SHSAT Math: Topics, Question Types & How to Practice
The Math section is half of your child's SHSAT composite. The topics are all grade-level — what makes it hard is multi-step word problems, a tight clock, and no calculator. Here's exactly what's covered, the question types to expect, and how to practice for both speed and accuracy.
What's covered
SHSAT Math spans the standard middle-school curriculum, applied mostly through word problems:
- Arithmetic & number properties — factors, multiples, primes, integers, order of operations.
- Ratios, proportions & percent — rates, scaling, percent change.
- Algebra — expressions, equations and inequalities, word-problem translation.
- Geometry — area, perimeter, volume, angles, the coordinate plane.
- Probability & statistics — basic probability, mean/median/mode, reading data.
There's no trigonometry or calculus — the difficulty is in combining grade-level ideas under time pressure.
Question types
- Multiple choice — most questions; pick one answer.
- Grid-in— you compute and enter the answer (no choices), so you can't test the options to back into it.
- On the digital test, some items are technology-enhanced (e.g. plotting a point, entering a numeric/polynomial response). See the digital SHSAT.
No calculator is allowed; scratch paper is provided.
What makes it tricky
- Multi-step word problems — most errors are setup/translation mistakes, not the math itself.
- Time pressure — you budget one combined clock across both sections (see how it's scored).
- No calculator — clean mental math and scratch work pay off.
- Grid-ins — no choices to guess from; careful reading is essential.
How to practice
- Fix fundamentals first — accuracy before speed; speed follows.
- Drill your weakest topics by name (start from a diagnostic), not everything evenly.
- Practice grid-ins specifically — they're a different muscle than multiple choice.
- Always work on paper, then enter the answer — exactly as on test day.
- Do timed sets so pacing becomes automatic; on the adaptive test you answer each math item before moving on (no skipping back — see the adaptive format).
Aiming for one of these scores? claura is adaptive SHSAT prep built for NYC families — full-length practice exams, the Ask claura AI tutor, and a parent dashboard that shows exactly where your child stands.
Frequently asked questions
What math is on the SHSAT?
Grade-level math: arithmetic and number properties, ratios and proportions, percent, basic algebra, geometry, and probability/statistics — applied mostly through multi-step word problems. There's no trigonometry or calculus.
Is a calculator allowed on the SHSAT?
No. The Math section is done without a calculator; scratch paper is provided. Comfort with mental math and clean scratch work matters.
What are grid-in questions?
Grid-in (student-produced response) questions have no answer choices — you compute the answer and enter it yourself. You can't back into the answer by testing the options, so they reward solid computation and careful reading.
Is SHSAT math hard?
The individual concepts are grade-level, but the section is challenging because of multi-step word problems, time pressure, and no calculator. Most lost points come from setup mistakes and careless arithmetic, not unfamiliar topics.
How do I get faster at SHSAT math?
Master the fundamentals first (speed follows accuracy), drill weak topics by name, practice grid-ins specifically, and do timed sets so pacing becomes automatic. Always work on scratch paper, then enter the answer.