In delayed October 2012, approximately 25, 000 8th graders, and a substantially smaller character of 9th graders will holding the Specialized High School Admissions Test ( SHSAT ). Their goal is to achievement admittance into one of the 8 NYC Specialized High Schools which work in Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech. The test consists of two parts, a Said Section and a Math Section. For those students who intend to yield this test, I have compiled the following outline:
CONTENT
150 Almanac, 75 statement Verbal; 75 Annals Math
Vocal Section:
5 scrambled paragraphs worth 2 points each for a total of 10 pts.
10 Logical Reasoning questions worth one point each for a total of 10 pts.
30 Saying Comprehension questions - Five passages with 6 questions each - 30 pts.
Note - Itemizing Comprehension is 60 % of the Spoken and 30 % of the exam
Math Section:
50 Math problems - geometry, algebra, talk problems and arithmetic
STRATEGY:
With the exception of scrambled paragraphs, every issue is worth the corresponding amount. Don ' t spend a lot of time on the tough ones. Do the easy questions first. You can always come back to the arduous questions at branch time in either section. You can calm take the test out - of - order. If you are stronger at Math, knock off the math section first, then use the remaining time for the reading.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so you should always guess. Never leave a blank bubble in your answer grid!
Buy a review book or download some practice tests online. Read and memorize the instructions. This saves precious time. The instructions are always the same. No need to reread them on test day.
Figure out your strengths and weaknesses and spend 2 / 3rds of your preparation time on those weaknesses. Then as you get closer to the test, go back and spend the bulk of your prep time on your strengths.
Calculators are not allowed. Scratch paper is not allowed. You must write everything in your test booklet. However, you do not have to be a walking dictionary. Vocabulary isn ' t tested. Tough words will be defined.
Math diagrams are not drawn to scale; only focus on the information given.
This is a multiple - choice test. Do not fear the format. For reading comprehension questions, most of the answers are in the passage; you just have to find them.
How to bubble:
Circle your answers in the test booklet; enter your answers five at a time. At the end go back and recheck your bubbles with the circles in the test booklet.
TIMING:
Pace yourself as you attempt practice questions. The following is a recommended guideline. If you are able to do certain questions faster than the recommended time, you will have " borrowed " this time and you can use the extra time to complete the more difficult questions or use the extra time to check your work.
The entire test is two and one - half hours. In my experience most students after substantial practice, finish the test with 15 to 30 minutes to spare. This spare time is valuable; it can get you extra points.
Recommended timing:
Math - allocate 1 minute per question the first time around, even though the test makers allocate 90 seconds.
Spend the 75 minutes on the Verbal Section as follows:
Verbal - Scrambled Paragraphs - 3 minutes per paragraph - 15 minutes total
Logical Reasoning - 1 min. 30 sec per question - 15 minutes total
5 Reading Passages - 3 min. per passage - 15 minutes
30 Reading Questions - 1 min. each - 30 minutes total
CUTOFF SCORES:
Cutoff Scores: The NYC Dept. of Education does not make public the formula used to convert the raw score ( 0 - 100 ) to a scaled score ( 0 - 800 ) Cutoff scores vary each year so it is impossible to determine what scaled score will get a student into a particular school. We do know that in 2010 there were 5, 261 offers made to students for the 8 specialized schools. Each student therefore, has approximately a 1 in 5 chance of admission.
The only thing in the student ' s control is his or her mastery of the material covered by the exam. So study hard and own your effort!
