HUNTER TEST PREP

The Hunter College High School (HCHS) Entrance Exam, created by HCHS and used to assess prospective students’ reading, math, and writing skills. The test is only administered to 6th graders for 7th grade entry. Each level test consists of three sections: Reading Comprehension, a Writing Sample, and Mathematics.

The Hunter test is the most difficult standardized test that we tutor, relatively speaking. Its content is incredibly elevated - reading passages at 10th and 11th grade levels, GMAT style math questions, a heavily weighted essay section - and a 3 hour time limit make this test incredibly grueling for 6th graders. Since most start prepping when they receive the notice they’ve qualified, we usually have only five weeks to prepare a student.

Expectations are very important when deciding to tutor for this test. Hunter has a 7% acceptance rate, akin to an ultra-competitive school like Harvard. If you want a better chance at results, you will need to start preparing your child in 5th grade. Even so, there’s no guarantee that your child will gain admittance, but there’s a higher chance with more lead time.

For many students, this is their first time navigating the competitive standardized test landscape. Few are prepared for the rigor, self-discipline, and endurance it takes to achieve an ideal score.

We are here to demystify this process and help your child take charge of their learning!

The Hunter Test's Format

English Language Arts: 50 questions

This section tests a student's reading comprehension with fiction, nonfiction, and poetry passages. Each passage has a variable amount of questions that can touch on main idea, supporting details, organization/logic, tone/style/figurative language, and inference.

Writing Assignment

This section tests a student's writing skills. The scorers pay close attention to a student's creativity, effectiveness, and attention to detail.

Mathematics: 30 questions

This section tests a student's ability to problem-solve. Problems involve computations with fractions/decimals/percents, divisibility rules, area of shaded regions, pattern recognition, simple probability, and ratios/proportions.

Our individualized approach and experienced tutors can help your child achieve dramatic score increases in a short amount of time (provided your child completes the homework we assign!). Even though the first US students took the digital test in March 2024, we have been studying this test since College Board announced it in January of 2022 and slowly started to release their new practice test materials via the Bluebook app in fall of 2022.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

We use a diagnostic test created by HCHS to get the most accurate baseline. The diagnostic test shows us where a student's strengths and areas of improvement are. We will start with the areas of improvement and methodically cover all of the material that will be on the test.

TEACH CONTENT & STRATEGY

For this test, it’s not enough to know tips and tricks (though we have quite a few, and we're happy to share them!). Especially for the mathematics section, students need to know the concepts and rules that are being tested. We expertly weave teaching content and executive strategy into our sessions.

RETEST

A regular practice test schedule helps a student practice pacing, overcome test anxiety, and test their retention. It’s also a great way to measure a student’s progress (which isn’t always linear, please keep in mind). We will ensure that your child has a practice test schedule they can follow to achieve maximum efficiency.

Here's how we do it:

Nurit S, Brooklyn parent

"A is loving Hunter. Her sessions with you gave her the inspiration and confidence that she can work through and grow.
We so appreciate you and the support you provided!"

FAQs

When should my child start studying for the Hunter test?

For the best outcome with the least amount of stress, we recommend starting in January-March of your child's 5th grade. This will be before they have received notice that they qualify for the test.

Why do you recommend a 9-12 month study timeline?

If you want your child to get into Hunter, this is the optimal timeline. The test uses GMAT style math questions which most students haven't seen yet. Our tutors will teach your child how to problem-solve and think methodically to answer these types of questions. In addition, improving reading and writing skills takes time.

My child scored extremely low on their diagnostic test. Should I be worried?

Generally, no. Most students score very low on their diagnostic test for a few reasons. The first is that they aren't used to the format of the test. The second is that the material is hard and they need to review it or learn it.

That said, the lower the score, the sooner a child should start to prepare for the test!

What scores does my child need in order to be competitive for Hunter?

While we haven't had any confirmation from Hunter College High School, we believe that 85% correct and above is necessary. We also use a rubric we have created to assess a student's writing sample. Please reach out via our Contact form and Remy will set up a free phone consultation to address your specific needs.

When will my child take the Hunter test?

They will take it once, usually in January.

Where will my child take the Hunter test?

They will take it at Hunter College High School. Please reach out to the school for more details.

Which materials do you recommend using?

Please visit our Books and Tools page to see which materials we use to prepare our students for the Hunter test.

How do you prepare students for the Writing Assignment?

We will cover writing basics using the Hochman method, an evidence-based writing methodology in which Remy is certified. The essay section has changed in recent years, and Remy and her team know best practices to approach this section.

Ready to prepare your child for the Hunter Exam?

BOOK A FREE 30 MINUTE DISCOVERY CALL