{"type":"video","version":"1.0","html":"<iframe src=\"https://www.loom.com/embed/407cd869dbaa44c2951951cac7703a4d\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>","height":1440,"width":1920,"provider_name":"Loom","provider_url":"https://www.loom.com","thumbnail_height":1440,"thumbnail_width":1920,"thumbnail_url":"https://cdn.loom.com/sessions/thumbnails/407cd869dbaa44c2951951cac7703a4d-6c9fd701f0c64eef.gif","duration":1414.161,"title":"SHSAT DIFFICULTY LEVELS, Explained by London","description":"Presenter London V. from Ivy Tutors Network explains a five-tier difficulty system for SHM/SAT-style questions and a six-factor point-based rubric used to rate items. The talk defines how those factors apply differently to ELA (reading steps, transparency, vocabulary, traps, answer proximity) and Math (skill chaining, distractor precision, gridded vs multiple choice, setup transparency, wording, insight vs procedure), with concrete examples at each difficulty tier. Key takeaway: difficulty is determined by number of real cognitive moves required, clarity/transparency of setup, and how easily a student can be misled by plausible distractors.\n\n### Overview of purpose and difficulty tiers 0:00\n\n- Presenter London V. introduces purpose: explain different difficulty levels within SHM and SAT-style ELA and math questions.\n- Defines five difficulty tiers: very easy, easy, medium, brutal, and boss (brutal and boss are hardest).\n- States presenter will provide one real example per subject for each tier to illustrate distinctions.\n\n### Six-factor point system for rating items 0:48\n\n- Introduces a zero-to-two point system across six categories to evaluate questions.\n- Lists categories: Reading Steps, Vocabulary Load, STEM Complexity, Text Transparency, Trap Strength, Answer Choice Proximity.\n- Explains Reading Steps measures moves from text to answer (lookup vs synthesize).\n\n### Text transparency and trap characteristics in ela 1:38\n\n- Text transparency: whether answers are stated outright or buried like a riddle; more riddle-like increases difficulty.\n- Vocabulary Load: whether uncommon words are used and how much context is required.\n- Trap Strength: traps either state true but irrelevant facts or plausible answers requiring argumentation; exam avoids requiring inference or argument.\n- Answer Choice Proximity: how similar choices appear; close options raise difficulty.\n\n### Math-specific difficulty factors 2:53\n\n- Skill chaining: number of procedural steps; one step is very easy, more than three steps trends toward brutal/boss.\n- Distractor precision: closeness of wrong answers (e.g., off by a decimal) increases difficulty.\n- Gridded answers: require exact precision and are generally harder than multiple choice due to no guessing leeway.\n- Setup transparency: clarity of required computation vs need to translate words into operations.\n- Wording and insight vs. procedure: riddle-like wording or need for insight/shortcuts raises difficulty.\n\n### Very easy and easy examples and patterns 5:29\n\n- Very easy ELA: single-move correction (e.g., add comma between coordinate adjectives); very easy math: single operation (ratio problem: compute 264/8*3 = 99).\n- Easy ELA: takes two sentences to determine connotation or vocabulary-in-context (choose answer explicit to instinctual vs premeditated).\n- Easy math: two-step computations (find monthly total then add one-time fee) with common trap answers representing intermediate calculation results.\n- Emphasizes correct reading-comprehension answers are specific, direct, explicit, and tied to text.\n\n### Medium and brutal examples and required frameworks 8:39\n\n- Medium ELA: requires selecting text evidence showing shared characteristic (e.g., prove Ellen and her dad have much in common) and rejecting plausible but unrelated options.\n- Medium math: requires frameworks such as two-way frequency tables or inclusion-exclusion; traps use plausible percentages representing other subsets.\n- Brutal ELA: requires understanding whole excerpt and contrasting development of two characters; correct choice must precisely separate reactions.\n- Brutal math: multi-step gridded problems (example: find two consecutive integers summing to -15, apply operations, then multiply results); errors occur at several procedural points and gridded format allows no margin of error.\n\n### Boss-level synthesis and number-theory example 13:33\n\n- Boss ELA: requires synthesis of entire passage and discerning subtle wording differences; all four answer choices may appear true but only one matches precise phrasing regarding scientific endeavor (platypus DNA example).\n- Boss math: advanced number theory/shortcut application (repeating-digit pattern problem: use remainder of 391 ÷ 6 to locate the 391st digit); knowledge of modular/remainder method determines success.\n- Reiterates core metric: difficulty equals number of real cognitive moves and how easy it is to fake a correct answer."}