Pre-ACT 9 Labor Day
Boot Camp 2026
Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools now use the Pre-ACT 9 — replacing the CPS HSAT. Five days of targeted preparation covering all four tested sections across Labor Day weekend.
The New Exam — What Changed
Chicago Public Schools replaced the CPS HSAT with the Pre-ACT 9 for selective enrollment admissions. Here is what students need to know.
What Is the Pre-ACT 9?
- Developed by ACT, Inc. — same format as the ACT
- Four sections: English, Math, Reading, Science
- Used for Chicago selective enrollment HS admissions
- Replaces the CPS HSAT starting 2025–26
Who Should Attend
- Incoming 9th graders applying to selective enrollment
- 8th graders preparing ahead for the fall exam
- Students who prepped for HSAT and need to adapt
- Any student targeting Chicago’s top public high schools
Key Differences from HSAT
- Science reasoning section added (new)
- Reading passages are longer and more complex
- Math extends through pre-algebra and algebra concepts
- No essay component on the Pre-ACT 9
Format at a Glance
- English: 45 questions, 30 minutes
- Math: 36 questions, 40 minutes
- Reading: 25 questions, 25 minutes
- Science: 30 questions, 25 minutes
What You’ll Cover
All four Pre-ACT 9 sections taught with the strategies and practice that reflect the real exam.
English
- Grammar, usage and punctuation
- Sentence structure and clarity
- Rhetorical skills and organization
- Style and word choice
Mathematics
- Pre-algebra and number concepts
- Algebra: equations and inequalities
- Geometry: area, angles and coordinates
- Statistics and probability
Reading
- Main idea and supporting detail
- Inference and author’s purpose
- Vocabulary in context
- Comparative passage questions
Science
- Data representation (graphs and tables)
- Research summary interpretation
- Conflicting viewpoints analysis
- No prior science knowledge required
Boot Camp Schedule
Five sessions across the Labor Day weekend, one section per day with full timed practice on Sunday.
| Day | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Sep 3 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM | English: grammar, usage & mechanics 3 hours |
| Friday, Sep 4 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Mathematics: pre-algebra through geometry 4 hours |
| Saturday, Sep 5 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Reading: passages, inference & strategy 4 hours |
| Sunday, Sep 6 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Science reasoning + full timed practice exam 4 hours |
| Monday, Sep 7 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Exam review, score analysis & strategy 3 hours |
Why Boot Camp Works
Five days of structured immersion accomplishes what months of scattered self-study often cannot.
Built for the New Exam
The Pre-ACT 9 is different from the HSAT. Our instruction is designed specifically for the new format — not adapted from old material.
All Four Sections Covered
Science reasoning is the section most students are least prepared for. We dedicate real time to it — with the strategies that work.
Immediate Feedback
Every missed problem is explained before moving on. Students learn from errors in real time, not days later at home.
Exam-Day Stamina
Multi-hour sessions build the concentration and pacing students need across four back-to-back sections on test day.
Reserve Your Spot
Group size is limited. Enrollment closes when sessions fill.
$250
per student · September 3–7, 2026
Enroll Now
Questions? Contact us before enrolling.
Comments (0)