About claura
claura is an adaptive test-prep platform for the SHSAT— the exam that decides admission to New York City's specialized high schools, including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. We help students practice the way the real test works and give parents a clear view of how their child is progressing.
Why we built claura
We're parents in New York City, and we've been through the SHSAT twice. One of our kids earned a place at her first-choice specialized high school; the other has an upcoming exam. The first time around, the hardest part wasn't the studying — it was finding anything trustworthy to study with.
The $20 prep books we bought were riddled with errors, outdated formats, and questions nothing like the real test. The only real alternative was private tutoring that ran into the thousands of dollars — out of reach for most families, and no guarantee the material was any better.
So we built the thing we wish we'd had: accurate, up-to-date practice that works the way the real exam does, an Ask claura tutor that teaches instead of handing over answers, and a clear view for parents — for one seasonal price, not thousands.
Practice that adapts
Every student starts in a different place. claura estimates each student's ability per topic and serves questions at the right level of challenge across both sections — English Language Arts and Math — so practice time is spent where it moves the needle instead of on problems that are too easy or too hard. Full-length, three-hour practice exams mirror the real SHSAT's timing and format so test day feels familiar.
Ask claura — an AI tutor that teaches
Stuck on a question? Ask claura gives guided hints, never the answer. It nudges students toward the next step the way a good tutor would, so they build the reasoning to solve the next problem on their own. Every completed question comes with a full worked explanation.
Built for parents
The parent dashboard turns practice into insight: strengths and weak spots broken down by topic, progress over time, and streaks and mastery badges that keep students coming back. You get an honest picture of where your child stands and what to work on next — no guesswork.
What's included
- Full 3-hour practice exams that match the real SHSAT*
- Unlimited practice across every topic
- Ask claura — a personal AI tutor that gives hints, never answers, on every question
- Parent dashboard showing strengths and weak spots by topic
- Detailed results with an explanation for every question
- Streak tracking and mastery badges
It's one seasonal pass per student — a one-time payment for full-season access, not a subscription. See pricing for details.
claura is an independent test-prep platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the NYC Department of Education or any official SHSAT program.