SHSAT Preparation
Three-level SHSAT preparation, Basic, Advanced, and Accelerated, with placement based on student performance and mock exam tracking.
Who This Is For
Middle school students in Grades 5–8 preparing for the Specialized High School Admissions Test for Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Brooklyn Latin, HSAS Lehman, HSMSE City, Queens HSS, Staten Island Tech, and the American Studies HSL. Best results come from starting in 6th or early 7th grade with at least one full year before the October test. Placement is by diagnostic, a strong 5th grader can be in Basic or Advanced; a weak 8th grader can still benefit from Basic. Parents who want a real, honest answer to 'is Stuyvesant realistic for my child' will get one after the first mock.
Course Content
SHSAT Basic covers core topics: arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, integers, introductory algebra, ELA comprehension, and high-frequency vocabulary.
SHSAT Advanced develops the depth needed for strong performance, multi-step algebra, geometry, probability, complex passage analysis, and disciplined revising/editing.
SHSAT Accelerated combines both in a shorter, denser timeframe with heavy strategy and efficiency work for students aiming at the top specialized high schools (Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech).
All three levels include regular full-length mocks under real timing conditions.
How ToIvy Teaches This
SHSAT prep without diagnostics is just guessing what your child needs. We start with a real mock to see exactly where the student is, then teach forward, fixing the actual missing pieces, not 'covering everything just in case.' Every concept is taught, practiced timed, then re-tested in the next mock. We track the gap between current and target score every six weeks and adjust the plan if the trajectory isn't right.
Class Format & Structure
All SHSAT classes are 3 hours weekly on weekends (90 minutes math + 90 minutes ELA). Schedule depends on level: Basic and Advanced each run for one full year (typical entry: 6th grade for Basic, 7th grade for Advanced). Accelerated is double-paced: one semester of Basic followed by one semester of Advanced. The 2× Accelerated track is even shorter (about 3 months of Basic and 3 months of Advanced) but students attend two 3-hour classes every weekend instead of one. A full-length, real-timing mock every 4–6 weeks; after each mock the student gets an item-level analysis showing exactly which question types they're missing. Class size capped tightly so the teacher can read every student's written work.
Summer Intensive: a 4-week block (Mon–Fri, 9 AM–12 PM or 1 PM–4 PM, ~20 sessions) with full-length mock tests on Saturday or Sunday. Students can stack one or both summer blocks (6/29–7/24 and 7/27–8/21) on top of their year-long track for the steepest improvement window before the October test.
Program Highlights
- Three levels: Basic, Advanced, and Accelerated, students never sit in the wrong room
- Initial placement by diagnostic mock; below 490 = Basic, 490+ = Advanced or Accelerated
- Regular full-length mock exams in real timing conditions
- Full SHSAT math and ELA coverage with dedicated revising/editing instruction
- Written explanations of reasoning required in every class
- Timed work in every session, pacing is trained, not hoped for
- Step-by-step problem solving structure students can repeat under pressure
- Targeted error analysis after every mock, wrong answers get a why, not just a correction
- Bilingual explanation available when concepts stall
What Students Actually Learn
- All SHSAT math topics, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, word problems
- ELA: revising/editing rules tested verbatim each year
- Reading comprehension across literary, informational, poetry, and paired passages
- Pacing strategy: which section to start with, when to skip, when to commit
- How to write a problem-solving step-by-step so 'careless' errors stop happening
- How to attack the hardest math questions (the back-of-section ones) without freezing
- How to mentally manage a 3-hour test without burning out by section 2
Learning Objectives
- Build a strong foundation across SHSAT math and ELA
- Develop accuracy through structured reasoning, not guessing
- Strengthen comprehension and active vocabulary
- Introduce and master multi-step thinking on harder problems
- Explain reasoning clearly in writing, not just pick a letter
- Establish consistency, independence, and pacing on a 3-hour test
- Hit a target score band the family is actually aiming for
Questions Parents Ask Us
When should my child start?
Most successful Stuy/Bronx Sci candidates start in late 6th or early 7th grade. Starting in 8th is possible but tighter, you'll know after the diagnostic.
Can my child realistically get into Stuyvesant?
After the first mock, yes, we'll give you a straight answer. We'd rather tell you 'Brooklyn Tech is a smarter target' than promise something we can't deliver.
How many hours per week should we expect outside class?
5–8 hours of independent practice for Advanced/Accelerated, less for Basic. We give a clear weekly assignment, no guessing.
What if my child is in 8th grade and just decided to take SHSAT?
Then Accelerated is likely. We'll do an honest diagnostic and tell you what's realistic in the time you have.
Related Programs
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A bridge course building the academic foundations students need before entering a full SAT preparation track.
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AMC Mathematics Competition
Competition mathematics training for AMC 8 and AMC 10 group classes, and AMC 12 through private tutoring.
Want more details on this program?
Book a free 25-minute consultation, call us, or chat with the ToIvy Assistant for placement and scheduling.