Specialized SHSAT and Regis (HSPT) Test Prep
Most Difficult High School Entrance Exams and Scholarship Exams
I offer specialized HSPT (Regis Test) & SHSAT tutoring in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and NYC individually or in small groups. The seventh grade and eighth grade material overlaps on both the SHSAT and HSPT, but the format and time given is very different. Almost all of the material is prerequisite or directly on the college admissions exams. I originally started teaching high school entrance material because I noticed many high school students did not have the proper foundation from sixth and seventh grade.
Our tutors prepare students with optimal test taking strategy so they can do as well as possible on their admissions exams, but my main focus is to help them learn the material so well that they will never forget it. I hope that this will minimize hesitation when they take their tests but also instill a lifelong love of learning. Ultimately, I hope this desire will snowball for them. I hope they will help solve humanity’s problems and push us to new eras of progress.
Students typically take a practice test before the first lesson. This can be scheduled at the bottom of the page. Please call (917) 592-4466 if you have any questions.
HSPT for Private High Schools
Regis Exam
Regis is one of the best high schools in the country. All students who attend earn a full four-year scholarship. Less than 10% of students are admitted. Entrance is determined based on a test and interview. As an alumnus, I can give a unique perspective and know what it takes to be successful. We’ve tutored over 59 students to pass the Regis test to earn interviews since 2015. 17 out of the 25 student we prepared for the 2022 Regis exam to take the Regis interview in 2023 earned an interview to Regis High School. The others earned a scholarship to another school.
Should my son go to Regis High School?
Xavier Scholarship Exam, Xaverian Scholarship Exam, and many others
The HSPT in New York City is the scholarship test for many private schools including Xavier High School, Xaverian High School, St. Peter’s Prep, Loyola, and Fordham Prep. Many NYC private schools use the HSPT or something similar as a scholarship exam, like Marymount in NYC, Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn, and St. Joseph Hill in Staten Island. Preparing students for the HSPT opens doors for a wide range of excellent schools. The previous fifty-six students I mentioned above and others who fell a little short of the rigorous Regis admissions process earned over $17 Million in scholarships.
HSPT prep also helps for the ISEE and the SSAT.
SHSAT – Stuyvesant, Staten Island Tech, Brooklyn Technical High School, other specialized high schools
Test prep for the Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT – entrance into Stuyvesant High School, Staten Island Technical High School, Brooklyn Technical High School, Bronx Science, Queens High School for Sciences, Brooklyn Latin School, High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College, or High School of American Studies at Lehman College) give your student a chance for admission to some of the most competitive schools in the country. Admission to these schools is only for NYC residents and is strictly based on the SHSAT exam.
Should my student go to Stuyvesant High School?
In all schools, your student will receive a free word-class education which will vault them into the world. These tests have unique sections and skills necessary to master. Regis tests grammar and vocabulary more heavily than the SHSAT. These tests are every year in the beginning of 8th grade, but these tests require many months of preparation for best results. The exams overlap in material but have very different formats. Please see comparison of the HSPT, SHSAT, and TACHS exams.
4 students we prepared for the November 2022 SHSAT scored well enough for a seat to Stuyvesant. 12 out of the 19 students we prepared in combination with other exams or alone scored well enough for a seat at a Specialized NYC High School.
How I Prepare Students for High School Entrance Exams
I can teach your student all of the skills necessary to master these tests and potentially open doors for them throughout his or her life. If they can solidify this stuff now, the next couple of years in high school math, science, and English will be a breeze. As an alumnus of Regis and former chemistry teacher, I emphasize mathematical applications and critical thinking in word problems. Using my background in Latin, I help students break vocabulary words into their bases so they can figure out words that they may have never seen. I also provide them with my proprietary vocabulary summary of the most common words which simplifies this by orders of magnitude.
I reinforce foundations that almost everything will be built on in the future. In fact, these tests are the hardest exams that most students will see until the SAT. The hardest material on these is medium level material on the SAT. They will need to master all of this material and build upon it in four years so it will benefit them to work hard at it now. In addition, I frequently bring up situations that relate to other disciplines and stress ideas that I know they will see in the future. It is our duty to push students out of their comfort zone and into situations that challenge them most.
Practice Entrance Exams
Every student takes an initial practice test before the first lesson to evaluate strengths/weakness and compare to all future practice tests. Groups are currently forming. There are typically initial practice tests in November, December, January, February, March, April, and May. This can be found below the HSPT and SHSAT practice exams on this page. If you are starting in April or later, HSPT and SHSAT practice exams can be scheduled below. This is our signup and schedule of upcoming practice tests.
Price is typically $20-50 per student for a 3 hour exam, but is free for students in the program. Space is limited. Contact me to reserve your spot or sign up below:
Practice Regis Entrance Exam (HSPT)
Practice SHSAT Exam
To start lessons before May, register for the First Test for High School Entrance offered at least once per month.
TACHS and HSPT Scholarship Results
2015 Results - $430,000 in scholarships - 2 students passed the Regis exam
2016 Results - $172,500 in scholarships
2017 Results - $1.4 million in scholarships - 5 students passed the Regis exam
2018 Results - $1.4 million in scholarships - 5 students passed the Regis exam
2019 Results - $1.3 million in scholarships - 4 students passed the Regis exam
2020 Results - $1.7 million in scholarships - 3 students passed the Regis exam
2021 Results - $2.5 million in scholarships - 10 out of 13 students passed the Regis exam
2022 Results - $3.8 million in scholarships - 13 out of 20 students passed the Regis exam
2022 Results - $4 million in scholarships - 17 out of 25 students passed the Regis exam
What one parent has said about our high school entrance prep
To help determine what tests would be best for your student to take and how to prepare for them see: HSPT, SHSAT, TACHS Differences and Similarities
What another parent has said about John's high school entrance prep classes
Long-term Math and Science High School Plan
to discuss the best options for your student or
List of Scholarships Earned Through Tutoring
Results of High School Admissions Prep 2023
Below is a summary of the results of 86 students who John Zaborskis and associated tutors consistently helped prepare for the TACHS, HSPT, and/or similar high school admissions exam in individual and group lessons online. Elina, Jordan, Liam, Cassidy, Jasky, Adham, Jeffrey, Julian, Jon, Nicholas, Maream, and others helped students entering high school in September 2023 earn over $4,215,610 in...
Tutoring HSPT and TACHS Scholarship Results 2022
For our most recent results, see Results of High School Admissions Prep 2023 = $4 million in scholarships. 17 interviews to Regis High School. Our students have had over 59 interviews to Regis and $17 million in scholarships since 2015. Below is a summary of the results of 98 students who John Zaborskis and associated tutors consistently helped prepare for the TACHS, HSPT, and/or similar high...
Tutoring HSPT and TACHS Scholarship Results 2021
Below is a summary of the results of 80 students who John Zaborskis consistently tutored for the TACHS and/or HSPT in individual and group lessons online. Entering high school in September 2021, they earned over $2,507,000 in academic scholarships to high schools in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Long Island. This is over $9 million in scholarships for 8th grade...
HSPT and TACHS Scholarship Results 2020
Below is a summary of the results of 52 students who John Zaborskis consistently tutored for the TACHS and/or HSPT in individual and group lessons. Entering high school in September 2020, they earned over $1,733,000 in academic scholarships to high schools in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens. This is over $6 million in scholarships for eighth grade students from 2016-2020. Regis...
HSPT and TACHS Scholarship Results 2019
Below is a summary of the results of 35 students who John Zaborskis consistently tutored and who took the TACHS and/or HSPT. They will enter high school in September 2019. Most prep was in group lessons but some was individual. They earned over $1,318,594 in academic scholarships to high schools in Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. Regis High School, Manhattan - Regis High...
Start Here for High School Admissions Lessons for Your 5th - 8th Grader
Below will prompt you to register for a free practice test and count the initial payment toward the first lesson. Next, we will determine the best group based on your student's goals, scores, and availability. Then. we'll have small group lessons once a week until the real exams with multiple (free) practice exams for each type of test. After each practice test, we will email a thorough breakdown of the results with specific recommendations to improve. In class, we'll focus on the types of questions solved least accurately compared to our previous students. We can also help you rank choices optimally on the TACHS or SHSAT as well as with the interviews for some schools. Students' grades and test scores tend to improve, and they have had over $17 Million in Scholarships 2015-2022.
After checkout, you will be emailed Goals and Availability (password future), which will ask for any other information necessary for us to give optimal lessons and make optimal groups. If you don't receive the email, you can fill it out here. It takes most parents less than 5 minutes.
After checkout, you will be emailed Goals and Availability (password future), which will ask for any other information necessary for us to give optimal lessons and make optimal groups. If you don't receive the email, you can fill it out here. It takes most parents less than 5 minutes.
After checkout, you will be emailed Goals and Availability (password future), which will ask for any other information necessary for us to give optimal lessons and make optimal groups. If you don't receive the email, you can fill it out here. It takes most parents less than 5 minutes.
After checkout, you will be emailed Goals and Availability (password future), which will ask for any other information necessary for us to give optimal lessons and make optimal groups. If you don't receive the email, you can fill it out here. It takes most parents less than 5 minutes.
After checkout, you will be emailed Goals and Availability (password future), which will ask for any other information necessary for us to give optimal lessons and make optimal groups. If you don't receive the email, you can fill it out here. It takes most parents less than 5 minutes.