The SSAT is produced by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA).  It is not an achievement test that measures knowledge gained to date about specific subjects.  Rather, it is an ability or aptitude test that measures basic skills and creative problem solving important for success in academics. If you live near Newtown Square, West Chester, or Chester Springs, PA and you need some help getting ready for this type of test, Crimson Review has all the tutoring you’ll need to succeed.

• The SSAT Upper Level has sections for Math, Reading Comprehension, and Verbal (synonyms and analogies) and an unscored essay.
• There are 3 levels of SSAT tests for elementary, middle, and upper schools admissions.
• Unlike most other standardized tests, there is still a guessing penalty on the SSAT.
• A student may take multiple SSATs in a year, with no limitations. It is given 8 times on national dates with one flex date per year.

The ISEE is produced by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB).  Similar to the SSAT, it is an aptitude test and not a curriculum-based achievement test.

• The ISEE Upper Level has sections for Verbal (synonyms and sentence completion), Math (quantitative reasoning and math achievement), Reading Comprehension, and an unscored essay. Of the three tests, the ISEE tests the largest range of math skills.
• There are three levels of ISEE tests for elementary, middle, and upper school admissions.
• There is no penalty for guessing
• Students can take the test once per testing window (4 month period), for up to 3 times in a year.

The HSPT is produced by Scholastic Testing Services (STS).  It is primarily used by Catholic schools and given at the school on a specific date.  STS is a for-profit company and provides test materials for a variety of schools.  They allow schools to alter the order and sections of the test so that they can have a unique “entrance exam”.

• The HSPT has sections for Verbal (analogies, synonyms, logic), Math (quantitative and conceptual problem solving), and Language (grammar and usage)
• There are also optional (based on the school’s choice) sections for Science, Mechanical Aptitude, and Catholic Religion.
• There is only one level for the HSPT (for students entering high school).
• There is no penalty for guessing.
• Because each school gives their own administration of the test, a student applying to multiple Catholic schools will end up taking the test more than once.

Below is a table that lists some local schools and their required entrance exams.  Please note that while we make every effort to keep this list up to date, it is imperative to confirm with the school admissions department on their specific testing requirements.

*Schools marked with an asterisk give their own entrance exams. This may be a standard HSPT test or a modified version of it.