Students are placed into English, Mathematics, History, and Science courses based upon their HSPT scores. They will receive their placements, along with their admissions decisions letters, when they are mailed on Thursday, January 15, 2026. There is an optional placement test offered to any incoming freshman who feels that his placements do not reflect his abilities. 

Class of 2030 Placement Testing information

Optional testing is scheduled for March 7, 2026, at Prep, starting at 8 am. Students will have the opportunity to take one or more placement tests, as desired.

Make-up placement testing will be offered on April 18, 2026.

Register for Placement Testing

Study Materials by Test

Our academic departments have prepared study guides for their respective tests.

Students at Prep have the opportunity to take Honors and AP courses regardless of where they are placed their freshman year. Students qualify for advanced placements based on their grades. With over 51 honors and AP classes, there are many opportunities for students during their four years at Prep.

The English portion of the placement test assesses grammar awareness, reading comprehension skills and effective written strategies through sound development and articulation, while the Math portion covers basic math skills, pre-algebra topics, graphical analysis and interpretation, and Algebra I topics.

The science portion will cover some important mathematical skills that are recommended for success in an Honors-level course. Some of these skills include manipulation of algebraic equations, comprehension of word problems, and analyzing graphical data to construct a claim/hypothesis.

The history portion will be a document based question while Latin will test grammar and usage. Based on HSPT exam performance, each freshman has been scheduled for:

  • Either English I or English I Honors.
  • Either Algebra I, Geometry, or Geometry Honors.
  • Either Chemistry I or Chemistry I Honors
  • World Civilizations or AP Modern World History
  • Latin I or Latin I Honors

Course progressions and descriptions for all departments can be found by visiting our Curriculum Guide page.

After these tests have been scored, you will be notified of any change in course placement. If you have any questions, please direct them to the appropriate department chairs:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the location of the Placement tests?

A: The tests will take place at Saint Peter’s Prep. Students will register for each exam they would like to take. Specific details will be sent to all registered students and parents after our initial registration deadline.

Q: What are the expectations for an Honors Course?

A: A student within an honors course is expected to manage a greater workload. The assumption is that a student who selects, with the approval of the respective department, an advanced section is willing both to approach the topic at a more sophisticated level and to devote additional time to study at home and at school. Homework responsibilities, in addition to other facets of an honors-designated course, may take twice as much as a non-honors student. 

Q: What is covered in the English Placement Test? 

A: Although referenced above, the English portion assesses a student’s skills in basic grammar, reading comprehension and writing. Students will:

  • answer multiple choice questions covering basic grammatical principles;
  • read a short story and a poem;
  • answer reading comprehension questions; and 
  • produce two written samples based on their readings of the short story and poem.

Q: What is covered in the required Math Placement Test?

A: Topics include but are not limited to computational arithmetic, including fractions and decimals, positive and negative numbers, order of operations, absolute value, evaluating algebraic expressions, solving one variable equations, rules of exponents, solving systems of equations, writing equations of lines, multiplying and factoring polynomials, and solving a quadratic equation using the quadratic formula.