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Big changes are coming to the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)! Starting in 2025, the SHSAT is moving to a digital format with new question types, and in 2026, it will become an adaptive test. Learn what these changes mean for NYC families and how your student can prepare.
The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is used for admission to the following specialized public high schools in New York City:
Unlike other high school admissions tests (SSAT, ISEE, HPST, COOP), the student’s SHSAT score is the sole qualifier for acceptance into these schools. Additionally, students can only take the test once in the Fall of their 8th grade year. (9th graders can take it but only if they were unable or ineligible to take the test in 8th grade.)
When registering for the SHSAT, families select the schools in a ranked choice list. Once all the scores are graded, they are ranked in order from highest to lowest. Students receive placement in their highest ranked (and still available) high school, until all openings are filled at all 8 high schools. This process is kept relatively secretive, and cutoff scores are only determined by families sharing information online.
The SHSAT in 2025 will be familiar in many ways: same number of questions (114), structure (ELA and Math sections), and timing (180 minutes). Additionally, no concepts will be added as the test is aligned with 8th grade ELA and Math standards. However the test will now be digital and contain “Technology-Enhanced Items” (TEI) that move beyond basic multiple choice questions.
These TEI questions appear peppered throughout the test on both ELA and Math sections. On ELA, students may be asked to select multiple answers, move around parts of a sentence, or select choices from a drop-down menu. On the Math section, students may need to manipulate graphs and shapes, enter in polynomial expressions, or plot points on a coordinate plane. There is an online Student Readiness Tool that allows students to learn how to interact with the test navigation system and the interactive questions.
Thankfully, NYC Public Schools has released two tests online that students can use for practice. The tests will provide feedback on right and wrong answers, but do not offer a scaled score. The SHSAT has always been secretive about its grading and the best strategy for students is to focus on getting more questions correct rather than trying to predict the curve.
It is of note that while some of the TEI questions will require selecting multiple answers, the SHSAT does not offer partial credit for TEI answers that do not fully answer the question. This makes reading the instructions on TEI questions very important as a question may ask students to select two correct answers from the choice given.
Even if a student is well prepped with reading, grammar, and math skills, they should still get comfortable with the new testing navigation and the TEI questions. Additionally, taking a full practice test, or two, is helpful because students need to normalize a 3-hour testing experience. As on the paper test before, the SHSAT does not place any restrictions on timing within that testing window, so students stronger in math may want to start with the Math section first to make sure to maximize those points.
NYC Public Schools is already looking towards 2026, which will affect current rising 7th graders. While the general overview of the SHSAT will be the same, the test will become adaptive (similar to the SAT and GRE), which will affect how students navigate the test. Students will be able to use the 3 hours as they choose, but on Math items, they will not be able to review a question after submitting, as their answers will affect which questions they see next. On passage-based reading questions, students will be able to move around the set of questions, but will not be able to return to them upon completion. It’s unclear at the moment if students can choose to start with ELA or Math like they can with other versions of the SHSAT.
While adaptive testing allows for a better understanding of a student’s performance, it comes at the cost of creating more anxiety. Students can only take this test once and in 2026 they will have to deal with the pressure of knowing that the testing platform is evaluating them in real time. It’s not hard to imagine a student responding to an easy math question by assuming that they must have missed many beforehand and thereby losing their confidence.
Like with 2025 SHSAT test-takers, the best thing will be to have experience with practice tests. Hopefully there will be updated practice tests in the summer of 2026 that allow students to see how adaptive testing affects their experience.
