SHSAT

The SHSAT is a locally administered test used for admission to most of New York City’s Specialized High Schools.

As a New York-based company, Bespoke is proud of the knowledge and experience we offer families preparing for the SHSAT. Through individualized tutoring sessions, weekly homework from our proprietary SHSAT textbook, and frequent mock testing, we help our students build familiarity with the exam so they can enter test day with confidence and poise. 

Whether you’re ready to begin tutoring immediately or just have questions about the test, our client services team is looking forward to speaking with you! You’ll talk to a knowledgeable, caring individual who will create a test prep plan and pair you with the perfect tutor for your student’s personality and learning style. Your student will then learn the actionable skills to build confidence and thrive on test day and beyond.

The SHSAT is open to all eighth-grade and ninth-grade New York City residents who would like to attend one of the following Specialized High Schools:

  • Bronx High School of Science
  • Brooklyn Latin School
  • Brooklyn Technical High School
  • High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at City College (City MSE)
  • High School of American Studies at Lehman College
  • Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
  • Staten Island Technical High School
  • Stuyvesant High School

“Sarah was an amazing tutor. Not only was she able to teach the content and test-taking skills required for the standardized tests my daughter was taking but she built up her confidence and was extremely effective in understanding and minimizing her anxiety about these tests.”

– Parent of NYC student

About the SHSAT

What is the SHSAT?
The Specialized High School Admissions Test is produced by Pearson Education for the New York City Department of Education. It is used for admission to eight of the nine NYC Specialized High Schools. (Admission to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is determined by audition or portfolio rather than by exam.) 

What’s on the test?
The SHSAT consists of one English Language Arts section and one Math section. The English Language Arts section is entirely multiple-choice and contains 9–11 Revising/Editing questions and 46–48 Reading Comprehension questions. The Math section contains 52 multiple-choice questions and five grid-in questions. Questions on the eighth-grade test cover all math included in the New York City curriculum through grade seven, while the ninth-grade test covers curriculum through grade eight.

How long is the test?
The SHSAT takes approximately two and a half hours to administer.

How is the test scored?
Each of the two sections has a scaled score with a maximum of roughly 350. (The scales change slightly from year to year.) These scores are then added to form the composite score, which is the number used for admissions.

How is the test administered?
The SHSAT is a pencil-and-paper test. Students register through their guidance counselor and take the test at a designated testing site determined by the location of their current school. 

When is the test offered?
The SHSAT is only offered once per year, at the end of October. There is an alternate date for make-up tests in the event a student cannot attend the primary test date; there is also an alternate date for students who take tests with accommodations.

Where can I get more information on the SHSAT?
For more information on the SHSAT, please visit the SHSAT website.