Entrance Exam

To the right are "exam hints and tips" as well as two samples of the Hunter College High School (HCHS) Entrance Exam. These are sample tests only; they are not actual exams that were administered in any year for admission to HCHS. Sample exam #1 contains fewer Critical Reading questions than the actual test will contain, and a few more math questions than the actual test will contain.

Typically, the HCHS Entrance Exam contains three sections: 50 multiple-choice English Language Arts questions, a Writing Assignment, and 30 multiple-choice Mathematics questions (sample exam #1 contains 35 math questions). Each multiple-choice question is followed by five possible answers: A, B, C, D, or E. You must choose the best answer for each question. Students are given a total of three hours to complete the examination, including the Writing Assignment.

In the Critical Reading portion, your reading comprehension is assessed. You will answer questions about specific reading passages to show your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze a number of types of writing. You will read five or six passages of varying lengths. Each is followed by multiple choice questions about it. Every fifth line of each passage is numbered so that you can find the part the question refers to.  You are asked to read the passage and answer the questions based on the content of the passage.

The passages in the Critical Reading section reflects a range of writing styles from different time periods. In this sample exam, all of the reading passages are older, allowing us to print them without costly special permissions. Each year, we secure limited permission to reprint more contemporary selections. In an actual exam you would read and answer questions about passages from a wider range of writing styles.

In the Writing Assignment section, students are asked to write either an essay or a creative piece (up to two pages) to demonstrate the originality, effectiveness, and use of detail in your writing. There is scrap paper in the test booklet where you can jot down, outline thoughts, or compose a draft before writing the full assignment. Some years you are given a choice of topics; other years, there is only one topic.