PreACT 9 Test-Day Strategy for a One-Take Exam

CPS permits only one HSAT administration, so students benefit from a clear routine for unfamiliar questions, time pressure, and fatigue. Test-day strategy should be practiced in advance—not invented during the exam.

Use section checkpoints

Students should know approximately where they want to be at several points in each section. Checkpoints catch pacing problems early while there is still time to adjust.

Do not let one question control the section

When a question becomes expensive, make the best available decision, mark it if the platform permits, and continue. A student can lose several easier points while trying to guarantee one difficult point.

Answer every question

There is no guessing penalty. Leaving a question blank has no strategic advantage. Practice an end-of-section routine that checks for unanswered items.

Manage the screen

CPS administers the PreACT 9 Secure online except for limited paper accommodations. Students should practice reading graphs, passages, and answer choices on a screen and become comfortable with digital navigation tools.

Expect fatigue

The fourth section will not feel like the first. Full-test practice teaches the student how attention changes over time. Use brief reset routines—posture, breathing, and a deliberate first read—rather than mentally carrying the previous section forward.

Prepare logistics

Confirm testing location, arrival instructions, calculator policy, identification or registration requirements, accommodations, transportation, and sleep. Families should rely on the official CPS communication for permitted items.

PreACT, ACT, CPS, GoCPS, HSPT, and the Archdiocese of Chicago are referenced for informational purposes. Elevate Academic Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Chicago Public Schools, Scholastic Testing Service, or the Archdiocese of Chicago.