What the SHSAT ELA section covers
The SHSAT ELA section tests English Language Arts skills used in high school admissions: reading comprehension, analysis, and revising/editing. You will answer multiple choice questions tied to passages (informational, literary, and one poem) and complete editing tasks that target grammatical errors, clarity, and organization. Timing matches the full exam: 180 minutes total for ELA and Math together, and you can choose your section order. Use practice tests to rehearse timing and build stamina as you prepare for the SHSAT.
SHSAT ELA question types (quick overview)
The ELA section blends two families of tasks:
Revising/Editing (Stand-Alone): Identify an error in a sentence or short paragraph, or select the best improvement. Expect issues in usage, punctuation, sentence structure, and diction.
Revising/Editing (Passage-Based): Edit within a longer draft. Fix topic sentences, transitions, cohesion, and development; improve concision and tone.
Reading Comprehension: Sets of questions follow each passage. You will determine main ideas, author’s purpose, inferences, function of sentences/paragraphs, and meanings in context. One set is poetry; others are informational and literary.
Syllabus guide: what to study first ?
Revising/Editing: sentence boundaries (run-ons, fragments), comma usage, agreement (subject–verb, pronoun–antecedent), verb tense and consistency, modifiers, parallelism, clarity/concision, word choice, transitions, and paragraph organization.
Reading Comprehension: central idea vs. details, logical inferences, text structure, purpose/tone, evidence selection, and vocabulary in context. Build daily reading across nonfiction, science, history, and literature to strengthen background knowledge for york city topics and beyond.
Passage-set strategy (reading)
Approach each set with a simple plan to maximize correct answers:
Preview purpose: Read the blurb/title to set expectations.
First pass for gist: Read straight through; mark claims, shifts, and key terms.
Question triage: Start with main-idea or purpose items to lock the big picture; then answer detail questions using line references.
Evidence discipline: Underline proof for every answer choice. If you can’t cite a line or phrase, reconsider.
Poetry focus: Paraphrase each stanza, then match imagery and diction to the central idea before checking answer choices.
Revising & Editing checklist (use on every item)
Identify the issue: grammar, style, or organization?
Fix meaning first: the revision must preserve the writer’s intended point.
Be concise: shorter is usually better if meaning stays clear.
Grammar pass: tense, agreement, pronouns, modifiers, parallel structure, punctuation.
Flow & cohesion: topic sentences, transitions, and logical order.
Eliminate traps: choices that add info, change tone, or introduce new grammatical errors.
Timed practice and pacing for the ELA section
On full practice tests, aim to complete ELA in ~90 minutes, leaving a cushion for review. Take passages in your best order (for many students: informational → literary → poetry). Set mini-deadlines for each passage set and move on when stuck—there is no penalty for guessing. Track time on revising/editing first; these are quick wins that raise raw points fast.
High-impact drills (class or tutoring)
10-Minute Edit Sprint: Five stand-alone items mixing usage, punctuation, and clarity. Explain why each wrong answer is wrong.
Transition Lab: Give a paragraph with weak cohesion. Rebuild with precise transitions and stronger topic sentences.
Evidence Hunt: For a passage, write the line numbers that justify two answer choices (one right, one tempting). Compare and label the trap.
Poetry Paraphrase: One stanza → one-sentence paraphrase → tone word → image/symbol → question predictions.
Concise Rewrite: Replace wordy phrasing with direct language without losing meaning; check for new errors.
Mixed Set Review: 6–8 reading questions under a strict clock. Debrief only with text evidence.
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