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SHSAT adaptive practice test
A 40-minute adaptive mini test that follows the rules of the computer-adaptive SHSAT given from Fall 2026. Answer every question to move on, go back only inside a passage set, and finish one subject before you start the other. After every answer, the test re-estimates your level from all your answers so far and picks the closest next question.
- Real test
- 50 ELA + 50 Math · 180 minutes
- This mini test
- 11 ELA + 10 Math · 40 minutes · adaptive
- Question types
- Single choice, choose two, drag and drop, drop-down, typed answers and equations, number line, table
The test opens on question 1 and the clock starts there. The directions are always one click away under Directions in the test toolbar. Tools in the test: highlighter (select passage text), answer eliminator, notepad, pencil, bookmarks, review list, magnifier, contrast colors, and line reader mask (in the Guest menu).
You get a PrepCAT score estimate (not an official SHSAT score), about ±50 points for one mini test. It is not yet calibrated against official results, and NYC does not publish a fixed score range or raw-to-scaled tables. All passages and questions are original to PrepCAT. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NYC Public Schools or Pearson.
A free SHSAT practice test built for the 2026 format
Starting in Fall 2026, the SHSAT is computer-adaptive: 50 English Language Arts and 50 Math questions in 180 minutes, with each question chosen by how the student is doing. This free online practice test uses the same rules in a shorter form, so your child can get used to the format and you get a score estimate in about 40 minutes.
What your child will see
- ELA: three passage sets in the order of NYC’s 2026 practice tests: two reading passages (the second matched to how the first went), then a Revising/Editing Part A passage with numbered sentences, then a stand-alone grammar question.
- Math: 10 questions from grade 6–7 standards, 2 from each topic: ratios and percents, expressions and equations, the number system, geometry, statistics and probability. No calculator.
- Question types: single choice, choose two, drag and drop, drop-down menus, typed numbers, typed expressions, equations and inequalities (with π, ≤ and ≥ buttons), several answer boxes, the number line, and a table with one choice per row.
- Tools: highlighter, answer eliminator, notepad, pencil, bookmarks, review list, magnifier, contrast colors and line reader.
What you get at the end
| Report item | Why it helps |
|---|
| PrepCAT score estimate (not an official SHSAT score), shown with its margin of about ±50 points | See it next to the 2026 cutoffs published by NYC Public Schools, with the margin in view |
| Difficulty path for ELA and Math | See how far up the adaptive ladder your child climbed |
| Every question with the key and an explanation | Learn from each mistake the same evening |
| Topics saved to My Progress | Know what to practice next and track the trend |
About the score. It is a PrepCAT score estimate (not an official SHSAT score), about ±50 points for one mini test, and it is not yet calibrated against official results. NYC does not publish a fixed score range or raw-to-scaled tables. It uses every answer in each subject, and the average of several mini tests is steadier than any single one.
How to use this practice test with the official ones
- Week 1: take this mini test for a baseline, then one official NYC practice test to learn the real software.
- Weeks 2 to 5: practice the weakest topics and retake the mini test every week or two.
- Final weeks: take the remaining official tests under timed conditions and check your chances with the score calculator.
SHSAT practice test FAQ
Is this SHSAT practice test really free?
Yes. There is no account, no email and no card. Results are saved only in your browser.
How long is the practice test?
The PrepCAT mini test has 21 questions (11 ELA, 10 Math) and a 40-minute timer, about the same pace as the real test: 100 questions in 180 minutes.
Is it the same as the real 2026 SHSAT?
It follows the same rules and structure in a shorter test: answer every question to move on, go back only inside a passage set, and finish one subject before the other. ELA has reading passage sets, then a Revising/Editing Part A passage with numbered sentences, then a stand-alone question, in the order of NYC’s 2026 practice tests. Math has 2 questions from each of 5 topics, and the answer types of the 2026 tests, from multiple choice to typed equations and the number line. After every answer, your level is re-estimated from all your answers so far and the next question is the closest match. It is shorter (21 questions, not 100), and the questions are original PrepCAT items, not official ones.
How accurate is the score?
One mini test gives a PrepCAT score estimate (not an official SHSAT score) that is about ±50 points from your child's true level. It is not yet calibrated against official results, and NYC does not publish a fixed score range or raw-to-scaled tables. Take several tests and use the average. How this estimate works.
Where are the official SHSAT practice tests?
NYC Public Schools publishes official digital practice tests for the 2026 format on its SHSAT portal. Our guide to the official SHSAT practice tests explains how to use them.
PrepCAT is independent and not affiliated with NYC Public Schools, the NYC DOE, or Pearson. All practice questions are original.