About the SHSAT Test

When it comes to choosing which high school to attend in New York City, there are many options. However, if you are looking to attend one of the elite (tuition free!) public high schools in NYC, all signs point to a New York City Specialized High School. If you live in NYC and you are currently in 8th grade, one of these eight high schools may be right for you.

  • Bronx High School of Science
  • Brooklyn Latin
  • Brooklyn Technical High School
  • High School of 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 (newly designated)
  • Stuyvesant High School

The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is the only factor used to determine acceptance to one of these eight schools. Do you know what percentage of students is accepted to a New York City Specialized High School? A mere 15%! And the competition for the more popular Specialized High Schools is even steeper.

While it may seem unfair that the SHSAT is the only criterion for admissions, in reality, it may be an advantage. If you are proactive in your preparation for the SHSAT test, admission to a NYC Specialized High School is a possibility.

When is the SHSAT offered?

Actual test dates will not be finalized until later in the current school year. The test is usually offered in late October for 8th graders, and mid-November for 9th graders who previously sat for the 8th grade exam but were not accepted into a Specialized Science High School.

How to Register?

The only way to register for the SHSAT is through your guidance counselor.

What’s on the Test?

The SHSAT tests students’ verbal and math skills. Some of these topics may not have been covered in your 8th grade year. The test covers:

  • Verbal Skills: scrambled paragraphs, logic reasoning, and reading comprehension
  • Math Problem Solving: arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics, and geometry

How To Prep

The Princeton Review offers these comprehensive prep options:

Classroom Courses  |  Tutoring Programs 

Note: You must live in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, or Staten Island to take the SHSAT test. 

 

Your Stuff »