HANNAH SENESH SHSAT COURSE (2025)
City Smarts has supported students navigating the SHSAT for almost 20 years. Each spring, we administer workshops, small groups, and private lessons to hundreds of students. As the test has evolved and admissions has become more competitive, our goals have never changed: we give parents a realistic sense of their child’s preparedness for the SHSAT, and build on that preparedness with lessons that target the test’s most challenging content.
Our SHSAT class is designed to suit the needs of the Hannah Senesh community and is informed by the school’s curriculum.
Learn more and enroll below…
Curriculum
Spring Workshop: The first part of our course is designed to instill in 7th graders an authentic, content-level understanding of the SHSAT. Our 8-week, 10-hour program serves as a rigorous bridge between 7th grade foundation-building prep and the eventual 8th grade sprint to test day. After incrementally building test taking strategies, time management, and content-awareness, students will complete the course with a full-length SHSAT.
Fall Workshop: Our work continues with a 6-week extender that complements and builds upon the momentum of the Spring Workshop. Students will learn the hardest content on the test - from the most challenging reading passage types to the specific arithmetic, geometry, and algebra content that is required to post competitive and elite scores.
For students who have conflicts on Thursday afternoons, we encourage you to take our in-person or remote Sunday SHSAT workshops.
Test Content
We begin with the underlying concepts in math, grammar, and reading.
Test Design
Through weekly homework assignments, we familiarize students with the question constructions from the SHSAT, and identify areas where we can develop strengths and address weaknesses.
Test Strategies
In the discussion-based part of the class, we share approaches - how to respond to certain questions, or navigate the time constraints of the test - so that each student understands the challenges of these tests are manageable.
SCHEDULE
Spring Workshop
Thursdays from 4 to 5:15PM at Hannah Senesh
3/13: Math and Reading Foundations
3/27: Arithmetic and Algebra Concepts
4/10: Reading Comprehension Strategies
4/24: Geometry Concepts
5/8: Probability, Puzzle, and Sequence Questions
5/15: Revising/Editing Foundations
5/22: ELA Review
5/29: Math Review
Fall Workshop
Thursdays from 4 to 5:15PM at Hannah Senesh
Fall Dates will be finalized in May
MOCK TESTING
Mock Exam: Both sections of this course conclude with a mock exam which will be proctored on a Sunday morning. Several dates will be offered. Each student will receive a detailed test report that not only outlines areas for improvement, but also serves as a benchmark for overall progress.
ENROLLMENT FEE
Spring Course Only: $595
Spring Course + Fall Extender: $950
ABOUT CITY SMARTS
City Smarts works with students in both one-on-one and workshop settings to ensure seamless transitions from middle school to high school, high school to college, and beyond. Our work is informed by the academic challenges students face both inside and outside the classroom. We work with students at a broad range of schools, and help students anticipate the curricula they’ll see in the years ahead. We have been working with students since 2007, many of whom are now college graduates.
