What Is the SHSAT? NYC Admissions Exam

Who takes the SHSAT?

Eligible NYC students—typically current eighth graders—can sit for the SHSAT as part of the Specialized High Schools admissions process. Schools commonly associated with the exam include Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, and other specialized campuses listed by NYC Public Schools.

What is on the test?

The official SHSAT includes English Language Arts and Mathematics. The full exam has 114 questions and a 180-minute time limit, commonly described as 57 questions in each section. Math includes multiple-choice and grid-in items. There is no calculator. Students manage their own pacing across sections.

A raw practice count is the number of questions answered correctly. A wrong answer and a blank both earn zero; there is no extra penalty subtracted for a miss. Official admissions then converts raw performance into a scaled score. That scale and the school cutoffs change by year, so a practice raw score is a study marker, not an offer of admission.

Practice test versus official forms

A free online SHSAT practice test—like the 20-question diagnostic on Tests Pro—is a readiness snapshot, not a scaled admissions score. After a baseline, use official NYC DOE practice forms under timed conditions every few weeks to build stamina and accuracy.

How Tests Pro helps

Tests Pro offers instant ELA and Math raw scores with projected section performance and a readiness band. The diagnostic is 10 questions per section, then projected onto a 57-question scale. Use it to find your weaker section, then study before retaking or moving to full-length official practice.

After the diagnostic, read the scoring guide before you compare yourself to an internet cutoff. Then use the study plan: more time on the weaker section, grid-in practice without a calculator, and a full official form every four to five weeks.

LaGuardia uses an audition, not the SHSAT

New York City’s specialized high schools are not all SHSAT schools. Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts admits students through an audition and an academic record review. The other specialized high schools—including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech—use the SHSAT. Confirm the current school list, eligibility, and handbook on the NYC Public Schools site before you plan around the wrong exam.