Frequently Asked Questions
Since 1996 we have prepared more than 10,000 students for one exam: the HSPT. It is the only test we teach. Our live-course students score in the 90th percentile on average, and 97% are accepted to a Catholic high school.
About our Online HSPT® Prep Classes:
Yes. All of our HSPT prep classes are online. We taught in person for years before moving online, and students’ scores went up after the change. 9 out of 10 students tell us they prefer taking the class online.
One of the main differences is that we use the Zoom webinar format for our classes, so students are view-only attendees and do not have to be on camera for the class. Our students overwhelmingly prefer not being on camera. Students can interact with the instructors via a Q&A chat feature, and questions are answered live on the broadcast. They also have the option to ask anonymously, so no student ever has to be embarrassed about a question. Together these features make for a stress-free and comfortable learning environment.
In addition, we have a defined curriculum supported by the HSPT student workbook that we mail to you. The structure of the class invites students to be active participants which keeps them engaged for the entire class.
Our students love the class and rate it 4.8 out of 5 stars. Some students even told us they wished the class would last longer!
One of the most important advantages is that there are no distractions for students. Because students cannot view or talk to other students during the webinar, they are not distracted by others in the class.
A second huge advantage is that all classes are recorded and made available for students to re-watch later. This is especially helpful if a student misses class and needs to make up the work or if they need to watch a lesson again to review it.
A third advantage is the Q&A chat. Students can ask the moment they get lost rather than waiting for a break, and they can send the question anonymously, so no one has to raise a hand in front of the class to admit they did not follow something.
On average, our students improve their overall score by 40 points.
The number of students varies from class to class; however, class size has little to no effect on a student’s ability to learn. We use the Zoom webinar format, so students are view-only attendees and cannot see or communicate with each other, though they can reach the teachers through the Q&A chat function. Therefore, students experience the class as a one-on-one interaction with the teachers.
Mr. Brian Saso teaches every class. He is joined by Mr. Steve Saso and Mrs. Annie Hillerman, who help teach lessons and answer student questions during class. Mr. Steve Saso founded Saso Prep in 1996 and continues to teach.
Mr. Brian Saso also teaches the video lessons in the self-study course, so students get the same teacher whether they are in a live class or working on their own.
Our courses are for students preparing to take the HSPT in 8th grade. Students in the Summer course are finishing 7th grade and entering 8th. Students in the Fall and Winter Break courses are already in 8th grade and testing that winter.
All three courses are identical: the same number of classes, the same number of hours, and the same curriculum. Pick the session that fits your family’s schedule. Summer works well for families who want preparation finished before the school year gets busy. Fall runs during the school year and closer to the test. Winter Break is the last session before most test dates.
Every course is 10 classes, 2 hours each, for 20 hours of live instruction. Specific dates and times are listed on each course page. All class times are Pacific time.
Yes. We cover Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Math and Language, including both the content students need to know and the test-taking strategy specific to each section.
Students receive homework after each class from the workbook. On average it takes less than one hour per class and mainly consists of finishing worksheets we started in class.
We go over the homework answers at the start of every class so students can mark their own work, and we explain the problems that gave the group the most trouble. There is not enough class time to work through all of them live, so every worksheet has its own explanation video on the class replay page walking through the problems on it.
Those videos do double duty. A student who got problems wrong can watch the walkthrough for that worksheet, and a student who gets stuck partway through the homework can use the video as help right then instead of giving up on the problem.
Yes, six in all, and every one is different. Students take two online practice tests, one before the course starts and one after, and two paper and pencil practice tests in the class workbook. The self-study course includes two more online practice tests. Bundling the Weekend Review adds a seventh, taken with paper and pencil. Practicing in both formats matters, because students take the real HSPT with paper and pencil under timed conditions.
The two workbook tests are taken in class, one subtest at a time. Students take one subtest each class, so across the 10 classes they work through two complete HSPT practice tests under timed conditions. We correct each subtest together as soon as everyone finishes, so students see their results right away.
After the first time through each subtest, students do test corrections. Video walkthroughs are available for Language, Quantitative, and Math. For Verbal and Reading, we have students study the vocabulary that appeared on the test instead, because those sections come down to knowing the words rather than working a method.
The Weekend Review is a two-day, 7-hour live refresher course held close to the actual HSPT. Day 1 reviews all five sections of the test. Day 2 is an all-new, full-length, paper-and-pencil HSPT practice test.
You can bundle the Weekend Review with any of our prep courses and save compared to booking them separately. Bundle pricing is listed on each course page.
We record all classes and make them available for students about an hour after we finish. If a student misses a class, they can simply watch the replay and be completely caught up.
During the fall, it is also possible to do a live make-up class. The Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday classes all cover the same material for the week, so students can attend any of the other sessions if they miss one. The class link remains the same for all sessions, making it easy to switch days when needed.
A computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection and the Zoom app. Because students attend as view-only participants, a webcam is not required for class.
Yes. Some parents sit in on the first session to see how the class works, and others follow along through the course so they can help their child with the homework. Because we use the webinar format, no one else in the class can see who is watching.
Tuition, Enrollment, and Materials
Tuition covers the full live online course of 10 classes and 20 hours of live instruction, the printed HSPT student workbook mailed to your home, access to every class recording, and all three of our self-paced products free: the Ultimate HSPT Self-Study Course, the HSPT Mock Exam, and the HSPT Diagnostic Assessment. Current tuition is listed on each course page.
The live course is 10 live sessions with Mr. Brian Saso on a set schedule, with a printed workbook mailed to your home, class recordings, and homework reviewed in class. The self-study course is our on-demand option for families who need to work at their own pace: 2 practice tests, 18 video lessons, 1,000+ practice problems, and a video explanation for every problem.
You do not have to choose between them. Every live registration includes the self-study course, the mock exam, and the diagnostic assessment free.
The self-study lessons are not recordings of the live class. Mr. Brian Saso teaches both, so it is the same teacher and the same strategies, but the self-study lessons are taught separately and come with their own practice problems and their own practice tests. Students who do both get the same proven method twice, taught two different ways, and never repeat a problem or a test.
Yes. Every live course registration includes all three of our self-paced products free: the Ultimate HSPT Self-Study Course, the HSPT Mock Exam, and the HSPT Diagnostic Assessment. All three are hosted at sasopreponline.com and students can work through them at their own pace.
The practice tests in the self-paced products are timed and scored automatically, with a video explanation for every problem.
Yes. Payment plans are available for most courses. All payments must be completed at least two weeks before the first class, and the class link is sent once the final payment clears. To set one up, email office@sasohsp.com and we will send you a payment link.
Workbooks are mailed about two weeks before the first class. If you will be away from home during that window, let us know at least a month before your course begins and we can ship to an alternate address or send it early.
Students keep access to the class recordings and the online self-study course until they take the HSPT. Everything stays available straight through test day, so students can review any lesson or retake any practice test right up to the exam.
Yes. If your schedule changes and you need to switch to another session, there is no problem and no fee. Call or email us and let us know which session you would like to switch to.
We understand that plans change. We offer a partial refund for cancellations made before the start of classes:
Cancellations made at least 14 days before the class start date:
You will receive a full refund minus a 3% processing fee.Cancellations made 1 to 13 days before the class start date:
You will receive a 50% refund of the tuition.- There are no refunds once the class has begun.
Enroll directly on our website at sasohsp.com. If you have a question before enrolling, email us at office@sasohsp.com. We respond within 24 hours, usually sooner.
About the HSPT®:
The HSPT, or High School Placement Test, is the entrance exam used by many Catholic high schools.
It is a multiple-choice exam consisting of 5 subtests: Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Math and Language.
It is one of the criteria Catholic high schools use to determine student acceptance. Some schools use the results to award scholarships and determine placement into advanced classes.
Most Catholic high schools offer the HSPT in December or January of a student’s 8th grade year. In some areas of the East Coast the test is given as early as October or November.
You sign up your child for the HSPT through the Catholic high school’s online application process. If applying to more than one high school, we recommend taking the HSPT at the high school that is your child’s first choice.
No. Retakes are extremely rare. The HSPT is a single-attempt exam taken once in 8th grade, and the few schools that permit one count the lower score. That is why thorough preparation up front matters so much. Always confirm policy with each target school.
The HSPT is one of the most important criteria that Catholic high schools use to determine acceptance, especially for very competitive schools. It is similar to the importance of a strong SAT score for college acceptance.
Here are some other factors that high schools consider when determining acceptance:
- Religion of the student
- A student’s grades from middle school
- 7th and 8th grade standardized test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Involvement in extra-curricular activities
- Middle school attended
- Application essay/personal statement
HSPT results are reported as national percentiles from 1 to 99. For the competitive Catholic high schools most families target, aim for the 80th percentile and up. The 90th and above is a strong score that earns honors placement and the best scholarships.
The score report also lists standard scores, local percentiles, stanines, grade equivalents, and a Cognitive Skills Quotient, but the national percentile rank is the number schools weigh most.
Yes. Students with a documented disability or learning difference can take the HSPT with accommodations. The most common is extended time, usually time-and-a-half applied across all five sections.
Because each Catholic high school administers its own HSPT, you request accommodations through the school where your child tests and applies, not through a central testing service. Schools typically accept a current IEP, a current 504 Plan, or a recent psychoeducational evaluation. Deadlines are often several weeks to a month before the test and late requests are generally not granted, so contact your target schools early.
Approved accommodations do not appear on the score report and do not affect admission or scholarship decisions.
Students approved for extended time should practice under the same timing, so we offer extra-time editions of our self-study course and mock exam.
Most families start the summer before 8th grade or in the fall, which gives students time to learn the format and build skills without cramming. Starting closer to the test still helps, and our Winter Break course is built for students who want focused preparation right before test day.