What it is
The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is the exam for admission to eight of New York City's nine Specialized High Schools — including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. For those eight schools, the SHSAT score is the sole admissions criterion (grades, essays, and interviews play no role). It's highly competitive — around 26,000 students take it and roughly 16% earn a qualifying score.
Format & structure
The SHSAT tests English Language Arts and Mathematics over about three hours. It went digital in 2025 and is moving to a computer-adaptive format in 2026 (questions adjust to performance). It's taken by current 8th graders and first-time 9th graders who are NYC residents (public, private, or parochial).
How it's scored
There's no perfect or passing score — students are ranked by score, and offers go to the top scorers according to each school's cutoff and available seats (cutoffs vary by year and school). Students rank their school preferences; the highest scorers get their top choices. A Discovery program offers additional seats to eligible lower-income students via a summer program.
Registration & cost
Students register through their school counselor / the NYC DOE in the fall. There's no fee. You list your specialized-school choices in order of preference as part of registration.
Test dates & timing
The SHSAT is given in October and November for admission the following September, with results in March. Eighth graders can take it once (and again as a first-time 9th grader for a smaller pool of 10th-grade seats).
How to prepare
- Practice the ELA and Math formatThe NYC DOE publishes free practice tests — use them, especially for the new digital/adaptive format
- Build speed and accuracyThree hours, high stakes — timing and precision matter
- Target the ranking, not a passing barYou're competing for a cutoff, so aim as high as possible
- Know the school cutoffsCutoffs differ by school and year
Strategies & tips
- Rank your schools thoughtfullyHigher scores get earlier choices — list your true preferences in order
- No wrong-answer penaltyAnswer every question
- Prepare for computer-adaptiveFrom 2026 the test adjusts to you — practice in the digital format
- Consider a summer or prep programMany families prepare well in advance given the stakes
How scores are used
The SHSAT score alone determines admission to the eight testing specialized high schools — a uniquely high-stakes, single-factor process. It's not used elsewhere. (LaGuardia, the ninth specialized school, admits by audition/portfolio instead.)
Accommodations & support
Students with IEPs or 504 plans receive accommodations (including a paper version and extended time where required); eligible English Language Learners can request a translated glossary and additional time.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the SHSAT really the only factor?Yes — for eight of the nine specialized schools, the score is the sole admissions criterion.
- Who can take it?NYC-resident 8th graders and first-time 9th graders.
- Is it digital now?Yes — digital since 2025, becoming computer-adaptive in 2026.
- Is there a passing score?No — students are ranked, and offers follow each school's cutoff.
- What about LaGuardia?It admits by audition/portfolio, not the SHSAT.
Key facts
- WhatNYC Specialized High Schools Admissions Test
- CoversELA & Math (~3 hours)
- WhenOct–Nov (results in March)
- FormatDigital (2025) → computer-adaptive (2026)
- ScoringRanked; sole criterion for 8 schools
Where to learn more
Confirm current details with the NYC DOE: