About
ACami started the way its own home page still says it did: a Chicago parent whose child was testing for a CPS Academic Center that year, who could not find prep material built for the exam Chicago actually administers. Workbooks were written for a different test, and general practice apps covered none of it in particular. So the tool got built, first for one kid, then for anyone in the same position.
What is ACami?
A web app that procedurally generates verbal and figural practice questions and serves them as timed sets or full-length practice tests, with difficulty that follows how a student is actually doing rather than a fixed grade level. Every question is generated by our own software — not scanned from a workbook and not a leaked test item — and graded the moment it's answered, with an explanation for anything missed.
Who is it for?
Chicago families getting a child ready for the CPS Academic Center or Regional Gifted Center admissions exam. There is a free sample and a free score calculator — no account and no payment — so you can see whether it fits before deciding whether a pass is worth it for your family.
Why practice here feels hard (and why that's the point)
This test has a reputation for being tough, and it earns it. So we built our practice to be tough too, on purpose.
Even students who know the usual question types will run into patterns they haven't seen before. That's not a sign something is wrong. It's exactly what the real test does, and it's exactly what we want you to meet here first.
Every good coach will tell you the same thing: the hard moments in practice are the ones that win the game. Missing a question you've never seen feels bad. It's supposed to. That feeling means you just found something new, and now it's yours.
Practice is the safe place to be surprised. No score here decides anything. Nobody is watching the clock but you. Every new pattern you meet now is one that can't catch you off guard on test day.
So when a question stumps you, take a breath, read the explanation, and keep going. You're not falling behind. You're getting ready.
Is ACami affiliated with CPS?
No. ACami is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Chicago Public Schools, any other school district, or any test publisher, and it does not guarantee admission, a placement, or a particular score — practicing here is one part of getting ready, not a promise about the outcome. The full detail is in the Terms of Use.
Where can I find or contact you?
ACami, 3841 N Southport Ave Apt 1, Chicago, IL 60613
Questions, feedback, or a request about your data — email tfmcmahon@gmail.com or see the Contact page for what each kind of question goes to.