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Guides to the New York exams
What is actually on each test, how it is scored, which schools use it, and what to do about it. Written by the people who write our practice exams, and checked against the official specifications rather than against other blogs.
SHSAT
The entrance exam for New York City's specialized high schools. Computer-adaptive from fall 2026.
- What changed on the 2026 adaptive SHSATThe exam is shorter, adaptive, and in one section you cannot go back.
- How SHSAT scoring actually worksRaw, scaled and composite are three different things. Only one decides offers.
- Grade 8 or grade 9: which SHSAT is your child taking?Grade 9 applicants sit a different form and compete for far fewer seats.
- SHSAT pacing: how to spend 180 minutesNo per-section limit means the student manages the clock. Most manage it badly.
- An SHSAT study plan, month by monthDiagnose first, then spend time only where the marks are being lost.
- The SHSAT: what it is, how it is scored, and what nobody tells youA full guide to the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
- How to use an SHSAT practice testGetting something usable out of a SHSAT practice test.
TACHS
The admissions test for Catholic high schools across New York City and Long Island, sat in the fall of grade 8.
- What is the TACHS?The admissions test for Catholic high schools across New York City and Long Island.
- The TACHS ability sections, explainedFifty questions testing no school subject — and the fastest marks to gain.
- TACHS or HSPT: which does your child take?Different schools use different tests. Some families need both.
- How the TACHS is scoredScaled scores and percentiles — and grades matter alongside them.
- A six-week TACHS preparation planSix weeks, spent where preparation actually moves the score.
- The TACHS exam: a complete guide for New York familiesA full guide to the Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools.
- How to use a TACHS practice testGetting something usable out of a TACHS practice test.
HSPT
Used by Regis, Xavier, Fordham Prep and others — and at several schools it decides scholarships as well as admission.
- What is the HSPT?298 questions, five subtests, and at some schools it decides money.
- Why the HSPT verbal section defeats good studentsSixty questions in sixteen minutes — and it punishes careful students hardest.
- How HSPT scoring worksPercentile is not percent correct — and every school sets its own bar.
- Sitting the HSPT and the SHSAT in the same fallContent transfers between them. Pacing does not.
- An eight-week HSPT preparation planEight weeks, weighted toward vocabulary and pacing.
- The HSPT: a complete guide to the High School Placement TestA full guide to the High School Placement Test.
- How to use an HSPT practice testGetting something usable out of a HSPT practice test.
ISEE
Independent school admissions, at three levels covering grades 5 through 12.
- Which ISEE level does your child take?The level follows the grade applied to, not the grade your child is in.
- What is actually on the ISEEFour scored sections, an unscored essay, and one section nobody expects.
- ISEE stanines, explainedA 1-to-9 scale, compared against a group most parents misunderstand.
- ISEE or SSAT: which should your child take?Most schools accept either. One difference should decide it.
- How to prepare for the ISEEVocabulary takes months. Quantitative comparison takes two weeks.
- What is on the ISEE Lower Level?All four sections of the ISEE Lower Level, question by question.
- What is on the ISEE Middle Level?All four sections of the ISEE Middle Level, question by question.
- What is on the ISEE Upper Level?All four sections of the ISEE Upper Level, question by question.
- ISEE Verbal Reasoning: synonyms and sentence completionThe Verbal Reasoning section of the ISEE.
- ISEE Quantitative Reasoning: what Column A really asksThe Quantitative Reasoning section of the ISEE.
- ISEE Reading Comprehension: five or six passagesThe Reading Comprehension section of the ISEE.
- ISEE Mathematics Achievement: level by levelThe Mathematics Achievement section of the ISEE.
- The ISEE Lower Level: a complete guideEverything a family needs about the ISEE Lower Level.
- The ISEE Middle Level: a complete guideEverything a family needs about the ISEE Middle Level.
- The ISEE Upper Level: a complete guideEverything a family needs about the ISEE Upper Level.
- How to use an ISEE Lower Level practice testGetting something usable out of a ISEE Lower Level practice test.
- How to use an ISEE Middle Level practice testGetting something usable out of a ISEE Middle Level practice test.
- How to use an ISEE Upper Level practice testGetting something usable out of a ISEE Upper Level practice test.
New York State Tests
The annual ELA and mathematics assessments every New York public school student sits in grades 3 through 8.
- The New York State Tests, explainedWhat they are, when they happen, and what schools actually do with them.
- What computer-based testing changesSame questions, completely different experience — and paper practice no longer rehearses it.
- How New York State Test scores are reportedFour performance levels, not a percentage — and one year is a weak signal.
- What is on the New York State ELA testTwo sessions, and the written answers are where marks are lost.
- What is on the New York State math testTwo sessions — and on some questions the working scores more than the answer.
- What is on the grade 3 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 3 test, question by question.
- How the grade 3 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 3 result actually says.
- What is on the grade 4 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 4 test, question by question.
- How the grade 4 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 4 result actually says.
- What is on the grade 5 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 5 test, question by question.
- How the grade 5 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 5 result actually says.
- What is on the grade 6 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 6 test, question by question.
- How the grade 6 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 6 result actually says.
- What is on the grade 7 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 7 test, question by question.
- How the grade 7 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 7 result actually says.
- What is on the grade 8 New York State Test?All four sessions of the grade 8 test, question by question.
- How the grade 8 New York State Test is scoredCredits, levels and what a grade 8 result actually says.
- The grade 3 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 3 state test.
- The grade 4 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 4 state test.
- The grade 5 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 5 state test.
- The grade 6 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 6 state test.
- The grade 7 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 7 state test.
- The grade 8 New York State Test: a complete guide for parentsEverything a parent needs about the grade 8 state test.
- How to use a grade 3 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 3 State Test practice test.
- How to use a grade 4 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 4 State Test practice test.
- How to use a grade 5 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 5 State Test practice test.
- How to use a grade 6 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 6 State Test practice test.
- How to use a grade 7 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 7 State Test practice test.
- How to use a grade 8 State Test practice paperGetting something usable out of a grade 8 State Test practice test.
NYC civil service
Eleven City job titles, twenty-two practice exams, each built to the abilities that title's Notice of Examination actually names.
- What is on the NYC Police Officer exam?The 10 sections on the NYC Police Officer exam and what each one measures.
- Police Officer: exam timing and pacingHow the 149 minutes divide across 110 questions.
- What is on the NYC School Safety Agent exam?The 9 sections on the NYC School Safety Agent exam and what each one measures.
- School Safety Agent: exam timing and pacingHow the 137 minutes divide across 100 questions.
- What is on the NYC Correction Officer exam?The 11 sections on the NYC Correction Officer exam and what each one measures.
- Correction Officer: exam timing and pacingHow the 141 minutes divide across 110 questions.
- What is on the NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent exam?The 9 sections on the NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent exam and what each one measures.
- Traffic Enforcement Agent: exam timing and pacingHow the 125 minutes divide across 100 questions.
- What is on the NYC Special Officer exam?The 5 sections on the NYC Special Officer exam and what each one measures.
- Special Officer: exam timing and pacingHow the 127 minutes divide across 100 questions.
- What is on the NYC Motor Vehicle Operator exam?The 7 sections on the NYC Motor Vehicle Operator exam and what each one measures.
- Motor Vehicle Operator: exam timing and pacingHow the 164 minutes divide across 140 questions.
- What is on the NYC Environmental Police Officer exam?The 9 sections on the NYC Environmental Police Officer exam and what each one measures.
- Environmental Police Officer: exam timing and pacingHow the 142 minutes divide across 110 questions.
- What is on the NYC Police Communications Technician exam?The 7 sections on the NYC Police Communications Technician exam and what each one measures.
- Police Communications Technician: exam timing and pacingHow the 168 minutes divide across 140 questions.
- What is on the NYC Probation Officer exam?The 6 sections on the NYC Probation Officer exam and what each one measures.
- Probation Officer: exam timing and pacingHow the 143 minutes divide across 108 questions.
- What is on the NYC Stock Worker exam?The 9 sections on the NYC Stock Worker exam and what each one measures.
- Stock Worker: exam timing and pacingHow the 215 minutes divide across 162 questions.
- What is on the NYC Bridge Exam?The 6 sections on the NYC Bridge Exam and what each one measures.
- the NYC Bridge Exam: exam timing and pacingHow the 138 minutes divide across 108 questions.
- The NYC Police Officer exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Police Officer.
- The NYC School Safety Agent exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for School Safety Agent.
- The NYC Correction Officer exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Correction Officer.
- The NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Traffic Enforcement Agent.
- The NYC Special Officer exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Special Officer.
- The NYC Motor Vehicle Operator exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Motor Vehicle Operator.
- The NYC Environmental Police Officer exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Environmental Police Officer.
- The NYC Police Communications Technician exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Police Communications Technician.
- The NYC Probation Officer exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Probation Officer.
- The NYC Stock Worker exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Stock Worker.
- The NYC Bridge Exam exam: a complete guideThe exam, the list and the hiring process for Bridge Exam.
- How to use a NYC Police Officer practice testGetting something usable out of a Police Officer practice test.
- How to use a NYC School Safety Agent practice testGetting something usable out of a School Safety Agent practice test.
- How to use a NYC Correction Officer practice testGetting something usable out of a Correction Officer practice test.
- How to use a NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent practice testGetting something usable out of a Traffic Enforcement Agent practice test.
- How to use a NYC Special Officer practice testGetting something usable out of a Special Officer practice test.
- How to use a NYC Motor Vehicle Operator practice testGetting something usable out of a Motor Vehicle Operator practice test.
- How to use a NYC Environmental Police Officer practice testGetting something usable out of a Environmental Police Officer practice test.
- How to use a NYC Police Communications Technician practice testGetting something usable out of a Police Communications Technician practice test.
- How to use a NYC Probation Officer practice testGetting something usable out of a Probation Officer practice test.
- How to use a NYC Stock Worker practice testGetting something usable out of a Stock Worker practice test.
- How to use a NYC Bridge Exam practice testGetting something usable out of a Bridge Exam practice test.
AP
Five subjects, two exams each. The multiple-choice section, which is between 40% and 66.7% of the real score depending on the subject.
- What is on the AP Psychology exam?The 75 multiple-choice questions, unit by unit.
- AP Psychology multiple choice: pacingHow 90 minutes divides across 75 questions.
- What is on the AP Computer Science A exam?The 42 multiple-choice questions, unit by unit.
- AP Computer Science A multiple choice: pacingHow 90 minutes divides across 42 questions.
- What is on the AP English Language exam?The 45 multiple-choice questions, unit by unit.
- AP English Language multiple choice: pacingHow 60 minutes divides across 45 questions.
- What is on the AP US History exam?The 55 multiple-choice questions, unit by unit.
- AP US History multiple choice: pacingHow 55 minutes divides across 55 questions.
- What is on the AP World History exam?The 55 multiple-choice questions, unit by unit.
- AP World History multiple choice: pacingHow 55 minutes divides across 55 questions.
- The AP Psychology exam: a complete guideA full guide to the AP Psychology exam.
- The AP Computer Science A exam: a complete guideA full guide to the AP Computer Science A exam.
- The AP English Language exam: a complete guideA full guide to the AP English Language exam.
- The AP US History exam: a complete guideA full guide to the AP US History exam.
- The AP World History exam: a complete guideA full guide to the AP World History exam.
- How to use an AP Psychology practice testGetting something usable out of a AP Psychology practice test.
- How to use an AP Computer Science A practice testGetting something usable out of a AP Computer Science A practice test.
- How to use an AP English Language practice testGetting something usable out of a AP English Language practice test.
- How to use an AP US History practice testGetting something usable out of a AP US History practice test.
- How to use an AP World History practice testGetting something usable out of a AP World History practice test.
ASVAB
The test every branch uses to enlist. Nine subtests, 225 questions, 149 minutes, on the paper form we build to.
- What is on the ASVAB?All nine subtests, 225 questions, 149 minutes.
- The AFQT: the four subtests that decide enlistmentWhich four subtests make the AFQT, and how they are combined.
- ASVAB Word Knowledge: 35 questions in 11 minutesWhy Word Knowledge is the tightest clock on the ASVAB.
- CAT-ASVAB and the paper ASVAB are not the same testWhat differs between the adaptive ASVAB and the paper form.
- How the ASVAB is scoredThe AFQT percentile, line scores, and which one matters when.
- The ASVAB: what it tests, what counts, and what the score meansA full guide to the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
- How to use an ASVAB practice testGetting something usable out of a ASVAB practice test.
Reading about it only goes so far
Ten real questions, every wrong answer explained, no account and no card.