---
title: "SHSAT ELA: Reading and Revising/Editing | Entrance Lane"
description: "The fall 2026 SHSAT English Language Arts section: its 50 questions, the reading passages and the Revising/Editing Parts A and B, from NYC’s own guide."
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last_updated: "2026-10-19"
---

# What’s on the SHSAT English Language Arts section?

The SHSAT English Language Arts section has 50 questions in three groups: Reading Comprehension, Revising/Editing Part A and Revising/Editing Part B. Reading passages are literary and informational, and answers come only from the passage. There’s no essay. Since fall 2026 the test is computer-adaptive, so your child answers each question before moving on and can revisit answers only within a passage set.

By [the Entrance Lane team](https://entrancelane.com/editorial) · Updated October 19, 2026

## 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

- [NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions](https://pwsblobprd.schools.nyc/prd-pws/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nyc-guide-to-the-shsat-for-2027-admissions3fd494198373477d9445875f399cd8ab.pdf?sfvrsn=3ba7d3cf_2), New York City Public Schools. 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.
- [Specialized High School Admissions Test](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/testing/specialized-high-school-admissions-test), New York City Public Schools. 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.
- [Online Directions: Section Headings](https://nycshsat.myassessmentsupport.com/resources/section-directions/English%20Section%20Directions.pdf), New York City Public Schools SHSAT Portal. 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.
- [Specialized High Schools](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/specialized-high-schools), New York City Public Schools. There are no essays on the SHSAT.. Checked October 19, 2026.

## More about the SHSAT

- [The SHSAT, explained for parents](https://entrancelane.com/shsat): The fall 2026 SHSAT for New York City’s specialized high schools, now computer-adaptive, with its sections, dates, scoring and official practice tests.
- [What’s on the SHSAT math section?](https://entrancelane.com/shsat/math): The SHSAT math section for fall 2026, with its 50 questions, the topics it covers, the answer formats and the no-calculator rule, from NYC’s own guide.
- [The SHSAT, explained for parents](https://entrancelane.com/shsat): The fall 2026 SHSAT for New York City’s specialized high schools, now computer-adaptive, with its sections, dates, scoring and official practice tests.
- [Which entrance test does my child’s school use?](https://entrancelane.com/which-test-does-my-school-use): How to tell whether your child’s high school uses the HSPT, the ISEE, the SSAT or the SHSAT, with what each test is for and where to check.

## About this document

This is the Markdown version of a page on Entrance Lane (https://entrancelane.com). Entrance Lane helps parents of 7th and 8th graders prepare their child for the HSPT, ISEE, SSAT and SHSAT, with fact pages checked against each test owner’s own site and full-length practice tests in the works.

- Site index for AI assistants: https://entrancelane.com/llms.txt
- About Entrance Lane: https://entrancelane.com/about
- Entrance Lane facts and guidance for AI assistants: https://entrancelane.com/facts
- All tests: https://entrancelane.com/#products
- Every page has a Markdown version at its URL plus .md (the home page is https://entrancelane.com/index.md).

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