United States · Admissions testWho can take the SHSAT in 9th grade?
- NYC residents in 9th grade for the first time
- Students at public, charter, private or parochial schools, and homeschooled students
If you get an offer, you’d start the school in 10th grade. New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) publishes separate cutoff scores for 10th grade seats.
What’s different on the 9th grade SHSAT
The math. On the Grade 9 form it’s based on New York State standards through Grade 8, where the Grade 8 form goes through Grade 7. Otherwise every student answers the same number of questions, 50 in English Language Arts (ELA) and 50 in math, in the same 180 minutes.
Every 9th grader tests at a central site on Saturday, November 21, 2026, and anyone who can’t test on a Saturday gets another date.
SHSAT practice tests for 9th graders
NYCPS has two Grade 9 mini practice tests, Form 1 and Form 2, on the NYC SHSAT Portal. It says 9th graders should use them together with the four full-length Grade 8 practice tests. The NYC Guide to the SHSAT also points 9th graders to the portal’s sample Grade 9 questions.
No SHSAT after 9th grade
Only 8th graders and first-time 9th graders can register, so 9th grade is the last year you can take the SHSAT. NYC’s guide adds that a 9th grader whose test is invalidated for misconduct gets no other chance.
Sources: NYC Public Schools and 2 more. Checked October 2026.
- NYC Public Schools: Specialized High Schools, who can apply ↗
- NYC Public Schools: NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions (PDF) ↗
- NYC Public Schools: NYC SHSAT Portal, Practice Tests ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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