Use official SHSAT practice tests from the NYC DOE - tutorial, two full-length exams, answer explanations, and a clear How to Prepare guide.
Why start with official SHSAT practice tests
The most reliable SHSAT practice comes from the official materials: a clear How to Prepare guide, two full-length practice tests, and a digital tutorial that mirrors the exam interface. These resources include explanations of correct answers and run in a web browser no special software needed. Begin with these before adding third-party sets.
What’s inside the official materials (at a glance)
Format match: 2 math/ELA sections, 114 questions total (57 per section). ELA is multiple choice; Math includes multiple choice and grid-ins.
Timing: 180 minutes standard time.
Practice flow: tutorial for navigation + tools, then two full-length practice tests with correct answers and explanations.
Review support: after each test, students can see which items were answered correctly/incorrectly and use explanations to study.
How to use SHSAT practice tests in a course or tutoring package
Step 1 - Diagnostic (Week 1).
Run Full-Length Practice Test A in one sitting (180 minutes, no calculator). Record raw correct by question type for both math sections and ELA.
Step 2 - Targeted lessons (Weeks 1–2).
Teach to data: reading inference, vocabulary-in-context, grammar/editing; in Math, focus on algebra, number properties, geometry, and data. Re-teach miss patterns (careless / concept / timing).
Step 3 - Interface fluency (Week 2).
Use the tutorial to practice flags, review screen, zoom, highlights, and typed responses. This reduces tech friction and saves time on test day.
Step 4 - Benchmark (Week 3 or 4).
Assign Full-Length Practice Test B. Compare raw results and error tags. Re-teach with the correct answers explanations, then assign targeted drills.
Step 5 - Progress cadence (through test date).
Repeat a full-length every 3–4 weeks. Track raw→trend movements; remember scaling is recalibrated each year, so use trends for planning—not exact predictions.
4-week starter plan (drop-in)
Week 1: Tutorial + Diagnostic (A) → analyze results and set pacing goals.
Week 2: Skill blocks from diagnostic; timed section sprints (ELA multiple choice; Math grid-ins).
Week 3: Mixed practice (90–120 minutes) + error-type review.
Week 4: Benchmark (B) → re-teach from correct answers; adjust pacing and stamina work.
Checklist before every full-length practice test
Morning start; 180 minutes on the clock.
Scratch paper ready; no calculator.
Section order planned (ELA first or Math first).
Pacing marks set (e.g., 45-minute checkpoints).
Post-test plan: re-solve all misses with correct answers and explanations.
Self-study vs. tutoring: How to decide?
Self-study: start with official SHSAT practice tests, build an error log, and schedule 3–4 full-lengths across your prep.
Tutoring/course package: instructors align weekly lessons to your diagnostic data, add strategy, and hold you accountable. If you’re targeting highly selective schools (e.g., Stuyvesant, Staten Island Technical), consider adding extra full-length practice tests late in prep to build stamina.
How to prep (step-by-step)?
1) Learn the interface (30–45 minutes).
Open the SRT tutorial and try every tool: highlight, zoom, review flags, math response entry, and multi-select answers.
2) Take Practice Test A (full length).
Simulate real conditions: no calculator, scratch paper allowed, strict 180-minute timer. Aim for consistent pacing across English Language Arts and Math.
3) Review by error type.
Tag misses as careless / concept / time. On Math, rewrite solutions neatly; on ELA, note evidence lines and editing rules (punctuation, usage, sentence boundaries).
4) Drill TEI skills.
Practice multi-select instructions, drag-and-drop order, and typed math responses. Treat each TEI like a standard scored item no partial credit unless the platform explicitly says so.
5) Take Practice Test B (full length).
Compare raw performance across sections. Use your scaled score targets only as rough guides; the DOE converts raw → scaled each year across forms. Focus on raising raw correct answers.
6) Keep content fundamentals strong.
For ELA: vocabulary-in-context and passage inference. For Math: algebra, number properties, geometry, and data. Continue mixed practice that balances digital test input with pencil-and-paper scratch work.
VEGA AI Capability
What It Means for Your SHSAT Program
Offer a free 15-minute SHSAT diagnostic; VEGA AI captures contact info, scores, and gap analysis so your marketing team can convert prospects with data-driven calls.
