What is the SHSAT?
Your complete guide to NYC's Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
The Gateway to NYC's Best Public High Schools
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a free exam administered by the New York City Department of Education. It is the sole admissions criterion for eight of the city's most prestigious specialized high schools.
The test is open to current 8th graders (for fall 9th grade entry) and current 9th graders (for fall 10th grade entry at select schools). It is administered each year in October and November, with results released the following March.
Registration is handled through the student's school guidance counselor, and there is no fee to take the exam. Every NYC student in an eligible grade is entitled to sit for the SHSAT.
Two Sections, 114 Questions, 3 Hours
The SHSAT consists of an ELA section and a Math section, each with 57 questions and a 90-minute time limit.
ELA Section
57 questions · 90 minutes
- Revising/Editing — Standalone questions
- Revising/Editing — Passage-based questions
- Reading Comprehension
Math Section
57 questions · 90 minutes
- Arithmetic & number properties
- Algebra & word problems
- Geometry & measurement
- Statistics, probability & grid-in questions
NYC's Specialized High Schools
These eight schools admit students based solely on SHSAT performance. Each school has its own cutoff score.
Stuyvesant High School
Manhattan · Most competitive (~500 cutoff) · Known for exceptional math and science programs
Bronx High School of Science
Bronx · ~490 cutoff · Produced eight Nobel Prize laureates
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn · ~480 cutoff · Largest specialized school, strong STEM & engineering focus
HS of American Studies at Lehman College
Bronx · Small, selective school with a humanities and social studies emphasis
HS for Math, Science & Engineering at CCNY
Manhattan · Partnership with City College · Strong engineering curriculum
Queens HS for the Sciences at York College
Jamaica, Queens · Small school with college-level science courses available
Staten Island Technical High School
Staten Island · Strong technical and engineering programs
Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn · Lowest cutoff (~410) · Classical education model with Latin requirement
Important SHSAT Information
When Is the SHSAT?
Administered in October and November each year. Results are released the following March.
Who Can Take It?
Current 8th and 9th graders enrolled in a NYC public or charter school (or living in NYC).
No Penalty for Guessing
There is no penalty for wrong answers. Students should answer every question on the exam.
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