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We built a 100-point scoring rubric for HSAT prep — the HSAT Prep Excellence Score (HPES) — and scored ourselves and the major paid alternatives. The scores are based on published features as of May 2026.
Higher is better. Each dimension is worth up to 10 points.
| Dimension | Us | Critical | SelectivePrep | cpshsat.com | Rappaport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content volume & quality | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Test format fidelity | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Spaced repetition | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adaptive personalization | 8 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Strategy instruction | 9 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Pacing training | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Error analysis | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engagement & habit | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Accessibility & equity | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parent/coach integration | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 88 | 50 | 33 | 25 | 21 |
Number of practice questions, depth of explanations, source attribution. 5 = ~100 questions; 10 = 500+ with full explanations.
Mock matches HSAT (60 min, 70 q, no calc, navigation, flag-for-review, auto-submit). 5 = some realism; 10 = exact format match.
Vocabulary SRS (5 pts) + missed-question SRS (5 pts). Almost no competitor implements either — this is decades of evidence the prep market ignores.
Diagnostic baseline (3 pts) + practice serving by weakness (4 pts) + real-time adjustment (3 pts).
Mini-lessons for each question type, plus tracking which strategies the student has reviewed.
Full timed mocks + short timed drills + per-question time analytics + mental-math fluency drills.
Required categorization of every mistake + pattern visualization + actionable recommendation per pattern.
Daily challenge, streak counters with freeze-protectors, mastery-based achievements (not vanity badges).
Multiple languages, dyslexia font, high contrast, text-to-speech, accommodation timer modes, free, offline.
One-page parent dashboard, printable, recommendations the parent can act on, outcome correlation.
We scored competitors based on their public marketing materials, published features, and reviews — not from inside their accounts. Scores may be off by a point or two.
The real CPS HSAT is administered by Riverside Assessments and CPS does not publish official sample questions. No prep app — ours included — has access to retired test items. We mirror format and rigor; we cannot promise pixel-exact UI fidelity.
The score gain from any prep app depends on consistent practice. No app is a substitute for sitting with the material.