Chicago Public Schools (CPS) recently announced that in Fall 2026, 8th graders applying for CPS 9th grade 2027-2028 admissions will be taking the nationally standardized PreACT 9 Secure exam instead of the previous High School Admissions Test (HSAT). It has not been “officially posted” to the GoCPS website yet but per Test Prep Chicago:
“The PreACT 9 Secure is a longer test than the CPS HSAT. The CPS HSAT lasted one hour, while the PreACT 9 Secure will last approximately two and a half hours.
The PreACT 9 Secure includes 4 sections, while the CPS HSAT only included 2. The CPS HSAT had a 30-minute Math section and a 30-minute Reading section; the PreACT 9 Secure will have a 35-minute ELA section, 40-minute Reading section, 45-minute Math section, and 35-minute Science section.
The PreACT 9 Secure will only be available in English, though it will still have accommodations for ESL students. The CPS HSAT had been available in multiple languages, but the PreACT 9 Secure will not have this option available.
GoCPS Admissions Process Timeline
- Application Opens: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 10am
- PreACT 9 Secure Testing for CPS Students: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Application Closes: Friday, November 13, 2026 at 5pm
- Initial High School Offers Released: Friday, February 12, 2027″
We will post more details when GoCPS gets updated. As prior years, CPS students will be administered the test during their school day (no registration required), while non-CPS students will need to pre-register for an October weekend exam date (registration TBD).