How to study for the SHSAT: a free week-by-week study plan
Updated
How do you study for the SHSAT? For New York City’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, learn the 2026 format and test tools first, take a timed practice test, and spend most of the time on the weakest topics. Finish with full-length timed practice tests, a full review of every mistake, and a light final week.
That is the approach in the NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions (pages 3–4). The plan builder below turns it into weekly tasks for your test date.
As of October 8, 2026, the first fall 2026 test day (Saturday, November 14) is about 5 weeks away. With that much time, follow the “1 to 3 months” plan: full-length timed tests and a review of every mistake.
Build your SHSAT study plan
When to start studying for the SHSAT
Many families start in the spring or summer after 7th grade, 4 to 8 months before the November test. NYC’s free DREAM-SHSI program, for eligible 7th graders, also starts in the spring. Whenever you start, the order is the same; only the time on each step changes.
| Time left | Weekly time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months or more | 3–5 hours a week | Build the skills: grade 7 math without a calculator, grammar and punctuation rules, and daily reading. Take one timed practice test to find the weakest topics. |
| 3 to 6 months | 5–8 hours a week | Most time on weak topics, alternating math and ELA weeks. A timed practice test every 2–3 weeks to check progress. |
| 1 to 3 months | 8–12 hours a week | Full-length timed practice tests every 1–2 weeks, a full review of every mistake, and topic practice in between. |
| Final 1–2 weeks | Lighter | One full test early, then review only missed questions. Check the test ticket, the start time and what to bring. Sleep matters more than one more test. |
What to study for the 2026 SHSAT
The fall 2026 SHSAT has 100 questions, 50 English Language Arts and 50 math, in 180 minutes. It is computer-adaptive: each answer can change the next question, and a submitted subject cannot be reopened.
ELA
- Revising/editing: a passage with numbered sentences to improve, and stand-alone grammar and punctuation questions.
- Reading comprehension: passage sets of poems, fiction, and science and history articles. Practice finding the central idea and the evidence for it.
Math
- New York State standards through grade 7 (grade 8 for 9th graders): ratios and percents, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry, statistics and probability.
- No calculator, and formulas are not given, so practice mental math and memorize area, volume and angle facts.
Practice with explained questions in the free online SHSAT practice test. Full format and question types: the 2026 computer-adaptive SHSAT.
How to use SHSAT practice tests
How many to take
Take all four official full-length tests, Forms A–D, free from NYC, spaced out so each one gets a full review. In between, a timed check with the free online SHSAT practice test shows whether weak topics are improving. Older handbook tests use the paper format; they are fine for extra questions but not for timing. All official tests are listed on our official SHSAT practice tests page.
Take them like the real test
One sitting, 180 minutes, no calculator, phone away. Pick which subject to start with, and remember that a submitted subject is closed. First try every tool in NYC’s Student Readiness Tool so nothing on test day is new.
Review every mistake
Sort each missed question into one of three groups, because each needs a different fix:
- Didn’t know the skill: practice that topic until it is solid.
- Knew it but slipped: misread the question or made a careless error. Slow down on the first read and check the answer against the question.
- Ran out of time: work on pacing (below).
The NYC guide gives the same advice: look for a pattern in the missed questions and practice the areas that caused trouble.
Pacing and time management
180 minutes for 100 questions is about 1.8 minutes a question. A simple rule of thumb is about half the time for each subject, with a time check every 25 questions. There is no penalty for wrong answers, and the adaptive test requires an answer to move on, so never get stuck on one question: make the best choice and keep going.
Free and paid ways to prepare
Free
- NYC’s four official practice tests and the Student Readiness Tool
- The NYC Guide to the SHSAT: directions, tips and sample questions
- DREAM-SHSI: NYC’s SHSAT prep program for eligible 7th graders, with Saturday and summer sessions
- This site: the free online SHSAT practice test with explained answers, and the plan builder above
Paid
- Prep courses: about $1,200–$1,600
- Private tutors: about $80–$200 an hour
- Prep apps: about $20–$130 a month
- Prep books with practice tests
Prices from public listings, 2026.
Studying for the SHSAT in 9th grade
First-time 9th graders take grade 9 forms, with math through grade 8, and compete for 10th-grade seats. NYC’s Grade 9 Mini Forms 1–2 are for practice (NYC SHSAT Portal). There are few 10th-grade seats, and their cutoffs can be far from the 9th-grade ones:
| School | 10th-grade entry, 2026 | 9th-grade entry, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Bronx Science | 652 | 525 |
| Brooklyn Latin | 652 | 495 |
| Stuyvesant | 562 | 561 |
| HSMSE | 554 | 539 |
| Brooklyn Tech | 543 | 506 |
| Queens Sciences | 537 | 531 |
| American Studies | 535 | 507 |
| Staten Island Tech | 530 | 517 |
Lowest qualifying scores published by NYC Public Schools. All 8 schools and five years: SHSAT cutoff scores.
SHSAT study plan FAQ
When should I start studying for the SHSAT?
Many families start in the spring or summer after 7th grade, 4 to 8 months before the November test. NYC’s free DREAM-SHSI prep program starts in the spring of 7th grade. Starting later still works: with 1 to 3 months, spend the time on full-length timed practice tests and on reviewing every mistake.
How many hours a week should my child study?
It depends on the time left: about 3–5 hours a week six months out, 5–8 hours three to six months out, and 8–12 hours in the last one to three months, with a lighter final week. The plan builder on this page splits those hours into weekly tasks.
How many SHSAT practice tests should my child take?
Take all four official full-length tests (Forms A–D, free from NYC), spaced out so there is time to review each one. Use the free SHSAT practice test in between to check progress. A test only helps if every mistake is reviewed afterward.
How much does SHSAT prep cost?
It can be free: NYC’s practice tests, the Student Readiness Tool, the NYC guide and the DREAM program cost nothing, and so does the free online SHSAT practice test on this site. Paid options from public listings in 2026: prep courses about $1,200–$1,600, tutors about $80–$200 an hour, and prep apps about $20–$130 a month.
Is the SHSAT harder in 9th grade?
The math goes one grade further (through grade 8), and 9th graders compete for 10th-grade seats, which have their own cutoffs. For 2026 admissions, the 10th-grade cutoff at Bronx Science was 652, compared with 525 for 9th-grade entry (NYC Public Schools).
What does the SHSAT cover?
50 English Language Arts questions (revising/editing and reading comprehension) and 50 math questions (New York State standards through grade 7), in 180 minutes, with no calculator. See what’s on the 2026 SHSAT.