Time Management for SHSAT Success

Time Management for SHSAT Success

You have 180 minutes for 114 questions. That's 95 seconds per question—but smart students don't spend time equally. Let's build a winning time strategy.

The Time Reality Check

Here's what most students don't realize:

The 90-90 Rule

Split your time evenly between sections as a starting point:

Section	Questions	Time	Pace
ELA	57	90 minutes	~95 seconds/question
Math	57	90 minutes	~95 seconds/question

But here's the secret: Adjust based on your strengths!

Personalized Time Allocation

If Math is Your Strength:

• Math: 75 minutes (faster on familiar territory)
• ELA: 105 minutes (extra time where you need it)

If ELA is Your Strength:

• ELA: 80 minutes (quick confident reading)
• Math: 100 minutes (methodical problem-solving)

The ELA Time Strategy

Passage Reading Time

For each passage (5-6 total):

• First read: 3-4 minutes (active reading, annotation)
• Questions: 8-10 minutes (8-9 questions × ~1 min each)
• Total per passage: 12-14 minutes

Time Checkpoints for ELA (90-minute target):

• After 15 min: Finished passage 1 (✓ on track)
• After 30 min: Finished passage 2 (✓ on track)
• After 45 min: Finished passage 3 (✓ on track)
• After 60 min: Finished passage 4 (✓ on track)
• After 75 min: Finished passage 5 (✓ on track)
• Final 15 min: Revising/Editing + Review flagged

The Math Time Strategy

Question Triage System

Not all math questions are created equal. Sort them:

Category	Time Target	Strategy
Easy (arithmetic, simple algebra)	30-45 seconds	Do first, build momentum
Medium (word problems, geometry)	60-90 seconds	Do second, steady pace
Hard (complex multi-step)	2-3 minutes	Save for last OR skip if stuck
Grid-ins	90-120 seconds	Double-check work!

Time Checkpoints for Math (90-minute target):

• After 30 min: Completed ~20 questions (easy ones)
• After 60 min: Completed ~40 questions (easy + medium)
• After 75 min: Completed all 57 questions (first pass)
• Final 15 min: Review flagged questions, check grid-ins

The Two-Pass System

This is THE secret of 700+ scorers:

Pass 1: Cherry-Picking (60-70% of section time)

1. Read each question quickly
2. If you immediately know how to solve: DO IT
3. If you need more than 10 seconds to think: FLAG IT and move on
4. Goal: Bank all easy points first

Pass 2: Problem-Solving (20-30% of section time)

1. Return to flagged questions
2. Spend 2-3 minutes on each if needed
3. If still stuck after 3 minutes: educated guess and move on

Pass 3: Review (5-10% of section time)

1. Check grid-in bubbles match boxes
2. Verify no questions left blank
3. Quick mental check on flagged questions

Using Your Watch Effectively

Bring an analog watch (no smart watches!) and use it strategically:

Set-and-Forget Method:

1. When you start the test, note the time
2. Calculate your "switch time" (when you'll change sections)
3. Calculate your "review time" (last 15 minutes of each section)
4. Glance at watch every 5-10 questions, not every question

Example Timeline:

What to Do When You're Behind

It happens to everyone. Here's your emergency protocol:

If 15 Minutes Behind:

• Don't panic (panic wastes time)
• Skip harder questions temporarily
• Speed up slightly on questions you know cold
• Maintain accuracy (rushing = careless errors = worse score)

If 30+ Minutes Behind:

• Switch to speed mode: Answer every question, but accept you won't check all work
• Use process of elimination aggressively on multiple choice
• Never leave blanks (no penalty for guessing!)
• Focus on finishing over perfection

Practice Drills for Speed

Drill 1: Speed Reading (ELA)

• Read a passage in exactly 3 minutes (use timer)
• Answer questions in exactly 7 minutes
• Gradually reduce to 2.5 min reading, 6.5 min questions
• Track accuracy—don't sacrifice it for speed!

Drill 2: Math Sprints

• Set timer for 15 minutes
• Solve as many easy/medium math problems as possible
• Count how many you complete accurately
• Goal: 15+ correct in 15 minutes

Drill 3: Full-Test Timing

• Once per week: Take full 180-minute test
• Strict time limits, no breaks
• Practice your section order
• Track time on each passage/question set

Mental Time Management

Time pressure is psychological. Train your mindset:

Technique 1: Pressure Inoculation

Practice under slightly tighter time constraints:

• If you normally take 15 min per passage, practice at 12 min
• On test day, 15 minutes will feel luxurious
• You'll work faster naturally from the pressure training

Technique 2: Time Awareness Without Anxiety

Check your watch as information, not judgment:

• Unhelpful: "Oh no, I'm behind, I'm going to fail!"
• Helpful: "Noted—I'll skip the next hard question to make up time."

Technique 3: Progress Anchors

Celebrate small wins:

• "I finished passage 3 and I'm on track—great!"
• "I solved 10 math problems in 12 minutes—perfect pace!"
• Positive self-talk maintains speed and accuracy

Section Order Strategy

You can do sections in ANY order. Choose wisely:

Option 1: Strength First

Best for: Students who need confidence early

• Pros: Build momentum, bank points, reduce overall anxiety
• Cons: Weaker section when already tired

Option 2: Weakness First

Best for: Students who fatigue easily

• Pros: Maximum energy on hardest content, coast through easy section at end
• Cons: Risk starting anxious if struggling early

Option 3: Alternate by Passage/Set

Best for: Students who get bored easily

• Do 2-3 passages, switch to math for 15-20 questions, repeat
• Pros: Mental variety, reduced fatigue
• Cons: More complex to track time

The Final 15 Minutes

How you use the last 15 minutes of each section can add 20-30 points:

1. Verify no blanks: 30 seconds to scan bubble sheet
2. Check grid-ins: 3-4 minutes (highest error rate!)
3. Review flagged questions: 8-10 minutes
   • Don't second-guess unless you find actual error
   • Focus on questions you weren't sure about
   • If you solved it two different ways, verify they match
4. Final minute: Deep breath, confidence scan

Time Management Checklist

✅ Before test day:

• Practiced with strict time limits 10+ times
• Determined my optimal section order
• Know my checkpoint times by heart
• Comfortable with two-pass system

✅ On test day:

• Wearing analog watch
• Calculated exact switch time
• Will check watch every 5-10 questions, not every question
• Will flag and skip if stuck >90 seconds
• Will save 15 minutes for review

Remember: Time management isn't about rushing—it's about maximizing points per minute. Master this, and you'll outperform students who know more but manage time poorly!