Free SHSAT Exam Flashcards

A verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs. Ignore words in a prepositional phrase between the subject and verb — find the true subject first (e.g., 'The list of items IS long,' not 'are').

Collective nouns like committee, team, and jury are singular when acting as one unit, so they take singular pronouns (its, not their). Compound subjects joined by 'or'/'nor' agree with whichever noun is closest to the verb or pronoun.

A modifying phrase must sit directly next to the word it describes. If a sentence starts with a participial phrase ('Running down the street, ...'), the very next word must be the person or thing actually performing that action, or the sentence implies something illogical.

A nonrestrictive (nonessential) clause — one that can be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning — needs a comma on BOTH sides. Introductory words, phrases, and clauses are also set off from the main sentence with a comma.

A run-on joins two independent clauses with no punctuation or the wrong punctuation; fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or). A semicolon may only join two independent clauses — never a clause and a fragment, and never right before 'and/but/or.'

Watch for than (comparison) vs. then (time/sequence), their/there/they're, and object pronouns after prepositions ('between you and me,' not 'I'). Also cut redundant phrasing like 'the reason is because' — say 'the reason is that' or simply use 'because.'

The main idea covers the ENTIRE passage, not just one paragraph or sentence. Eliminate answer choices that are too narrow (a single supporting detail) or too broad (something the passage never actually discusses).

For 'according to the passage' questions, the correct answer is stated directly in the text — locate the exact sentence that answers the question rather than relying on outside knowledge or inference.

A correct inference is a reasonable conclusion clearly supported by evidence in the passage — not a guess that goes beyond the text or a statement that contradicts it. If you can't point to the textual support, the choice is probably wrong.

When asked what a word 'most nearly means' as used in the passage, plug each answer choice back into the sentence and use surrounding context clues. Many SHSAT vocabulary words have multiple meanings, and only one fits the passage's specific context.

Authors generally write to inform, persuade, or entertain. Look at the overall tone and focus of the whole passage, not just one detail, to decide which purpose fits best.

Passages are often organized by cause-and-effect, compare-and-contrast, chronological order, or problem-and-solution. Spotting the structure helps you predict what kind of question will be asked and where in the passage to look.

When a passage uses a figurative phrase (like calling coral reefs the 'rainforests of the sea'), think about what QUALITY is being compared — usually richness, scale, or importance — rather than a literal, word-for-word meaning.

When asked why an author included a specific quote, detail, or example, connect it to the claim it supports. Authors add concrete examples or quotes to illustrate or provide evidence for the point they just made.

For 'which statement is best supported' questions, choose the option that is directly backed by evidence in the passage — not an idea that sounds reasonable but isn't actually discussed, and not one that contradicts what's stated.

A good summary captures the main idea and key findings without exaggerating, adding outside information, or dropping an important qualifier. Watch for summary choices that overstate the passage's claims, such as turning a recommendation into a requirement.

Tone is the author's or narrator's attitude toward the subject (for example, critical, admiring, neutral, or humorous). Identify tone from word choice and emphasis, not just from the topic itself.

When two passages are given together, expect at least one question comparing them — look for where they agree, disagree, or offer different perspectives or types of evidence on the same topic.

For poems, pay attention to imagery, rhyme, structure, and word choice. Questions often ask what a specific line or image suggests about a feeling or idea, not just what it literally describes.

For fiction excerpts, track what a character wants, what stands in their way, and how they react. Questions often ask what a character's actions or dialogue reveal about their traits or motivation.

A fact is a verifiable statement from the passage; an opinion is a judgment or interpretation. Watch for answer choices that sound plausible but are actually an added opinion the passage never states as fact.

Identify what event or condition is the cause and what result is the effect. Answer choices sometimes reverse cause and effect or attribute an effect to the wrong cause — check the passage's actual sequence of events.

Treat each answer choice as a mini true/false statement about the passage. Cross out any choice that is unsupported, too extreme, off-topic, or contradicted by the text, even if it sounds reasonable taken on its own.

Skim first for the passage's general topic and structure, then read each question and return to the relevant part of the passage for the specific answer, rather than trying to memorize every detail on a single read-through.

Trap answers often reuse exact words or numbers from the passage but combine them incorrectly, or make a claim broader or narrower than what the text actually supports — always trace the choice back to specific wording in the passage.

Evaluate expressions in this order: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). Skipping this order is one of the most common no-calculator arithmetic mistakes.

To convert a fraction to a percent, divide the numerator by the denominator and multiply by 100. To convert a percent to a decimal, move the decimal point two places left. Memorize common conversions (1/4 = 25%, 1/3 ≈ 33.3%) so you can convert instantly without a calculator.

Write a ratio as a fraction, then set two equivalent ratios equal to each other and cross-multiply to solve for the unknown. Always keep matching quantities in the same position (e.g., boys/girls = boys/girls, not boys/girls = girls/boys).

Percent change = (change in amount ÷ original amount) × 100. To find a percent OF a number, multiply the number by the percent written as a decimal (e.g., 15% of 60 = 0.15 × 60 = 9). Watch for 'percent off' problems that require subtracting the discount from the original price.

Break numbers into prime factors to find the Greatest Common Factor (multiply the shared primes) or Least Common Multiple (multiply all primes needed, using the highest power of each). Both skills are tested directly and used to simplify fractions.

When multiplying same-base powers, add exponents; when dividing, subtract exponents; when raising a power to a power, multiply exponents. A negative exponent means take the reciprocal. Memorize perfect squares up to 15² and perfect cubes up to 5³ to speed up no-calculator root problems.

Distribute first, combine like terms on each side, then move variable terms to one side and constants to the other before isolating the variable. Always perform the same operation on both sides of the equation.

Solve an inequality like an equation, but flip the inequality sign whenever you multiply or divide both sides by a NEGATIVE number. Forgetting this flip is one of the most common SHSAT algebra errors.

Use substitution (solve one equation for a variable, then plug it into the other) or elimination (add or subtract the equations to cancel a variable) to find the values that satisfy both equations at once.

Slope = rise over run = (y2 − y1)/(x2 − x1). In y = mx + b, m is the slope and b is the y-intercept — memorize this form to quickly read a line's behavior from its equation or graph.

To multiply two binomials like (x + 3)(x − 2), use FOIL: First, Outer, Inner, Last, then combine like terms. This produces a trinomial, such as x² + x − 6.

First pull out the Greatest Common Factor from every term. Recognize the difference-of-squares pattern, a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b), which lets you factor an expression like x² − 9 instantly as (x + 3)(x − 3).

Represent unknown consecutive integers algebraically as n, n+1, n+2 (or n, n+2, n+4 for consecutive even or odd integers), then translate the word problem's relationship into an equation and solve for n.

Know area formulas for rectangles (length × width), triangles (½ × base × height), and circles (πr²), plus perimeter (sum of the sides) and circumference (2πr). Read carefully whether a question asks for area or perimeter — a common trap.

Volume of a rectangular prism = length × width × height. Volume of a cylinder = πr² × height (the area of the circular base times height). Keep units consistent and double-check whether the problem gives a diameter or a radius.

In a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle). Memorize common right-triangle triples (3-4-5, 5-12-13) to solve faster without a calculator.

Similar triangles have equal corresponding angles and proportional corresponding sides. Set up a proportion between corresponding sides to solve for an unknown length using the scale factor between the two triangles.

Supplementary angles sum to 180°, complementary angles sum to 90°, and vertical angles (formed by two intersecting lines) are always equal. Angles that together form a straight line always sum to 180°.

The midpoint formula averages the x-coordinates and averages the y-coordinates of two points. The distance formula applies the Pythagorean theorem to the horizontal and vertical legs between two points. Both are frequently tested together with slope.

Mean is the sum of values divided by the count; median is the middle value when the data is ordered; mode is the most frequent value; range is the highest value minus the lowest. Some SHSAT problems give the mean and ask you to work backward to find a missing value.

Probability = number of favorable outcomes ÷ total possible outcomes, expressed as a fraction, decimal, or percent between 0 and 1 (or 0% and 100%).

For independent events, multiply the individual probabilities together. For 'without replacement' problems, the total number of outcomes shrinks after each draw, so recalculate the denominator for the second event before multiplying.

Use distance = rate × time, and rearrange it to solve for rate or time as needed. Watch for problems involving two objects moving toward or away from each other, which require adding or comparing their rates.

Identify the unknown and assign it a variable, then translate key words into operations: 'more than'/'increased by' means addition, 'less than'/'decreased by' means subtraction, 'times'/'of' means multiplication, and 'per'/'split' means division. Write the equation before solving.

Grid-in questions have no answer choices, so there is no elimination to fall back on — always recheck your arithmetic before filling in the grid. Since no calculator is allowed on the SHSAT, estimate a reasonable range for the answer first to catch computation errors.