The SHSAT is open to all current eighth grade or first-time ninth grade students who live in New York City. This 3-hour test is the only criterion for gaining entry into one of the nine specialized public schools, which are known for their academic rigor, top teachers, great courses offerings, and exciting extra-curricular opportunities. SHSAT registration opens up in the Fall of each year. Here’s what you need to know to get the chance to attend one of these amazing public high schools!

Yes, the SHSAT is held every year for 8th and 9th graders in the Fall/Winter.

To register for the SHSAT, you need to log into your 

 account. If you do not already have an account, you can create one.

When you are logged into your account, you will be given the option to rank the specialized high schools in order of preference. Give some thought to this and make sure you are truly listing schools in the order you would want to go to them.

Approximately two weeks after the registration deadline, you will receive a personalized test ticket with information on when and where you will take the test.

You can also register for the SHSAT through your school counsellor.

The 2022 SHSAT has not yet been announced. 
We are monitoring the official announcements from the DOE and will update this post when the dates are released.

. Before registering for the SHSAT, you will want to do some research on the specialized high schools and give some thought as to how you are going to rank them. You can learn more about the specialized high schools 

 and by visiting each of their individual websites. We highly recommend attending any tours or information sessions that are available, either in-person or online.

. Needless to say, you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with what’s on the 

 and start creating a study plan. We recommend students start studying for the SHSAT in the second semester of 7th grade if they are taking it as an 8th grader, or the second semester of 8th grade if they are taking it as a 9th grader. The key to mastering the SHSAT lies in ample and consistent practice. The more students familiarize themselves with the material covered on the test and work on skills like time-management and concentration, the better their results will be.

 practice test to provide a better sense of the student’s strengths and weaknesses, and a valuable roadmap for topics to review and testing skills they’ll need to master. We can help administer this test and provide a comprehensive report to help organize the test prep process.

 after several months of study, and/or a month before the test date, to gauge the student’ progress, inform their long-term test prep plan, and build their confidence in test taking. Like the diagnostic test, these tests should be timed and proctored (by a parent or tutor), re-creating the actual test conditions so that the student can accurately assess their test taking skills.

 Practice is a good thing, but students who don’t first learn the content and strategies related to their test are just “practicing” or reinforcing their mistakes. Students should make sure they understand why they got the problem wrong (yes, all of them!) before moving on to more practice.

Ivy’s brilliant and caring tutors have helped thousands of students learn smart studying and test taking strategies, understand key concepts and build confidence, skills that are vital not just for SHSAT, but for the SAT, ACT and more. Regular 

 creates the necessary structure and reinforcement that students often need to practice consistently. 

We also offer SHSAT Strategies, a small group online workshop where students take a diagnostic exam, review content and learn tricks and strategies for excelling on this challenging test.

SHSAT Registration 2022

The SHSAT is offered just once a year for 8th or 9th graders in the Fall/Winter. Because you can only take the exam once, it’s absolutely essential to make sure everything runs smoothly. Based on the most common questions we receive from our students, here are the most important things you need to know going into SHSAT Test Day.

 bring these items to their testing session:

Your SHSAT test ticket signed by you and your parent/guardian

Sharpened Number 2 pencils (you cannot use a pen)

Assistive Technology (if indicated on your IEP and test ticket)

Although not required, we also recommend bringing the following items to the testing center:

Snack (you can have the snack before the beginning of the test, but they are not allowed during testing time) 

The testing center will supply you with the test booklet, answer sheet, and scrap paper. Remember, calculators are 

Although students are permitted to bring cell phones to the testing site, they are not allowed to have cell phones on their person when taking the SHSAT. The testing site with instruct you to turn off and store all cellphones and electronic devices according to its own regulations.

Any student who refuses to put away or turn in a prohibited device will not be allowed to take the test. Possession of these items at any time during the test administration, even if powered off, will result in the test being invalidated.

. Make sure to arrive at the test site at the time that is on your SHSAT test ticket. Please note that this is the arrival time, not the time that the test will start. The test will begin as soon as possible after the time on your ticket. In some cases, the test may begin an hour or more after the arrival time noted on the test ticket. Your testing site can provide you with estimated times when the test will end and students will be released.

If you do not feel well, you should inform the test proctor immediately; you should not begin the test or sign the statement. Once you break the security seal and begin the test, you may not be able to request a make-up test due to illness.

Before taking the test, you will fill out important information on Side 1 of your answer sheet. First, you will be asked to read and sign a statement on your answer sheet stating that you are well enough to take the test, a resident of New York City, and are taking the test for the correct grade level.

All students taking the SHSAT must stay in testing rooms for the entire standard test administration time (180 minutes), with the exception of using the bathroom.

Once the standard test administration time (180 minutes) is over, students with an accommodation of extended time may leave if they have finished working on the exam. Students who decide to leave after the first 180 minutes of the standard test administration time must sign out to indicate they understood they gave up their remaining available time on the SHSAT. Students with this accommodation will have a break at the conclusion of the 180 minutes, and then again after another 90 minutes have passed. 

Filling out the answer sheet properly is very important for any standardized test. Remember, the computer grading the test can’t read your mind. If you bubble in a wrong answer even though you MEANT a different answer, it will still be marked as wrong. Likewise, answers written in your test booklet or scrap paper will not be counted. 

Be careful not to make any stray marks on the answer sheet.

If you change an answer, completely erase your first answer.

There is only one correct answer to each question. If your answer sheet shows more than one mark in response to a question, that question will be scored as incorrect.

Once time is up, you are not allowed to go back and mark your answers on the answer sheet. We recommend bubbling in answers as you go along, rather than saving it for the end. 

Based on the numbers of questions answered correctly, students receive a raw score, which is then converted to a scaled score. 

There is no penalty for wrong answers, so make sure to answer every question on the test. All questions are worth the same number of points, so don't feel the need to spend more time on "harder" questions. Aim to get as many questions right as possible, regardless of difficulty level. 

Here is a list of things you are NOT allowed to do when taking the SHSAT. If you are caught breaking these rules, you run the risk of having your score invalidated. 

1) NO TALKING. You may not communicate with other students during the test. No talking, writing/passing notes, sharing answers or test booklets, or looking at other students' answers.

2) NO PHONES. Any student who refuses to put away or turn in a prohibited device will not be allowed to take the test. Possession of prohibited items at any time during the test administration, even if powered off, will result in the test being invalidated. Students will not be provided with an opportunity to make up the exam on a subsequent day.

3) RESPECT THE TIME LIMIT. At the end of the test, you will be told to stop and put your pencil down and will be given directions about your testing materials. When you are told to put your pencil down, you may not continue writing on any of your testing materials. This includes erasing answers, circling bubbles, and darkening bubbles. 

4) You are not allowed to share test questions and answers with anyone outside of the testing site. Students found to be engaging in any of these activities will have their tests invalidated.

If you take the SHSAT in 8th grade and are not happy with the results, you can still take it again in 9th grade. There are no more chances to take the SHSAT after 9th grade. However, if a student has to miss the test due to illness, or was feeling unwell before breaking the seal of the booklet, it is possible to take the SHSAT again on a make-up date.

Now that you know all about the logsitics, it's time to start studying! Ivy Tutors Network offers personalized and semi-private 

SHSAT Exam Policies - Important Things to Know About Testing Day

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, during which in-person testing became a logistical nightmare, many colleges and universities decided that they would no longer require students to submit their SAT/ACT schools as part of their application process. Over a year later, many schools have remained test-optional, leaving students wondering whether or not it is worth their time and energy to prepare for an exam that is not, strictly speaking, necessary. The question remains: should I take the SAT or ACT? The answer depends on the individual, but for many students, it’s “yes.”

What Does “Test-Optional” Really Mean?

Many students believe the recent “test-optional” policy adopted by many colleges and universities in the US is cause to celebrate. Indeed, for some students who have other ways to show their dream school that they are driven and intellectually curious, it’s good to know that there is now one less hoop to jump through. So if you’ve won a Grammy or started your own business, or if you’ve done well in summer pre-college or online college courses, then you may not have to take the tests. However, it is important to be aware that NOT submitting a score is still sending a message to the schools you apply to. It also means that you are supplying one less data point for the admissions committee to consider. This is fine, as long as you have other data points that set you apart from the crowd. That being said, submitting a score is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and in many cases, it may still be in a student’s best interest to prepare for and take the ACT or SAT.

It is also worth mentioning that test optional in theory and test optional in practice are two different things. It’s safe to say that any completive private college or university is not test-optional, even if they say there are. Their admissions departments require evidence of both high academic rigor and a student’s willingness to take on a challenge, and for many elite schools, a high SAT or ACT score provides this evidence.

In addition to anyone seeking admission to a top-tier private university, recruited student athletes should give extra consideration to taking the SAT or ACT. One of the first questions coaches ask during the recruiting process is “what are your scores like?” Although you may be an incredible athlete, you will not be admitted to an Ivy league school if your scores are not within the range of non-athletes— and coaches know that. Even “test-optional” schools still have parameters and won’t accept an athlete who cannot handle a certain level of academic rigor. By taking the ACT or SAT exam, and doing well, students can demonstrate both their athletic and academic prowess. Students should research what the test score range is for a given college. If their scores aren’t even remotely close, then that school probably isn’t a good fit.

Some colleges have also reinstated testing requirements for their applicants, meaning they are no longer “test-optional.” As of today, students who want to attend state colleges in Florida and Georgia are once again required to take SAT or ACT exams. It is paramount to check the requirements of each school you are applying to before deciding to not take the SAT or ACT.

Another thing to watch out for: while your dream college or university may be “test-optional,” be sure to check that the major you are applying for doesn’t require the SAT or ACT. For example, the University of Iowa is “test optional,” but students hoping to pursue a nursing degree must submit a minimum of a 1300 SAT score.

If your SAT or ACT score won’t hurt your application, you should submit it. We’ve seen statistics from last year coming out and some schools reportedly admitted double the number of students who submitted their test scores as compared to the number of students admitted without a test score. At a recent industry conference, we heard that Colgate University had a 12% admittance rate among those with an SAT or ACT and a 25% admittance rate for those who submitted a test score. While we can’t be sure that the test score was the only difference in these applications, these kinds of statistics tell us that submitting a score will most likely boost your admissions prospects.

Students who are able to obtain higher scores on the tests are also eligible for several scholarships, such as the National Merit. While less than 1% of students are National Merit winners, many colleges will offer more money if a student is a National Merit finalist. For example, at Clemson University in South Carolina, students scoring 29 on the ACT and 1340 on the SAT or higher are automatically considered for scholarships! Another good example is the ExxonMobil award, which offers an Engineering Scholarship and gives out thousands of dollars in money every year. There is a minimum SAT score requirement that students have to meet in order to apply. To be eligible for as many scholarship awards as possible, students should definitely think about taking these tests.

If you are the first generation in your family to go to college, you could maybe skip the SAT and ACT. Many of the most prestigious universities are making huge efforts to include as many first generation and minority students as possible in their numbers to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a result, test scores are understandably less important for students who are in these groups. Leading the pack, Cornell recently announced that 20% of the 2021 freshman class is made up of 1st generation college goers, and most of these students did not submit test scores!

No, it is not necessary to take both the SAT and ACT, as almost all schools accept either score. Although some students may take both tests to see which they perform better on, they will eventually focus their efforts on one in order to optimize study time. We recommend taking an initial 

to determine which test will result in a higher score.

During the pandemic, many students and teachers lost valuable instruction time, resulting in the much lamented Covid “learning loss.” Prepping for the ACT or SAT with a seasoned tutor can help identify what a student has missed in their education and fill in these knowledge gaps. Filling these gaps will most certainly help with other coursework and even AP exams. Although it does take time and commitment, 

 can be an excellent way to make sure a student is up to speed for both high school and college level coursework.

 in the spring of sophomore year or, at latest, in the fall of Junior year of high school. From this diagnostic test, you will learn how far your initial score is from the scholarship range, from the median score accepted by the schools on your college list, or from the score needed to be recruited for a sport. If you are about 200 SAT points (or 6 ACT) away from one of these goals, it is worth your while to put in the time and effort to show colleges that you have the determination and drive to take on a difficult challenge and succeed. As someone who has worked in the test preparation industry for over two decades, I recommend starting at least three months prior to a test date and taking frequent timed practice. If a student cannot commit to putting in the time or effort, then they will likely not improve. When it comes to college admission, students who show great scores and/or a big improvement in their scores still have the upperhand!

Is It Worthwhile to Take the SAT or ACT?

Here's what makes us unique:

We’re a proud DOE vendor and love helping schools to support the curriculum though 1-on-1 or small group tutoring. We work within each institution’s budget to create the perfect programming. We’ve been known to help drastically increase graduation rates, work with seniors to ensure a 100% Regents passing rate, spark joy in a math class, and more!

School Programs

Is your institution looking for curriculum support? Ivy Tutors Network offers 1-on-1 and small group tutoring as a proud DOE vendor.

Henry is thoroughly enjoying working with Jordan. Up until now, Henry has not gotten any one-on-one teaching of coding so he's thrilled to work this way with Jordan. Henry has said it's super interesting, fun and he loves it.

Thank you so much. The tutors have been amazing from start to finish.  We are so grateful to have this program since our daughter doesn’t have any in-classroom options this year. We love Ivy Tutors Network! 

My son did great in Geometry, ending the semester with a 95 for the course.  He and George did really well together, as my son's main issue was not really knowing how to study/prepare for exams on his own in math, and personality-wise as well as skill-wise, George was a great match.

We’ve had such a positive experience with Ivy Tutors.  My son started working with Shakir two years ago, at a time when he was really struggling in school.  The one on one support has been invaluable, and has truly helped to turn things around. I honestly don’t think we could have made it this far without them - would highly recommend!

Great communication, amazing experienced tutors, best value for money. We wanted to thank all of you (and mainly Mark) for helping my son improve his SAT score from 1380 to 1500! This is amazing!  Great job all of you! I will keep referring my clients and friends to you. Sooo happy!

We loved Raphael. His technique for our daughter was great. His skill with timing and strategy definitely worked for her. He was also a very calm, supportive and kind person. He helped our daughter increase her ACT score by 8 points and get her math performance on track. Thank you for finding the absolute right fit tutor.


We received some great news! My son was accepted to Xavier and offered an Ignatian Scholarship, to Stepinac High School and offered a full scholarship AND also accepted to Fordham Prep and received the Hughes Scholarship. Kairn was extremely instrumental in achieving this goal. My son loved working with him and we are so proud of his achievements.

Thank you so much for recommending Andrew as a tutor for my son. They have worked really well together. My son was very happy with his Math score in the May SATs. It has been a pleasure working with you. I will definitely recommend Ivy Tutors to friends!

It went so well- truly! I can't thank you enough- Dylan learned more yesterday than he has all year- real humanity and real education wins. Believe me we will continue the tutoring until June without a question because he is improving and getting ‘smarter’ each and every session- thank you again!


My daughter set out to close a 150-point gap for her SAT in less than 6 weeks. Mark was very poised and professional in his approach. Given my daughter's individual strengths and weaknesses, he curated a lesson plan that had the necessary vigor, interest and milestones to achieve the goal.

Teresa has been tutoring both of our daughters and she is amazing in every way! The girls truly enjoy their sessions with her and both have shown great improvement in a short period of time. It’s been super easy to set up sessions and Ivy Tutors is always available to answer questions along the way.

Thanks to you and to our tutor who had committed 200% of yours and his efforts to help our daughter to get to the score of 1520 in such a short time!  Great, great jobs for both of you! She is now truly ready for the upcoming college application processes.

School Programs

How can we help?

Could you use a test prep partner?

New York's most trusted education and test prep experts since 2003

Testimonials

Latest Posts