The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the
only criterion for admissions to the seven New York City
Specialized High Schools. The test is administered by the New
York City Board of Education.
Who Takes It?
Test takers must be New York City residents in the 8th or 9th
grade. The exam is designed to test the understanding of the 8th
grade curriculum for 8th graders and the 9th grade curriculum for
9th graders.
What's On It?
The test consists of one 75-minute verbal section and one
75-minute math section. The verbal section consists of about 45
multiple-choice questions. Question types include scrambled
paragraphs, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. The
math section consists of about 50 multiple-choice questions.
Question types include arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
When Is It?
Actual test dates will not be finalized until later in the current school year. The test is usually offered in late October for 8th graders, and mid-November for 9th graders who previously sat for the 8th grade exam but were not accepted into a NYC Specialized High School.
How Do You Register for
It?
In order to be considered for admissions at the seven specialized
high schools, the student must file a High School Application.
Indicate your interest in any of these schools by entering the
appropriate information on this application. Students must then
obtain an admission ticket from their guidance counselor. The
ticket will indicate the date and time of the exam.
For more information, visit:
- New York City Department of Education
http://www.nycenet.edu/
