Practice Like It's the Real Thing. Because on Test Day, It Will Be.

One Morning in October Decides the Next Four Years

On October 7, every CPS eighth grader sits for the same ~2.5-hour exam — and the score largely determines which selective-enrollment high school will open its doors.

• The stakes are real — One test, one morning, no retakes. Seats at schools like Payton, Northside, and Jones are limited — and thousands of students are competing for them.
• Most students walk in cold — The PreACT 9 Secure is brand new — a few downloaded PDFs and a night of cramming aren't preparation for a four-section, 144-question, timed exam.
• Make test day feel routine — With 100 full-length simulations, your child has already taken the exact format again and again. By October 7, it's just another practice run.

What's on the test

The PreACT 9 Secure has four required sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — for 144 questions in about 2½ hours. The Science section is a required, scored part of the exam, not optional.

English (44 questions, 35 min)

Passage-based questions that put you in the writer's seat — making revision and editing decisions across essays in a variety of genres and styles.

• Production of Writing (33–39%)
• Knowledge of Language (14–19%)
• Conventions of Standard English (42–47%)

Mathematics (35 questions, 45 min)

Self-contained problems covering skills typically learned through early grade 12, with an emphasis on grades 8–10. A permitted calculator is allowed.

• Preparing for Higher Math (78%)
• Integrating Essential Skills (22%)
• Modeling (≥22%)

Reading (33 questions, 40 min)

Close reading across long and short prose passages — reasoning logically from evidence and integrating information from multiple sources.

• Key Ideas & Details (48–56%)
• Craft & Structure (28–36%)
• Integration of Knowledge & Ideas (12–20%)

Science (32 questions, 35 min) — Required

Interpret, analyze, and evaluate scientific passages spanning biology, chemistry, Earth/space science, and physics. No calculator is permitted.

• Interpretation of Data (20–43%)
• Scientific Investigation (17–40%)
• Evaluation of Models & Results (20–40%)

Pro — $399 (Most Popular)

365-Day Access. A full year to master every category at your own pace.

• All 100 timed practice tests
• 14,400 questions across all four sections
• Detailed answer explanations
• Performance analytics by category
• Per-question time tracking

Upgrade to Elite anytime for just $300 more.

Elite — $699 (Best Value)

365-Day Access plus AI-powered coaching. Everything in Pro, plus:

• All 100 tests + 14,400 questions
• Full year of access + all Pro features
• Pre ACT 9 Secure Coach (AI-Personalized)
• Weekly Email Progress Reports
• Category Drill Mode
• Peer Rankings & Comparison

For Schools & Tutoring Programs

Prepare a whole cohort for October 7 with group licensing, staff oversight, and reporting built for programs. Custom pricing based on program size.

• Cohort roster management
• Staff performance dashboards
• Printable & CSV reporting
• Data API access
• Google Sheets & Zoho CRM sync

Included in all plans

• 100 timed practice tests
• 14,400 unique questions
• Detailed answer explanations
• Performance analytics by category
• Per-question time tracking
• All 4 sections: English, Math, Reading & Science

Not ready to commit? Try it free!

Get 48-hour access to 1 full practice test — no credit card required.