Three big changes since 2020
The CPS HSAT has gone through more change in the last five years than in the previous two decades combined. If a parent is relying on advice from an older sibling who applied in 2018, much of that advice is out of date.
Change 1 — NWEA MAP dropped (2021)
Before 2021, NWEA MAP scores from spring of 7th grade were 1/3 of the SEHS admissions formula. The exam taken in 8th grade was a different test (the SEHSE) and was also 1/3.
Starting with the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, CPS dropped NWEA MAP entirely from SEHS admissions. The single test taken in October of 8th grade is now worth 1/2 of the composite. NWEA MAP is still given to CPS students in spring as a diagnostic but no longer counts.
Impact for prep: do not waste time prepping for NWEA MAP for SEHS purposes. The HSAT is the only test that matters for admission.
Change 2 — Format compressed (recent)
The HSAT was previously longer. The current format is 60 minutes for 70 questions — 40 Reading and 30 Math, all multiple choice, no calculator.
This is a significantly tighter pace than the prior format: about 50 seconds per question with no buffer. Students who don't practice pacing will run out of time even when they know the material.
Change 3 — Riverside Assessments platform
CPS now contracts Riverside Assessments to administer the HSAT online via a secure-browser kiosk. The platform is computer-based; CPS students typically take it during the school day at their school, while non-CPS students take it at testing centers on weekends in October.
In October 2025, the Riverside platform had technical issues affecting approximately 1,000 students, particularly those needing accommodations. CPS has stated the issues will be addressed for 2025-2026.
Impact for prep: practice on a computer, not paper. Get used to clicking radio buttons, scrolling within passages, and using on-screen flag-for-review buttons. Our app's mock interface mirrors this.
What is unchanged
Test taken in October of 8th grade.
Four core 7th-grade grades feed the GPA half of the composite.
900-point composite (450 HSAT + 450 GPA).
Top schools target 860+ for rank-all admission, with tier-specific cutoffs distributed across the tier system.
GoCPS portal is the official application interface. Applications open in fall, results released in March.
Practical advice for the 2025-2026 cycle
Treat the HSAT as a serious 60-minute test, not a low-stakes screener. Practice timed mocks several weeks before the actual test.
If your child has an IEP or 504 with extra time, contact the testing coordinator early — last year's accommodation issues were partly logistical. Confirm the accommodation will be in place.
Maintain strong 7th-grade grades. With NWEA MAP gone and only one test in October, the GPA half is more decisive than ever.
Don't trust prep advice older than 2022. Anything that mentions NWEA MAP as part of admissions is outdated.