Mark Stewart - McGraw-Hills Catholic High School Entrance Exams

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This book provides all the tools you need to get ready for the COOP, HSPT, or TACHS. The book is divided into five parts: .

Getting Started Start here for answers to basic questions about the three exams. . Diagnostic Tests Take an exam-style mini-test to familiarize yourself with your test and to determine your strengths and weaknesses up frontso you know where to focus your exam prep. Each of the three diagnostic tests (COOP, HSPT, and TACHS) contains all the various question types youre most likely to see on your exam. . Question Types: Verbal Skills Prepare for reading, vocabulary, language, and other question types that test your verbal skills.

Learn a step-by-step approach to handling each question type. After each lesson, apply what youve learned to a series of exam-style practice questions. At the end of youll find a handy review of all the basic rules of grammar and writing mechanics you need to know for your exam. . Question Types: Math and Quantitative Skills Prepare for math computation, quantitative reasoning, and other question types that test your knowledge of math concepts and your math problem-solving skills. Learn a step-by-step approach to handling each question type.

After each lesson, apply what youve learned to a series of exam-style practice questions. At the end of youll find a handy math review covering all the math topics you need to know for your exam. . COOP, HSPT, and TACHS Practice Tests In , you apply all youve learned in the books lessons to two full-length practice COOP exams, two full-length practice HSPT exams, or two full-length practice TACHS exams. Be sure to read the explanations to the questions you answer incorrectly, so that you can avoid making similar mistakes on exam day.

This book provides much of the information you need to know about the three testsespecially when it comes to test preparation and practice.

However, you should not rely solely on this book for your information. The high school to which youre applying for admission can probably provide up-to-date information about test registration procedures and about testing fees, locations, and dates. You can also contact the test developers directly for this information: Cooperative AdmissionsExamination Office CTB/McGraw-Hill 20 Ryan Ranch Road Monterey, CA 93940 (800)538-9547 www.ctb.comHSPT Scholastic Testing Service 480 Meyer Road Bensenville, IL 60106-1617 (800)642-6STS www.ststesting.comTACHS TACHS Examination Office P.O. Box 64675 Eagan, MN 55164-9522 (866)6IT-ACHS www.tachsinfo.com

COOP, HSPT, and TACHS are the abbreviated names of three different standardized tests given to eighth-grade students for parochial high school admission and placement. Here are the full names of the three tests: COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination) HSPT (High School Placement Test) TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) Each high school decides which of these three tests (if any) applicants must take for admission and placement. (Some schools dont require scores for any of these tests.) Of the three tests, the HSPT has been in use the longest time and is by far the most widely used among the high schools.

In contrast, the TACHS was new in 2005 and is given only to students applying in the New York State Diocese schools. The three tests all use a multiple-choice question format to measure math, verbal, English language, and reasoning skills. Each of the three tests is divided into several sections, or subtests. However, each of the three tests contains its own distinct question types. The number of sections and questions varies as well.

The COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination) is a multiple-choice test administered to eighth-grade students to help parochial high schools evaluate them for admission and placement.Next page