HSPT Tutoring

Natalie’s HSPT tutoring includes complete test preparation for all sections: Verbal, Reading, Quantitative, Math, and Language Arts. The HSPT (High School Placement Test) exam is one of the most rigorous high school placement tests, where students answer 298 questions in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. Her students work on relevant practice material and learn effective strategies, as well as time management techniques, for maximum success on the HSPT. Lessons help them form a solid study plan and achievable goals for each section so they can reach their desired percentiles on actual testing day.

Verbal

The HSPT Verbal section includes 5 essential questions types across a total of 60 questions: verbal analogies, logic questions, verbal classification, synonyms, and antonyms — all using advanced middle school-level and high school level vocabulary. Natalie shows students the best strategies to efficiently answer these questions, so they can score well in this section.

Reading

The HSPT Reading section has 40 questions related to reading passages, as well as 22 vocabulary questions. Using test-specific reading strategies and targeted word lists, Natalie helps students minimize time spent on each question type and maximize their score in this tightly timed section.

Language Arts

The HSPT Language Arts section features 4 major question types for 60 questions: punctuation and capitalization, usage, spelling, and composition. With Natalie’s background as a professional writer and editor, she guides her students through the grammar and punctuation rules they need to know as well as the strategies they should use to be successful in this area.

Quantitative and Math

The HSPT Math section uses basic arithmetic, geometry, percents, ratios, fractions, decimals, and prealgebra concepts (6th-8th grade math) in 64 questions to test students’ math knowledge and problem-solving skills. In contrast, the HSPT Quantitative section uses 4 major question types — number series, number manipulation, geometric comparisons, and non-geometric comparisons — in a total of 52 questions to test students’ analytical math skills. They go over any needed concept review and use the best time management techniques so students can ace both sections.

Tutoring includes:

Study plan based on pre-HSPT score results or initial practice test scores

Complete review of HSPT concepts and strategies with targeted practice (available for all sections)

Weekly feedback on student progress and homework completion (available for all sections)

Free online resources for reading and verbal practice

Timed practice sets during lessons

FAQ about Natalie’s test prep

Do you offer a full test prep program or classes?

I offer one-on-one lessons, not classes, where my tutoring adapts to the needs of every student. I guide students through their test prep with targeted concept review, strategies, and time management techniques. I do not have a one-size-fits-all approach or set curriculum for everyone to follow.

What does a typical lesson with you look like?

Test preparation is a combination of concept review and test-taking strategies. I help my students not just get to the right answer, but also understand how they got to the right answer and what makes it correct. They also learn how to methodically approach questions and answers. A typical lesson for a reading comprehension test section would be working through a number of passages with test-specific questions, for example, or for math test sections, working through practice questions and any needed concept review for those questions at the same time. A good amount of lesson time is spent on mastering strategies and building good time management skills. By understanding how a test works and how the testmakers have created the questions, students better learn how to take that test with minimal stress and maximum success.

Can you guarantee a score increase on the actual test?

Successful test prep depends entirely on a student’s commitment to a study plan, daily practice, and application of strategies and techniques learned during lessons. I personally cannot promise that any student will definitely raise scores just because of my tutoring. However, students who practiced diligently and listened to my advice during lessons — and applied it — did in fact raise their scores significantly.

How many lessons will my child need?

Some students need more support, while others need less. Guessing how many lessons a student needs requires more information. To start, I always ask for practice test results or previous test results to help me see where we need to focus our efforts the most. I also ask about what test prep, if any, you have done so far, and what your specific test score goals are. Your test preparation should start as early as possible before a test date. If your child has any struggles or gaps in a specific subject area, like math, reading or vocabulary, then they will most likely need more tutoring than the average student.

Parents and Student Reviews

Fantastic Tutor!!!

“My 14 year old daughter worked with Natalie weekly over a 2 month period to prep for the SSAT and HSPT. She did a fabulous job helping my daughter prepare; she was super knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. My daughter has so much confidence going into her tests, thanks to Natalie. We highly recommend her!!!”