Comparison
HSPT vs the ISEE, TACHS, and COOP
The HSPT, ISEE, TACHS, and COOP are the four main high school entrance exams for Catholic and private schools, and the one your child takes is decided by the school they apply to, not by choice. The HSPT (from Scholastic Testing Service) is the standard test for most Catholic high schools. The ISEE serves independent and private schools, the TACHS is used by the New York and Brooklyn/Queens dioceses, and the COOP is now given as the HSPT across the Newark area. Confirm the requirement on each school's own admissions page.
On this page
The short answer: the school decides
All four exams do the same job. They help high schools make admission and placement decisions. The difference is which schools use which test, and that is not a choice families make. You do not pick the easier-looking exam; the school your child applies to tells you which one to sit. A family applying across different school systems may end up needing more than one.
Which test your child takes depends entirely on where they apply, so confirm the requirement school by school.
Which exam does each type of school use?
| Exam | Publisher | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| HSPT | Scholastic Testing Service (STS) | Most Catholic high schools nationwide, and the Newark-area schools that formerly used the COOP |
| ISEE | Educational Records Bureau (ERB) | Independent and private schools; some Catholic schools accept it |
| TACHS | administered for the NY dioceses | Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens |
| COOP | now given as the HSPT | Archdiocese of Newark and nearby New Jersey (switched to the HSPT in 2017) |
If your child is applying to a mainstream Catholic high school, the answer is almost always the HSPT. The exceptions are geographic: New York City families usually meet the TACHS, and northern New Jersey families who remember the COOP will now sit the HSPT instead.
If your target school requires the HSPT, the best prep is doing the real thing. Our free full-length HSPT practice test mirrors the timing and question style so test day feels familiar.
Start a free practice testHSPT vs ISEE, side by side
The ISEE is the exam families most often compare the HSPT to, because both are used for 9th-grade admission. The ISEE has three levels; the Upper Level is the one 8th graders take.
| HSPT | ISEE (Upper Level) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | High School Placement Test | Independent School Entrance Exam |
| Used by | Mainly Catholic high schools | Mainly independent and private schools |
| Sections | 5 (Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Math, Language) | 4 scored plus an unscored essay |
| Questions | 298 | 160 scored plus 1 essay |
| Total time | about 2h 21m, one sitting | about 2h 40m plus breaks |
| Essay | No | Yes, 30 min, unscored but sent to schools |
| Scoring | scaled 200 to 800, percentile 1 to 99 | scaled 760 to 940, then percentile, then stanine 1 to 9 |
| Retakes | Generally once | Up to 3 times a year, one per season |
The HSPT packs more questions into a single sitting, so it moves faster. The ISEE spreads fewer questions over a little more time and adds a short essay. The biggest structural gap is that essay: the ISEE has one, the HSPT does not. See how the HSPT is scored for what the percentile means.
HSPT vs TACHS
The TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) is used specifically by the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. If you are applying to Catholic high schools within New York City, your child will most likely take the TACHS rather than the HSPT. Like the HSPT, it covers reading, language, and math with an ability component, and it does not penalize wrong answers. The practical difference for most families is not the content but the geography: the TACHS is the New York City version of the same admissions step.
New York City Catholic school applicants usually take the TACHS. Everywhere else, expect the HSPT.
HSPT vs COOP
The COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination) was long the entrance exam for the Archdiocese of Newark and nearby New Jersey dioceses. As of 2017, those dioceses switched to the HSPT, so families who were told to prepare for the COOP are now preparing for the HSPT. If an older sibling took the COOP a few years ago, be aware the test has changed. For current New Jersey applicants in these dioceses, the HSPT is the exam to study for, and the same timed practice applies.
The Newark-area COOP is now the HSPT, so prepare for the HSPT even if you still hear the exam called the COOP.
Is one exam harder than the others?
None of these tests is simply harder than the rest; they are hard in different ways. The HSPT is fast-paced, with more and shorter questions, so time pressure is the main challenge. The ISEE gives more time per question but can go deeper with multi-step math and adds an essay. The TACHS and the HSPT feel similar in style. Which one feels tougher depends on your child's strengths, a strong fast reader may prefer the HSPT while a careful math student may find the ISEE fits better. The school still decides regardless.
Can you take more than one?
Yes, and it is common. A student applying to both Catholic and independent schools often needs both the HSPT and the ISEE, since each type of school usually requires its own test. The HSPT is generally taken once on a school-set date; the ISEE allows up to three attempts a year. If more than one exam is on your child's list, plan the calendar early so neither gets rushed. If you are still learning the basics, start with what is the HSPT, then check the test dates and registration for each school.
If both tests are on your list, map the calendar early so neither one gets rushed.
Applying to Catholic high schools? Get comfortable with the HSPT before it counts. Take a free full-length HSPT practice test and see exactly where your child stands, section by section.
Start a free practice testHSPT is administered by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. and the ISEE by ERB. GTS Academics is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of these organizations. Exam requirements are set by individual schools and may change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the HSPT and the ISEE?
The HSPT (from STS) is used by Catholic high schools, with 5 sections, 298 questions, no essay, and a scaled score of 200 to 800. The ISEE (from ERB) is used by independent schools, with 4 scored sections plus an unscored essay, reported on a stanine of 1 to 9. The school your child applies to decides which one they take.
Which entrance exam do Catholic high schools use?
Almost always the HSPT. The main exceptions are geographic: New York City dioceses use the TACHS, and the Newark area now gives the HSPT in place of the former COOP. Independent and private schools usually use the ISEE.
Is the HSPT or the ISEE harder?
Neither is simply harder. The HSPT is faster-paced with more, shorter questions, while the ISEE gives more time but can include deeper multi-step math and an essay. Difficulty depends on the individual student.
Is the COOP the same as the HSPT?
As of 2017, the Archdiocese of Newark and nearby New Jersey dioceses replaced the COOP with the HSPT. Families in those areas should now prepare for the HSPT, even if they still hear the exam called the COOP.
What is the TACHS and who takes it?
The TACHS is the entrance exam for Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. If you are applying within New York City, your child will most likely take the TACHS rather than the HSPT.
Can you take more than one entrance exam?
Yes, and it is common when a student applies to both Catholic and independent schools, since each type usually requires its own test. Plan the calendar early so neither exam gets rushed.
Do these exams penalize wrong answers?
No. The HSPT, ISEE, TACHS, and COOP-now-HSPT do not deduct points for wrong answers, so students should answer every question and guess when unsure.