United States · Admissions testWhat’s in the SHSAT handbook for 2027 admissions?
- How to prepare: the NYC SHSAT Portal, the practice tests and how to review them
- How the test works: computer-adaptive, 50 English Language Arts (ELA) and 50 math questions, three hours
- Each part explained, with the digital tools and sample questions with answer explanations
- Test day: what you must and can bring, what isn’t allowed, and what’s provided
- Misconduct rules, and how to report a testing problem within one week of the test
The SHSAT handbook PDF in other languages
Besides English, NYCPS translates the guide into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Uzbek. The translated PDFs are listed at the top of NYCPS’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test page, and the How to Prepare for the SHSAT page has the same content as a web page you can use with a read-aloud tool.
Older handbooks
Each year’s guide is written for that fall’s test. Earlier editions, such as the guide for 2026 admissions, describe the test before it became adaptive, with a different number of questions, so use the 2027 edition for the fall 2026 test.
Using the guide with the portal
The guide sends you to the NYC SHSAT Portal for the full-length digital tests, their explanations, the Student Readiness Tool and translated directions. NYCPS asks that you email SHSATassessment@schools.nyc.gov with questions about the test.
Sources: NYC Public Schools and 2 more. Checked October 2026.
- NYC Public Schools: Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, translated guides ↗
- NYC Public Schools: How to Prepare for the SHSAT ↗
- NYC Public Schools: NYC SHSAT Portal, Understanding the Test ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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