Getting into Staten Island Technical High School

Staten Island Technical High School, along with Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School, High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College, High School of American Studies at Lehman College, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, and Stuyvesant High School were established under New York State Law 2590 section-g to serve the needs of gifted New York City students.

Admission is based solely on a competitive written examination, known as the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), open to all eighth and ninth grade New York City students. All applicants must be New York City residents in order to take the examination.

Please refer to the following Department of Education document entitled, "Admissions Process for Specialized Testing High Schools", to determine how seats to these schools are allocated.

The New York City Department of Education publishes a handbook with details of all six Specialized High Schools, test dates and locations, and two sample tests. It is available through your guidance counselor or online through the Department of Education Web site.

Staten Island Technical High School is strictly forbidden from distributing applications. APPLICATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED ONLY FROM THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OF YOUR CURRENT SCHOOL (8th and 9th graders only may apply to take the exam).

We have found that the following qualifications are common to students who are most often successful at Staten Island Technical High School:

• academically successful in the lower grades
• involved in extra curricular activities
• have a good attendance record
• are serious about school-work and homework
• are well behaved
• and whose parents are actively involved in their child's education.

Entrance Exam

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) assesses knowledge and skills that are needed for success in a high school for high achieving students. These skills consist of the ability to comprehend English prose, the ability to think through a verbal problem in order to reach a reasoned conclusion based on the given information, and problem-solving skills in mathematics.

It is a difficult test, and there are no easy tricks to guarantee a high score. Keeping up with your schoolwork throughout the year is the best possible preparation. Because the test measures knowledge and skills you have gained over the years, cramming usually is not effective. In fact, cramming may be counterproductive if it increases your anxiety or keeps you from getting adequate rest in the days before the test.

General Tips for Test Takers

• The best way to improve your verbal skills is to read many books and articles. This helps you expand your vocabulary and improve your comprehension. While reading, ask yourself: What is the main point? What can be deduced? Why does the author use certain words? Is this article well written?
  
• "Cram books" that supposedly help you boost your scores are probably not going to help much, but knowing what to expect on the test and having some practice in test taking is beneficial. The Specialized High Schools Student Handbook describes each part of the test and contains two sample tests to use as practice. Each sample test contains questions from previous tests, and has been updated to match the latest test as closely as possible. A list of correct answers is provided for each test, along with explanations.
  
• It is helpful to simulate the actual testing situation. Find a quiet place with a clear working area, adequate light, a piece of scratch paper, and a comfortable chair. Remove all books and papers on the table. You have 150 minutes to complete the test. How you allot the time between the Verbal and Mathematics sessions is up to you. You may start on either section. It is recommended that you do not spend more than 75 minutes on each section. You can return to one section if you have time remaining after finishing the other section. Mark your answers on the answer sheet provided in the handbook.
  
• Read all instructions carefully. Be sure you understand the task before marking your answer sheet. For each question, read all the choices before choosing one. Many questions ask for the best answer; it is important to compare all the choices to determine the choice that best answers the question. Do not select a choice just because it is true or sounds plausible.
  
• Mark your answers carefully. On a machine-scored test, it is easy to lose credit by marking the wrong answer circle or marking the answers to two questions on the same line. Make sure the number on the answer sheet matches the number of the question in your test booklet. To change an answer, erase the original mark completely. If two circles are filled in for a question, that question will be scored as incorrect. You may write in your test booklet to solve verbal or mathematics problems. Avoid making stray pencil marks on your answer sheet.
  
• Do not worry if your are unable to answer every question or if you run out of time. No one is expected to know all the answers! In general, the easier questions are at the beginning of each section. When you reach a question that seems especially difficult, do not spend too much time on it. Move on and go back to it if you have time.
  
• When you do not know the answer to a question, make an educated guess. Eliminate the answer choices that are definitely wrong, then choose one of the remaining answers.
  
• If you finish before time is up, go back over your work to make sure that you followed instructions, did not skip any questions, and did not make careless mistakes. However, before changing answers that you considered carefully the first time around, rethink the question and answer choices again.
  
• Your score is based on the number of correct answers marked on the answer sheet. There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Therefore, omitting a question will not give you an advantage and wrong answers will not be deducted from your right answers.
  
• When the time limit is almost up, fill in any blanks. Random guessing probably will not change your score significantly; however, it does no harm. When time is up, check your answers against the list of correct answers. Read the explanations of the correct answers to see the kinds of mistakes you may have made. Did you read too quickly and misunderstand the question? Did you make careless errors in computation? Did you choose answers that were partially correct, but were not the best answers? Were many of your wrong answers guesses? You also should check whether there is a pattern of errors. For example, did you get all the main idea questions wrong?
  
• Put the handbook away for a few days, then take the second sample test, following the same procedure. Be aware that how well you do on these sample tests is not an exact predictor of your score on the actual test. Also, your scores on the sample tests cannot be precisely compared. However, these tests will give you an idea of what to expect when taking the SSHSAT.
  
• Rest well the night before and eat breakfast on the day of the test. Arrive at the testing center well before the test is to begin. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a watch to keep track of the time. Make sure that you have several sharpened Number 2 pencils and an eraser that erases cleanly. Do not bring books, papers, calculators, calculator watches, alarm watches, food, or beverages.
  
• It is normal to feel nervous, but try not to "freeze." Taking deep breaths and closing your eyes may help you to relax and stay calm.
  
• Plan your time. Be aware of the total number of questions and the amount of time that you have to complete the test. Work carefully, but keep moving at a comfortable pace and keep track of the time.
  
• Be considerate. Do not chew gum during the test or make noises or movements that would be distracting to others.
  

Test Description

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test has two sections, Verbal and Mathematics.

Verbal Section (45 questions)

Verbal reasoning is measured by 5 questions on ordering sentences to form a paragraph and 10 questions on logical reasoning. Reading comprehension is measured by five reading selections, each of which is followed by six questions rapping your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret what you have read. You should not spend more than 75 minutes on this section. You may go back to this section after completing the mathematics section.

Mathematics Section (50 questions)

This section consists of word problems and computation questions. It is recommended that you allow yourself 75 minutes on this section. If you finish early, you may go back to questions in either section.

Test Materials

For each student, the school will provide

• a test booklet;
• a separate answer sheet; and
• scrap paper for use in solving logical reasoning and mathematics problems, which will be collected at the end of the exam.
You must bring to the testing session
• an admission ticket;
• two or more sharpened Number 2 pencils (a hard pencil is too light, and ballpoint or other ink cannot be used for machine scoring); an eraser; and
• a non-calculator watch to keep track of your working time. Do not bring a calculator or other computation aid. Such devices will not be permitted.

You may request a sample test by requesting one from your guidance counselor.

Scoring & Reporting

Your score is based on the number of correct answers marked. There is no penalty for wrong answers. If you are not sure of an answer, mark your best guess. Do not spend too much time on any one question. Answer each question as best you can or skip it and keep going. If you have time at the end of the test, you can go back.

Each answer sheet is scanned and scored electronically, and the number of correct answers, called a raw score, is determined for each test taker. Because there are several forms of the SHSAT, raw scores from different test forms cannot be compared directly. The test forms were developed to be as similar as possible, but they are not identical. To make valid score comparisons, a raw score must be converted into another type of score that takes into account the differences between test forms. In a process called calibration, verbal and mathematics raw scores are converted into scaled scores. The raw scores and scaled scores are not proportional. In the middle of the range of scores, an increase of one raw score point may correspond to an increase of three or four scaled score points. At the top or bottom of the range of scores, an increase of one raw score point may correspond to 10-20 scaled score points. The reason for this difference is that the scaled scores have been adjusted to fit the normal curve. Scaled scores are on a scaled that is common to all test forms, making it possible to compare these scores directly. The composite score is the sum of the verbal and mathematical scaled scores. Your verbal and mathematics scaled scores and your composite score will be reported to the specialized science high schools. The composite score is used to determine admission to a specialized science high school.

Ranking Procedure

Based on test performance, students will be assigned, in rank order, to the school of first preference until that school's available seats are filled. Then the student ranked next will be assigned to his/her second-choice school, and so on, until the seats in the schools are filled. Students may take the exam during the 8th and 9th grade only.

Student Notification

In March. schools will receive information indicating student test results for those who filed a high school application. Students who did not file a high school application will not be notified. Students who file late will be notified at a later date. Students must indicate acceptance of the school for which they were selected and return the signed letter to their guidance counselor in March.

Once students accept the assignment to a school, they must remain in that school for a minimum of one term. The specialized high schools are prepared to provide whatever assistance students need to succeed. The parent of a student who desires to transfer must make a transfer request in writing and participate in a guidance conference before a transfer can be approved. Students whose transfer is approved will be transferred to their zoned school.

Review Procedure

After scores are released to the schools, students and their parents may review the results of their examination by requesting an appointment with a Board of Education testing expert. Appointments may be arranged by writing to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, New York City Board of Education, 110 Livingston Street, Room 512, Brooklyn, New York 11201. Special Circumstances

If the scheduling presents a conflict involving religious observance, you should notify your guidance counselor; an alternative agreement may be made. You are expected to bring an admission ticket to the test sit on the day of the test. Your admission ticket from your home school will indicate the code number of your school test site and the date and time for your examination. If you appear without this ticket and/or at the wrong time, the starting time of your exam may be delayed. This code number is one of the items that must be entered on the examination answer document. Before you begin the exam, you must sign a statement indicating that you are well enough to take the exam and are taking it at the appropriate grade level. If you do not feel well, do not begin the test and do not sign the statement. Advise the proctor immediately, return the answer sheet, and do not take the test. When you return to your school, talk to your guidance counselor. With appropriate documentation of illness, you may request to take the January make-up exam, but no other exam will be available to you. Once you have begun the exam, you may not - either then or at a later date - request a make-up because of illness. All requests for make-up examinations must be submitted to your school’s guidance counselor.

Students certified by the Committee for Special Education as having disabilities may be eligible for test modification if prescribed in their Individual Education Program (IEPs). General Education Students who require testing modifications must submit the appropriate Section 504 Authorization Form, which includes the Student Accommodation Plan. Counselors must submit a roster with the names of these students.

Procedural Issues During the Test

If you believe there is any interference with your ability to perform optimally during any part of this examination, you must bring the matter to the attention of the room proctor immediately. This may include a misprinted test booklet, undue noise, or improper student behavior. The proctor will remedy the situation and take a written statement from you at the end of the test.

If you suspect any proctoring irregularities took place during your test administration, you must submit a letter detailing the situation to: Director of Pupil Personal Services. This letter must be sent by certified mail with proof of delivery and postmarked no later than one week after the exam administration.

Testing Locations

Students who attend public, private, or parochial schools located in the following districts will take the exam at the high school indicated in the Specialized High School handbook (click on link for more info).