Private SHSAT Tutoring — NYC’s Top SHSAT Prep
One-on-one SHSAT test preparation with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. Give your child the skills and strategies needed to earn a seat at a NYC specialized high school.
SHSAT Tutoring That Gets Results
The SHSAT is the gateway to New York City’s most prestigious specialized high schools — and competition is fierce. Each year, tens of thousands of students sit for roughly 3,000 available seats at schools like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. A focused, expert-led preparation programme can make the difference between an acceptance letter and a near miss.
Dr. Stuart Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and has spent more than 20 years tutoring students for competitive admissions tests. His approach to SHSAT preparation is methodical: identify your child’s specific strengths and weaknesses through a diagnostic assessment, then build a personalised study plan that targets the exact skills and question types that will move the needle on test day.
Every session is private and one-on-one — no group classes, no generic worksheets. Whether your child needs to sharpen algebraic reasoning, build reading comprehension stamina, or learn time-management strategies for the three-hour exam, Dr. Donnelly designs each lesson around your child’s unique needs.
Book a Free SHSAT ConsultationWhat Makes Our SHSAT Tutoring Different
There is no shortage of SHSAT prep programmes in New York City. Here is why families choose Tutors of Oxford.
Oxford-Educated Tutor
Dr. Donnelly earned his doctorate at the University of Oxford and brings two decades of test-prep expertise to every SHSAT session. Your child learns from one of NYC’s most qualified private tutors.
Truly 1-on-1 Instruction
Every session is private — just Dr. Donnelly and your child. No small groups, no rotating instructors. This means faster progress, immediate feedback, and a study plan built entirely around your child’s needs.
Data-Driven Progress
Regular timed practice tests and detailed score analysis track your child’s improvement week by week. Dr. Donnelly adjusts the study plan after every assessment so preparation stays targeted and efficient.
Strategy, Not Just Content
Content knowledge alone does not guarantee a top SHSAT score. Dr. Donnelly teaches proven test-taking strategies — time management, process of elimination, grid-in techniques — that help students work faster and more accurately under pressure.
About the SHSAT
Understanding the structure and demands of the SHSAT is the first step toward a successful preparation strategy.
What Is the SHSAT?
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is administered by the New York City Department of Education each fall. It is the sole admissions criterion for eight of the city’s nine specialized high schools:
- Stuyvesant High School
- Bronx High School of Science
- Brooklyn Technical High School
- High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at CCNY
- High School of American Studies at Lehman College
- Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
- Brooklyn Latin School
- Staten Island Technical High School
Students in the 8th grade (entering 9th) and, in some cases, current 9th graders are eligible to sit for the exam. There is no fee to take the SHSAT.
Exam Structure
| Section | Content | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | Reading Comprehension; Revising/Editing | 57 |
| Mathematics | Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Word Problems, Grid-Ins | 57 |
Key Facts: The SHSAT lasts approximately 3 hours. Calculators are not permitted. Students may work on either section in any order and allocate time between sections as they see fit. Raw scores are converted to a composite scaled score used for admissions ranking.
Our SHSAT Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s SHSAT programme covers both sections of the exam in depth, building the content knowledge and test-taking strategies your child needs to perform at their best.
ELA: Reading Comprehension & Revising/Editing
The ELA section tests a student’s ability to read complex passages and answer inference, main-idea, and detail questions under time pressure. Dr. Donnelly teaches active reading techniques — annotation, paragraph summarisation, and evidence identification — that help students move through passages efficiently without sacrificing accuracy.
Revising and editing questions require strong grammar and sentence-structure skills. Dr. Donnelly covers subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, punctuation rules, transitions, and paragraph organisation so students can spot errors quickly and confidently.
Math: Algebra, Geometry & Problem Solving
SHSAT Math covers a wide range of topics: algebraic expressions and equations, number properties, ratios and proportions, geometry (angles, area, volume, coordinate geometry), statistics, and multi-step word problems. Dr. Donnelly ensures your child has a solid foundation in each area before introducing more advanced problem types.
Grid-in questions, where students must produce their own answer rather than choose from multiple choice, require both precision and confidence. Dr. Donnelly drills grid-in technique extensively so students know exactly how to record answers and avoid common errors like rounding mistakes or misread questions.
Every SHSAT tutoring programme begins with a full-length diagnostic test so Dr. Donnelly can pinpoint your child’s exact starting level and build a study plan that targets their weakest areas first.
What SHSAT Families Say
Dr. Donnelly was instrumental in helping our daughter prepare for the SHSAT. She went from scoring in the low 400s on her first practice test to earning a seat at Stuyvesant. His patience, expertise, and ability to explain difficult math concepts in a way that clicked for her were remarkable. We could not have done it without him.
We tried a group SHSAT prep course first, but our son was not making progress. Switching to private sessions with Dr. Donnelly changed everything. He identified the specific areas where our son was losing points and focused each session on those weaknesses. Our son was accepted to Bronx Science and we are incredibly grateful.
SHSAT Tutoring FAQs
The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is the sole criterion for admission to eight of New York City’s nine specialized high schools, including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. Students in 8th grade (and some in 9th grade) sit the exam each fall. It consists of two sections — English Language Arts and Mathematics — and takes approximately three hours to complete.
Most families begin SHSAT preparation during the spring or summer before their child’s 8th-grade year. Starting 4 to 6 months before the October/November test date gives students enough time to build skills without feeling rushed. Students with weaker math or reading foundations may benefit from starting even earlier.
The SHSAT uses a scaled composite score derived from the ELA and Math sections. Raw scores are converted to a scaled score, and students are ranked against all other test takers. Admission cutoffs vary by school and year — Stuyvesant typically has the highest cutoff, followed by Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech. There is no passing or failing score; admission depends on how a student ranks relative to the available seats.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly offers SHSAT tutoring both in person in New York City and online via Zoom. Online sessions use screen sharing, a digital whiteboard, and shared problem sets, making them just as effective as in-person lessons. Many families use a mix of both formats depending on their schedule.
The number of sessions depends on your child’s starting point and target school. A typical programme runs 15 to 30 sessions over 3 to 5 months. After an initial diagnostic assessment, Dr. Donnelly will recommend a study plan tailored to your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and the admission cutoff for their target school.