SHSAT preparation
4 weeks to the SHSAT
The first test dates are Saturday/Sunday, November 14/15, 2026. School Day testing is Wednesday, November 18, 2026, and the last weekend date is Saturday, November 21, 2026.
Source: NYC Public Schools, checked October 15, 2026.
What fits in that time
- A diagnostic first ($150, one-time, 1.5 hours). It shows where your child stands on the SHSAT and which topics cost the most points, so no session goes to something already solid.
- Then sessions at $125 each, paid one at a time. That leaves 3 weeks after the diagnostic week for one-on-one sessions on the topics that cost the most points. No package to buy: after the diagnostic you get a written plan with the number of sessions it calls for, and you decide from there.
For Parents
What Is the SHSAT?
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the sole criterion for admission to eight of New York City's nine specialized high schools. Administered by the NYC Department of Education each fall, it is taken by approximately 28,000 students competing for roughly 5,000 seats.
For the fall 2026 administration the DOE publishes two sections of 50 questions each: English Language Arts (revising/editing and reading comprehension) and Mathematics (ratios and proportional relationships, the number system and expressions, equations, inequalities, statistics and probability, and geometry). Students get a standard 180 minutes (3 hours), and may choose which section to begin with. From fall 2026 the exam is computer-adaptive — it adjusts difficulty as the student answers, and a student cannot return to a question once they have advanced past it.
Because the SHSAT is the only factor in admissions, preparation matters. The right strategies, consistent practice, and familiarity with the test format can make a significant difference in your child's score. Explore our blog for SHSAT articles and tips.
Questions about the SHSAT timeline?
Our Approach
Our SHSAT Prep Program
Four pillars of preparation, delivered one-on-one and tailored to your child's strengths and areas for growth.
Diagnostic Assessment
A full-length practice SHSAT under timed conditions. We pinpoint exactly where your child stands in both ELA and Math, then build a personalized prep plan around those results.
Timed Practice
The SHSAT gives students a standard 180 minutes for 100 questions — 50 per section. We drill pacing strategies so your child learns to allocate time wisely and avoid the rush that costs points.
Math Strategies
Word problems, algebraic reasoning, geometry, and data interpretation. We teach efficient problem-solving techniques and pattern recognition specific to SHSAT math.
ELA Strategies
Revising/editing passages and reading comprehension. We build critical reading skills, teach elimination strategies, and practice grammar and usage rules tested on the SHSAT.
Specialized High Schools
Target Schools
The SHSAT determines admission to these eight specialized high schools. We prepare students for all of them.
Stuyvesant High School
Manhattan
Highest cutoff score. Renowned for STEM programs and competitive admissions.
Bronx High School of Science
Bronx
Nobel laureate alumni. Strong science, math, and research programs.
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn
Largest specialized high school. 17 engineering and STEM majors.
High School of Mathematics, Science & Engineering (HSMSE)
Manhattan
Small school at CCNY campus. Rigorous math and engineering focus.
High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Bronx
Humanities-focused. Strong history and social science curriculum.
Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn
Classical education model. Latin requirement and small class sizes.
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
Queens
STEM-focused with college campus resources. Strong science research.
Staten Island Technical High School
Staten Island
Engineering and technology focus. Collaborative learning environment.
Two of these eight schools are in Brooklyn. SHSAT tutoring for Brooklyn families.
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts uses auditions rather than the SHSAT. Looking for other test prep? SAT Prep · ISEE Prep · SHSAT Test Dates 2026
The SHSAT School Day is November 18, 2026 — every published date, plus the weekend and ninth-grade sittings the DOE has yet to announce, is on the Fall 2026 SHSAT calendar. Who must register, and how to rank the eight schools, are walked step by step under how to register for the SHSAT.
Score Targets
SHSAT Cutoff Scores by School
There is no single SHSAT cutoff score. Each specialized high school sets its own, and it changes every year based on the testing pool and the number of available seats. The table below gives, for each of the eight testing schools, the lowest score that received an offer in 2026 admissions, as published by New York City Public Schools. Use it to set a target, not as a guarantee. Offer counts, offer rates and the qualifying scores the DOE published for both ninth and tenth grade are laid out school by school on the eight specialized high schools, with their offer rates and qualifying scores.
| Specialized High School | Borough | Lowest score offered, 9th grade (2026) | 10th grade (2026) | Rank among the 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | Manhattan | 561 | 562 | 1 |
| High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College | Manhattan | 539 | 554 | 2 |
| Queens High School for the Sciences at York College | Queens | 531 | 537 | 3 |
| The Bronx High School of Science | Bronx | 525 | 652 | 4 |
| Staten Island Technical High School | Staten Island | 517 | 530 | 5 |
| High School of American Studies at Lehman College | Bronx | 507 | 535 | 6 |
| Brooklyn Technical High School | Brooklyn | 506 | 543 | 7 |
| The Brooklyn Latin School | Brooklyn | 495 | 652 | 8 |
Source: New York City Public Schools, Specialized High Schools, “Lowest Qualifying SHSAT Score for 2026 Admissions” (checked September 16, 2026). Each figure is the score of the last student offered a seat that year, not a cutoff set in advance or a prediction for the next one. Our diagnostic sets a personalized target with cushion above it.
Already sat a practice test? Convert the raw Math and ELA score into an SHSAT composite and see where it falls against each of the eight scores above. Not yet sat one? All four official DOE practice tests, online and as printable PDFs are free, and each comes with the city's own answer explanations.
Plan Ahead
SHSAT Timeline & Key Dates
The SHSAT runs on a fixed annual cycle. Knowing the milestones early gives your child enough runway to prepare without cramming. Here is how a typical admissions year unfolds.
- 1
Fall of 5th grade
Choosing the middle school
The SHSAT years happen at the middle school you choose now. In 2026 admissions, half or more of the eighth grade sat the test at 129 of the 546 public middle schools that published both counts. Middle school applications for fall 2027: October 14 to December 11, 2026.
- 2
Spring – Summer (7th grade)
Start prep & take a diagnostic
Begin SHSAT preparation 6 to 9 months before test day. A 90-minute diagnostic establishes a baseline and sets a target composite score for your child's preferred schools.
- 3
October 6 – 30, 2026
The only sign-up window of the year
It opens October 6 and closes hard on October 30. There is no late entry and no second window — a student who misses it does not sit the SHSAT this cycle.
- 4
November 18, 2026
SHSAT School Day
NYC public school eighth graders sit the SHSAT at their own school. The DOE gives a standard test time of 180 minutes across two sections — ELA and Math — of 50 questions each. From fall 2026 the exam is computer-adaptive.
- 5
November
9th-grade test date
Students currently in 9th grade test (usually in November) for the small number of 10th-grade seats. The seat pool is smaller, so competition differs from the 8th-grade round.
- 6
Early December
High school application deadline
Students finalize their main NYC high school application. The specialized high school preference order is not part of it — that ranking is submitted back in October, with the sign-up itself. Confirm the exact deadline with your counselor.
- 7
March
Offers released
The DOE releases specialized high school offers. Admission runs in cutoff order by composite score against each student's ranked preferences.
Exact registration windows and test dates are set by the NYC Department of Education each year and can shift. Always confirm current dates with your child's school counselor or the official NYC specialized high schools resources. If your child is sitting more than one exam this year, our test registration planner works out, exam by exam, which window is still open, the day it closes and what it costs. Not sure which of the eight schools to rank first? See all eight testing specialized high schools, with their offers and lowest qualifying scores, and what the 2026 exam actually looks like. Also weighing Hunter? Hunter has its own exam in 6th grade, not the SHSAT: check whether your child can sit the Hunter College High School exam.
Pricing
SHSAT Prep Pricing
Diagnostic Session
$150
one-time · 1.5 hours
- Full-length timed practice SHSAT
- Score analysis by section
- Personalized prep plan
- Available Fridays & Saturdays
SHSAT Prep Sessions
$125
per session
- One-on-one SHSAT tutoring
- Math & ELA strategies
- Timed practice drills
- Progress tracking & reports
*Prices subject to change. The diagnostic session is the required first step for all new students.
Reviews
Don't take our word for it
Genius Prep changed my life! It was all tears doing homework and projects with my 4th-grade daughter. Now I pick her up and she is smiling and skipping home. LOVE this place.
Marne Gabay
April 2022
Outstanding tutoring service. The individualized attention and structured approach made a real difference. Highly recommend to any parent in the NYC area.
Rebecca Taskin
July 2023
The structured approach and individualized attention made all the difference for my son. His confidence in math went from zero to leading his class.
Ann Wool
October 2017
From Our Blog
SHSAT Prep Resources
SHSAT Study Schedule 2024-2025
3 adaptive study plans based on your child's diagnostic score.
The 2026 SHSAT Handbook, Decoded
What the official NYC DOE document actually says, page by page, and how to use it.
NYC Specialized High Schools Guide
Everything parents need to know about the 9 specialized high schools.
Common Questions
SHSAT Prep FAQs
When should my child start SHSAT prep?+
We recommend starting at least 6 to 9 months before the test — the SHSAT School Day for NYC public school eighth graders is November 18, 2026. Beginning in the spring or summer of 7th grade gives students enough time to build skills without burnout. However, some students benefit from starting even earlier with foundational math and reading work.
What is a good SHSAT score?+
The SHSAT is scored on a composite scale, and there is no fixed passing score: each specialized high school fills its seats in score order, so its cutoff is simply the lowest score that received an offer that year. In 2026 admissions, for 9th grade entry, that score ranged from 495 at Brooklyn Latin to 561 at Stuyvesant, as published by New York City Public Schools. Those figures describe a past year, not next year's threshold. Our diagnostic assessment helps set a realistic target score based on your child's starting point.
How many tutoring sessions does my child need?+
It depends on your child's baseline. After the diagnostic assessment, we recommend a session plan tailored to their needs. Most students benefit from 1 to 2 sessions per week over 4 to 6 months. Students starting with strong fundamentals may need fewer sessions, while those requiring more support in math or ELA may benefit from additional practice.
What does the SHSAT test look like?+
For the fall 2026 administration the DOE publishes two sections — English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics — of 50 questions each, for a standard test time of 180 minutes. From fall 2026 the SHSAT is also computer-adaptive: it adjusts the difficulty of what a student sees based on their answers, and students must answer each question before moving on. The ELA section includes revising/editing questions and reading comprehension passages. The Math section covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics. Students have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the entire test with no scheduled break.
Can 9th graders take the SHSAT?+
Yes. Both 8th and 9th grade students can take the SHSAT. Ninth graders apply for a smaller number of available seats, so competition can be different. Our prep program is designed for both grade levels, and we adjust the curriculum based on each student's grade and target school.
More on NYC schools & admissions
2026 SAT Calendar for NYC Families: Dates and Policies
Plan the 2026 SAT season with full NYC test dates, free School Day details, and the current testing policies at the colleges NYC families target most.
SHSAT Handbook 2026: Official NYC Guide + New Adaptive Test
Get the official NYC DOE SHSAT guide (direct PDF link), plus what the fall 2026 computer-adaptive test changes — and why the guide is labeled 2027 Admissions.
ACT Classes in NYC: 2026 Prices Compared ($300–$3,500)
Group, online & private 1-on-1 ACT classes in NYC compared by real 2026 prices — from $300 self-paced courses to $3,500 boutique packages — plus how to choose.
Give Your Child the Best Shot at NYC's Top Schools
Start with a diagnostic assessment. We'll evaluate your child's current level, set a target score, and build a prep plan designed to get results.
Book a Diagnostic — $150928 Broadway, Flatiron · (212) 888-3836 · genius.prep@gmail.com
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Ready to start SHSAT prep?
Book a 90-minute diagnostic — we evaluate your child’s current level, set a target, and build a written prep plan.