Grades 7–8 · Middle School

SHSAT Prep

Specialized HS Admissions math — question families, timing, scratch-paper strategy.

Length120 minutes · once a week
Tuition$587 / month
Location226 W 79th St, UWS
FormatIn-person · max 6 students
Marcelo Ambrozio, lead math teacher at School of Math

Your teacher

Marcelo Ambrozio

Co-Founder & Lead Math Teacher

MBA · B.S. Applied Mathematics, Northwestern · 20 years coaching MIT, Harvard & Stanford candidates. Meet the team →

Enroll now

Reserve your spot in SHSAT Prep

Pick the day that fits your week, then continue to secure payment. Your seat is held the moment your registration is paid.

Start membership

SHSAT Prep · Grades 7–8

$587 / month — tuition (recurring) · $99 one-time registration (placement test, written diagnostic, learning plan)
The first class you want to attend. Pick any day that matches the weekday you chose above.
Your schedule
Who is this for?
Reserve My Spot →

Stripe secure checkout · $99 registration charged today · $587/month tuition begins one day before your first class.

Want to talk first? Call (646) 668-6151 or book a free 60-minute evaluation.

About the course

What students learn

Focused SHSAT math prep for 7th and 8th graders aiming at Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech and the other specialized high schools. We teach the four question families, timing discipline, and the scratch-paper strategy needed to score competitively — built on the same diagnostic reasoning we used for twenty years preparing GMAT and GRE candidates.

A typical class

Sample class format · 120 minutes

Every SHSAT Prep class follows the same structure so students walk in knowing what to expect and walk out with a corrected mini-quiz in hand.

0:00 – 0:30
30 min

Puzzles & Enigmas

Warm-up with logic puzzles, math riddles, and short brain-teaser problems. The point is to switch the brain on without yet introducing today’s topic — students arrive at different focus levels and this 30-minute block evens the room.

0:30 – 1:00
30 min

Subject — concept & guided practice

First half of today’s topic. One of the 16 SHSAT topic areas per meeting — arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or number theory under timed conditions. Concept-first: the instructor demonstrates one or two worked examples, then students try guided practice with the teacher walking the table.

1:00 – 1:05
5 min

Brain break

A short break — water, stretch, a quick chat. Five minutes is enough to reset focus without losing the rhythm of the class.

1:05 – 1:30
25 min

Subject — word problems & applications

Second half of the topic, focused on word problems, abstraction, and math applied to real situations — the place where rote knowledge turns into real understanding. Examples we use: Using fraction shortcuts to skip long calculations on timed problems.; Reading a real SHSAT word problem and identifying the trap before solving.; Allocating 75 seconds per question — building a real pacing rhythm..

1:30 – 2:00
30 min

Mini-quiz — corrected in class

A short timed mini-quiz on today’s topic, then we correct it together — question by question, out loud, with the right strategy spelled out for each item. Parents get the corrected paper at the end of the session so they know exactly where their child stands.

Syllabus arc

24-class rolling syllabus

Courses are rolling — a student can join at any class and continue without losing the thread. Here’s the full topic arc:

Class1Arithmetic foundations — fractions and decimals under SHSAT timing.
Class2Ratio, proportion, and percent — the SHSAT favorites.
Class3Number theory — factors, multiples, GCF/LCM, divisibility, remainders.
Class4Algebra — solving equations and inequalities efficiently.
Class5Algebra word problems — translating fast.
Class6Exponents, radicals, and scientific notation.
Class7Functions and patterns — SHSAT-style.
Class8Coordinate geometry — slope, midpoint, distance.
Class9Geometry — angles, triangles, and Pythagorean.
Class10Geometry — area, perimeter, and circles.
Class11Volume and surface area on the SHSAT.
Class12Probability and counting principles.
Class13Data analysis — tables, charts, and averages.
Class14Logic and reasoning questions.
Class15Full timed math section — 57 questions in 75 minutes.
Class16SHSAT trick patterns — the four question families head-to-head.
Class17SHSAT math — full timed section under test conditions.
Class18SHSAT math — advanced word problems with rate, work, and mixture.
Class19SHSAT ELA revising/editing — full timed section.
Class20SHSAT ELA reading comprehension — full timed passage set.
Class21Full-length SHSAT practice test #1 — timed, in our classroom.
Class22SHSAT ELA — inference and tone questions across long passages.
Class23Full-length SHSAT practice test #2 — timed, in our classroom.
Class24SHSAT pacing strategy — guessing rules, skipping logic, and final timing rehearsal.

Frequently asked

Common questions from parents

How large are SOMATH classes?

Every SOMATH class is capped at 6 students. That is the number that lets one teacher see every student's work in real time, correct silent mistakes before they become habits, and pace to the room instead of the average. Larger groups defeat the whole point of small-group teaching, so we hold the cap firmly.

Where do classes meet?

In person at 226 W 79th Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10024 — one block from the 79th Street 1 train and a short walk from the B and C at 81st Street. We do not offer online classes; the small-group model relies on shared whiteboard work and in-room feedback.

What is included in registration?

$99 one-time registration covers a placement test, a written diagnostic, and a personalized learning plan delivered within 48 hours. Workbooks, problem sets, and printed practice tests are included at no extra charge. The $99 registration is separate from monthly tuition.

Can we pause or cancel?

Yes. Cancel anytime with 15 days written notice — no long-term contract. Up to 4 weeks of free pause per year to cover travel or family events, and one free make-up per month for a missed class (subject to available seats in another cohort).

Do you offer a free trial or evaluation?

Yes. Every new family starts with a free 60-minute evaluation in our classroom plus a written diagnostic delivered within 48 hours. There is no charge and no commitment — the diagnostic is yours to keep whether you enroll or not. Book at schoolofmath.us/evaluation or call (646) 668-6151.

How long does SHSAT prep typically take?

Serious SHSAT prep is a 12-to-18-month commitment. Students who begin in 7th grade with weekly small-group classes and continue through intensive summer work before 8th grade are the ones who reach specialized-high-school cutoffs. Starting later than the summer before 8th is possible but tighter. See our SHSAT Prep NYC 2026 guide for the full timeline.