{"id":23230,"date":"2026-05-18T20:07:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=23230"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:47:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:47:49","slug":"the-week-before-the-shsat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/shsat\/the-week-before-the-shsat\/","title":{"rendered":"The Week Before the SHSAT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is more than just a math and verbal exam; it\u2019s a test of endurance and nerves. With only seven days to go, your goal isn\u2019t to learn three years of curriculum\u2014it\u2019s to finalize your test day strategy and protect your mental energy. Here is your guide on what to do the week before the SHSAT so you can maximize your score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[ READ NEXT: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/shsat\/shsat-reading-question-types\/\">SHSAT Reading Question Types<\/a><strong> ]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TABLE OF CONTENTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><a href=\"#week-before\">The Week Before the SHSAT<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#night-before\">The Night Before the SHSAT<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#morning-of\">The Morning of the SHSAT<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#stress\">How to Manage SHSAT Stress<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#tips\">Tips for Success on SHSAT Test Day<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"week-before\">The Week Before the SHSAT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The week before the SHSAT is less about learning new material and more about optimization. Here is how you should spend your time the week leading up to test day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Focus on pacing and strategy.<\/li><li>Decide how you are going to approach each section and question type.<\/li><li>Sit down and work through SHSAT practice questions, or complete extra drills you skipped the first time through.<\/li><li>The weekend before test day, practice waking up early and eating breakfast, if you are not normally in the habit of doing so. You want to make sure you are alert and energized on test day.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_sidebar  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Two Days Before the SHSAT<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The last couple of days before the SHSAT is time to do your last studying\u2014a few more practice problems\u2014and then relax. Don\u2019t start making hundreds of flash cards or taking practice test after practice test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_promobox '><div id=\"custom_html-110\" class=\"widget_text widget clearfix widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><div><div class='op-interactive' id='69b9be630ab64a78417b9de3' data-title='SHSAT Pop Quiz' data-url='https:\/\/kaplannorthamerica.outgrow.us\/69b9be630ab64a78417b9de3?vHeight=1' data-width='100%'><\/div><script>var og_temp=document.createElement('script');og_temp.async=true;og_temp.defer=true;og_temp.src='\/\/dyv6f9ner1ir9.cloudfront.net\/assets\/js\/nloader.js',og_temp.onload=function(){initIframe('69b9be630ab64a78417b9de3')},document.querySelector('head').appendChild(og_temp)<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"night-before\">The Night Before the SHSAT&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do NOT study the night before the SHSAT. Instead, get together the following items for test day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Assistive Technology (if indicated on your IEP and test ticket) &#8211; <em>required&nbsp;<\/em><\/li><li>Your SHSAT test ticket signed by you and your parent\/guardian<\/li><li>Slant board<\/li><li>Sharpened pencils, highlighter, pencil grip, and eraser<\/li><li>FM unit<\/li><li>A watch that is silent and not a calculator<\/li><li>A quiet, unwrapped snack (students can have their snack before the beginning of the test)<\/li><li>Water (in a soft or plastic container)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Know exactly where you\u2019re going and exactly how you\u2019re getting there. Relax the night before the test, and get a good night\u2019s sleep. Go to bed at a reasonable hour, and leave yourself extra time in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"morning-of\">The Morning of the SHSAT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you eat breakfast the morning of the SHSAT. Eat something substantial and nutritious, but don\u2019t deviate too much from your everyday pattern. Dress in layers so that you can adjust to the temperature of the test room. The climate at the test location may vary, as may your body temperature. Make sure you can warm up or cool down easily. Be sure to get there early. Leave enough time to allow for traffic, mass transit delays, getting lost on the way, or any other snag that could slow you down.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div  style='background:#240f6e;color:#ffffff;border-color:#240f6e;' class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_sidebar  el_before_av_heading  rounded-corner-effect'>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Expert SHSAT Tip<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Let go of \u201cmust-y\u201d thoughts: those notions that you must do something in a certain way. For example, thoughts like \u201cI must get a great score, or else!\u201d or \u201cI must meet everyone\u2019s expectations!\u201d can have a negative influence on your actions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"stress\">How to Manage SHSAT Stress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The countdown to the SHSAT has begun. Your test date is looming on the horizon, and your anxiety is probably on the rise. First, don\u2019t panic! It is possible to conquer that anxiety and stress\u2014both before and during the test. Keep reading for some expert tips on how to manage SHSAT stress.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SHSAT Stress Management Tip #1: Identify the Sources of Stress<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Jot down anything you identify as a source of your test-related stress. The idea is to pin down as much free-floating anxiety as possible so that you can take control of it. Here are some common examples to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I always freeze up on tests.<\/li><li>I\u2019m nervous about the English Language Arts section.<\/li><li>I\u2019m never any good at math.<\/li><li>I need a good\/great score to go to Brooklyn Tech.<\/li><li>My older brother\/sister\/best friend got in. I need to get in, too.<\/li><li>People will be really disappointed if I don\u2019t get in.<\/li><li>I\u2019m afraid of losing my focus and concentration.<\/li><li>I\u2019m afraid that I\u2019m not spending enough time preparing.<\/li><li>I study like crazy, but nothing seems to stick.<\/li><li>I always run out of time and get nervous or anxious during a test.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a few minutes to think about the sources of stress you\u2019ve just written down. Then, rewrite them, listing the statements that contribute most to your stress first and putting the least stressful items last. Chances are that the top of the list is a fairly accurate description of your test anxiety, both physically and mentally. The items at the bottom of the list usually describe your more general fears. As you write the list, you\u2019re creating a prioritized list of sources of stress so that you can start by dealing with the sources that affect you most. Often, taking care of the most stressful sources at the top of the list goes a long way toward relieving overall testing anxiety, and you may not even need to bother with the worries you placed last.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SHSAT Stress Management Tip #2: Get Active<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether your choice is walking, jogging, biking, dance, push-ups, or even a pickup basketball or baseball game, physical exercise is a very effective way to stimulate both your mind and body and to improve your ability to think and concentrate. Also, it\u2019s a medical fact that sedentary people get less oxygen to the blood and, therefore, to the head than active people do. You can live fine with a little less oxygen, but you definitely can\u2019t think as well. Ironically, a surprising number of students get out of the habit of regular exercise because they\u2019re spending so much time prepping for exams. In the long term, however, making time for exercise will pay off as part of your stress management efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SHSAT Stress Management Tip #3: Keep Breathing<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dedicated attention to breathing is an excellent way of managing stress. Often, those who are struggling (either with physical or mental stress) end up taking shallow breaths. They breathe using only their upper chest and shoulder muscles, and they may even hold their breath for long periods of time. Conversely, those who continue to breathe normally and rhythmically while experiencing stress are more likely to be relaxed and in control during the entire experience. This means that now is the time to get used to the practice of relaxed breathing. Practice the next exercise to learn to breathe in a natural, easy rhythm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With your eyes still closed, breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose. Hold the breath for a bit, and then release it through your mouth. The key is to breathe slowly and deeply by using your diaphragm (the big band of muscle that spans your body just above your waist) to draw air in and out naturally and effortlessly. Breathing deeply with your diaphragm (as opposed to your shoulders and chest) encourages relaxation and helps minimize tension. Try it, and notice how relaxed and comfortable you feel, especially compared with breathing more shallowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"tips\">Tips for Success on SHSAT Test Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Use these test-taking strategies designed to reduce your stress and improve your performance during the SHSAT.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue89d' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><strong>SHSAT Test-Taking Tip #1: Keep Moving Forward<\/strong><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remind yourself to keep moving forward instead of getting bogged down in a difficult question. Remember, you don\u2019t have to get everything correct to achieve a good SHSAT score. The best test takers strategically skip questions (entering a strategic guess for every question) if doing so increases the number of questions they can answer correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><br><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue863' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><strong>SHSAT Test-Taking Tip #2: Use Breathing Exercises<\/strong><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep breathing! Test takers often tend to forget to breathe properly as the test proceeds. They may start holding their breath without realizing it, or they may breathe erratically. Improper breathing interferes with clear thinking, so use breathing exercises to help you overcome stress during the test.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><br><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue82b' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><strong>SHSAT Test-Taking Tip #3: Use Small Physical Activity<\/strong><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some quick, small physical activity during the test\u2014especially if your concentration is wandering or your energy is waning\u2014can help. Try this: Put your palms together and press intensely for a few seconds. Concentrate on the tension you feel through your palms, wrists, forearms, and up into your biceps and shoulders. Then, quickly release the pressure. Feel the difference as you let go. Focus on the warm relaxation that floods through the muscles. Now you\u2019re ready to return to the task.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><br><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue83f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><strong>SHSAT Test-Taking Tip #4: Don\u2019t Panic If Things Go Wrong<\/strong><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it feels like something is going really wrong, don\u2019t panic. If there is a problem with your computer, stay calm. Raise your hand to tell the proctor you need help. If you start to worry about your overall performance\u2014perhaps it seems like you\u2019re only getting easy questions\u2014remember that your focus should be only on the current question. Trying to gauge your performance during the exam is not only counterproductive; it\u2019s impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><br><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College&nbsp;at Kaplan North America.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is more than just a math and verbal exam; it\u2019s a test of endurance and nerves. With only seven days to go, your goal isn\u2019t to learn three years of curriculum\u2014it\u2019s to finalize your test day strategy and protect your mental energy. Here is your guide on what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[401],"tags":[402],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23230"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49530,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23230\/revisions\/49530"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}