Successfully passing a Grade 11 Senior High School (SHS) entrance exam—often called the DSHAPE (De La Salle), USTET (UST), or ASHAPE (Ateneo)—requires a focused review of Grade 7 to Grade 10 core subjects. Most exams are designed to test your "stock knowledge" and basic recall of junior high lessons rather than advanced Grade 11 topics. Core Subject Coverage Algebra Algebra is one of the common topics. Algebra Quadratic Equation

For Grade 10 students in the Philippines, acing the Senior High School (SHS) entrance exam depends on mastering core Junior High School (JHS)

concepts. While specific exams vary by institution, most cover a standardized set of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Abstract Reasoning. AHEAD Tutorial and Review Core Subject Review Guide Mathematics

Expect a focus on Grade 9 and 10 topics, with an emphasis on algebra and geometry. Arithmetic & Algebra

: Prime and composite numbers, absolute values, sequences (arithmetic and geometric), polynomials, and radicals.

: Formulas for perimeter, area, and volume of various shapes (circles, triangles, spheres, cylinders); Pythagorean Theorem; and coordinate geometry. Statistics & Probability

: Basic probability, counting consecutive integers, and interpreting data. Focus on language proficiency and critical reading. AHEAD Tutorial and Review How to Prepare for Senior High School Entrance Tests

Title: The Last Gate**

The morning sun beat down on the pavement of Navotas National High School, but Miguel didn’t feel the heat. He felt the cold knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. In his hand, he clutched a battered, yellow-highlighted reviewer booklet—the "Senior High Entrance Exam Survival Guide," as his older sister called it.

It was the day of the Grade 11 entrance exam. The day that would decide whether he got into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand, his ticket to his dream engineering course.

"Earth to Miguel," a voice called out.

Miguel blinked. Standing by the gate was Sarah, his best friend and study partner for the last three months. She looked annoyingly calm.

"You're going to melt the plastic on that reviewer if you squeeze it any harder," she said, nodding at his hand. "We’ve done this, Miguel. We finished the reviewers. We know the formulas."

"What if I blank out?" Miguel muttered as they walked through the crowded school driveway, passing groups of examinees in white uniforms. "What if I forget the difference between mitosis and meiosis? Or mix up the trigonometric identities?"

Sarah stopped and turned to him. "Then you skip the question and come back. Just like we practiced. Now, put the booklet away. They’re opening the doors."

The testing room was stiflingly quiet, save for the scratching of pencils and the hum of the electric fan. Miguel sat at his desk, his ID card on the corner, his pencils sharpened to lethal points.

The proctor, a stern-looking woman with reading glasses, walked to the front. "Good morning. You have three hours. Begin."

Miguel turned the first page of the answer sheet. Part 1: Mathematics.

He took a deep breath. This was his waterloo. The first question stared back at him, mocking him.

A jar contains red and blue marbles in the ratio 3:5. If there are 24 red marbles, how many blue marbles are there?

Miguel smiled. Ratio and proportion. Easy. 3/5 = 24/x. 3x = 120. X = 40.

He bubbled in 'C'. Confidence surged. He moved faster. Simplify: (x^2 - 9) / (x - 3). Factoring the difference of two squares. (x+3)(x-3) over (x-3). The answer was x + 3.

But then, Question 25 appeared. A word problem involving motion.

A train leaves Station A at 8:00 AM traveling at 60 kph. Another train leaves Station B at 9:00 AM traveling at 80 kph towards Station A. If the stations are 280 km apart, at what time will they meet?

Miguel’s mind went blank. He scribbled Distance = Rate x Time on his scratch paper, but the numbers jumbled. Is it 9:00 AM or 8:00 AM for the second train?

His heart hammered against his ribs. The silence of the room suddenly felt oppressive. He looked at the clock. Forty minutes had passed.

Don't panic, he told himself. Skip it.

He moved to Part 2: Science.

This was his turf. He breezed through the Biology section. Which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell? Mitochondria. What is the chemical formula of rust? Fe2O3.

But Chemistry gave him pause. Which of the following is an example of a colloid? A) Salt water B) Milk C) Sugar solution D) Air

He closed his eyes, visualizing the chart in his reviewer. Salt water and sugar solution were solutions. Air was a gas mixture. Milk... milk was a colloid. Liquid dispersed in liquid. He bubbled 'B'.

Time flew. The proctor announced, "Thirty minutes remaining."

Miguel was on the last section: Abstract Reasoning and Logical Test.

This was the killer. Patterns that seemed to have no logic. He stared at a sequence of shapes: A triangle inside a square, a square inside a circle, a circle inside a triangle...

What comes next?

His palms were sweating. He remembered Sarah's advice: Don't overthink. Look at the movement.

The outer shape of the first became the inner shape of the next. The inner shape moved out. So, for the third shape (Circle inside Triangle), the Triangle should move in, and the Circle should move out? No, that didn't fit the options.

He re-examined. The shapes were rotating.

  1. Triangle (outer), Square (inner).
  2. Square (outer), Circle (inner).
  3. Circle (outer), Triangle (inner).

It was a cycle. Triangle -> Square -> Circle -> Triangle. The outer shape becomes the inner shape of the next figure. So, for figure 4: The outer shape must be the Triangle (from the inner part of figure 3). And the inner shape must be the Square (to start the cycle again).

He looked at the options. Option D showed a Triangle with a Square inside. He bubbled it in, his hand cramping.

"Five minutes."

Miguel went back to the train problem he skipped. He forced himself to breathe. Train 1: 60 kph. Leaves at 8.

To excel in Grade 11 Senior High School (SHS) entrance exams, you need a highly organized study strategy that targets core Junior High School (JHS) competencies. Grade 11 entrance tests generally cover four major subject areas: Mathematics, Science, English, and Abstract Reasoning.

This comprehensive guide serves as an all-in-one reviewer to help you master the test coverage, streamline your study habits, and secure a spot in your top-choice senior high school. 🗺️ Core Subject Coverage

High school entrance exams heavily evaluate your cumulative knowledge from Grades 7 to 10. Focus your review on the primary topics outlined below. 1. Mathematics

Expect questions that range from standard arithmetic to advanced algebra and basic statistics. Grade 11 Entrance Exam Reviewer | PDF | Waves - Scribd

Subject D: Scientific Literacy

You don't need Grade 11 Physics yet. The exam covers Junior High School Science (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics basics).

Topics to review:

  • Biology: Cell parts (nucleus, mitochondria), photosynthesis, human body systems (digestive, respiratory).
  • Chemistry: States of matter, periodic table basics, acids vs. bases, chemical symbols.
  • Physics: Laws of motion (Newton), simple machines, circuits, speed/distance/time.
  • Earth Science: Weather systems (monsoons, ITCZ), layers of the Earth, rock cycle.

Sample Question (Biology):

Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell" because it produces energy? A) Nucleus
B) Ribosome
C) Mitochondria
D) Chloroplast

Answer: C) Mitochondria

Sample Question (Earth Science):

Which type of breeze occurs at night when cool air moves from land to sea? A) Sea breeze
B) Land breeze
C) Monsoon
D) Typhoon

Answer: B) Land breeze

B. Chemistry

  • Atomic Structure: Protons (+) and Neutrons (0) in the nucleus; Electrons (-) in shells.
  • Periodic Table:
    • Groups (Columns) = Number of valence electrons / Family properties.
    • Periods (Rows) = Number of electron shells / Energy levels.
  • Balancing Equations: "Law of Conservation of Mass" – atoms on the left must equal atoms on the right.

Part 4: Study Plan – 30 Days Before the Exam

Do not cram. Here is a realistic 4-week plan:

  • Week 1 (Concepts): Gather your Grade 9 & 10 textbooks. Just re-read the chapters on Algebra, Biology, and Grammar. Do not answer questions yet—just absorb.
  • Week 2 (Practice): Get an Actual SHS Entrance Exam Reviewer booklet from National Book Store or download free PDFs online. Answer 20 Math and 20 English questions daily.
  • Week 3 (Weaknesses): Identify what you failed in Week 2. If you keep failing fractions, spend two days ONLY on fractions. If you fail subject-verb agreement, watch YouTube tutorials.
  • Week 4 (Simulation): Wake up at the same time as the actual exam day. Time yourself for 3 hours. Take a full mock exam in complete silence.

4-Week Grade 11 Senior High Entrance Exam Reviewer

Overview: 4 weeks, 5 study days/week, 2–3 hours/day. Covers core subjects commonly tested: English, Math (Algebra & Geometry), Science (Biology/Chemistry/Physics basics), and General Ability (logical reasoning, reading comprehension, vocabulary). Each week has focus areas, daily activities, and a short quiz. Use a notebook for worked problems and a timer (Pomodoro: 25/5).

Week 1 — Foundations & Diagnostic

  • Goals: Identify strengths/weaknesses; review grammar, number skills, scientific method, basic algebra.
  • Day 1: Diagnostic tests (60–90 min)
    • 20 min reading comprehension passage + questions
    • 20 math problems: arithmetic, fractions, order of operations, simple equations
    • 20 science: multiple-choice on basic biology/chemistry/physics facts
    • 10 logical reasoning questions
  • Day 2: English — grammar & vocabulary
    • Topics: parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, common punctuation
    • Activities: 30 min targeted exercises; 20 min vocabulary (50 high-frequency words + roots/prefixes)
    • Quick quiz: 15 mins
  • Day 3: Math — algebra basics
    • Topics: linear equations, inequalities, simplifying expressions, exponents, factorization
    • Activities: 45 min worked problems; 15 min timed drills (10 problems)
  • Day 4: Science — scientific method & key facts
    • Topics: lab process, metric units, cell structure, states of matter, elements vs compounds
    • Activities: 40 min review + 20 min MCQ practice
  • Day 5: Reasoning & review
    • Topics: pattern recognition, sequences, basic data interpretation (graphs/tables)
    • Activities: mixed practice 60 min; review diagnostic to plan Week 2

Week 2 — Core Skills Development

  • Goals: Strengthen problem-solving and comprehension.
  • Day 1: Reading comprehension
    • Focus: main idea, inference, tone, author's purpose, summarizing
    • Activities: 2 passages with questions; 20 min answer explanation
  • Day 2: Math — linear functions & systems
    • Topics: slope-intercept, graphing lines, solving 2x2 systems (substitution/elimination)
    • Activities: 45 min problems + 15 min application word problems
  • Day 3: Science — basic chemistry & physics
    • Topics: atomic structure, periodic table basics, chemical reactions, Newton’s laws, speed/velocity
    • Activities: concept maps + 30 min practice questions
  • Day 4: English — writing basics
    • Topics: paragraph structure, topic sentences, cohesion, short essay planning (PEEL)
    • Activities: plan + write one 250-word essay (30–40 min); revise 20 min
  • Day 5: Mixed review & timed mini-test (60 min)

Week 3 — Application & Higher-order Thinking

  • Goals: Apply concepts to complex problems and improve test stamina.
  • Day 1: Advanced reading & vocabulary in context
    • Activities: 3 passages (literary, expository, argumentative); 45 min practice
  • Day 2: Math — quadratic basics & geometry
    • Topics: quadratic factoring, simple quadratic formula use, area/perimeter, basic angle relationships
    • Activities: 45 min problems + 15 min geometry proofs/sketches
  • Day 3: Science — biology focus
    • Topics: genetics basics (dominant/recessive), human body systems, ecology
    • Activities: diagrams + 30 min MCQs
  • Day 4: Logical reasoning & data interpretation
    • Topics: syllogisms, Venn diagrams, bar/line charts, percentages, ratios
    • Activities: 45 min mixed problems
  • Day 5: Full-length practice test (90–120 min) simulating exam conditions

Week 4 — Polishing & Test Readiness

  • Goals: Fix remaining weak spots; review strategies and time management.
  • Day 1: Review errors from Week 3 full test; targeted practice
  • Day 2: Mixed subject drills — timed sections (3 x 25–30 min)
  • Day 3: Essay + comprehension practice under time limit
  • Day 4: Quick science & math formula sheet creation; memorize key facts
  • Day 5: Final full-length practice test; post-test review (identify last-minute topics)

Daily study structure (2–3 hours)

  1. Warm-up (10–15 min): quick drills (vocab flashcards, mental math)
  2. Focus block 1 (40–60 min): main subject with worked examples
  3. Short break (10–15 min)
  4. Focus block 2 (40–60 min): secondary subject or practice test section
  5. Review & summary (10–15 min): correct mistakes, note formulas/vocab

High-yield topic checklist (study these thoroughly)

  • English: reading comprehension strategies, grammar rules, paragraph/essay structure, academic vocabulary
  • Math: algebra (linear & quadratic), basic geometry, ratios/percentages, word problems
  • Science: cell biology, basic chemistry concepts, Newtonian mechanics, scientific method, units and conversions
  • Reasoning: pattern recognition, logical deduction, interpreting graphs and tables

Practice test tips

  • Read all instructions first; budget time per section; answer easy questions first; mark and return to hard ones.
  • Show work clearly for partial credit; use process of elimination for MCQs.
  • For essays: plan 5 minutes, write 20–25 minutes, reserve 5 minutes to proofread.

Quick 20-question mixed mini-quiz (self-check)

  • 5 reading-comprehension questions (short passage)
  • 5 grammar/vocabulary items (choose correct word/form)
  • 6 math problems: 2 arithmetic, 2 algebra, 2 geometry
  • 4 science questions: 1 biology, 1 chemistry, 1 physics, 1 general science method

If you want, I can:

  • Generate the diagnostic test and answer key now.
  • Create the 20-question mini-quiz with answers.
  • Produce printable formula & vocabulary sheets.

Which of those would you like next?

III. SCIENCE

This covers General Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics basics.