In 2025, The NYC SHSAT will be digitalized. But don’t worry. Keep calm and carry on.
When the SAT transitioned to a digital format in 2023, the Kent Team anticipated that other admission tests—such as the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT), which had already adapted during COVID, and New York City’s Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) — would soon follow suit. As expected, starting this fall, rising 8th graders will take the exam in an entirely digital format.
However, one thing remains unchanged: the rigor of the test. The content will continue to assess and challenge students’ abilities at the same level as before.
The good news? While we may notice the shift, students taking the test for the first time will not feel the difference at all. Despite the change in test format, the age-old adage still holds: practice makes perfect.
And of course, behind every hard-working student are their equally diligent parents—our hats go off to you! Every year, we feel incredibly fortunate and proud to work with such dedicated Kent families, who all go far above and beyond simple test scores through the entire process.
We have witnessed parents overcoming initial challenges with their children, tracking steady progress, and prioritizing growth. Through fostering their children’s overall confidence in academics, they have emphasized the importance of strong study habits and the immeasurable value of dedication—efforts that have truly paid off!
With this concerted effort, here are 7 key points to help your 7th graders prepare for the upcoming digital-format NYC SHSAT and other admissions tests this fall:
- For 2025, the digital SHSAT will still be a 3-hour exam, testing ELA, with grammar and reading comprehension (57 questions), and Math (57 questions).
- Some questions will be replaced by tech-enhanced items (TEI), which provide alternative ways of answering a question, e.g., drag-and-drop. Students will also have a digital set of tools to help them through the exam.
- Paper exams will be available only for the extremely limited number of students who have IEPs or 504 Plans with approved testing accommodations that require paper versions in order for the students to access the exam.
- Take any assessment test and measure up against other students. Two fully functional online practice tests will be available online in the spring of 2025, according to the NYC Schools website. These will mirror conditions of the actual exams, so it will be worth familiarizing yourself and your children with the medium. We strongly advise combining these with the level of care and supplementary education you have already shown.
- Upgrade to 9th grade Reading and Math levels. Just like everyone has different interests and paces, do not feel beholden to your child’s current grade level. We are constantly surprised by how advanced your children are and by the skill they show, exceeding any standardized concept of “grade.” Do not be afraid to move ahead.
- Build knowledge with a variety of reading genres, and expand vocabulary. Find a genre which fascinates your child, then branch out and see where these works intersect in other genres and forms. Language is constantly evolving, and media literacy is fundamental in continuing growth into adulthood. The best way to prepare for any written section is to read as deeply and widely as possible. That’s not to say a 7th grader must delve into Hegel just yet, but building a repertory of thought-provoking literary works will foster their critical thinking skills. Research and analysis will be paramount to their academic lives moving forward. Exposing your children to that will leave them exponentially better prepared than others.
- Practice through digital mock exams. As stated above, NYC schools will make digital practice tests available through the resources on their site. A good tip would be to simulate test conditions as much as possible and identify areas your child may have difficulty in. These will become focal points for your journey.
The NYC Board of Education will release more information as we near the test date. The Kent Team will, of course, be here to guide and support you through this process. We greatly look forward to working together to enrich your child’s education and navigate the odyssey of applications and preparation.
“Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.”
— Jack Canfield, Motiovational Coach
“Was there anything more exciting in life than seeking answers?”
— Isaac Asimov, Prelude to Foundation
