Des Plaines · IL
Willows Academy: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Des Plaines, IL with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Willows Academy uses the HSPT, but the current exam date still needs confirmation.
- Admissions events start Sign Up to Shadow Attend an Open House Open House is one of the best opportunities to explore Willows Academy!, which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Beyond the test, Willows Academy also lists interview, visit or event, and shadow day.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Open house | Sign Up to Shadow Attend an Open House Open House is one of the best opportunities to explore Willows Academy! |
| Exam requirement | The school’s admissions materials explicitly reference the HSPT. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-09). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Willows Academy’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | HSPT required as part of admissions. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Interview | Interview required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Shadow day | Shadow day or student visit option is available. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Willows Academy’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Willows Academy
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Willows Academy’s admissions office how HSPT accommodations are approved before registration closes. Start with the HSPT accommodations guide, then confirm whether the school handles extended time, separate room or small group testing, ADHD accommodations, dyslexia accommodations, and documentation through the school or the diocese.
How to prepare for the Willows Academy entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Willows Academy uses the HSPT — a five-section, ~300-question exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, math, and language (see What is the HSPT?). Three things matter most:
- Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date.Short daily practice builds the speed the HSPT’s pacing demands.
- Practice the unfamiliar question types first. Analogies, number series, and logic items aren’t taught in most middle schools — they’re the fastest points to gain.
- Treat the first sitting as the only sitting. Most schools accept one attempt, and at many schools the score also drives merit scholarships.
Parent guides for families applying to Willows Academy
HSPT timing: when to start prep
How far ahead to start, based on your test date, school list, and how much prep your child can realistically sustain.
6-week HSPT study plan
The middle-ground schedule: enough time to cover every section without turning fall into one long cram.
HSPT study schedule for busy 8th graders
How to fit HSPT prep around homework, sports, and the real-life schedule most families are actually managing.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
How to help a child with HSPT test anxiety
How parents can lower stress without turning prep into a second source of pressure.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and how documentation usually fits into the process.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Willows Academy require?
Willows Academy admits through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), a five-section exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language, taken in the fall or winter of 8th grade.
When is the Willows Academy entrance exam?
The school publishes each cycle's exam dates on its admissions site, typically in the fall; most Catholic high schools test between November and January of 8th grade. Confirm the current date with the admissions office.
How should my child prepare for the Willows Academy entrance exam?
Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date with short daily practice, and focus first on question types middle schools don't teach — analogies, number series, and logic problems. Most schools accept one sitting, so the first attempt counts.
How do I register for the HSPT at Willows Academy?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Willows Academy's admissions process rather than through a national family registration site. Use the school's current checklist and confirm the test location, arrival time, fee, and required identification directly.
How long is the Willows Academy HSPT?
The standard HSPT has about 298 questions across five sections and usually takes about two and a half hours, not including check-in or breaks. Ask Willows Academy for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Willows Academy?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Willows Academy's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Willows Academy share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Willows Academy whether one sitting can be sent to the other schools on your list, whether additional codes or forms are required, and which school should be selected as the testing site.
Does Willows Academy offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Willows Academy before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Willows Academy require besides the HSPT?
Willows Academy also lists interview, visit or event, and shadow day as part of the admissions process. Use the school's checklist early, because these steps often move on the same compressed fall timeline as testing.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other Des Plaines schools.
Get ready for Willows Academy's entrance exam with a free baseline.
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