Blog - SHSAT - Page 3

Introduction In recent years, New York City lawmakers have attempted to transform the admission process for specialized high schools, selective public high schools, by moving away from the SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test). COVID-19 precautions have further complicated the testing process. In October 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the chancellor initially failed to […]

An important part of revising is making sure there are good transitions that hold writings together.  Transitions hold the main ideas together, make a passage more readable, and help organize thoughts.  The writers of the SHSAT know this, and are going to ask you during the revising/editing parts to supply the best revisions for their […]

The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. The highest possible score for the ELA section is 400 and 400 for the math section. Therefore, 400 is not a good SHSAT score. The minimum cutoff scores for acceptance into specialized high schools vary each year based on […]

Most of the SHSAT revisions for voice will be turning the passive voice into the active voice.  (For a refresher on when you won’t use the active voice, see “The Voice”.)  But, if you are new to revising you might not sure what the best route is to getting to clear writing in the active […]

Just as you will be seeing revisions on the SHSAT that have rely on grammar basics like Subject/Verb Agreement and Articles, you also will need to remember how to structure sentences using conjunctions.  Conjunctions (such as ‘and’) connect words, phrases, and sentences.  Conjunctions function in three ways:  to coordinate ideas, to pair ideas, and to […]

The interview process can be a nerve-wracking experience, but one question that often stumps many candidates is a variation of the question “Can you describe yourself?” This question may seem simple, but it’s a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression on your potential employer. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the art of […]

The word “trite” is an adjective used to describe something that is overused and consequently, has lost its originality, impact, or freshness. It often refers to phrases, ideas, or themes that have been used so frequently in conversation, writing, or culture that they have become dull, predictable, or clichéd. For example, in the sentence “The […]

The “maximum” score on the SHSAT exam is 800, however, no student has ever received an 800 on the exam. Remember that the SHSAT exam takes your raw score in each section and then gets converted into a “scaled” score. This scaled score changes every year and a perfect raw score on one section does […]

You’ll remember from your elementary school days that articles help a writer tell the reader whether they are talking about something general (“tell me about a superhero”) or something specific (“tell me about the superhero with the most anger issues”).  Good writing will make use of both kinds of articles, and good revisions will make […]

No doubt, your parents and grandparents talk to you about consequences.  If you make this decision, this other thing will be the consequence, or result, of your action.  Did you know that you won’t be your best at figuring out the consequences of ideas or actions until you’re 24?  We’re learning so much about the […]