The Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a challenging exam requiring significant preparation. To succeed on the SHSAT, students must develop a study plan tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. This article will provide study tips for students preparing for the SHSAT, including study plans for one month, three months, and one year.
1. Start with a Diagnostic SHSAT
2. Review Your Strengths and Weaknesses From Your Diagnostic Test
i. If you get one or questions wrong in more than 8 topics, study for the entire test
In this scenario, you could benefit from taking an SHSAT prep class because the entirety of the test will be covered. Also, a class is typically more cost effective than tutoring. The best option is to sign up for the Ultimate SHSAT Prep Package because it includes the class, plus 12 hours of 1-on-1 tutoring and the on-demand course.
ii. If there are less than 8 topics with wrong questions, focus on those
You would benefit from 1-on-1 tutoring in this case because you can focus specifically on the topics that will impact your test score the most, without spending time on topics you are already strong in. A book or an on-demand course is also helpful because you can skip to the chapters or lessons for the topics you want to work on.
iii. If you are very limited on time, focus on the few topics with the most wrong questions
Here tutoring, books, or an on-demand course would be very helpful to cover the most important topics. The on-demand SHSAT course will allow you to fit as much prep as possible into your schedule due to the flexibility of accessing the material.
3. Get Help
Help can come from many sources, including online resources, classes, tutors and books, but it is important to get help. You need to know what to focus your attention on.
4. Create a Schedule for Studying
Make sure that your practice and help fits into your schedule. A detailed schedule can create a routine and accountability. If you proactively set aside time to study with a plan, then you’re more likely to actually study.
5. Take Another Test
Peter Drucker famously said, “What gets measured gets improved.” It’s true for business, and it’s true for test preparation. Keep measuring your progress as you study.
6. Reassess Your Strategy Based on Your Latest Assessment
Check if your strengths and weaknesses changed. You may find that you need to change your focus because you have mastered a topic that you used to be weak in.
7. Continue Studying
8. Take Many Practice Tests
Take practice tests over and over. After learning lessons, you can focus on completing full modules for practice. It could be good to take full tests more often as you approach the test-date, so you develop timing and stamina for the test.
Preparing for the SHSAT by Taking Practice Tests
A decent and common way to prepare for the SHSAT is to consistently take practice tests. This works if you review each question you get wrong and figure out what you did wrong. Books full of practice tests could be a big help if they have explanations for each question. However, some students struggle to understand the explanations in most test prep books. Even if you plan to prepare for the SHSAT by consistently taking practice tests, you could still benefit from working with a tutor.
Study-Plans Based on Time Until the SHSAT
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1-Month Study Plan
If a student has a month or less to prepare for the SHSAT, they should focus on the section they did best on in the diagnostic test. For example, if a student did better in the math section, they should focus on math. The student should review the material on the test and take practice tests in their chosen section.
3-Month Study Plan
If a student has three months to prepare for the SHSAT, the student should use the practice test to identify which topics have the most room for improvement. The student should focus on these topics and improve their skills. Students should also take at least two more practice tests to track their progress.
1-Year Study Plan
If a student has a year to prepare for the SHSAT, the student should focus on all topics covered on the test. The student should work on improving their skills in each section but try to ace the section they are best at. The student should take at least five practice tests to track their progress and identify areas that need further improvement.
General Study Tips
Regardless of the length of time a student has to prepare for the SHSAT, some general study tips can help them succeed:
- Create a study schedule: Students should create a study schedule that includes dedicated study time each day or week. This will help them stay on track and cover all the needed material.
- Use study guides and practice tests: Many study guides and practice tests are available for the SHSAT. Students should use these resources to familiarize themselves with the test format and content. Practice tests are critical, as they help students identify areas needing improvement.
- Review missed questions: When reviewing practice tests, students should pay close attention to the questions they missed. They should check the material covered in these questions and work on improving their skills in these areas.
- Seek help when needed: Students should not hesitate to seek help when they need it. This can include asking a teacher or tutor for assistance or joining a study group with other students preparing for the SHSAT.
- Take care of yourself: Finally, students must take care of themselves during the study process. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking breaks when needed. Taking care of oneself will help students focus and perform their best on test day.
Worst Ways to Prepare for the SHSAT
1. Do Nothing
2. Play Videogames
3. Scroll on Social Media
Most people will be surprised at how much time is wasted on social media specifically Tik-Tok for students. If you have an iPhone, it’s worth checking how many hours are spent daily on social media. Hopefully, when you see the number of hours, it will be a wake-up call.
4. Hope Your Score Will Improve
This is pretty similar to doing nothing.
5. Actually Take Practice Tests, But Don’t Learn From Your Mistakes
It is such a waste of effort to take practice tests but not review the questions you got wrong and learn how to correctly answer the questions. Doing this doesn’t lead to a y improvement. You just keep checking your current level. Your score might fluctuate depending on the number of questions for different topics on each test. For example, one test might have one math question from a topic you’re very good at and the next test might have three, so your score will be higher. However, you’re not improving.
