What will an Entrance Lane SHSAT practice test include?
What changed on the SHSAT in fall 2026?
Starting with the fall 2026 test, for admission in September 2027, the SHSAT is computer-adaptive: the questions adjust to your child’s answers, and every student still answers 50 questions in each section. Your child must answer each question before moving on, and can’t go back to a math question or a stand-alone English question once it’s answered. Students choose which section to start with and split the 180 minutes however they like.
Sources: Specialized High School Admissions Test, checked October 19, 2026; NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions, checked October 19, 2026; SHSAT General Directions, checked October 19, 2026.| Section | Questions | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 50 | Reading comprehension and Revising/Editing Parts A and B |
| Math | 50 | Word problems and computation, through the Grade 7 standards for 8th graders |
| Total | 100 | 180 minutes, divided between the sections however your child chooses |
Join the SHSAT waitlist
We’re writing full-length SHSAT practice tests, timed like the real one, with every answer explained.
What does an SHSAT practice question look like?
We’re writing sample questions
Sample English Language Arts and math questions, with explanations, will appear here before practice tests open. Join the waitlist.
Who can take the SHSAT?
New York City residents in 8th grade, or in 9th grade for the first time, from any kind of school: public, charter, private, parochial or home school. A student who tests in 8th grade can test again in 9th grade, and 9th grade is the last chance.
How is the SHSAT scored?
Each section gets a scaled score based on which questions your child answered correctly and how hard those questions were. The two section scores are added into one composite score, and New York City uses the composite to rank students for offers. When your child registers, they list the Specialized High Schools in order of preference, and that list decides which offer they can receive.
How do we register for the SHSAT?
In MySchools or through your child’s school counselor, between October 6 and October 30, 2026. Test tickets with the date, time and place arrive about two weeks after registration closes. Students who are learning English get extended time, translated directions and glossaries, and students with an IEP or a 504 plan get their approved accommodations.
Does New York City offer official SHSAT practice?
Yes. The official SHSAT portal has four full-length online practice tests for 8th graders testing in fall 2026, two with new content this year, each with answer explanations. They mirror the real test’s form and content and need no login or download. Entrance Lane’s practice tests will add more full-length practice in the same format.
Common questions about the SHSAT
Which schools use the SHSAT?
Bronx High School of Science, The Brooklyn Latin School, Brooklyn Technical High School, High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College, High School of American Studies at Lehman College, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, Staten Island Technical High School and Stuyvesant High School. LaGuardia High School admits by audition instead.
When is the fall 2026 SHSAT?
8th graders at public middle schools that end in 8th grade test at their own school on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Other 8th graders test at a central site on Saturday, November 14 or Sunday, November 15, and 9th graders on Saturday, November 21. Registration in MySchools closes October 30, 2026.
Can my child use a calculator on the SHSAT?
No. Calculators aren’t allowed. Scrap paper is provided, and the test has an on-screen notepad.
How are offers made?
Students are placed in order of their composite score. Each student is offered their highest-ranked Specialized High School that still has seats, and only schools they listed when registering count. The SHSAT score is the only factor, and the schools don’t keep waitlists.
How many students take the SHSAT?
About 29,000 students take the SHSAT each year, and about 5,000 receive an offer, according to New York City’s MySchools site.