ELA
Reading passage sets (poems, fiction, science and history articles), revising paragraphs, and grammar questions.
For NYC 7th–9th graders · Fall 2026 adaptive format
Free SHSAT Practice Test for the new adaptive exam
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is how NYC admits students to the 8 specialized high schools that use the test. It is open to NYC residents who are current 8th graders or first-time (not repeating) 9th graders.
- Same rules as the 2026 test
- No sign-up, retake anytime
- Score with every explanation
- Compared to all 8 cutoffs
21 questions · 40 min · Official NYC tests →
01 · The 2026 SHSAT
What’s on the SHSAT now
Each answer can change the next question. You can’t skip, and once a subject is submitted you can’t go back to it.
100questions
50 ELA + 50 Math
50 ELA + 50 Math
180minutes
one sitting
one sitting
0skips
answer to move on
answer to move on
Math
New York State standards through grade 7: ratios and percents, equations, number system, geometry, probability. No calculator.
Question types
Single answer, choose two, drag into categories, and typed math answers.
Test-day tools
Highlighter, answer eliminator, notepad, pencil, line reader, and bookmarks inside a passage set.
02 · Official NYC tests
Official NYC practice tests 2026
NYC Public Schools publishes four free, full-length practice tests that run in the real test software. No login or download needed.
Practice Tests A–D
Full length, for grade 8. Timed (3 hours) or untimed, ELA or math first. Two are new for 2026.
NYC SHSAT PortalPrintable PDFs and explanations
Each form on paper, plus an answer key that explains every question.
NYC SHSAT PortalGrade 9 Mini Forms 1–2
Math through grade 8 for first-time 9th graders, used with Forms A–D.
NYC SHSAT PortalStudent Readiness Tool
A tutorial of the test tools and question types. Its sample items are not SHSAT content.
Pearson TestNav
Direct links to every form, PDF and answer key: all official SHSAT practice tests and PDFs →
Checked against NYC Public Schools on October 6, 2026. PrepCAT is independent and not affiliated with NYC Public Schools; we link to official files and never re-host them.
03 · Free & Pro
Free and Pro SHSAT practice
Scores and explanations stay free on every plan. Pro is for families who want a plan and a prediction.
No account
$0
Nothing to fill in
- One adaptive test, retake as often as you like
- Score and explanations
- Saved in this browser
- More practice tests
- Diagnosis, progress, predictions
Available now
Free account
$0
Email only
- Every full-length practice test
- Results on any device
- Weak-skill diagnosis
- Progress trend & predictions
Coming soon · join the list
Pro
$79 / season
Pay once, lasts until test day. No auto-renew.
- Weak-skill diagnosis: by standard, error type, timing
- Progress across every test
- Predicted score & chance at each school on your list
- Study plan that adjusts weekly + targeted drills
- Weekly parent report
Coming soon · list members pay $59
Tutors and learning centers: class dashboards and custom tests are planned. Tell us you’re interested.
04 · Cutoff scores
SHSAT cutoff scores and your chances
There is no passing score. Each school admits students in rank order until its seats are full.
| School | 2026 cutoff | 2022–26 range |
|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant | 561 | 556–563 |
| HSMSE | 539 | 518–542 |
| Queens Sciences | 531 | 518–531 |
| Bronx Science | 525 | 518–526 |
| Staten Island Tech | 517 | 517–527 |
| American Studies | 507 | 504–516 |
| Brooklyn Tech | 506 | 503–507 |
| Brooklyn Latin | 495 | 492–497 |
2026 cutoff: the lowest qualifying score published by NYC Public Schools for students entering 9th grade, with the 2022–2026 range. All cutoff scores → · Chances with your ranking →
- Stuyvesant27%
- HSMSE43%
- Queens Sciences49%
- Bronx Science54%
- Staten Island Tech60%
- American Studies68%
- Brooklyn Tech68%
- Brooklyn Latin76%
Chance that a practice score reaches each 2026 cutoff (9th-grade entry) at all 8 schools that admit by SHSAT score. It allows ±50 points for one PrepCAT mini test and each school’s year-to-year swing. An estimate, never a promise.
Under NYC’s offer process, cutoffs change every year with who tests and which schools they rank, so past cutoffs are not a prediction.
05 · Your options
How PrepCAT compares to other SHSAT prep
| Feature | Official NYC practice tests | Prep courses | Monthly prep apps | PrepCAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $1,200–$1,600 courses; tutors $80–$200/hr | $20–$130 a month | Free · Pro $79 per season |
| Start without signing up | Yes | No | Usually trial or sign-up | Yes |
| 2026 adaptive format | Real software | Varies | Varies | Yes |
| Score estimate | Right/wrong only | Yes | Yes | Yes: PrepCAT estimate, ±50 shown |
| Chance at each school, by your ranking | No | Sometimes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Number of tests | 4 for 2026 | Course-dependent | Plan-dependent | Growing bank |
Course and app prices from public listings, 2026.
06 · Free SHSAT resources
More free SHSAT resources
Official SHSAT practice tests
All four 2026 NYC tests, grade 9 minis, explanations, and how to use them.
SHSAT test dates 2026
Registration deadline, test days, and what to bring.
Practice questions by topic
Math and ELA questions with instant explanations.
SHSAT score calculator
Practice-test answers to a likely score, and your chance at each school.
Cutoff scores 2022–2026
All 8 SHSAT schools, five years.
Study plan builder
A week-by-week plan to test day.
My progress
Scores and weak topics saved on this device.
07 · FAQ
SHSAT questions parents ask
Is 570 a good SHSAT score?
Yes. For 2026 admissions, 570 was above the lowest qualifying score at all 8 SHSAT schools for students entering 9th grade; the highest was Stuyvesant’s 561. Fall 2026 is the first adaptive SHSAT, so cutoffs may move. A 570 PrepCAT estimate means roughly 520 to 620.
Is the SHSAT test hard?
Yes, mostly because seats are limited: for 2026 admissions, 26,123 students took the SHSAT and 4,023 got an offer. The content is middle-school reading, editing and math (through grade 7 for 8th graders), but it is 100 questions in 180 minutes with no calculator, and questions can get harder as your child answers correctly.
Which is harder, SHSAT or SAT?
The SAT has harder content; the SHSAT is more competitive. The digital SAT has 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes, includes advanced math and trigonometry, and allows a calculator throughout math. The SHSAT tests math through grade 7 with no calculator, 100 questions in 180 minutes, and ranks students for a fixed number of seats.
Is the SHSAT just an IQ test?
No. The SHSAT tests what students learn in school, not IQ. ELA covers revising, editing and reading comprehension; math covers ratios, the number system, expressions, equations, inequalities, statistics, probability and geometry, based on New York State standards through grade 7 (grade 8 for 9th graders). NYC publishes free practice tests and a prep guide so students can study.
Is the SHSAT now 100 questions?
Yes. Starting with the fall 2026 test, for September 2027 admission, the SHSAT has 100 questions: 50 ELA and 50 math, in 180 minutes. It is computer-adaptive, so questions can get harder or easier, and your child must answer each one to move on. The fall 2025 test had 114 questions, 57 per section.
How accurate is the PrepCAT score?
It is a PrepCAT estimate, not an official score. One 21-question mini test can be off by about 50 points either way, so read 530 as roughly 480 to 580. Averaging two or three tests narrows the range. NYC does not publish a fixed score scale or conversion tables, so no practice score is exact.
What happens to my child’s answers?
They stay in this browser on this device. We don’t receive them, and there is no student account. If you join a waitlist, we keep the parent email and which list you joined, only to tell you when accounts or Pro open. PrepCAT is not affiliated with NYC Public Schools, the NYC DOE, or Pearson.
Can we get a refund on Pro?
Yes. Pro is planned as a one-time $79 season pass with a 7-day refund and no auto-renewal. Pro is not on sale yet, and the full refund terms will be on the checkout page before anyone pays. Families on the early-access list will pay $59 instead of $79.