SHSAT Goes Digital: What NYC Parents Need to Know About the 2025-2026 Test Changes
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At Honors Prep, we're committed to keeping our families informed about important changes to the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). The NYC Department of Education (DOE) has announced significant updates to the test format, transitioning from paper-based to digital testing starting in fall 2025. Here's everything parents and students need to know about this important shift.
The Digital Transition Timeline
According to the NYC DOE, the SHSAT will transition to digital formats in two phases:
Fall 2025: The SHSAT will move to a digital format with tech-enhanced items and embedded supports. This affects students applying to Specialized High Schools for the 2026-2027 school year. The layout and number of questions will remain the same as the paper version.
Fall 2026: The SHSAT will transition to a computer-adaptive test (CAT) format. This affects students applying to Specialized High Schools for the 2027-2028 school year.
What's Changing in Fall 2025?
Content and Structure
The test will maintain its current structure with two sections: ELA and Math
Each section will still have 57 questions
The standard testing time remains 3 hours (extended time accommodations will still be available)
Students can still choose which section to begin with (ELA or Math)
Students can navigate back and forth between questions until they submit their responses
New Tech-Enhanced Items (TEI)
Some multiple-choice and grid-in questions will be replaced with tech-enhanced items. These new question types will provide alternative ways to assess students' understanding beyond traditional formats.
Here are some examples of TEI questions.
Enhanced Accessibility Features
The digital format will offer significant accessibility improvements:
Embedded Multilingual Glossaries: Available in Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Russian, Spanish, and Urdu for both ELA and Math sections
Universal Tools: All students will have access to zoom, highlighting, and note-taking features
Digital Accommodations: Students with IEPs or 504 plans will receive their accommodations (like read-aloud, breaks, or large print) through the digital platform
What's Changing in Fall 2026?
Computer-Adaptive Testing (CAT)
The 2026 SHSAT will use computer-adaptive technology, which tailors questions based on a student's ongoing performance:
If a student answers a moderately challenging question correctly, they'll receive a more difficult question next
If a student answers incorrectly, they'll receive a less difficult question next
All students will be tested on the same grade-level standards, but question difficulty will adjust based on performance
Students will still answer the same number of questions for each subject
Navigation Changes
The 2026 test will introduce new navigation restrictions:
For ELA passage-based questions, students can review and change answers within a passage's question set, but not after moving to the next passage
For standalone ELA questions and all Math questions, students must answer each question before moving on and cannot return to previous questions
Once a subject section is completed, students cannot revisit it
Practice Resources and Preparation
The NYC DOE will provide digital practice resources:
A Student Readiness Tool (SRT) tutorial is available to familiarize students with the digital platform
Two fully functional online practice tests will be released in spring 2025
These practice tests will mirror the actual exam in both format and content
All practice materials will be accessible through a web browser with no special software required
Test Administration Details
Students will take the exam on DOE-provided computers
Testing will occur either at students' home schools during School Day administration or at designated testing sites on weekend administration dates
Students may not use their own computers or take the exam at non-DOE locations
Limited paper-based accommodations will be available only for students whose IEPs or 504 plans specifically require them
Test Scoring
The scoring process will remain unchanged:
Raw scores (number of correct answers) will be converted to scaled scores
Scaled scores will account for differences between test forms through calibration and normalization
The final composite score will be the sum of ELA and Math scaled scores
This composite score, along with student preferences and seat availability, determines admission to Specialized High Schools
Which Schools Require the SHSAT?
The SHSAT is required for admission to eight of New York City's nine 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
High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Queens High School for Sciences at York College
Staten Island Technical High School
Stuyvesant High School
(Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts admits students through auditions rather than the SHSAT.)
How We're Preparing for the Digital SHSAT Transition
As we await the official digital SHSAT practice materials from the DOE, our tutoring team is actively preparing for this transition:
Drawing from Recent Digital Test Experience: Having successfully navigated the SAT's transition to digital format, our tutors already possess expertise in preparing students for computerized high-stakes exams. We're applying these proven strategies to our SHSAT preparation approach.
Monitoring DOE Updates: We're closely following all NYC Department of Education announcements regarding the digital SHSAT implementation and will immediately incorporate new information into our curriculum.
Preparing for Tech-Enhanced Items: Based on the DOE's preliminary information, we're developing strategies to help students master the new question formats that will appear on the digital test.
Ready to Implement Digital Practice: Once the official practice materials are released in spring 2025, we'll immediately incorporate them into our curriculum to provide students with authentic digital SHSAT preparation.
Maintaining Content Excellence: While awaiting format-specific materials, we continue to strengthen students' mastery of core SHSAT content, which remains the foundation for success regardless of test format.
Next Steps for Parents
If your child will be taking the SHSAT in 2025 or 2026, here's what you should do:
Stay Informed: Regularly check the NYC DOE website for updates about the digital SHSAT implementation.
Schedule a Free Diagnostic Test: Contact us to arrange a complimentary diagnostic assessment to understand your child's current readiness for the SHSAT and identify areas for improvement.
Use Available Resources: Have your child work with the Student Readiness Tool once it becomes available, and watch for the practice tests scheduled for release in spring 2025.
Partner with Experienced Professionals: Work with tutors who have successfully guided students through similar digital test transitions, like the recent SAT change.
Conclusion
The transition to digital testing represents a significant shift in how the SHSAT is administered, but the core content and purpose remain the same. With proper preparation and familiarity with the digital format, students can successfully navigate these changes and showcase their abilities.
At Honors Prep, we’re staying ahead of these changes to ensure our students are fully prepared for both the content and format of the new digital SHSAT. We're committed to helping NYC students achieve their goals of attending a Specialized High School, regardless of the test format.
Have questions about the digital SHSAT? Contact us today to learn more about our preparation programs and to schedule your child's free diagnostic assessment.
