PreACT 9 Secure Test Prep | Expert Tutors. Proven Strategies. The Blueprint to Higher Scores.

The PreACT 9 Secure is CPS’s new high school admissions test for 8th graders, replacing the HSAT starting fall 2026. It is made by ACT, Inc. — the same organization behind the ACT your student will take in high school. The test has four sections: English (44 questions, 35 min), Math (35 questions, 45 min), Reading (33 questions, 40 min), and Science (32 questions, 35 min). Total testing time is 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Any 8th grader applying to a CPS selective enrollment or choice high school through GoCPS needs to take the PreACT 9 Secure. This includes CPS students, charter school students, private school students, and homeschool students. If your child is applying to a top Chicago high school, this test is required.

The HSAT was a 60-minute test with two sections — Math and Reading. The PreACT 9 Secure is 2 hours and 35 minutes with four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science. That is more than double the length, two additional subjects, and 144 questions compared to the HSAT’s 70+. The PreACT 9 Secure also tests skills many students were never formally taught in the classroom — which is exactly why preparation matters more than ever.

Earlier blocks give more platform time before test day. Block 1 (June) gives your child nearly 4 months of AI Study Coach access before October 7. Block 4 (September) is a focused intensive right before the test. All blocks cover the same curriculum and include the same diagnostic, practice tests, and platform access through October 31. When in doubt, start earlier.

The CTC AI Study Coach is your child’s personal AI-powered study tool — available any time, any day, between every session. It adapts to their specific weak areas, generates personalized practice questions, and explains concepts at their pace. Built with student safety in mind — restricted to academic content only. Developed under the guidance of Lemi-Ola Erinkitola, Co-Chair of the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Community of Interest (a U.S. national initiative at NIST) and supported by the Kapor Foundation AI Literacy Grant.

Every student receives a diagnostic pre-assessment, 4 full-length timed practice tests (144 questions each, released one per week), and a post-assessment taken independently after Week 4. That is 6 total assessments. Between sessions, the CTC AI Study Coach generates additional personalized practice questions based on your child’s specific weak areas.

A laptop or desktop computer with internet access and Zoom installed. We recommend a laptop to simulate test day conditions. The PreACT 9 Secure is an online-only test, so practicing on a computer is important.

Yes. Contact us to discuss your child’s specific needs and we will ensure appropriate support is in place before the course begins.

Yes. At checkout you can add 4 additional Sundays of proctored practice — extending your enrollment from 4 sessions to 8. Same day, same time slot, continuous weeks right after your course ends. A CTC instructor is present every session to proctor the exam and keep your child motivated and on track. The proctored extension is $197 and is available as an add-on at checkout for any course block.

Absolutely — and you are not alone. Test anxiety is one of the most common challenges we see, even among straight-A students. We build real confidence through timed practice, proven test-taking strategies, and consistent coaching from certified CTC instructors every session. The more your child practices in a safe, supportive environment, the less nervous they feel when it counts. One test. One chance. We make sure they are ready.