Entrance Exam

Entrance Exam Offered Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, 2024

All eighth graders applying to Brophy's Class of 2029 are required to take an entrance exam. (Do not register if you are a transfer applicant - rising 10th or 11th grader.) We use the High School Placement Test or “HSPT” entrance exam by Scholastic Testing Services. It is a five-part, multiple-choice test of verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics and language skills. The exam takes approximately 2 ½ hours and contains about 300 questions designed to see how well an eighth-grade student performs academically. In addition to the HSPT exam, students will also complete a 25-minute writing prompt on the day of the exam — it is not part of the HSPT but part of the Brophy application. Students are allowed to take the exam only once.

Students must register in advance to reserve a seat for the Entrance Exam. There is a $30 fee (payable online) to take the HSPT Entrance Exam.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THE ENTRANCE EXAM AT A DIFFERENT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, please make sure that you include the Brophy registration code on your scantron (you will receive instructions that morning) to ensure that we receive your test results in a timely fashion. Contact the other school directly for information (date and cost) on taking the exam there.

Please note: Extended time and other accommodations for the required HSPT Entrance Exam offered at Brophy on Dec. 7 or Dec. 14 are available to those students who qualify. To receive the additional testing time, an applicant must submit a current IEP (Individualized Educational Program) 504 plan or Student Support Plan describing the specific accommodations. Please contact the Admissions Office before Thanksgiving to discuss what to expect when extra time is allowed. All conversations, as well as all accommodations given, are confidential.

Answering Your Questions

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

Q Is there a fee to take the entrance exam?

The testing fee is $30 and is paid online when you register for the exam.
Q What are the details for HSPT entrance exam (in person) on Dec. 7 or Dec. 14, 2024?
- There will be designated drop-off spots in the south parking lot.
- Check-in will begin around 7:15 a.m. Please arrive no later than 7:45 a.m.
- If you would like to bring your own pencils, make sure they are of the No. 2 variety, otherwise, Brophy will provide pencils.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and snack.
- NO CALCULATORS are allowed.
- Dress comfortably — there is no dress code.
- The exam takes approximately 3 1/2 hours. Your son will be done between 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Since each of the five sections is timed, he may want to bring a book to read to keep himself busy between sections.
- Results will be available in late February after admission decisions are made.
Q Do I have to register for the entrance exam?

You must register to take the HSPT Entrance Exam using the registration links on this page.
Q Does Brophy run out of seats/space for the entrance exam?

All students who register in advance will have a seat on test day. We do not run out of room or seats on test day.
Q Is it better to take the entrance exam on the first testing date, Dec. 7?

Students may take the exam on either Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, or Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. The test is exactly the same (although we do change the Brophy writing prompt). Students are allowed to take the test only once.
Q What testing supplies do I need for the HSPT Entrance Exam?

For the HSPT Entrance Exam, we will provide pencils and scratch paper. We suggest you bring a refillable water bottle and snack. No calculators are allowed.
Q Do I have to take the test at Brophy or can I take it at the Catholic high school closest to my house?

All Catholic schools in Phoenix administer the same exam at the same times, on the same dates. Each school charges their own fee for taking the exam. The fee at Brophy to take the HSPT is $30. You need to take the exam in one place only and scores can be shared with the other schools to which you are applying. If you plan to take the exam at a Catholic high school other than Brophy, please contact that school about its registration process. Each school handles test registration differently.

Students who take the exam at another high school will need to do our makeup Entrance Exam Writing Prompt on Dec. 10 or Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. It is a 25 minutes and is completed online.
Q Should my son prepare for the exam?

Parents often call us asking us about exam preparation. Many students take the exam with no preparation as it is a standardized test designed for subject matter and skills learned by eighth grade. Some parents purchase review books that provide sample HSPT exams. There are many different books out there by the popular test review companies like Princeton Review, Barron’s, Peterson’s Publishing, Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, etc. They can all be purchased online or at local bookstores. A few students choose to take a review course provided by local commercial test preparation companies. If you would like more information, please contact our office.
Q When will I get the HSPT results?

Families can request results in late February, after decisions are made.