WHAT IS THE SHSAT?

WHAT IS THE SHSAT?

The SHSAT is a test used in New York City to determine which students will be accepted to specialized high schools located in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.

Who Takes the SHSAT?

Students who are in 8th or 9th grade can opt to test and apply to specialized high schools in New York City if they reside within one of these five boroughs.

What Does the SHSAT Cover?

Shsat questions online help to repeat all the old material for the exam.
Shsat questions online help to repeat all the old material for the exam.

There are two main sections on the SHSAT. They are used to assess a test-taker’s English language arts and mathematical skills. Shsat questions online help to repeat all the old material for the exam.

English Language Arts: This part of the test contains 57 multiple-choice questions. Ten questions are not scored.

Mathematics: This portion of the SHSAT also has 57 questions, and only 47 questions are scored. Five are computational questions, referred to as ”grid-in” questions. All of the other questions in this section are multiple-choice questions offering four answer options that test-takers must choose from.

How Do Students Register for the SHSAT?

Any student interested in applying to a specialized high school should seek information from their school guidance counselor. Once they complete the registration process with their counselor, they will receive a testing ticket and be assigned a test date. Individuals who are planning to take the SHSAT also need to have their test ticket signed by their parent or legal guardian, which shows that they have consent to test.

Can Individuals Receive Test Accommodations When Taking the SHSAT?

Students who are already approved for IEPs or 504 plans typically qualify to receive test accommodations for the SHSAT. Students whose first language is not English may also qualify. Types of accommodations that may be offered include extra testing time or the assistance of a scribe. Individuals who qualify for accommodations should talk to their school guidance counselor so that they can be registered to take the test with accommodations.

How Are SHSAT Exams Scored?

A total of 94 raw points can be earned from the two sections of the SHSAT exam. For every correct answer a student receives a point. This is called the raw score.

Raw scores are used to determine the scaled score a student earns for each section of the test. The conversion process adjusts for the differing levels of difficulty that may occur between test versions. Once the scaled scores are determined, they are added together to produce the student’s composite score, which is typically no higher than 700.

How Does the Acceptance Process Work?

The student who earns the highest score on the SHSAT is offered admission to his or her first-choice school if there is space available. Once the student with the highest score is placed, admission is offered to the student with the second-highest score, and so on. Individuals who receive an offer of acceptance are accepted to the school that was their top choice unless that school is full. They are then offered their second-choice school. The acceptance process works down the list, so if the top two schools a student picked are full then they are offered admission to their third-choice school. The students with the highest scores are most likely to receive acceptance to their top school choices.

Where Can I Find Study Materials for the SHSAT?

Student Handbook

The New York City Department of Education website provides a student handbook that includes information about the SHSAT in addition to test-taking tips and sample questions for both parts of the exam. It is a good idea to use these questions as a guide to familiarize yourself with typical question wording and the types of skills you will need to demonstrate to do well on the test.

SHSAT Study Materials

Individuals who are preparing for the SHSAT can also take advantage of this SHSAT: Practice & Study Guide. These shsat questions online allow individuals to review material on their own schedule and conclude with an SHSAT Final Exam.