How to actually study for the SHSAT(coming from students that got into specialized high schools)
As a student who took the SHSAT and eventually got into one of the specialized high schools, one of the biggest mistakes we made early on was doing endless practice questions.
Especially now that the test is digital, prep needs to be more targeted.
A few things that seemed to matter most:
• Identify weak areas first. Don't spend equal time on every topic. Figure out which concepts are costing the most points and focus there.
• Review every wrong answer. The reason you got it wrong is often more important than the correct answer itself.
• Practice in the same format you'll see on test day. A lot of students still do mostly paper worksheets, but the SHSAT is now digital. Navigating passages, answering on-screen, and managing time digitally are skills too.
• Do full-length timed practice tests regularly. Topic drills help, but test-day performance comes from getting comfortable with the actual format and pacing.
• Start earlier than you think. In our experience, 8 weeks disappears quickly. A few months gives you time to actually improve instead of just cramming.
With the SHSAT moving to a digital format, I'm curious how other families are adjusting their prep plans. Are you changing anything, or mostly focusing on the same fundamentals?