If your student yearns to attend a specialized high school in New York City, consider reaching out to Varsity Tutors to ask about our SHSAT prep services. The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a standardized exam eighth and ninth grade students take to be considered for enrollment in specialized high schools. Do you think your student can use some assistance from an SHSAT preparation option? Then contact us to learn more about our SHSAT test prep services.
In order to take the SHSAT exam, a student has to be in eighth or ninth grade and be a New York City resident. Pupils can take it in October or November, and even at the end of summer break, if they're new to New York City. The test contains two sections: English Language Arts and Mathematics. Students have 180 minutes to complete it. Each section has 57 questions, though only 47 questions per section receive a score. Ten of those questions are field test questions. Because your student won't know which questions get scores and which ones are field questions, it's imperative for them to treat all the questions alike. Below are the SHSAT sections in detail:
SHSAT Sections
- Revising/Editing
- Recognize and correct language errors and improve overall quality of writing
- Questions about sentences and written passages
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding, analyzing, and interpreting texts
- 6-10 Questions per reading passage
- Math
- Word problems and computational questions
- Grade 8 test forms come from material in the New York City curriculum through Grade 7
- Grade 9 test forms are based on material through Grade 8
Our SHSAT tutoring services grant your student one-on-one attention, which eliminates distractions from other pupils. Each session is guided by expert SHSAT tutors who know the necessary academic concepts like the back of their hands.
In an SHSAT prep program, your student can learn how to build effective study skills they would need upon entering high school and beyond. Does your student have difficulty taking good notes? An SHSAT course tutor can assist them by providing an outline for them to neatly fill in important facts. Our SHSAT classes even accommodate students who are prodigies. Is your student entering high school at a very young age? These SHSAT class instructors can cater to their gifted minds by exposing them to higher-level texts and math problems. An SHSAT test preparation program also allows your student to work on a subject that's troubling them. An SHSAT prep tutor can help them try to understand math or reading comprehension by breaking lessons down into smaller pieces and explaining things slowly.
Before test day begins, you should ensure that your student brings the necessary tools for the exam. Here's a list of them below:
What To Bring To The SHSAT
- SHSAT Test Ticket signed by parent/guardian with student's Specialized High School choices
- Sharpened Number 2 pencils
- An eraser
- Assistive Technology (if indicated on the IEP and Test Ticket)
SHSAT courses can help your student make sure they have what they need before the exam. An SHSAT test prep tutor can suggest that your student makes a list of things they need, then check them off as they put each item into their backpack before they leave home.
All of our SHSAT test prep programs possess a flexible schedule, so your student can meet up with a tutor at a time that works for them. They also take place in online environments, making it simple for pupils to engage in lessons at anywhere with a stable internet connection. Do you want more information about our SHSAT prep services? Then call or email a Varsity Tutors educational consultant, and they can help you sign up your student for an SHSAT test prep program.

Wahala: SHSAT test prep instructor
I am currently pursuing a Bachelors degree at Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Psychology and Japanese. I tutor multiple subjects, but I enjoy tutoring Algebra and Japanese the most. I believe that everybody should be able to get the education that they deserve and the attention and help in order for them to achieve that. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing the Guitar, Photography, and playing Badminton.
Education & Certification
- Indiana University-Bloomington - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- CogAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +50 subjects

Joshua: SHSAT test prep instructor
...to any college admissions departments I am familiar with. Although my tutoring specialty is test prep -- SAT, ACT, PSAT, SHSAT, and GRE -- I particularly love tutoring writing, and creative writing is a hobby of mine. My philosophy is that even when we are preparing for a standardized exam, we should always be relating the work to your passions, pursuits, and educational goals to make the work that much more meaningful. In my spare...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, French and Francophone Studies
- University of Pennsylvania - Master of Science, Social Policy
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- TOEFL
- +92 subjects

Farah : SHSAT test prep instructor
...various techniques and tools that effectively allows students from all kinds of backgrounds to master course material. I created my own worksheets, fun activities and games that encourage students to think outside the box instead of simply relying on memory. In addition, as an aspiring writer and coverage intern for various production companies, I have a lot of experience reading and editing written material. I believe that q & a sessions are outdated and a...
Education & Certification
- Barnard College of Columbia University - Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SSAT
- HSPT
- +36 subjects

Thomas: SHSAT test prep instructor
...why, the how, and the strengths and the weaknesses is invaluable. Analytical and critical thinking is something I will push for in all subjects that I tutor, including mathematics, as it is equally - if not more important there. I'm not always such a nerd though. I love action movies and video games the same as a lot of people my age. I love indie music and I like to jam on my guitar. I...
Education & Certification
- Hamilton College - Bachelor in Arts, Government
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- Test Prep
- +17 subjects

Nathan: SHSAT test prep instructor
Hi! My name is Nathan and I'm currently a junior at New York University's Stern School of Business. I graduated from Staten Island Technical High School in 2016 and I am always looking to help and share my specialization in SHSAT, SAT, and Math!
Education & Certification
- New York University - Bachelor in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- CLEP
- ISEE
- ACT
- +36 subjects

Sabreen: SHSAT test prep instructor
Having taught students in various subjects before, and as a college student myself, I believe that the best teaching approach is one that caters directly to the student's needs-whether it's through lecturing or more personalized attention. I also think that learning should be an enjoyable experience and not feel like a chore which is why I teach in an interactive and exciting manner.
Education & Certification
- Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College - Bachelor in Arts, Premedicine
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- ACT
- PSAT
- REGENTS
- +40 subjects

Damian: SHSAT test prep instructor
If you choose me to be your tutor then you will definitely ace your test. I'm a great math tutor because I understand the material thoroughly, am patient, and know how to explain things. I attended Stuyvesant High School and the University of Chicago; I am currently studying Data Science with Johns Hopkins.... If you don't get it then I'm explaining it wrong.... Before the first session, I'd have them do a bunch of practice problems on the subject they want to be tutored in, and I'd look over their answers to see what they need help with. I'd also ask them which problems they guessed on or weren't totally sure of. We could start from there.
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, None
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +63 subjects

Muktasid: SHSAT test prep instructor
...specialize in test prep such as SAT, ACT, SHSAT, etc. but am more than capable of teaching a variety of subjects. I have been tutoring students since middle school and have found that "practice makes perfect" is the most effective philosophy when it comes to learning. I love being able to help people, and the satisfaction of helping students excel in their studies provides me the incentive to give it my all when I am...
Education & Certification
- St. John's University - PHD, Pharmacy
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SAT
- +36 subjects

Brian : SHSAT test prep instructor
...helping out people study for exams and school for several years now. Last summer, I helped teach several SAT classes as a TA for Ivy Global. During my time at Stuyvesant High School, I spent two years editing opinions columns and tutoring underclassmen in math and English. I love helping out people seeing them have their "aha!" moment makes my day! I know what it's like to be in your shoes. During my first semester...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- REGENTS
- SAT
- ACT
- +30 subjects

Rena: SHSAT test prep instructor
...designer, redeveloping and revitalizing rundown neighborhoods by making them attractive to the public again. I want to leave my mark on the world and be able to say I enhanced the lives of all those who are residing in, working in, or merely visiting the city. My background in mathematics is very extensive. I took all honors mathematic courses up through AP Calculus BC in high school and Calculus I in my first year of...
Education & Certification
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick - Current Undergrad, Urban Planning and Design
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- ISEE
- SAT
- SSAT
- +30 subjects

Kevin: SHSAT test prep instructor
...I scored well enough on to attend NYC's prestigious Stuyvesant High School. Four years later, I took the SAT, after a summer of rigorous self preparation, and scored in the 99th percentile in both the Verbal and Math sections. In my academic and professional career, I've found that success is when the right mindset meets hard work and preparation.The beauty of this philosophy is that it does not discriminate against any student; everyone has a best...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelors, Operations Research
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- REGENTS
- SAT
- SAT Writing and Language
- +4 subjects

Caroline: SHSAT test prep instructor
...school and college and am fluent in the language, I love learning about new cultures and languages and am excited to continue to grow in my linguistic abilities. I think that a good teacher can make all of the difference in a student's life. As a child, I believed that I was bad at math and did not see the value in learning it. However, I had a math teacher in sixth grade who pushed...
Education & Certification
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus - Bachelors, Global Economics and Modern Language (Spanish)
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- +42 subjects

Naftali: SHSAT test prep instructor
...of the Arts. I am getting a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing with an emphasis on Screenwriting and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Studies. I have tutored and taught for Kaplan Test Prep in the past. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English and Writing. In my experience, there is no best approach for how to tutor students. Every student is different and...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Current Undergrad, Dramatic Writing
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +54 subjects

Jeff: SHSAT test prep instructor
...same time. From these experiences, I have worked with many different kinds of students with a diversity of backgrounds and learning abilities. I consider education to be the great equalizer, something that rewards hard work and gives everyone the opportunity to succeed and achieve their dreams. Many of my students were either aspiring first-generation college students or had parents who were recent immigrants to this country, and I consider my work helping them prepare for...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Current Undergrad, Neuroscience/Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- TACHS
- ACT
- ISEE
- +37 subjects

Casey: SHSAT test prep instructor
...about helping students because for me, there is nothing better than being interested in learning. To be able to encourage another person's education experience is an amazing thing, and the happiness a student feels when he or she has their "lightbulb moment" is profound. My teaching style is heavily personalized. It is important to establish the student's individual, unique learning style and cater the tutoring experience to his or her needs. Tutoring is a team...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Current Undergrad, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- REGENTS
- +53 subjects

Kody: SHSAT test prep instructor
...worked hard in the subjects that I excel in to get where I currently am. I am an undergraduate student at Stony Brook University majoring in Mathematics, so you could say that Math and me really click. I have worked with others, trying to better help them obtain a better understanding of math and they have shown bright results. My hobbies include some outdoor activities like going row boating or hanging with friends. I sometimes...
Education & Certification
- Stony Brook University - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- REGENTS
- SAT
- +23 subjects

Margot: SHSAT test prep instructor
...adapt it to the needs of each individual student. We'll work together to figure out how YOU learn best, what approaches work well for you, and ultimately, how we can achieve your goals. Whether you're a struggling student who needs a patient and a new way of explaining concepts, or a star student who wants a tutor who will challenge you at new levels, I can help you get there. I am passionate about making...
Education & Certification
- Dartmouth College - Bachelors, Double Major in Music and Theater
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- HSPT
- +57 subjects

Leticia: SHSAT test prep instructor
...in tutoring in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and SAT. I believe that there is more to life than just studying and receiving good grades. Studying can become a burden when it gets complicated and difficult to understand and can get in the way of you just living. I am here to help you to make it less of a problem for you, and find your own unique method of studying to prevent studying from becoming...
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelors, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- Advanced Placement
- REGENTS
- +54 subjects

Emmelina: SHSAT test prep instructor
...like at that age to have so much stress put upon you to improve your scores by X amount of points, and I want them to feel like a tutoring session is a relaxing but productive space where they shouldn't be afraid to ask questions and tell me what keeps tripping them up. As someone who has taken many of these tests and succeeded, I know the small things to practice and hone as well...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Science
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- REGENTS
- ACT
- ISEE
- +51 subjects

Adnan: SHSAT test prep instructor
...highly interdisciplinary. It is never a one-way stream of information. I will be asking you a lot of questions along the way. The two most lessons that I teach to my students: 1. tolerance of uncertainty; and 2. confidence in your own self-efficacy. Everyone can attain mastery. I never doubt. Anything can be learned, if you breathe, accept that you are a beginner, and give into the process. To learn how to learn, that is...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
- New York University - Bachelor of Science, Physics
Subject Expertise
- SHSAT
- GED
- SAT
- PSAT
- +136 subjects