the school's admission fees. Since each school is different, you should contact the school(s) in which you are interested to find the exact cost.
FORMAT OF THE HSPT
Section / Questions / Time Length
Verbal / 60 questions / 16 minutes
Quantitative / 52 questions / 30 minutes
Reading / 62 questions / 25 minutes
Mathematics / 64 questions / 45 minutes
Language / 60 questions / 25 minutes
OPTIONAL HSPT SECTIONS
Science / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Mechanical Aptitude / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Catholic Religion / 40 questions / 30 minutes
Here is a quick breakdown of the test sections on the HSPT and their subjects:
Verbal Skills - This section tests synonyms, logic, verbal classification, antonyms, and analogies.
Quantitative Skills - This section tests geometric comparisons, non-geometric comparisons, number series, and number manipulations.
Reading Skills - This section tests the ability to recall information from reading material, vocabulary, intuitive thinking (what would happen next), and locating main ideas.
Mathematic Skills - This section tests mathematical concepts and problem solving ability dealing with arithmetic, basic geometry, and elementary algebra.
Language Skills - This section tests an examinee's ability in capitalization, punctuation, word usage, spelling, and composition.
SCORING THE HSPT
Since the HSPT is taken for admittance to private high schools, the score required for admittance varies from institution to institution. HSPT scores are reported on a 200 to 800 scale. Before assigning you a score from the scale, STS first calculates a raw score. The raw score is figured by adding up all of your correct answers. Since STS does not deduct for incorrect answers, it is in your best interest to answer all the questions you can. Your raw scores are scaled to compensate for the slight variations that may arise between different exams.
After you take the actual HSPT examination, the test results you receive will include five different types of scores.
1. The Composite Score - This is the sum of the raw scores you receive on the five parts of the HSPT which is then converted into a standard score (standard scores are a cumulative average of the nation's test-takers per grade).
2. National Percentile Rank (NP) - Your score is ranked on a range from 1 to 99 which compares your HSPT results with that of other students at the same grade lev...
