Five Things That Changed When CPS Switched from the HSAT to the PreACT 9 Secure
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Starting this October, Chicago Public Schools is replacing the selective-enrollment High School Admissions Test (HSAT) with the PreACT 9 Secure. If you have a rising 8th grader, here's what's different.
1. It's a completely different test, not just a rename.
The HSAT was a custom CPS exam; the PreACT 9 Secure is an ACT test that thousands of schools across the country already give their 8th and 9th graders. According to CPS’ chief education officer, the district made the switch partly for equity reasons (less advantage for families who could afford private prep for a little-known test) and partly for reliability, after the HSAT platform had technical issues that disrupted testing over the past few years.
2. It covers four subjects instead of two, making it much longer.
The HSAT was a one-hour test with 30 minutes for reading and 30 for math. The PreACT 9 Secure takes approximately 2.5 hours, spread over four subjects:
English: 44 questions in 35 minutes
Math: 34 questions in 45 minutes
Reading: 33 questions in 40 minutes
Science: 32 questions in 35 minutes
3. It's offered in English only.
The PreACT 9 Secure is English only, with accommodations available for students who qualify (including English learners and students with an IEP or 504 plan). This is a big change from the HSAT, which was available in multiple languages.
4. The number of points is different, but the 50/50 split is the same.
The test still counts for half of a student's admissions score (320 points), with 7th-grade core grades making up the other half (also 320 points, for 640 total points possible). The math behind the numbers is a little different, though:
Test score: PreACT 9 Secure composite (1–32) × 10, up to 320 points
Grade score: Final 7th-grade GPA × 80, up to 320 points (a 4.0 GPA = the full 320)
5. Calculators are allowed.
Students can use them on the math section, but not on science.
See the GoCPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT) page for important dates and additional information, and the official ACT Preparing for PreACT 9 Secure page for details about the content covered in each section, test-taking tips and strategies, and a practice test.
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