A method for preparing a shaped hydroprocessing catalyst, the method comprising: (a) forming an extrudable mass containing at least an amorphous silica-alumina catalyst support, wherein diluent and molecular sieve is combined with the catalyst support when forming the extrudable mass, (b) extruding then calcining the mass to form a calcined extrudate, (c) exposing the calcined extrudate to an impregnation solution containing nickel, tungsten and a modifying agent to form an impregnated extrudate, and (d) drying the impregnated extrudate at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the modifying agent and sufficient to remove the impregnation solution solvent, to form a dried impregnated extrudate; wherein deposition of at least one of the metals is achieved in the presence of a modifying agent selected from 2,3- dihydroxy-succinic acid, ethanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, cis-1,2-ethylene dicarboxylic acid, hydroethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid and propanedioic acid; wherein the amount of modifying agent in the pre-calcined hydroprocessing catalyst is from 2 wt. % to 18 wt.% based on the bulk dry weight of the hydroprocessing catalyst; the method further comprising calcining the dried impregnated extrudate at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the modifying agent, which is from 500 °F (260 °C) to 1100 °F (590 °C), for an effective amount of time, to convert the metals to metal oxides, wherein the effective amount of time ranges from 0.5 to 24 hours, wherein the total amount of metal oxide material in the hydroprocessing catalyst is from 2 wt. % to 10 wt. % of nickel oxide and from 8 wt. % to 40 wt. % of tungsten oxide, based on the total bulk dry weight of the hydroprocessing catalyst. (a) forming an extrudable mass containing at least an amorphous silica-alumina catalyst support, wherein diluent and molecular sieve is combined with the catalyst support when forming the extrudable mass, (b) extruding then calcining the mass to form a calcined extrudate, (c) exposing the calcined extrudate to an impregnation solution containing nickel, tungsten and a modifying agent to form an impregnated extrudate, and (d) drying the impregnated extrudate at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the modifying agent and sufficient to remove the impregnation solution solvent, to form a dried impregnated extrudate; wherein deposition of at least one of the metals is achieved in the presence of a modifying agent selected from 2,3- dihydroxy-succinic acid, ethanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, cis-1,2-ethylene dicarboxylic acid, hydroethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid and propanedioic acid; wherein the amount of modifying agent in the pre-calcined hydroprocessing catalyst is from 2 wt. % to 18 wt.% based on the bulk dry weight of the hydroprocessing catalyst; the method further comprising calcining the dried impregnated extrudate at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the modifying agent, which is from 500 °F (260 °C) to 1100 °F (590 °C), for an effective amount of time, to convert the metals to metal oxides, wherein the effective amount of time ranges from 0.5 to 24 hours, wherein the total amount of metal oxide material in the hydroprocessing catalyst is from 2 wt. % to 10 wt. % of nickel oxide and from 8 wt. % to 40 wt. % of tungsten oxide, based on the total bulk dry weight of the hydroprocessing catalyst.