SHSAT Exam

📝 About the SHSAT

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the entrance exam for New York City’s eight specialized high schools. It measures English Language Arts (ELA) and Math skills for admission.

📅 2025 Test Dates

• Public Middle School Students (8th Grade): Wednesday, November 12, 2025

• Charter, Private, or Homeschooled Students (8th Grade): Saturday, November 15, or Sunday, November 16, 2025

• 9th Grade First-Time Testers: Saturday, November 22, or Sunday, November 23, 2025

💻 Test Format (2025)

• Sections:

  • English Language Arts (ELA) – Reading comprehension and revising/editing

  • Mathematics – Problem-solving, algebra, geometry, and data analysis

• Total Questions: About 114 (57 per section)

• Time Limit: 3 hours (180 minutes)

• Navigation: Students can start with either section and move back and forth between questions.

• Mode: Fully digital (computer-based) test.

🔄 Upcoming Change (2026 and Beyond)

Starting in Fall 2026, the SHSAT will move to a computer-adaptive test (CAT) format — meaning the difficulty of questions will adjust based on the student’s answers.