What kinds of passages are in Reading Comprehension?
Both literary and informational texts. New York City’s guide lists informational texts such as speeches, opinion pieces, biographies, memoirs, journalism and historical, scientific or technical accounts, and literary texts such as poetry, adventure stories, historical fiction, mysteries, myths, science fiction, realistic fiction and creative nonfiction. Every answer is based on the passage alone, so your child doesn’t need outside knowledge.
What does Revising/Editing Part A ask?
Your child reads a short text with numbered sentences and chooses changes that make the writing better. The guide says the errors can include misused language, missing or unneeded details, missing or weak transitions, an unclear introduction or conclusion, and confusing organization. Topics range across history, current events, people, places, technology and the sciences.
What does Revising/Editing Part B ask?
Grammar, usage and punctuation in single sentences, short lists of sentences or short paragraphs, based on New York State’s Grade 7 Language standards and earlier grades. The question types the guide names are:
| Question type | What your child does |
|---|---|
| Best correction | Choose the best fix for an error |
| Find the error | Pick the sentence that contains an error |
| Combine or revise | Improve the writing by combining sentences or revising part of one |
How many questions of each type are there?
New York City’s 2026 materials give the total, 50 questions, but not a count for each question type. Because the test is adaptive, the mix can also differ from one student to the next, so practice across all three groups is the safest plan.
Can my child go back to an English question?
Only inside a passage set. Your child can change answers within a passage set until submitting it, but can’t return to a stand-alone question once it’s answered, and can’t reopen the section after submitting it.
Sources
- New York City Public Schools, NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions. 50 ELA questions assessing reading comprehension and revising/editing, the literary and informational text types, what Revising/Editing Parts A and B assess, the Grade 7 Language standards, and the three Part B question types.. Checked October 19, 2026.
- New York City Public Schools, Specialized High School Admissions Test. The computer-adaptive format from fall 2026, answering each question before moving on, and going back only within a passage set.. Checked October 19, 2026.
- New York City Public Schools SHSAT Portal, Online Directions: Section Headings. The section headings Reading Comprehension, Revising/Editing Part A and Revising/Editing Part B, and basing answers only on the text.. Checked October 19, 2026.
- New York City Public Schools, Specialized High Schools. There are no essays on the SHSAT.. Checked October 19, 2026.