When will SHSAT tickets be available?
Tickets are expected by November 10. They will appear in the Documents section of MySchools.
The DOE may not strictly adhere to that date. It also doesn’t mean the tickets will be available at midnight. So use this date as a guide.
Your ticket will include the test location and required arrival time. It will also list the codes for any accommodations that you may have.
CHECK YOUR TICKET FOR ACCURACY. Your ticket will include your name, OSIS, and other details. If you need changes, contact your guidance counselor ASAP.
Make a copy of your ticket. If you do not receive or cannot find your ticket on MySchools after Nov 10, contact your guidance counselor ASAP.
Can I use a mouse during the exam?
Yes! This year, you can use a mouse on the Chromebooks and a stylus on the iPads! It will be handy for using the Pencil Tool to draw on illustrations, work on calculations, and annotate passages. The Pencil Toolbar on the right-hand side of the screen lets you undo, redo, and delete. Also note that you usually need to leave Pencil mode to click to answer questions.
I would consider a simple wired mouse, not a Bluetooth or dongle-based mouse. I don’t know how many Chromebooks have USB-A and/or USB-C, so you may want to consider an adapter too. Some middle schools are doing pre-test device checks, so you may want to bring your mouse to test it then.
On test day, if your mouse has a problem, put it aside, as your priority is to take the exam, not be a technician. You will still have scrap paper and brain power.
Can students do subsections of the ELA section in any order?
No, within the ELA section, the order for all students will be:
* Reading Comprehension (various passages)
* Revising/Editing A (one or more passages)
* Revising/Editing B (various stand-alone questions)
Students cannot return to previously completed passage sets; they can only return to earlier questions tied to the current passage, so they must complete the passages in the order presented. Note: You must answer the current question before navigating forward or backward.
Can I bring my own laptop to the SHSAT?
No, the DOE will provide Chromebooks and iPads to all test-takers. You may not use any other devices for the exam.
Will there be field items on the adaptive SHSAT?
Yes, there will be 10 experimental questions per section. This means 40 operational and 10 unscored questions per section. Your responses to field questions will not affect your score or the test’s adaptiveness.
Will Algebra 1 be on the SHSAT 9?
No. The SHSAT, whether the SHSAT 8 or SHSAT 9, targets grade-level standards: the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards for Grades 7 and 8. As such, SHSAT math only covers middle school (MS) math: MS arithmetic, MS algebra, MS geometry, MS probability and statistics, and MS pre-trig (Pythagorean theorem). The SHSAT involves higher-level thinking, but it includes no high school or college math topics. To be clearer, the quadratic equation, proofs, SOHCAHTOA, multi-step functions, and other advanced functions are not part of the SHSAT.
How many questions are on the adaptive SHSAT?
The adaptive SHSAT will have 50 questions per section (100 total). This differs from the previous format, which had 57 questions per section (114 total). Testing time remains the same for fall 2026: students with standard test administration time have 180 minutes. Students with extended-time accommodation have 360 minutes of testing time. Students with this accommodation will have a break at the end of 180 minutes, and again after another 90 minutes.
Can students choose which section to begin with?
Yes, a student can begin with the math section or the ELA section. Whichever section they choose, they must complete that section before moving on to their second section.
Can students go to the restroom during the SHSAT?
Yes. However, the clock does not stop while they are gone. Technically, only one student from a classroom can go to the restroom at a time. Also, technically, only one student is allowed in each physical restroom at a time. Some schools seem more liberal with this policy. A student requests access and is escorted there and back. Students should manage their restroom breaks as part of their broader pacing strategy, recognizing that such a break could turn into a “10-minute” endeavor.
Will scrap/scratch paper be provided, or must a student bring their own?
Any scrap paper that a student brings will not be allowed to be used. The proctor will provide scrap paper booklets. Students may ask for and use as much scrap paper as they need. There is no limit. The proctor will collect all scrap paper before dismissing students at the end of the exam. The testing environment will also include a notepad, highlighter, answer eliminator, and pencil tool. Check out the Student Readiness Tool (SRT) to see what these tools are and how to use them.