What Is the SHSAT?
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the entrance exam for eight of New York City's nine specialized high schools. These schools include prestigious institutions like Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, and Brooklyn Technical High School. Approximately 30,000 students take the SHSAT each year, competing for roughly 5,000 seats.
The test consists of two sections: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Each section contains multiple-choice questions that assess critical thinking, reading comprehension, and mathematical problem-solving skills.
How SHSAT Scoring Works
The SHSAT uses a composite scoring system that combines your raw scores from both sections into a single scaled score:
Raw Score = Number of correct answers (no penalty for wrong answers)
Scaled Score = Composite of ELA + Math scaled scores
Maximum composite score: approximately 700
Each section has approximately 57 questions. Your raw score (number correct) is converted to a scaled score using a conversion table that varies slightly each year based on test difficulty.
Historical Cutoff Scores
Cutoff scores vary by school and year. Approximate recent cutoffs include:
- Stuyvesant: ~560-570
- Bronx Science: ~510-520
- Brooklyn Tech: ~480-500
- Staten Island Tech: ~515-525
- HSMSE: ~505-515
- HSAS: ~510-520
- Queens Science: ~520-530
- Brooklyn Latin: ~480-490
Preparation Tips
Effective SHSAT preparation includes regular practice with official test materials, strengthening reading comprehension skills, reviewing math concepts including algebra and geometry, and practicing time management. Many students begin preparing 6-12 months before the test.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your estimated raw scores for ELA and Math sections. The calculator converts them to approximate scaled scores and shows your estimated composite score along with potential school matches based on historical cutoffs.
Test Structure Details
The ELA section tests reading comprehension through passages and questions, plus revising/editing skills. The Math section covers arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics, and geometry. Each question is worth one point, and there is no penalty for guessing, so students should answer every question.