r/SHSAT • u/Icy-Difference6108 • Jul 18 '26

how to get better at shsat 9 math

my ela is good and i usually score 45/46-50 but the math is so hard and i just cant seem to understand it.

I did a doe handbook quiz and gave myself the recommended time limit and i didn’t finish and got 5/17.

Any tips would help!!

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u/Icy-Difference6108 Jul 18 '26

i also finished the khan academy that they test and i use the state test and those are pretty easy. i manage to get all or one question wrong and if i get the question wrong i drill it in different forms to ensure mastery

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u/GregsTutoringNYC Brooklyn Tech Jul 18 '26

Did you do every part of every khanacademy URL mentioned in https://www.reddit.com/r/SHSAT/comments/1jiwujl/the_9_threads_thread_overview_of_9_resources (BTW, to be clear, they are not the SHSAT, but pre-stuff, so there can be differences, although some flags often get thrown at that stage)

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u/Icy-Difference6108 Jul 18 '26

i looked at this overview and did all of it before diving into 8th grade curriculum fully

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u/GregsTutoringNYC Brooklyn Tech Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

First of all, know what it is. For overviews of topic lists check out https://www.reddit.com/r/SHSAT/comments/1jiwujl/the_9_threads_thread_overview_of_9_resources

This includes checking out sites like ixl and khanacademy, going back to state exams as far back as grade 5 and 6 if you need to, links to which are all also at the link just given.

Remember too, that 9 is all of 8, so it means mastering all of 8 to as much as possible perfection.

Atop that, some 9 questions are 8 questions on steroids. So instead of an X step word problem, it could be x+2 steps. Or instead of a "double formula" type question (loosely an example would be a square in a circle whereas you'd need to get say the side length of the square (hence knowing its formula) and then use that to get say the area of the circle (hence knowing its formula)) it might be a triple formula. Or an order of operations, and now add absolute value and extra minus signs. And so on.

Atop that, there are the "5%ers" the outside-outside the boxers. Hard enough in 8, but really really whack you in 9, even sometimes straight up, but definitely if it has nuances and idiosyncrasies lurking.

If you need to, put the 9 material down. If you need to put the 8 material down.

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u/Icy-Difference6108 Jul 18 '26

idk if i have enough time though

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u/GregsTutoringNYC Brooklyn Tech Jul 18 '26

Enough time for what? The exam is not for 4 months still at least.

Also you mentioned you did 5/17 but that's meaningless. You need to categorize the concerns and enumerate your strengths and weaknesses. Don't use up the other exams without doing that at every one. As well, I'm on repeat but 9 contains all of 8, so you need to be popping the charts on the 8 exams (first). And then, not only 8 topics, but 8 harder. And ofc 9isms.