SHSAT Test Day Tips

Get ready for test day by keeping these key points in mind:

1. The Timing of Each Section is Flexible.
   Be aware of your time. If you need a few extra minutes on the Verbal Section, you can take them. If you finish the section early, you can get a jump on the Math Section. This flexibility can be helpful, but it can also get you into trouble. No one will stop you from spending an hour and a half or two hours on the Verbal Section. However, you cannot get the time back to spend on the Math Section. Therefore, make sure that you are aware of your time since, ultimately, you are responsible for managing it.
2. No calculators.
   Leave your calculator at home! If you did not realize that you could not use a calculator on the test and have been practicing with one make sure you do some practice without a calculator.
3. You'll See Fewer Verbal Questions Than Math Questions. Remember that the Verbal Section contains 45 questions while the Math contains 50. This is because Scrambled Paragraphs are weighted more heavily than other question types. Math and Verbal count the same toward your overall score.
4. You'll See Questions You Do Not Know How to Answer.
   This is going to happen because the SHSAT is hard. The moral of this story: Don't panic if you do not know something. You don't have to get everything correct to do well on the test. When you see something you don't know, see if you can quickly eliminate answers that cannot be correct and then guess. Save your energy for the stuff you know and don't freak out about the stuff you don't know.
5. Do Not Leave Any Answers Blank.
   If you leave an answer blank, you have a 0% chance of getting the question right. If you guess, you have at least a 20% chance of getting the right answer. Go with the odds.
6. Your Value as a Human Being Does Not Depend on Your Performance on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
   Hopefully you know this already. The point here is that you are probably feeling a lot of pressure as the test draws near. Some of it may be self-inflicted. Some of it may be coming from your parents. The test is certainly important and has the potential to affect your future. But ultimately, it's just a test. Have faith in the preparation that you've completed and give yourself a break.