About the Digital SHSAT

Admission is based on a student's SHSAT score and the order in which they rank the Specialized High Schools during registration. Grades, essays, interviews, recommendations, and extracurriculars are not used in the admissions process.

Test Format

The SHSAT has two sections: English Language Arts and Math. Each section contains 50 questions, for a total of 100 questions. Students have 180 minutes to complete the exam.

Students may choose whether to begin with ELA or Math, and they may divide the 180 minutes between the two sections however they want. There is no required time split between ELA and Math.

The test is administered digitally and is computer-adaptive. All students answer the same number of questions and are tested on the same grade-level standards, but they may not receive the exact same questions.

Question types may include multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and technology-enhanced questions. Calculators are not permitted, and students are expected to know relevant formulas, vocabulary, and concepts without relying on a provided formula sheet.

Technology-enhanced questions go beyond selecting a single answer. Common formats include:

• Multiple-select: questions with more than one correct answer, where every correct choice must be selected.
• Drag-and-drop: dragging answer choices into place to order items, sort them into categories, or complete a response.
• Hot text: clicking to select specific words or sentences directly within a passage.
• Inline choice: choosing the correct word or phrase from a drop-down menu inside a sentence.
• Grid: entering or marking answers in a table, where every cell must be correct.
• Graph questions: interacting directly with a graph or number line, for example by plotting points or marking values.
• Equation editor: building a mathematical expression or equation using an on-screen editor.

There is no partial credit. For these technology-enhanced questions and any question with multiple parts, every part must be answered correctly to receive credit.

How the Adaptive Format Works

The adaptive format is one of the most important differences between the current SHSAT and older paper versions of the exam.

Students begin with a question or passage set around average difficulty. As they answer questions, the testing system updates its estimate of their performance. Correct answers may lead to more difficult questions, while incorrect answers may lead to less difficult questions.

This does not mean students are tested on above-grade-level content. The test remains based on the same grade-level standards, but the complexity of the questions can vary depending on performance.

Because the test adapts as the student moves forward, the SHSAT has stricter navigation rules than a traditional paper test.

Navigation Rules

Students must answer each question before moving forward.

In the Math section, students cannot return to a question after they advance to the next one. Each math question is essentially a one-shot decision.

For stand-alone ELA questions, students also cannot return to the question after moving forward.

For passage-based ELA question sets, students can move among the questions within that passage set and revise their answers before submitting the set. However, once they submit the passage set and move on, they cannot return to it.

Once students complete and submit an entire subject, they cannot go back to that subject later.

These rules matter because older strategies like skipping freely, saving harder questions for later, or using extra time at the end to recheck the entire test no longer apply in the same way.

Digital Tools

The digital SHSAT includes built-in tools that students can use during the exam. These may include highlighting, answer elimination, a digital notepad, a digital pencil, a line reader, bookmarks within eligible passage sets, and pop-up definitions for certain glossed words.

Students are also provided scrap paper, which can be used for notes and math calculations. However, answers must be entered on the computer to count.

Scoring and Offers

The SHSAT produces a composite score based on performance in ELA and Math. In the adaptive format, scoring considers both whether a student answers questions correctly and the difficulty of the questions answered.

Offers are made in score order. The highest-scoring student is considered first and receives an offer to their highest-ranked school with an available seat. The process continues down the score list until seats are filled.

A student can receive at most one offer from the testing Specialized High Schools.

Test Day

Students should arrive prepared with everything they need for the exam. Items to bring include:

• The admissions ticket
• A few number 2 pencils, used for scrap work
• An eraser
• A non-smart watch to keep track of time

Calculators, phones, and smartwatches are not permitted. Scrap paper is provided for notes and calculations; answers themselves are entered on the computer.

Why the SHSAT Requires Specific Preparation

The SHSAT is not just a content test. Students need to know the underlying ELA and Math skills, but they also need to be prepared for the actual structure of the exam.

The adaptive format, limited review, calculator-free math, digital tools, and passage-set navigation all affect how students should approach the test. Strong preparation should build accuracy, pacing, reading stamina, math fluency, and comfort with making decisions without relying on the ability to go back later.

Frequently Asked Questions