ELA Revising & Editing
7-8%of exam
ELA Reading Comprehension
40-42%of exam
Math Numbers, Ratios & Percents
Not publishedof exam
Math Algebra
Not publishedof exam
Math Geometry
Not publishedof exam
Math Statistics & Probability
Not publishedof exam
Math Word Problems
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- SHSAT
- Admits To
- 9 NYC specialized high schools
- Questions
- 100 (50 ELA + 50 Math)
- Time
- 180 minutes total
- Format
- Computer-adaptive, no calculator
- Score
- 200-800 composite, rank-based
- Pass/Fail
- None — admission by cutoff
- Level
- 8th-grade content and skills
- Blueprint
- Fall 2026 CAT transition
Quick Editing Error Checklist
Modifiers, agreement, punctuation, and redundancy always
Modifier sits next to nounVerb matches the true subjectComma both sides nonessential clauseSemicolon needs two clauses
Than vs. Then
Than
- Comparison word
- Never indicates time
Then
- Time or sequence word
- Means next step
Compare vs sequence
Revising & Editing Error Fixes
- Two clauses joined wrong→Add period or semicolon
- Modifier far from noun→Move it next to noun
- Subject-verb number mismatch→Match verb to true subject
- Nonessential clause present→Add commas on both sides
- Wordy redundant phrase→Cut the repeated wording
Grammar & Agreement Rules
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb matches subject in number
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- Pronoun matches noun in number
- Collective nouns
- Singular when acting as one
- Verb tense shift
- Keep tense consistent throughout
- Compound subject with or/nor
- Agrees with the closer noun
- Object pronoun after preposition
- Use me not I
Modifiers & Sentence Structure
- Misplaced modifier
- Sits next to wrong word
- Dangling modifier
- No clear noun to modify
- Parallel structure
- Match verb or phrase forms
- Sentence combining
- Join related ideas smoothly
- Run-on sentence
- Two clauses, no proper joiner
- Sentence fragment
- Missing subject or verb
Punctuation Rules
- Nonessential clause commas
- Comma on both sides
- Introductory element comma
- Comma after opening phrase
- Semicolon use
- Joins two independent clauses
- Comma splice
- Comma alone can't join clauses
- Apostrophe for possession
- Not for simple plurals
Word Choice & Redundancy
- Than vs then
- Compare vs time sequence
- Their, there, they're
- Possessive, place, contraction
- Its vs it's
- Possessive vs it is
- Redundant phrasing
- Cut repeated or wordy ideas
- Affect vs effect
- Verb action vs noun result
Reading Elimination Rule
Too broad, too narrow, both wrong
Too broad: not discussedToo narrow: one detailJust right: whole passage
Fact vs. Opinion
Fact
- Stated in the passage
- Verifiable claim
Opinion
- Judgment or interpretation
- Not stated as fact
Stated vs interpreted
Reading Question-Type Approach
- Main idea question→Check whole passage scope
- Explicit detail question→Find exact line stated
- Inference question→Pick text-supported conclusion
- Vocabulary-in-context question→Plug word into sentence
- Author's purpose question→Judge overall tone and focus
- Two passages given→Compare where they agree/disagree
Reading Question Types
- Main idea question
- Covers the entire passage
- Detail question
- Answer stated directly in text
- Inference question
- Reasonable, text-supported conclusion
- Vocabulary in context
- Fits the surrounding sentence
- Author's purpose
- Inform, persuade, or entertain
- Text structure
- Cause-effect, compare, sequence, problem-solution
- Author's craft
- Why a detail was included
- Tone and point of view
- Attitude shown by word choice
Reading Strategy & Traps
- Elimination strategy
- Cross out unsupported choices
- Too broad answer
- Not discussed in the passage
- Too narrow answer
- Only one small detail
- Paired passages
- Compare agree, disagree, evidence
- Fact vs opinion
- Stated fact vs judgment
- Summary distortion
- Overstates the passage's claim
PEMDAS Order of Operations
Parentheses exponents multiply divide add subtract
P: parentheses firstE: exponents nextMD: left to rightAS: left to right
Percent Change vs. Percent Of
Percent change
- Change over original amount
- Compares two values
Percent of
- Multiply by the decimal
- Finds part of a whole
Compare vs multiply
Number Theory & Operations
- PEMDAS
- Order of operations
- GCF
- Greatest common factor
- LCM
- Least common multiple
- Prime factorization
- Break into prime factors
- Exponent rules
- Add, subtract, multiply powers
- Negative exponent
- Take the reciprocal
Ratios, Percents & Conversions
- Fraction to percent
- Divide then multiply by 100
- Percent to decimal
- Move decimal two places left
- Ratio proportion
- Cross-multiply matching quantities
- Percent change
- Change over original amount
- Percent of a number
- Multiply by decimal form
- Percent off pricing
- Subtract discount from price
FOIL for Binomial Multiplication
First, Outer, Inner, Last, then combine
F: first termsO: outer termsI: inner termsL: last terms
Equation vs. Inequality
Equation
- Exactly one solution
- Same operation both sides
Inequality
- Range of solutions
- Flip sign on negative
Exact value vs range
Algebra Method Picker
- Two equations, two unknowns→Use substitution or elimination
- Inequality times negative number→Flip the inequality sign
- Need slope from two points→Apply rise over run
- Multiplying two binomials→Apply the FOIL method
- Expression is difference of squares→Factor into two binomials
Equations & Inequalities
- Multi-step equation
- Distribute, combine, then isolate
- Inequality flip rule
- Flip sign on negative multiply/divide
- Systems of equations
- Substitution or elimination method
- Consecutive integers
- Use n, n+1, n+2
- Same operation both sides
- Keeps the equation balanced
Functions, FOIL & Factoring
- Slope formula
- Rise over run
- Slope-intercept form
- y = mx + b
- FOIL method
- First, outer, inner, last
- GCF factoring
- Pull out common factor first
- Difference of squares
- a squared minus b squared
- Evaluating expressions
- Substitute value, then compute
Perimeter vs. Area
Perimeter
- Sum of all sides
- Measured in units
Area
- Space inside the shape
- Measured in square units
Border length vs surface
Area, Perimeter & Volume
- Rectangle area
- Length times width
- Triangle area
- Half base times height
- Circle area
- Pi r squared
- Circle circumference
- 2 pi r
- Prism volume
- Length times width times height
- Cylinder volume
- Pi r squared times height
Angles & Coordinate Geometry
- Pythagorean theorem
- Right triangle side formula
- Right triangle triples
- 3-4-5 and 5-12-13 patterns
- Similar triangles
- Equal angles, proportional sides
- Supplementary angles
- Sum to 180 degrees
- Complementary angles
- Sum to 90 degrees
- Vertical angles
- Always equal each other
- Midpoint formula
- Average the x and y
With vs. Without Replacement
With replacement
- Same total each draw
- Events stay independent
Without replacement
- Total shrinks each draw
- Recalculate the denominator
Constant pool vs shrinking pool
Statistics & Probability Formulas
- Mean
- Sum divided by count
- Median
- Middle value when ordered
- Mode
- Most frequent value
- Range
- Highest minus lowest value
- Basic probability
- Favorable over total outcomes
- Compound probability
- Multiply independent event probabilities
- Without replacement
- Recalculate total after each draw
No-Calculator Problem-Solving Strategy
- No answer choices given→Recheck arithmetic before gridding
- No calculator allowed→Estimate a reasonable range first
- Multi-step word problem→Translate key words to equation
- Distance-rate-time problem→Apply distance equals rate time
Word Problem Setups
- Distance rate time
- Distance equals rate times time
- Translating key words
- More than means add
- Grid-in strategy
- No choices, recheck arithmetic
- Scale drawing problems
- Set up matching ratio
- Coin and mixture problems
- Total value equals sum of parts
Common Traps
Narrow Detail ≠ Main Idea
Detail covers one part only ≠ Main idea covers whole passage
Perimeter ≠ Area
Perimeter sums the sides ≠ Area fills the surface
Percent Off ≠ Final Price
Percent off is the discount ≠ Subtract discount from original price
Fragment ≠ Complete Sentence
Fragment lacks subject or verb ≠ Complete sentence needs both parts
Inference ≠ Guess
Inference needs textual support ≠ Guess goes beyond the text
Without Replacement ≠ Same Odds
Pool shrinks after each draw ≠ Recalculate odds every draw
Composite Score ≠ Pass/Fail Grade
Score just ranks students ≠ Cutoffs vary by school and year
Last Minute
- 1.100 questions: 50 ELA, 50 math
- 2.180 minutes total, no per-section limit
- 3.No calculator allowed on math section
- 4.No penalty for wrong answers ever
- 5.Composite score ranges 200 to 800
- 6.Admission is rank order not pass-fail
- 7.Flip inequality sign on negative numbers
- 8.Check textual evidence before choosing inference
- 9.Grid-ins have no answer choices
- 10.Skim passage first, then answer questions
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