Does the HSPT offer accommodations like extended time?

Yes. Students with a documented disability or learning difference can take the HSPT with accommodations, and the most common one is extended time, often time-and-a-half. Because each Catholic high school administers its own HSPT, accommodations are approved by the school where the student tests and applies rather than by a central testing service.

When do I need to request HSPT accommodations by?

Each school sets its own deadline, and many require requests several weeks to a month before the test. Late or walk-in accommodation requests are generally not granted, so contact your target schools early and submit documentation as soon as you can. Always confirm the exact cutoff with each school.

Do testing accommodations affect admission or scholarships?

No. Using approved accommodations does not count against an applicant. Schools evaluate the resulting scores the same way, and the accommodations are not visible on the report they receive.

HSPT Accommodations: Extended Time & How to Request It (2026)

Q: What accommodations are available on the HSPT?

Extended time is the most common, usually adding about 50 percent more time across all five sections. Depending on the school and the documented need, students may also receive a separate or quieter room, more frequent breaks, repeated directions, or, in specific approved cases, calculator use. Accommodations adjust the testing conditions, not the questions or scoring.

Q: How do I request extended time on the HSPT?

Request it through the school where your child will test and apply. The online HSPT registration usually asks whether accommodations are needed; if so, you indicate yes and upload the documentation to the portal. Confirm the approved timing, room, and breaks with admissions before test day.

Quick answer

Students with a documented need can take the HSPT with accommodations, most commonly extended time, usually time-and-a-half. You request them through the school where your child tests and applies, with documentation such as an IEP, a 504 Plan, or a recent evaluation. Approved accommodations adjust the testing conditions, not the test itself, and they do not appear on the score report.

Most families come to this page asking a version of the same question: my child gets extended time at school; will they get it on the HSPT? The short answer is yes, when the need is documented. The longer answer is that the HSPT works differently from tests like the SAT or ACT, so it helps to know exactly who handles the request and when.

Who approves HSPT accommodations

The HSPT is published and scored by Scholastic Testing Service, but it isn't given at a central test center. Each Catholic high school administers its own HSPT on its own campus and test date. That means accommodations are reviewed and approved by the individual school where your child sits the exam, not by a national testing body. If your child is applying to more than one school, you'll provide documentation to the one where they take the test.

This is the single most important thing to understand: there's no one form that covers every school. Confirm the specific process directly with the school where your child will test.

What accommodations the HSPT allows

Extended time is by far the most common accommodation, but it isn't the only one. Depending on the documented need and the school, students may receive:

Common HSPT accommodations

Extended time

Usually time-and-a-half (about 50% more), applied across all five sections

Separate room

A smaller or quieter testing setting, or preferential seating

Extra breaks

More frequent or longer breaks between the timed sections

Repeated directions

Directions repeated or clarified by the proctor as needed

Calculator (math)

Allowed only when specifically approved in advance; otherwise calculators aren't permitted

What stays the same

The questions, the scoring, and the percentile scale; accommodations change conditions, not content

The point of every accommodation is the same: to let a student be measured on what they know, rather than on the limits of a disability. The exam itself is unchanged.

Who qualifies, and what documentation you'll need

Accommodations are for students with a documented disability or learning difference, for example ADHD, dyslexia, a processing disorder, or a qualifying medical condition. Schools generally accept one of the following as documentation:

A current IEP (Individualized Education Program) that states the need for the accommodation.
A current 504 Plan that states the need for the accommodation.
A recent psychoeducational evaluation, often required within roughly the last three years, that names the disability and the specific support requested.

One principle shows up at school after school: the accommodation should already be part of your child's regular schooling. Schools are reluctant to grant an accommodation the student has never used before, so the strongest requests reflect what they already use day to day.

How to request HSPT accommodations, step by step

The exact portal and forms vary by school and diocese, but the path almost always looks like this:

Confirm where your child will test. Because each school runs its own HSPT, the request goes to the school where your child tests and applies.
Flag the need during registration. Online HSPT registration usually asks whether the student needs accommodations. Select yes, and upload the documentation to the registration portal where prompted.
Confirm the details. Contact admissions to confirm the approved timing, room, and breaks before test day, and ask any questions about how the day will run.
Watch the deadline. Each school sets its own cutoff, often several weeks to a month before the test. Late or walk-in accommodation requests are generally not granted.

Don't wait

Deadlines arrive earlier than parents expect, and the HSPT is a one-time test. Reach out to your target schools as soon as you've applied, gather documentation early, and keep it organized in one place. It's far better to request and confirm too early than to miss a cutoff.

A few things parents are always glad to hear

Accommodations don't show on the score report. An accommodated score report looks the same as any other student's, with no note that extended time was used.
They don't hurt the application. Approved accommodations never count against an applicant; scores are evaluated the same way.
Extended time covers the whole test. Once approved, it applies across all five sections, not just one.

Practice under the conditions your child will actually have

Here's the part many families miss: extended time only helps if your child is used to it. A student who has only ever practiced at standard speed can find the extra minutes throw off their rhythm: pacing too fast, then second-guessing, or losing focus late in a long section. Practicing under the same extended timing builds the pacing and stamina that turn the accommodation into a real advantage.

That's why we offer extra-time editions of two of our core products, with the clock set to match approved extended-time conditions:

Accommodations

HSPT® Self-Study Course — Extra Time

$499all 5 sections

The full Ultimate HSPT Self-Study Course, with practice and test timing adjusted for students approved for extended time.

Same complete curriculum & lessons
Extended-time practice & tests

View extra-time course

Accommodations

HSPT® Mock Exam — Extra Time

$149full-length

The true-to-test mock exam with extended timing, so students testing with accommodations rehearse under realistic conditions.

True-to-test format & explanations
Extended-time conditions

View extra-time mock

Frequently asked questions

Does the HSPT offer extended time?

Yes. Students with a documented disability or learning difference can test with accommodations. The most common is extended time, usually time-and-a-half. Because each Catholic high school gives its own HSPT, the school where your child tests approves the accommodation, not a central testing service.

What accommodations can my child get?

Extended time is most common, adding roughly 50% more time across all five sections. Depending on the documented need and the school, students may also receive a separate or quieter room, more frequent breaks, repeated directions, or approved calculator use. Accommodations change the conditions, not the questions or scoring.

Who qualifies, and what documentation is required?

Students with a documented disability or learning difference such as ADHD, dyslexia, or a processing disorder. Schools typically accept a current IEP, a current 504 Plan, or a recent psychoeducational evaluation that names the disability and the accommodation. The support should already be in use in the student's regular schooling.

How do I request extended time on the HSPT?

Request it through the school where your child tests and applies. Online registration usually asks whether accommodations are needed; indicate yes and upload documentation to the portal. Confirm the approved timing, room, and breaks with admissions before test day.

When is the deadline to request accommodations?

Each school sets its own, and many require requests several weeks to a month before the test. Late or walk-in requests are generally not granted, so contact your target schools early and confirm each school's exact cutoff.

Will accommodations show up on the score report?

No. Approved accommodations are not noted on the score report. An accommodated score looks the same as any other student's. Using accommodations does not affect admission or scholarship decisions.