How to Review a SHSAT Practice Test and Find Weak Spots

Step 1: Mark Missed and Guessed Questions

After a SHSAT-style practice test, do not only count the number wrong. Mark every missed question and every question the student guessed on. Guesses matter because they show fragile skills even when the final answer happened to be correct.

This first pass should be quick. The goal is to create a clean list of questions that need review before the student forgets what happened during the test.

Step 2: Sort ELA Misses by Mistake Type

For ELA, separate reading evidence, inference, main idea, vocabulary-in-context, revising and editing, and stamina mistakes. A student who misses passage evidence questions needs a different practice plan from a student who is mainly losing points on grammar decisions.

Parents should ask the student to point to the exact sentence that supports the correct answer. If the student cannot find the evidence, that is the weak spot.

Step 3: Sort Math Misses by Cause

For math, separate topic gaps from setup mistakes and careless errors. Algebra, ratios, geometry, word-problem translation, grid-ins, and pacing should not all be treated as one generic math problem.

A useful review asks: did the student not know the topic, choose the wrong setup, rush the arithmetic, or run out of time?

Step 4: Choose Only Two Weak Spots for the Next Week

The trap after a practice test is trying to fix everything at once. Most families should choose the two biggest weak spots and practice those for one week before taking another timed set.

That is why a tracker helps. It turns a messy test result into a simple summer plan: diagnose, sort, practice, then check again.

Questions Parents Ask

Should parents review every wrong question?

Yes, but they should group questions by pattern. The pattern matters more than any single missed item.

Should a rising Grade 8 student take another full test right away?

Usually not. Review weak spots first, then use another timed set after focused practice.

What if the student missed both ELA and math questions?

Choose one ELA weak spot and one math weak spot for the next week instead of trying to fix everything.

Is this affiliated with SHSAT, NYC schools, or any test publisher?

No. Original Practice Lab creates independent practice materials with original questions. The materials are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any test publisher, school district, or testing organization.