Quebec Private School Entrance Exam Guide
Prepare for the student the school will meet—not a memorized test.
Understand school-specific admission processes, strengthen Grade 5–6 language and mathematics foundations, practise interviews and use mock exams without replacing real learning.
What may be assessed
Admission is often more than one test score
Confirm the exact process directly with every target school; do not assume that one school’s preparation package applies to another.
Academic record
Recent report cards, consistency, learning behaviours, attendance and required supporting documents.
Language skills
Reading comprehension, vocabulary in context, written expression and editing in the assessed language.
Math reasoning
Number sense, operations, fractions, decimals, measurement, geometry and multi-step problems.
Interview or program fit
Motivation, communication, interests and readiness for a particular school or concentration.
Read the school instructions
Different activities answer different questions
Use the school’s current admission page, registration portal and written instructions as the source of truth.
| Admission element | What it may show | Useful preparation | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report cards and file | Achievement, consistency and work habits | Collect complete records and address learning gaps early | Required years, translations and submission format |
| Timed academic test | Core knowledge, reasoning and performance under time limits | Review foundations, directions, pacing and checking | Subjects, language, duration and allowed materials |
| Writing sample | Organization, clarity, vocabulary and conventions | Plan, draft, revise and answer the exact prompt | Language, length, format and evaluation criteria |
| Student interview | Motivation, maturity, communication and fit | Reflect on real experiences and practise concise answers | Individual/group format and parent participation |
| Audition or sport review | Readiness for a specialized concentration | Follow the stated repertoire, portfolio or verification process | Separate partner requirements and deadlines |
| Needs documentation | Support and accommodation planning | Provide current documents and successful measures | Available services and permitted assessment measures |
Preparation timeline
Build foundations before adding test pressure
Admission dates vary widely. Replace this planning sequence with each school’s published calendar as soon as it becomes available.
| Period | Main objective | Practical actions | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5—fall/winter | Strengthen core skills | Review reading, writing, math and independent work habits | Teaching only shortcuts |
| Grade 5—spring | Research realistic options | Compare programs, language, travel, support and admission steps | Building a list only from rankings |
| Summer before Grade 6 | Maintain skills calmly | Use reading, short writing, math review and limited diagnostic practice | Daily full-length tests |
| Grade 6—early fall | Complete applications | Track portals, documents, fees, tests, interviews and open houses | Assuming dates are the same everywhere |
| Before each assessment | Practise the known format | Use targeted review, one or two timed simulations and error analysis | Last-minute cramming |
| After decisions | Protect Grade 6 learning | Compare fit and conditions, then prepare for Ministry exams and Secondary 1 | Treating acceptance as the finish line |
Language preparation
Train comprehension and expression together
The assessed language and task format depend on the school, but durable literacy skills transfer across formats.
Understand the text
Identify main ideas, details, sequence, purpose and evidence for an answer.
Read beyond recall
Infer meaning, connect clues and explain reasoning instead of guessing from one word.
Organize a response
Plan a clear beginning, development and conclusion that directly address the prompt.
Revise independently
Reserve time to check meaning, paragraphing, grammar, spelling and missing information.
Mathematics preparation
Reasoning matters as much as getting an answer
Start with a diagnostic review, then repair specific gaps before practising speed.
Number sense
Place value, operations, estimation, factors, multiples and calculation fluency.
Fractions and decimals
Represent, compare and calculate with fractions, decimals and percentages where expected.
Measurement and geometry
Units, perimeter, area, angles, properties and accurate interpretation of diagrams.
Word problems
Select information, show steps, verify reasonableness and communicate a complete solution.
Mock exams
Use simulations as a diagnostic tool—not a weekly punishment.
A mock exam is useful when its results change the next teaching step. Repeating full papers without reviewing errors can reinforce stress and weak strategies.
1. Establish a baseline
Identify skill gaps, misunderstood directions, pacing problems and careless errors.
2. Teach the gaps
Use focused lessons and short practice sets before another complete simulation.
3. Simulate realistically
Practise the confirmed format, time limits, breaks and permitted materials.
4. Review the process
Classify errors and write one concrete strategy for the next assessment.
Interview preparation
Help the student sound prepared, not scripted
A strong conversation connects genuine examples to the school and program being considered.
Know the school
Name specific programs, activities or values that genuinely connect with the student.
Use real examples
Prepare brief stories about effort, teamwork, curiosity, setbacks and improvement.
Practise thinking time
Pause, clarify a question and organize an answer instead of reciting memorized lines.
Ask a useful question
Choose a question about learning or student life that is not already answered online.
Accommodations and support
Contact admissions early when a student needs measures
Do not assume school-based measures automatically transfer to an admission assessment or that every private school offers the same support.
Request the policy
Ask which measures may be permitted, who approves them and the documentation deadline.
Provide current records
Submit the requested professional reports, intervention plans or other evidence securely.
Evaluate ongoing support
Discuss available personnel, services, classroom measures and additional costs before accepting an offer.
Assessment-day checklist
Reduce avoidable stress and protect attention
Follow the school’s instructions even when they differ from another test the student has taken.
Confirm logistics
Check arrival time, location, identification, materials, food and parent procedures.
Protect sleep and food
Choose a normal evening, familiar breakfast and enough travel time.
Manage the clock
Read directions, estimate time, move past one difficult item and return if permitted.
Review deliberately
Look for unanswered sections, copied numbers, units and whether the response fits the question.
Offers, waitlists and decisions
An admission result is not a verdict on a child
Schools may receive more qualified applicants than available places. Compare the complete learning environment before signing.
When an offer arrives
Read every condition and deadline before responding.
- Program and campus confirmed in writing
- Tuition, additional fees and contract terms
- Support, transportation and daily workload
When the answer is waitlist or no
Keep the next suitable pathway active and protect the student’s confidence.
- Ask whether further action is permitted
- Meet all deadlines for other schools
- Continue Grade 6 learning and transition preparation
College HC support
Preparation built around the student and target schools
Greater Montreal families can combine in-person and online instruction; families elsewhere in Quebec are supported primarily online.
Assessment and targeted preparation
We identify current skills and build a practical plan from verified school requirements.
- Language and mathematics diagnostic assessment
- Gap-focused lessons and timed practice
- Mock exam review and strategy coaching
Application-to-transition support
Preparation can include the wider move into Secondary 1.
- Interview practice and school-fit discussion
- Grade 6 curriculum reinforcement
- Secondary 1 organization and subject support
Frequently asked questions
Quebec private-school admission
Do all Quebec private schools use the same entrance exam?
No. Each school determines its own admission process, dates and criteria. Some use an academic test or interview; others place different weight on the student file or program-specific requirements.
What subjects should a student prepare?
Confirm the target school’s instructions first. Where academic testing is used, preparation often focuses on Grade 5–6 language and mathematics foundations, but content and format vary.
Is the private-school test the same as the Grade 6 Ministry exam?
No. Grade 6 ministerial examinations are curriculum assessments administered within elementary schooling. A private school’s admission assessment is a separate, school-defined process.
How long should preparation take?
It depends on current skills, the school’s format and the student’s wellbeing. Begin with a diagnostic review; a student with solid foundations may need familiarization, while specific gaps require earlier targeted teaching.
Can a student receive accommodations during an entrance assessment?
Policies vary. Contact each school early, ask which measures are possible and submit any required documentation by the stated deadline.
Does College HC guarantee admission?
No. Admission decisions belong to each school. College HC provides assessment, instruction, practice and transition support without promising acceptance.
Prepare with clarity
Turn school requirements into a calm, targeted plan.
Tell us the student’s grade, language profile, current results and schools under consideration. We will help identify realistic preparation priorities.
Book a 15-minute consultation