The SHSAT Is Going Digital in 2025: What NYC Parents Need to Know About the New Specialized High School Exam
For thousands of New York City families, the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a gateway to opportunity. It's the sole admissions criterion for eight of NYC’s most competitive public high schools—including Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, and Brooklyn Technical High School. For years, students have taken this high-stakes exam using paper booklets and pencils. But starting in Fall 2025, the SHSAT will move to a fully digital format, marking a major shift in the way NYC middle schoolers prepare for the test—and in how parents like you support them.
This digital transition is not just a logistical update. It represents a fundamental change in how the test will be administered, navigated, and potentially scored in future years. For families preparing students for the SHSAT in 2025 and beyond, it’s essential to understand these changes and how to prepare effectively.
What Is the SHSAT?
The SHSAT is a standardized admissions test used to determine entry into eight of New York City’s Specialized High Schools. The exam is typically offered to 8th-grade students each fall (and 9th-grade students who wish to transfer into a Specialized High School for 10th grade). The SHSAT is divided into two sections: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, each containing 57 questions. Students are given 180 minutes total to complete the exam and are free to divide their time between the two sections as they wish.
The ELA portion tests a student’s ability to revise and edit grammar and syntax, as well as their reading comprehension through several literary and informational passages. The Math section includes multiple-choice and grid-in questions covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Students receive a scaled score for each section, and their composite score out of 800 determines placement. Seats are offered to students with the highest scores, matched against their ranked school preferences. Each school has its own cutoff score, with Stuyvesant High School often requiring the highest, followed closely by Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech.
What’s Changing in 2025 and 2026?
The NYC Department of Education has announced that beginning in Fall 2025, the SHSAT will be administered as a digital exam. The content of the test will remain the same—students will still face the same number of questions, subject areas, and time limits—but the delivery of the test will take place on a secure digital platform rather than paper. Students will complete the SHSAT on DOE-provided devices at designated testing locations, navigating questions using a computer interface.
In Fall 2026, the SHSAT is expected to introduce computer-adaptive testing (CAT), meaning the exam will dynamically adjust the difficulty of questions based on a student’s performance. This change is still in development, but it underscores the importance of helping students build digital test fluency well in advance.
How Will the Digital SHSAT Work?
To help students adjust to the new format, the NYC DOE has released the official SHSAT Student Readiness Tool, a free, web-based resource that simulates the digital exam environment. Available now at srt.testnav.com/ny-shsat, the tool allows students to interact with the digital interface, navigate between questions, and use digital tools like highlighters, answer eliminators, and scratchpads. It’s an excellent way for students to practice the feel of the test before high-stakes testing day arrives.
Additionally, the DOE has published a document that previews the Technology-Enhanced Item (TEI) types students may encounter. These items go beyond basic multiple-choice questions. They may include drag-and-drop, dropdown selections, and multi-part responses—types of questions that require more interaction and precision within the digital interface. Screenshots and examples of these new TEIs are available here, and parents should familiarize themselves with these to better understand how the digital SHSAT will look and feel.
The DOE also plans to release two full-length digital practice tests in Spring 2025. These tests will be modeled after the actual digital SHSAT and will allow students to rehearse their pacing, interface use, and question strategies in real time.
How Should Families Prepare for the Digital SHSAT?
Preparing for the digital SHSAT requires a shift in both content review and test-taking strategy. First and foremost, students should spend time with the SHSAT Student Readiness Tool to gain comfort with the interface. Encourage your child to practice using tools like highlighting, eliminating answers, and navigating between questions. The more familiar they are with these features, the more confident they will feel on test day.
As the release of the digital practice tests approaches, be sure to schedule time for your child to take them under timed conditions. Practicing with real digital assessments helps build the stamina and screen focus needed to complete a three-hour test entirely on a device. If your child is used to paper-and-pencil learning, you may also want to gradually increase their use of screen-based reading materials and digital math practice.
It's also wise to work on typing speed and accuracy, particularly for grid-in responses, which may now require students to type numerical answers precisely using an on-screen keyboard or physical device. For some students, especially those with limited digital experience, typing skills can affect both pacing and accuracy.
Families should also be mindful of the technology-enhanced items. These question types are new to the SHSAT, and although they won’t change the core math and reading skills required, they will demand additional test-taking skills. Encourage your child to review the official screenshots of these items and practice with similar tools that mimic interactive features.
Final Thoughts for Parents
The transition to a digital SHSAT is a major step in modernizing New York City’s approach to high school admissions testing. While the core academic expectations remain unchanged, the format shift introduces new technical and cognitive demands that families cannot afford to ignore. By taking early steps to build your child's digital fluency—through tools like the SHSAT Readiness Tool, practice tests, and exposure to technology-enhanced items—you’re giving them the edge they’ll need to succeed in this evolving landscape.
Whether your child dreams of walking the halls of Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, or Brooklyn Tech, preparation is key. The best time to adapt is now.