SHSAT Preparation
Admission to a competitive high school is the first stop on the way to matriculation at top tier college or university. Whether your child is planning on taking the Specialized High School Admissions Test or is preparing for a high school specific exam, a Sentia tutor will ensure a smooth path to successful admission.
The SHSAT is used for admission to the following NYC high schools:
- Bronx High School of Science
- Brooklyn Technical High School
- High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College
- High School for American Studies at Lehman College
- Queens High School for Sciences at York College
- Stuyvesant High School
All students begin with a diagnostic exam to accrue benchmark data and assess content areas of strength and weakness. Diagnostic exams are analyzed by Sentia experts to pinpont areas of concentrated focus, guaranteeing that tutorial sessions are used efficiently and effectively.
While each student’s educational plan is customized, we generally recommend that students anticipate devoting 16–24 weeks to their SHSAT preparation. Students can work with our instructors in person in New York or via videoconference from anywhere in the world.
SHSAT FAQs
The SHSAT is a 2-hour and 30-minute test for 8th and 9th graders used to determine admission to the following New York City high schools:
- Bronx High School of Science
- Brooklyn Technical High School
- High School for Math, 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
- Stuyvesant High School
- The Brooklyn Latin School
The SHSAT tests Verbal and Mathematical ability.
- The Verbal component of the SHSAT consists of one 75-minute section containing 45 multiple-choice questions.
- The Math component consists of one 75-minute section containing 50 multiple-choice questions.
Only students in 8th or 9th grade living in one of New York City’s five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island) interested in applying to specialized high schools.
The SHSAT is offered only once per year in October or November to 8th and 9th graders. Students who take the exam in 8th grade and are unsuccessful in admission may repeat the exam in 9th grade.
Before students take the SHSAT, they must first rank the eight specialized NYC high schools in order of preference. Test takers receive one point for every correct answer, and zero points for every omitted or incorrect answers. This ‘raw score’ is converted to a scaled score from 200–800 using a unique and covert curve determined by the Department of Education.
Each of the 8 specialized schools then determine a “cut off” score for entrance. This score is determined based on the number of students interested in the school and the number of spots available. For example, if Stuyvesant has room for 800 freshman students, then the top 800 students who listed Stuyvesant as their first choice will be accepted. If the 800th student scored a 570, then 570 will be the cut-off score for Stuyvesant and anyone with a lower score will not be admitted.
The SHSAT tests Verbal and Mathematical ability.
On the Verbal section, students will encounter:
- Scrambled Paragraphs questions
- Reading Comprehension questions
- Logical Reasoning questions
On the Math section, students will encounter:
- Arithmetic questions
- Algebra questions
- Probability questions
- Statistics questions
- Geometry questions
The only way to register for the SHSAT is through your guidance counselor.
The SHSAT is free.