What is on the
grade 8 New York State Test?

Four sessions, over four days

Two in English Language Arts and two in mathematics. Across all four your child answers 94 questions worth 110 credits, and 16 of those questions are written answers rather than multiple choice.

Credits are not the same as questions. Grade 8 carries the same shape as grade 7 — the written answers are fourteen of the ninety-four questions and rather more than fourteen percent of the credits. A multiple-choice question is worth one credit; a written answer can be worth two, three or four.

What is different about grade 8

By itself the grade 8 state test decides nothing about high school admission. What it does is give you an honest read on where a child stands, months before an admissions test does it for you and with consequences attached.

The subject matter

Linear equations, functions, transformations, the Pythagorean theorem and scientific notation. ELA is the same shape as grade 7 with harder texts.

The written answers

Fourteen written answers, the same as grade 7. A child heading for the SHSAT should treat the ELA sessions as free practice for it.

There is no time limit

The state tests are untimed. A grade 8 child sitting the SHSAT in October has just met a test with a hard clock on it, and it is worth saying out loud that this one does not. Computer-based for every student from spring 2026.