Math Study Guide for the SHSAT

Gridding-In Questions

To answer five of the SHSAT math questions, you’ll need to “grid in” the answer instead of just choosing one of four answer choices.

The grid is similar to this one:

This procedure requires two special tasks:

• arriving at the correct answer without being given four choices
• marking the answer in such a way that it will be counted as correct

The calculation part will be up to you, but even if you arrive at the correct answer, it can be counted incorrect if you accidentally enter it incorrectly. So, be careful to follow these guidelines:

Do:

• Record only one number or decimal point in each box at the top.

• Use the leftmost box for a negative sign only if it is required for the answer.

• Remember to write the numbers and decimal point in the boxes and fill in the corresponding circle under each box you write in.

• Make sure each circle you select is completely filled in.

• Make sure the circle you filled in exactly matches the character you wrote in the box.

Don’t:

• Record a decimal point in the same box as any other character.

• Record anything except a negative sign in the leftmost box, and do that only if it is needed.

• Leave a blank box in the middle of the answer.

• Fill in any circle if you have not written a character in the box for that column. (This includes filling in a zero circle if you have not written a zero in the box for that column.)

• Forget to fill in a circle in any column in which you wrote a character in the box.

Aside from any of the marking errors listed above, there are several forms of numbers that can be written in the boxes and are counted correct. For example:

• \(0.7\) and \(.7\) are both correct recordings of \(.7\).
• \(5\), \(5.\), and \(5.0\) are all correct recordings of \(5\).