SHSAT Tutoring

Whether your student has their heart set on a particular specialized high school or you are just trying to give your child as many options as possible, Honors Prep is here to guide you and your family through the process of preparing for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT).

Administered once per year, the SHSAT is the sole criteria used by the Department of Education to determine which 8th graders will be offered seats at the city's most prestigious public high schools (Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, etc.)

Many of our tutors are themselves alumni of the specialized high schools, offering them the unique knowledge of what it takes to gain entry to these schools.

Each student begins their journey by taking a full-length practice exam that is used as a diagnostic to shape a customized study plan, which reflects their relative strengths and weaknesses. Using a combination of individual tutoring, homework assignments, and regular practice tests, each student develops the necessary test-taking skills to ensure that they put their best foot forward on test day.

FAQs

What is the SHSAT?

The SHSAT is the Specialized High School Admissions Test. It is the New York City Department of Education's sole method for determining admissions to New York City's eight specialized high schools:

  • Bronx High School of Science

  • Brooklyn Latin School

  • Brooklyn Technical High School

  • High School of American Studies at Lehman College

  • High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College

  • Queens High School for the Sciences at York College

  • Staten Island Technical High School

  • Stuyvesant High School

How many questions are on the SHSAT?

The SHSAT contains 114 questions. This is broken down into 57 multiple-choice questions in ELA and Math.

Is the SHSAT hard?

The SHSAT is a challenging test, yes. To put it into context, 27,669 students took the SHSAT in 2021and only 4,987 were offered a spot at a specialized high school. For students who are interested in attending a specialized high school, it is absolutely crucial that they prepare intensively for the exam.

Is the SHSAT harder than the SAT?

Yes and no. In some respects, the SHSAT is harder than the SAT: students can only take the SHSAT once-per-year, for a maximum of two times. The ELA section on the SHSAT is also approximately as difficult as the ELA on the SAT. Lastly, students take the SHSAT at a younger age, so relative to their age, the material may be more difficult than the SAT feels when they are three years older.

However, it's important to note that the math skills tested on the SHSAT are significantly easier than the math skills on the SAT. Whereas the SAT includes basic trigonometry, quadratic functions and imaginary numbers, the SHSAT tops out at basic algebra and geometry.

When is the SHSAT administered?

In 2023, the SHSAT will be administered once on November 8th. Please note that this is the test date for students attending public school. The DOE will make other testing dates available for students in independent schools.

Does it cost anything to take the SHSAT?

The SHSAT is free to take for all eighth graders in New York City.

How much time do I have to complete the SHSAT?

Students are given three hours to complete the SHSAT. Students with diagnosed IEP's can request additional time from the Department of Education. For more information on time-management skills for the SHSAT, read our blog post!

Is 400 a good SHSAT score?

In 2023, a score of 400 on the SHSAT would not have been high enough to secure a spot at any of the specialized high schools. That said, for a student who is early in the process of preparing for the SHSAT, a 400 is a normal place to start from.

What is the highest score on the SHSAT?

Theoretically, the highest score on the SHSAT would be a 800 (400 ELA + 400 Math), however, we are unaware of any students ever receiving a so-called “perfect score”.

What are the cutoff scores for the SHSAT?

In 2023, the cutoff scores for the specialized high schools were as follow:

  • Bronx High School of Science (521)

  • Brooklyn Latin School (493)

  • Brooklyn Technical High School (503)

  • High School of American Studies at Lehman College (510)

  • High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College (518)

  • Queens High School for the Sciences at York College (527)

  • Staten Island Technical High School (521)

  • Stuyvesant High School (561)

When should I start studying for the SHSAT?

Most students begin preparing for the SHSAT during seventh grade. For more information on when to begin studying, read our in-depth blog post here.

Where can I find SHSAT practice tests?

We have you covered. For 20 free full-length SHSAT practice tests, click here.

When do I find out if I got into a Specialized High School?

The Department of Education (DOE) will send out offers for Specialized High Schools on March 7, 2024.