How to Use SHSAT Practice Tests Effectively

NYC Public Schools publishes digital sample tests and a Student Readiness Tool on the NYC SHSAT Portal (opens in a new tab). These are the closest match to the real test in content and format, so they are the best benchmarks.

Because there are only a few official tests, plan where each one goes: one near the start of preparation, one in the middle, and one or two in the final weeks. Use other high-quality practice material for skill building in between.

A practice test only tells you something useful when it is taken under real conditions.

• Take the full test in one sitting with a 180-minute limit.
• Practice on a computer whenever possible, since the real SHSAT is digital.
• Use only scratch paper and pencils: no phone, notes, or help.
• Choose a section order and time split ahead of time, just as on test day.
• Pick a quiet space and a start time similar to the real test.

Plan to spend at least as long reviewing a practice test as taking it. Review every question the student missed, and every question they guessed on, even if the guess was correct.

Early in preparation, a full-length SHSAT practice test every few weeks is plenty. Most time should go to learning content and practicing specific question types. As test day approaches, a weekly full-length test helps build stamina and lock in pacing.

Taking tests back to back without review is the most common way students plateau. If there is no time to review a test, it is usually better to skip it and do targeted practice instead.

Keep a simple log after every full-length test. Patterns across several tests are far more informative than any single result.

• Number correct in ELA and in Math.
• Time remaining, or how many questions were rushed at the end.
• The top three error types from that test.
• One specific change to try on the next test.

Parents do not need to know the content to support practice tests. Helpful roles include protecting the time for a full sitting, keeping the testing space quiet, and asking about the review afterward. A question like "What is one thing you will do differently next time?" is often more useful than asking about the score.

Many students benefit from someone else reviewing their tests with them, because patterns are easier to see from the outside. At AhmedPrep in Astoria, Queens, our SHSAT prep program includes timed practice exams with detailed review, and our free SHSAT diagnostic gives families a clear starting point.

If you are preparing for the 2026 test, see our guide to SHSAT Math topics for a review checklist.