Beginning with the fall 2026 administration, the SHSAT will transition to a computer-adaptive test (CAT). A CAT is an exam that selects the questions that a student sees based on their ongoing performance. For example, a test-taker who performs well on a moderately challenging prompt will then receive a more difficult item; a student who does not answer such an item correctly will then be asked a less difficult question. Students will all be tested on the same grade-level standards, but the level of complexity of each question will be dependent upon the preceding response. Students will not be tested on standards that are above-grade level. Students will not be able to revisit questions or move around within sections and will need to respond to advance in the exam. All students will answer the same number of questions for each subject.
In addition, for passage-based question sets in the ELA section, students will be able to return to questions within the set and alter their responses; once they complete and submit all questions in the set, they cannot review their responses. In the Math section and for stand-alone items in the ELA section, students must respond to each question before they will be able to move on to the next question. Students will not be able to return to the question after they have advanced in these sections. Once they complete and submit their responses in each subject, they will not be able revisit the questions for that subject.
The content of the 2026 exam will remain consistent with previous years. Students will continue to have a standard testing time of three hours to complete the exam. Students may use their discretion as to how this time is allotted across the English Language Arts and Mathematics sections. Additional and different kinds of TEI may continue to be added in 2026 and beyond.
Currently, the best way to prepare for the 2026 exam is to practice using official sample tests that the DOE previously released. These released tests represent the highest quality study material available. Take pains to use them carefully. When paired with a good SHSAT textbook, students should have more than enough material to take them from here until test day.
If your son or daughter is working with a tutor, consult with them about if and when to use this material.
2025 Format (includes new question types called Technology-Enhanced Items (TEIs))
2025-2026 Form A / ELA Answer Explanations / Math Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 8, 16, 24, 54, 66, 68, 76, 88, 94, 99, 106, and 114.)
2025-2026 Form B / ELA Answer Explanations / Math Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 3, 8, 60-62, 72, 75, 90, and 110.)
Pre-2025 Format (click to download)
These 14 tests should be reserved for mock tests to be taken (in most cases) in the lead-up to test day. Time limit: 180 minutes. Use this Sample Answer Sheet to bubble in your answers.
2024-2025 Form A / Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 19 to 25, 38, and 45.)
2024-2025 Form B / Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 53, 75, and 85.)
2023-2024 Form A (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 1, 18 to 26, 34, 35, 65, 72, 74, 75, 78, 81, 105, and 108.)
2023-2024 Form B (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 1-9, 63, 67, 79, 81, 83, 94, 104, 105.)
2022-2023 Form A / Answer Explanations
2022-2023 Form B / Answer Explanations
2021-2022 Form A / Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 18-25)
2021-2022 Form B / Answer Explanations (All items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 11-16)
2020-2021 Form A / Answer Explanations (All ELA items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 1, 3, 4, 6-15, 19, 22, 25-31, and 44)
2020-2021 Form B / Answer Explanations (All ELA items are recycled from previous years, with the exception of Q. 5-9, 20, 26-33, 36, and 42-50)
2019-2020 Form A / Answer Explanations
2019-2020 Form B / Answer Explanations
2018-2019 Form A / Answer Explanations
2018-2019 Form B / Answer Explanations
2017-2018 Form A / Answer Explanations (The math section is the same as 2018-19 Form A above)
2017-2018 Form B / Answer Explanations (The math section is the same as 2018-19 Form B above)
These 6 early tests included the now obsolete scrambled paragraphs and logical reasoning sections, which have been omitted for your convenience. These tests use a 5 answer multiple choice format (versus 4 on the newer tests). We do not view this as problematic. If students can choose between 5 answers, they can certainly manage 4. Older tests are shorter than the current test. Students wishing to use these as mock exams should allot 120 minutes.
Practice Test 1 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations
Practice Test 2 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations
Practice Test 3 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations
Practice Test 4 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations
Practice Test 5 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations
Practice Test 6 (Old Format) / Answer Explanations