10 CPS HSAT Test-Taking Hacks You Need to Know

10 CPS HSAT Test-Taking Hacks You Need to Know

If your child is preparing for the CPS HSAT (Chicago Public Schools High School Admissions Test), you know how important every point can be. These 10 test-taking hacks will help your child maximize their score, avoid traps, and build confidence. Whether it’s mastering pacing or tackling tricky questions, these hacks will give your child an edge.

1. Use the "Two-Pass Method"

What It Is: Don’t get stuck on hard questions. Instead, do a first pass through the test answering the easiest questions first. Then, circle back for the tougher ones.
Why It Works: Easy questions build momentum and confidence. Hard questions can drain time and mental energy, so it’s best to “bank” as many points as possible before tackling the tricky ones.
How to Do It: Teach your child to quickly identify “easy wins” and skip hard questions, marking them to return later. The goal is to never leave "easy points" on the table.

2. Master the Art of Elimination

What It Is: If you don’t know the answer, eliminate wrong answer choices to increase your odds of guessing correctly.
Why It Works: By eliminating even one option, you increase your odds from 25% to 33%. Eliminate two, and your odds jump to 50%.
How to Do It: Teach your child to look for "extreme" answers (like "always" or "never") and unlikely numbers (like decimals in simple math problems). If two answers look similar, it’s usually one of them.

3. Memorize "Fast Facts" Before the Test

What It Is: Know key math facts, formulas, and concepts cold.
Why It Works: The less time your child spends thinking about basic concepts, the more mental energy they’ll have for tougher questions.
What to Memorize:

• Multiplication tables (1-12)

• Order of operations (PEMDAS)

• Perfect squares (up to 20² = 400)

• Divisibility rules (like 3, 5, and 9)
  Hack: Use mnemonic devices and practice games to lock in these facts. Platforms like PREPperoni incorporate these concepts into audio-based storytelling, so they stick.

4. Look for Patterns in Math Questions

What It Is: Math questions often have patterns or shortcuts you can spot to solve problems faster.
Why It Works: The HSAT loves to reuse common patterns in word problems, divisibility rules, and prime factorization.
How to Spot It: Look for:

• Repeating sequences (like odd/even numbers).

• Relationships (if a number increases, does something else decrease?).

• Shortcuts (if you're finding the GCF of 42 and 56, think about divisibility rules, not brute force).

5. Skip "Trap Words" in Reading Questions

What It Is: Certain words like "always," "never," and "only" are "trap words" in multiple-choice answers.
Why It Works: Absolutes (like "always" or "never") are rarely correct. It’s more likely the answer will be "sometimes," "may," or "could."
How to Do It: Teach your child to flag answers with absolutes and see if they actually hold true for every case. If it’s not true 100% of the time, it’s not the answer.

6. Use the "Plug and Play" Method for Math

What It Is: Plug answer choices back into the problem to see which one works.
Why It Works: Sometimes, it’s faster to plug the answers in than to solve the problem from scratch.
How to Do It: Start with the middle answer (like option "C" in A, B, C, D) and check if it works. If it's too high, eliminate answers above it. If it's too low, eliminate answers below it.

7. Practice Under Timed Conditions

What It Is: Practice with a timer to simulate real test-day conditions.
Why It Works: Students often know the material but lose points due to poor time management. Practicing under time pressure teaches pacing.
How to Do It: Use a stopwatch or timer app to break down each section. If the section is 30 minutes, divide it into mini-goals (like 10 minutes for 10 questions). Platforms like PREPperoni incorporate pacing into their learning sessions, training students to "move with the clock" while staying focused.

8. If Possible, Use The Scratch Paper Provided

What It Is: Use the test booklet for scratch work, note-taking, and circling key info.
Why It Works: Studies show that writing things down increases problem-solving ability.
How to Do It: Teach your child to circle key information in the reading passages (names, dates, themes) and underline key numbers and operations in math problems. This visual aid reduces mistakes.

9. Don’t Leave Blanks — Guess Strategically

What It Is: Never leave a question blank. If you’re out of time, guess.
Why It Works: The CPS HSAT doesn’t penalize for wrong answers, so a guess is better than a blank.
How to Do It: If you don’t know, use logic to eliminate at least one answer. If you’re still unsure, pick a "guess letter" like "B" or "C" and stick with it consistently. This method increases your odds of getting random questions right.

10. Stay Calm — Use "Reset Breaths"

What It Is: Use deep breathing exercises during the test to stay focused.
Why It Works: Anxiety can "shut down" the brain’s executive functions, leading to careless mistakes. Deep breathing resets the nervous system and clears the mind.
How to Do It: Teach your child to use this 5-second breathing trick:

1. Inhale deeply for 4 seconds.

2. Hold it for 2 seconds.

3. Exhale for 6 seconds.
   This breathing exercise can be used during breaks, after tricky questions, or during transitions between sections.

Bonus Hack: Use Audio-Driven Learning

What It Is: Platforms like PREPperoni use story-driven, audio-based learning that teaches strategies and concepts in a way that’s easy to remember.
Why It Works: Students relate to stories, retain information longer, and feel less "bored" with prep. This approach is scientifically proven to improve engagement and memory.
How to Do It: Swap out traditional worksheets for PREPperoni’s premium audio prep, which mixes storytelling with high-level test prep. Students can learn while walking, driving, or relaxing — making prep feel less like a chore.

These 10 hacks can mean the difference between a mediocre score and an elite score on the CPS HSAT. Practice them often, and make sure your child walks into test day with strategies they can rely on — not just knowledge. For premium, story-based test prep that teaches these hacks naturally, consider PREPperoni, where students prep smarter, not harder.