The SHSAT: a parent guide to NYC specialized high school admissions

Published October 17, 2026 · Last reviewed October 17, 2026 · By the Tutoring Path team

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the entrance exam for eight of New York City’s nine specialized high schools. For those eight schools, the test score is the only factor in admission, so many families start planning a year or more ahead.

The basics

Who can take it: New York City residents in grade 8, or first-time grade 9 students.
Which schools use it: eight specialized high schools. The ninth, LaGuardia High School, admits students by audition instead.
How offers work: students are placed in order of score, matched against the schools they ranked.

The new format

According to the NYC Department of Education, starting in fall 2026 the SHSAT is a digital, computer-adaptive test, meaning the questions adjust to how a student is doing. It has two sections, English Language Arts and Math, with 50 questions each, and a standard time of 180 minutes. Students with IEPs or 504 plans receive their approved accommodations, and eligible English language learners receive extended time.

Dates, registration windows and details change each year. Always confirm on the Department of Education’s SHSAT page.

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A preparation plan

Grade 7: make sure math foundations, especially fractions, ratios, percents and early algebra, are solid. Read widely and often.
Summer before grade 8: take an official practice test to find gaps, then work on the biggest one.
Fall of grade 8: register on time, practice on the digital format, and do timed practice in the final weeks.
Throughout: protect sleep and schoolwork. Your child’s other high school applications still depend on grades.

Questions to ask a test-prep tutor

Is your material updated for the new digital, adaptive format?
How will you find my child’s weakest areas, and how long do you plan to spend on them?
How will you build reading stamina for long passages?

For other private and selective school exams, see our guide to ISEE and SSAT.

Preparing for the SHSAT?

Tell us your child’s grade, ZIP code and the subject that feels hardest. Wherever you live in the U.S., we’ll search for a tutoring provider near you. Families near Bay Ridge, Brooklyn can connect with Huntington Learning Center.

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Related guides

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information for parents, not professional, medical or legal advice.