The Summer Before 8th Grade: A CPS HSAT Prep Checklist for Students
Welcome to the summer before 8th grade! You’ve earned a well-deserved break, but you also know that a big challenge is waiting for you in the fall: the High School Admissions Test (HSAT). The great news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your summer to get a head start.
Using just a few hours each week to lay a foundation now can make a massive difference in your performance and stress levels later. This isn't a grueling daily schedule; it's a simple, manageable checklist to help you build good habits and enter 8th grade with confidence.
Your Summer Prep Checklist
[✅] 1. Take One Diagnostic Practice Test Before you can create a plan, you need to know your starting point. The single most important first step is to take a full-length practice test to get a baseline score. Don't worry about getting a great score on this first one! Its only purpose is to gather data about your personal strengths and weaknesses.
Your Action Item: Schedule two hours to take one of our full-length CPS HSAT Practice Tests.
[✅] 2. Analyze Your Results A test without analysis is a waste of time. Once you have your score, look deeper. Was your math score significantly lower than your reading score? Did you struggle with geometry or inference questions? This data will tell you exactly what you need to focus on.
[✅] 3. Start a Word Journal This is a low-effort, high-impact habit. Every day, find one interesting article online (from a major news site, a science magazine, etc.) and read it. When you find a word you don’t know, write it down, look up the definition, and use it in a sentence.
Your Action Item: Get a small notebook and start your journal. For more tips, check out our Vocabulary for Victory guide.
[✅] 4. Review 7th Grade Math Concepts While the information is still fresh in your mind, spend a little time reviewing the core math concepts from 7th grade. Use a free resource like Khan Academy to brush up on any areas where you felt less confident.
Your Action Item: Make a list of 3-5 math topics to review and find practice problems in our Conquering the Math Section guide.
[✅] 5. Read at Least Two Books for Fun Yes, this is part of your prep! Reading books you enjoy is the best way to build reading stamina and vocabulary without it feeling like a chore.
[✅] 6. Draft a Study Schedule for the School Year You don't need to follow it yet, but sketching out a plan can make the start of school less overwhelming. Look at our 3-Month HSAT Study Plan and think about how you could adapt it to your own schedule.
[✅] 7. Talk With Your Parents Your parents are your biggest supporters. Have a conversation about your goals and how they can help.
Your Action Item: Share The Role of the Parent guide with them to start the conversation.
The Goal of Summer Prep: Habits, Not Burnout
The point of this checklist isn't to make you study all summer. It's to help you build smart, easy habits that will pay off enormously in the fall. A couple of hours a week is all you need to make a huge difference.
By checking off these simple tasks, you'll enter 8th grade feeling confident, prepared, and steps ahead of the competition. Now go enjoy the rest of your summer!