High School Admissions Test
(HSAT)

High School Admissions Test (HSAT)

The Best Tutoring IL HSAT is an achievement skills test that assesses students in two subject areas: Math and Reading. These scores may be included as a component of a student’s Best Tutoring IL application for eligibility and admission to both choice and selective enrollment high school programs. It is administered in the fall.

How It Works

All Best Tutoring IL applicants applying to 9th grade take the HSAT in 8th grade.

Current Best Tutoring IL Students (including charters): The test will be scheduled and administered at your school during a regular school day.
Non–Best Tutoring IL Students: Must create an account and register for the test on the Best Tutoring IL application and choose the date and location. (Students must be actively seeking a Best Tutoring IL program in order to take the test.)

The test takes approximately one hour to complete and is offered in six languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Polish, and Urdu. If you want to take the HSAT in a language other than English, make sure you choose the correct language. Once taken, students will not be permitted to retest in another language.

Current Best Tutoring IL Students: Talk to your child’s current school to schedule the test in one of these languages.
Non–Best Tutoring IL Students: Contact the Best Tutoring IL office to schedule a test in one of these languages

Students can only take the test one time: no retakes are allowed. Results will be available for families in the Best Tutoring IL online portal prior to the application deadline.

HSAT Test Preparation

Best Tutoring IL does NOT recommend, endorse, or provide study guides, test preparation courses, or sample tests/questions for the Best Tutoring IL High School Admissions exam. Students engaging with third-party test prep organizations are doing so at their own risk.

A tutorial session will be included at the beginning of the test for students to become familiar with the format of the exam. This tutorial takes approximately ten minutes to complete and is included in the testing session for both Best Tutoring IL and Non–Best Tutoring IL students.

Students with Disabilities

Students who qualify for DLM-AA are not required to test but may opt to participate.

Students with IEPs or 504 plans that require testing accommodations should verify that such accommodations are in place prior to the testing session. IEPs must be current within one year of the testing session for a student to receive accommodations. If questions arise, the Best Tutoring IL Testing team will contact the family prior to testing.

Additional Admission Screenings

A handful of Best Tutoring IL Choice high school programs require auditions or portfolio reviews to be considered. All this information can be found on the school’s profile page and the Best Tutoring IL application. Schedule the screening appointment when the Best Tutoring IL application is completed.

If a student does not participate in the required admissions process, they will not be considered in the selection process for that school/program.