Sources

Every fact this site uses, with the page it comes from and when we last checked it.

SHSAT

For fall 2025 10th-grade entry, the lowest qualifying scores were: Stuyvesant 562, HSMSE 556, Staten Island Tech 572, Brooklyn Tech 537, Bronx Science 525, Queens Sciences 520, American Studies 485, Brooklyn Latin 484.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools) - Wayback Machine snapshot 2025-08-03 · checked Wed, Sep 30
For fall 2025 9th-grade entry (prior year), the lowest qualifying scores were: Stuyvesant 556, HSMSE 526, Staten Island Tech 527, Bronx Science 518, Queens Sciences 518, Brooklyn Tech 505, American Studies 504, Brooklyn Latin 496.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools) - Wayback Machine snapshot 2025-08-03 · checked Wed, Sep 30
In fall 2025 (for 2026 admissions) the digital SHSAT had 57 ELA questions and 57 Math questions in 180 minutes and was not adaptive.NYC Guide to the SHSAT for Fall 2026 Admissions (PDF, fall 2025 administration) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Students with 504 Plans or private/charter school accommodation plans must submit documentation to the DOE at least three weeks before the SHSAT registration deadline.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
For fall 2026 10th-grade entry, the published lowest qualifying scores were: Stuyvesant 562, HSMSE 554, Bronx Science 652, American Studies 535, Brooklyn Tech 543, Brooklyn Latin 652, Queens Sciences 537, Staten Island Tech 530.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The lowest SHSAT scores that got an offer for fall 2026 (9th grade) were: Stuyvesant 561, HSMSE 539, Queens Sciences at York 531, Bronx Science 525, Staten Island Tech 517, American Studies at Lehman 507, Brooklyn Tech 506, and Brooklyn Latin 495.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ELA section covers Revising/Editing and Reading Comprehension; the Math section covers ratios and proportions, number system and expressions, equations and inequalities, statistics and probability, and geometry.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Any NYC resident in 8th grade, or in 9th grade for the first time, who wants a testing Specialized High School must take the SHSAT, including private, parochial, and charter school students.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Starting in fall 2026, the SHSAT is a computer-adaptive test: question difficulty adjusts up or down based on the student's answers.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The fall 2026 SHSAT has two sections, English Language Arts and Math, with 50 questions in each (100 total), and every student answers the same number of questions.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
8th-grade SHSAT math is based on NY State standards through grade 7, and the 9th-grade test's math is based on standards through grade 8.NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The regular NYC high school and LaGuardia applications close Friday, December 4, 2026 (SHSAT registration closes earlier, on October 30).High School - Fall 2027 High School Admissions Timeline (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
On the fall 2026 SHSAT, students must answer each question before moving on; they can revisit questions only within an ELA passage set, not math or stand-alone ELA items.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
First-time 9th graders who take the SHSAT compete for a small number of 10th-grade seats, and each school publishes a separate 10th-grade cutoff.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Every question must be answered before moving on, so no SHSAT question can be left blank on the computer-adaptive test.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
About 26,100 students took the SHSAT in fall 2025, and about 4,000 received offers to the eight testing Specialized High Schools for fall 2026.Stark racial disparities persist in NYC specialized high schools (Chalkbeat New York, 2026-07-10) · unofficial source · checked Wed, Sep 30
The NYC SHSAT Portal offers a Student Readiness Tool and four full-length online practice tests that match the real exam.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SHSAT registration opens Tuesday, October 6, 2026 and closes Friday, October 30, 2026.High School - Fall 2027 High School Admissions Timeline (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Scores and offers for students who took the SHSAT in fall 2025 were released in MySchools on March 5, 2026.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Each SHSAT section's performance score is converted to a scaled score, and the ELA and Math scaled scores are added together to make the composite score used to rank students.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
For fall 2027 admission, the SHSAT School Day is Wednesday, November 18, 2026, and weekend testing is on November 14, 15, and 21, 2026.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Most NYC public school 8th graders take the SHSAT at their own school on the School Day, Wednesday, November 18, 2026.High School - Fall 2027 High School Admissions Timeline (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The standard SHSAT testing time is 180 minutes (3 hours) for both sections together, and students choose which section to start with.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
NYC will release high school offers after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2027; SHSAT results for fall 2026 test takers are expected with that release.High School - Fall 2027 High School Admissions Timeline (NYC Public Schools) · unofficial source · checked Wed, Sep 30
Students who take the SHSAT in fall 2026 can sign up for a Test View in spring 2027, after scores come out.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Discovery lets some disadvantaged students who scored just below the cutoffs attend a Specialized High School after a summer program; for 2026 it was open only to students scoring below 495.Discovery Programs (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Discovery summer programs last about three to five weeks, and students who complete them (roughly 90% attendance plus assignment requirements) enroll at a Specialized High School in September.Discovery Programs (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Calculators are not allowed on the SHSAT, and a silent watch is allowed only if it is not a calculator.NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The SHSAT is given by NYC Public Schools (the NYC Department of Education) through its Office of Assessment; registration and offers go through MySchools.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
English Language Learners and eligible former ELLs get 360 minutes (double time) on the SHSAT, plus translated directions, footnote translations, and bilingual glossaries.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
LaGuardia High School does not use the SHSAT. It admits students by audition and requires a final grade of at least 65 in each core subject.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SHSAT offers go in score order: the highest scorer gets their first choice, and so on down the list until every seat at all eight schools is filled.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
All SHSAT exams are taken on DOE-provided computers. A paper test is offered only to the few students whose IEP or 504 accommodations require it.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The eight SHSAT schools are Bronx Science, Brooklyn Latin, Brooklyn Tech, HSMSE at City College, American Studies at Lehman, Queens Sciences at York, Staten Island Tech, and Stuyvesant.Specialized High School Admissions Test (NYC Public Schools, Office of Assessment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
NYC redoes the SHSAT scoring calculation every year for that year's test, so a student's score is only ever compared with other students who took the test the same year.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The SHSAT composite score is usually out of about 700, but there is no exact published maximum because the highest possible score changes slightly from year to year.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Each SHSAT section, English Language Arts and Math, is usually scored out of about 350 scaled points, and the two section scores are added together to make the composite.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The SHSAT has no set lowest or highest score, and scores from one year cannot be compared directly with scores from another year.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The jump from one more right answer to a higher SHSAT score is not even: near the top or bottom of the score range, a single extra correct answer can be worth 10 to 20 scaled score points.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Moving the SHSAT to a computer-adaptive test in fall 2026 did not change how the test is scored.Overview — SHSAT digital transition updates (NYC Public Schools) · checked Wed, Sep 30

TACHS

Catholic high schools can send admission decisions starting January 13, 2027 in Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre, and January 20, 2027 in the Archdiocese of New York.TACHS 2026-2027 Parent/Student Calendar of Events (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Public school applicants must have their counselor complete the TACHS Applicant Record and send it to their three high schools by December 11, 2026.TACHS 2026-2027 Parent/Student Calendar of Events (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
New in 2026, a basic 4-function calculator is built into the TACHS exam for eligible portions; personal calculators are not allowed.TACHS Parent Guide - online, remote, at-home testing (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The only TACHS accommodation is time-and-a-half, and the eligibility form with IEP/504 documents must reach the student's diocese by October 2, 2026.TACHS Registration information (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The 2026 TACHS registration fee is $78, which includes score reports to three high schools.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The 2026 TACHS is an online, remote test taken at home on the family's own computer and monitored by Proctorio AI proctoring; schools may not host in-person sittings.TACHS website (Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Students can send TACHS scores to up to three high schools, and must enter their choices at tachsinfo.com by November 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
A student who is sick or has an emergency on TACHS day is automatically assigned a make-up, so families do not need to call. The new session date, time and code are emailed and posted on tachsinfo.com on November 11, 2026 after 1:00 PM ET.TACHS Tips for Testing (2026) · checked Wed, Sep 30
If technical problems stop a student from testing, call 1-866-618-2247 on test day. A student who can't start within 2 hours of the assigned time is reviewed for a make-up, and approved make-up codes are posted November 18, 2026.TACHS Tips for Testing (2026) · checked Wed, Sep 30
If a student misses the original TACHS date and every make-up because of illness or a family emergency, Riverside may refund the $78 fee case by case if asked by November 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Simply missing the test dates does not qualify.TACHS Registration and Refund Policy (2026) · checked Wed, Sep 30
TACHS does not take off points for wrong answers, so students should answer every question.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
TACHS registration opens August 24, 2026 and closes October 28, 2026 at 11:00 PM ET, online at tachsinfo.com or by phone at 1-866-61TACHS.TACHS Registration information (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
TACHS scores go to the three chosen high schools by December 7, 2026, and families can view the Home Report online after 3:00 PM ET on January 22, 2027.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Families get a TACHS Home Report showing the student's local and national percentile ranks, the same ones sent to their chosen high schools.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Test session codes are emailed November 4, 2026 after 1:00 PM ET. Make-up session codes are posted November 11, and codes for approved technical-issue make-ups on November 18, 2026.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The TACHS measures Reading, Written Expression, Mathematics, and Ability (reasoning with figures), in six timed subtests.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The TACHS is on Friday, November 6, 2026 for the Archdiocese of New York, and Saturday, November 7, 2026 for the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens and Diocese of Rockville Centre.TACHS 2026-2027 Parent/Student Calendar of Events (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Standard TACHS testing time is about 2 hours 10 minutes (about 3 hours 15 minutes with extended time), plus optional 5-minute breaks after the first three subtests.TACHS Parent Guide - online, remote, at-home testing (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The TACHS is run by Riverside Insights (Riverside Assessments, LLC) for the Archdiocese of New York and the Dioceses of Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The TACHS is used by Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island).TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Only current 8th graders may take the TACHS, and only once; students applying for grades other than 9th apply directly to the high school.TACHS Student Handbook 2026 (PDF, Riverside Assessments, LLC) · checked Wed, Sep 30
No one passes or fails the TACHS. Results are percentile ranks only, and each Catholic high school makes its own admission and scholarship decisions.TACHS Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Riverside Insights) · checked Wed, Sep 30
To practice with the new on-screen TACHS calculator, the Parent Guide sends families to the free ClassCalc Basic Calculator and its video tutorials.TACHS Parent Guide: Preparing for the TACHS Exam (2026) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Riverside and the three dioceses do not encourage or endorse TACHS coaching or tutoring programs, and they warn that programs claiming to have copies of the test are likely invalid.TACHS Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Riverside Insights) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The official TACHS Student Handbook has 19 free sample questions with an answer key (pages 30-38): 4 Reading, 2 Written Expression, 5 Math, and 8 Ability questions.TACHS Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Riverside Insights) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Riverside says there is no online TACHS practice test. Families are told to use the sample questions at the back of the Student Handbook instead.TACHS Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Riverside Insights) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Families can run Riverside's free System Pre-Check before test day. It checks the computer, webcam and microphone and gives a short tour of how to move through the TACHS test platform.TACHS Parent Guide: Preparing for the TACHS Exam (2026) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Riverside says a TACHS percentile of 50 is still a good result. It means half the students scored higher and half scored lower, not that the student got 50% right.How do I read and interpret my Home Report? (tachsinfo.com) · checked Wed, Sep 30
A TACHS local percentile rank (LPR) compares a student only with the other students who took the TACHS in their diocese(s) on the same day(s). The LPR is often well below the NPR because the local group is more competitive.How do I read and interpret my Home Report? (tachsinfo.com) · checked Wed, Sep 30
TACHS gives families only percentile ranks. It does not release raw scores, percent correct, or SAT-style scaled scores.How do I read and interpret my Home Report? (tachsinfo.com) · checked Wed, Sep 30
A TACHS national percentile rank (NPR) compares a student with a national sample of eighth graders who took a similar test. An NPR of 73 means 73% of that sample scored at or below the student.How do I read and interpret my Home Report? (tachsinfo.com) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The TACHS Home Report gives a national percentile rank (NPR) and a local percentile rank (LPR) for Reading, Written Expression, Mathematics, Total Achievement, and Ability.How do I read and interpret my Home Report? (tachsinfo.com) · checked Wed, Sep 30

HSPT

In the NJ COOP program, HSPT scores go to up to three participating high schools, which students list on test day, in no particular order.COOP/HSPT Student Handbook 2026-2027 (PDF, revised 9/6/26) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The NJ COOP/HSPT fee is $70 and is non-refundable.COOP/HSPT Student Handbook 2026-2027 (PDF, revised 9/6/26) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The 2026-27 NJ COOP/HSPT Student Handbook has no sample questions. It sends families to ststesting.com for information about what is on the test.COOP/HSPT Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Archdiocese of Newark / Diocese of Paterson), revised 9/6/26 · checked Wed, Sep 30
NJ COOP/HSPT registration runs September 1 to October 23, 2026 at njcoopexam.org, and extended-time forms must be postmarked by October 20, 2026.COOP/HSPT Student Handbook 2026-2027 (PDF, revised 9/6/26) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS emails HSPT score reports to NJ COOP families on January 11, 2027, and high schools send admission decisions on January 15, 2027.Archdiocese of Newark/Diocese of Paterson 2026-2027 Cooperative Admissions HSPT Testing Program - Important Dates (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Newark/Paterson HSPT is on Friday, November 6, 2026 (8:00-11:45 a.m.), with a make-up on Saturday, November 14, 2026.Archdiocese of Newark/Diocese of Paterson 2026-2027 Cooperative Admissions HSPT Testing Program - Important Dates (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Unregistered students can walk in to the NJ COOP HSPT for $95 on November 6, 2026, or $105 at the November 14 make-up, paid by cash, bank check or money order. Extended time is not available for walk-ins.COOP/HSPT Student Handbook 2026-2027 (Archdiocese of Newark / Diocese of Paterson), revised 9/6/26 · checked Wed, Sep 30
In the NYC/NJ area, the main HSPT sitting for fall 2027 entry is in early November 2026; schools elsewhere set their own dates, often in fall or winter.Archdiocese of Newark/Diocese of Paterson 2026-2027 Cooperative Admissions HSPT Testing Program - Important Dates (PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Calculators are not allowed on the HSPT.HSPT Parent's Page - Preparing for the HSPT (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Schools may add an optional Science test (40 items, 25 minutes) or Catholic Religion test (20 minutes), which do not count toward the composite score.High School Placement Test (HSPT) - Overview (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS also offers the Pre-HSPT, a 7th-grade version of the test that high schools use as practice, scored against 7th-grade norms.High School Placement Test (HSPT) - Overview (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The HSPT has five multiple-choice subtests: Verbal Skills (60 questions), Quantitative Skills (52), Reading (62), Mathematics (64), and Language (60), for 298 questions in total.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (STS, 2021, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
HSPT sections are usually timed at about 16 minutes (Verbal), 30 (Quantitative), 25 (Reading), 45 (Math), and 25 (Language), roughly 2 hours 20 minutes of testing.HSPT vs TACHS 2026-27 (ConnectPrep) · unofficial source · checked Wed, Sep 30
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is published by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. (STS) of Bensenville, Illinois, and has been used since 1955.High School Placement Test (HSPT) - Overview (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union, and Rockland County NY) and the Diocese of Paterson (Morris, Passaic, Sussex) use the HSPT through the NJ COOP program.Cooperative Admissions Examination Program (COOP) (NJ) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS recommends that each student take the HSPT only once. A school may allow a retest in special circumstances, case by case.HSPT FAQ: Can I take the HSPT more than once? (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Schools and dioceses, not STS, run the HSPT and handle scores. STS does not mail results to homes, and families must ask the school where they tested for a copy or to send scores elsewhere.HSPT FAQ: How can I get a copy of my scores? (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Pre-HSPT, a 7th-grade version of the HSPT used as a practice test, is available only to high schools through STS's lease-and-score program, not to families.High School Placement Test (HSPT) Overview (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS's HSPT Preview Sample is only for high school admissions staff and is mailed only to a school address, so families cannot order it.High School Placement Test - Preview Request (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS (the HSPT publisher) is not affiliated with any HSPT prep book or course and does not endorse them. It tells families to avoid expensive prep materials and says a well-rounded education is the best preparation.Preparing for the HSPT (STS HSPT Parent's Page) · checked Wed, Sep 30
HSPT composites are Total Cognitive Skills (Verbal + Quantitative), Total Basic Skills (Reading + Math + Language), and the Battery Composite (all five).HSPT Parent's Page - How Are Tests Scored? (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The HSPT Cognitive Skills Quotient (CSQ) is based on the Verbal and Quantitative scores and the student's age. It runs from 55 to 145 with an average of 100, and STS says 110 and above is roughly the top quarter of students.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
An HSPT grade equivalent (GE) compares a student with average students in other grades. An 8th grader's GE of 10.4 in math means they do 8th-grade math as well as an average sophomore does, not that they can do 10th-grade math.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
An HSPT local percentile compares a student only with a local group: the students tested at the same school or, in a multi-school program such as a diocese, the group that program sets, often all of its test takers.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
An HSPT national percentile shows the share of a national sample of eighth graders who scored lower, from 1 to 99 with 50 as average. The national sample is students entering high school who go on to graduate, so it is more selective than the general population.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The HSPT scores only correct answers with no penalty for wrong answers, so students should answer every question.HSPT Parent's Page - How Are Tests Scored? (STS) · checked Wed, Sep 30
STS sets no passing HSPT score. Each school weighs HSPT scores in its own way, and STS suggests that schools using a cutoff base it on standard scores (200-800).How Schools Use Your Scores (STS HSPT Parent's Page) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Each HSPT subtest and composite gets a standard score from 200 to 800 (average 500), plus national and local percentiles from 1 to 99.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (STS, 2021, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
HSPT stanines run from 1 to 9 (5 is average). STS sets them by percentile: 9 = 96-99, 8 = 88-95, 7 = 76-87, 6 = 60-75, 5 = 41-59, 4 = 24-40, 3 = 12-23, 2 = 4-11, 1 = 1-3.HSPT Interpretive Manual for Closed HSPT and Pre-HSPT (Scholastic Testing Service) · checked Wed, Sep 30

SSAT

SSAT at Home (Middle and Upper only, US and Canada) runs Tuesday-Saturday in select weeks; fall 2026 dates listed so far are October 13-17 and November 3-7, 2026.SSAT at Home - Test Dates (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
2026-27 SSAT fees in the US and Canada are $177 for a Middle/Upper Standard or school Flex test, $263 at home, $250 at Prometric, and $272 for Flex with a consultant; Elementary is $112 ($172 with a consultant).About the SSAT (admission.org, E3n; ssat.org redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
In 2026-27 the Middle and Upper SSAT still takes off a quarter point for each wrong answer (no change for skipped questions); the Elementary SSAT has no penalty.SSAT Candidate Handbook for Testing Year 2026-2027 (E3n, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The 2026-27 paper SSAT Standard dates are Saturdays October 10, November 14, and December 12, 2026, and January 9, January 30, and March 13, 2027.Paper SSAT - Standard Paper Test Dates (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
In 2026-27, Middle/Upper students can take every Standard paper date, one Flex test, one SSAT at Home, and one or two Prometric tests; Elementary students get up to two Standard tests and one Flex.About the SSAT (admission.org, E3n; ssat.org redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Elementary SSAT has 30 math questions (30 min), 30 verbal (20 min), 28 reading (30 min), a 15-minute unscored picture-prompt writing sample, and a short unscored experimental section.What's on the Elementary Level SSAT? (admission.org help, 2026-07-24) · checked Wed, Sep 30
A Flex SSAT is a paper test given on a non-Standard date by a member school or an educational consultant.What is the difference between the paper-based Standard and Flex tests? (admission.org help, dated 2021) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SSAT level depends on the student's current grade: Elementary for grades 3-4, Middle for grades 5-7, and Upper for grades 8-11.What level of the SSAT will my student need to take? (admission.org help) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Calculators are not allowed on the SSAT unless the student has an approved accommodation for one.SSAT Candidate Handbook for Testing Year 2026-2027 (E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Prometric SSAT is a computer test at a Prometric test center, for Middle and Upper Level only, offered in the US, Canada, and many other countries.About the SSAT (admission.org, E3n; ssat.org redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Middle and Upper SSAT has a 25-minute unscored writing sample, 50 math questions (two 30-minute parts), 40 reading questions (40 min), 60 verbal questions (30 min), and a 16-question unscored experimental section (15 min).What's on the Upper Level SSAT? (admission.org help, 2026-07-24) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The SSAT is now owned and run by E3n (formerly the Enrollment Management Association, EMA); ssat.org redirects to admission.org.About the SSAT (admission.org, E3n; ssat.org redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SSAT scores can be sent only to E3n members. E3n says it has over 2,300 member schools, community organizations and educational consultants.SSAT Candidate Handbook for Testing Year 2026-2027 (E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
For the Elementary SSAT (grades 3-4), E3n's Official SSAT Study Guides are free PDFs, one for grade 3 and one for grade 4. Online Practice is not offered at this level.How can my child study for the Elementary SSAT? (admission.org) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SSAT fee waivers, which families request from the schools they are applying to, cover both the test fee and E3n's Online Practice.SSAT for Families (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n offers a free 30-question online SSAT Mini-Practice Test. Its instant report shows the student's ten strongest and ten weakest topics.SSAT Practice Tests: Official Online Prep and Guide Books (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n sells official SSAT practice for the Middle and Upper Levels. The Official Study Guide (book) is $70, Online Practice is $80, and both together are $130. Each has the same four full-length practice tests.SSAT Practice Tests: Official Online Prep and Guide Books (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Paper SSAT scores usually come out within two weeks; SSAT at Home scores on the Wednesday after the test; Prometric scores on the Wednesday after each Monday-Sunday testing week.SSAT Scoring & Release (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Every SSAT score report shows the average score for the student's grade, for each section and for the total, so families can see where their child stands.Sample Upper Level SSAT Score Report (E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n says SSAT percentiles can look lower than other test results because SSAT test takers are a small, highly competitive group applying to selective independent schools.Sample Upper Level SSAT Score Report (E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
In EMA's 2022-23 guide, average SSAT total scores were 2006 for 8th graders (Verbal 666, Quantitative 683, Reading 657) and 2036 for 9th graders, based on first-time test takers from 2018-2022.2022-2023 Interpretive Guide for the Middle and Upper Level SSATs (EMA) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SSAT percentiles compare a student with first-time test takers in the same grade who took a Standard (paper, Saturday) SSAT in the US or Canada over about the past three years. Only each student's first test counts.2022-2023 Interpretive Guide for the Middle and Upper Level SSATs (EMA) · checked Wed, Sep 30
SSAT section scores range from 500-800 at the Upper Level, 440-710 at the Middle Level, and 300-600 at the Elementary Level, with totals of 1500-2400, 1320-2130, and 900-1800.Sample Upper Level SSAT Score Report (PDF, linked from admission.org) · checked Wed, Sep 30

ISEE

2026-27 ISEE fees range from $130 (Primary, at school) to $250-255: Lower/Middle/Upper cost $170 at a school, $225-255 at a testing office, $250 at Prometric, and $250 for ISEE-run at-home testing.ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ISEE level depends on the grade a student is applying to: Primary 2, 3, and 4 (for grades 2-4), Lower (grades 5-6), Middle (grades 7-8), and Upper (grades 9-12).About the ISEE (admission.org, E3n; erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Lower Level ISEE has Verbal Reasoning (34 questions, 20 min), Quantitative Reasoning (38, 35 min), Reading Comprehension (25, 25 min), Math Achievement (30, 30 min), and an unscored essay (30 min).ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Calculators are not allowed on the ISEE unless the student has an approved ISEE accommodation for calculator use.ISEE Quick Facts 2026-27 (E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ISEE can be taken at home online, at a school or testing office on paper or online, or at a Prometric center online (Prometric is for grades 5-12 only).ISEE Registration - Test Options, Locations + Pricing (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Primary ISEE has Reading and Math only: Primary 2 is 24+24 questions, Primary 3 is 24+24, and Primary 4 is 28+28, taking about 53-60 minutes plus one break.ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The Middle and Upper Level ISEE has Verbal Reasoning (40 questions, 20 min), Quantitative Reasoning (37, 35 min), Reading Comprehension (36, 35 min), Math Achievement (47, 40 min), and an unscored essay (30 min).ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ISEE is now run by E3n, the nonprofit formed when ERB and EMA merged. Registration and information are at admission.org and iseetest.org.ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
More than 1,200 independent schools worldwide accept the ISEE.About the ISEE (admission.org, E3n; erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
A student may take the ISEE once per testing season, Fall (Aug-Nov), Winter (Dec-Mar), and Spring/Summer (Apr-Jul), so up to three times a year.About the ISEE (admission.org, E3n; erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n offers free online ISEE sample tests for all six levels (Primary 2, 3, 4, Lower, Middle, Upper). They look and work like the real online test and end with a sample score report.ISEE Test Preparation for Families (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n's official ISEE prep partner, Test Innovators, has a free package with one sample test. Paid packages are $89 (1 full-length test), $309 (3 tests) and $419 (6 tests plus a retired real ISEE).Upper Level ISEE Packages (Test Innovators, E3n's ISEE prep partner) · checked Wed, Sep 30
E3n offers free 'What to Expect on the ISEE' guides for the Lower, Middle and Upper Levels. Each has sample questions and a full paper practice test with scoring tables.ISEE Test Preparation for Families (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ISEE scores are usually ready 3-5 days after an online test and 5-10 days after a paper test (7-14 days for paper tests for grades 2-4).ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ISEE essay is not scored; a copy goes to the schools that receive the scores, and families do not get a copy.ISEE 2026-2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, V.08.01.26, PDF) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ERB says there is no single 'good' or 'bad' ISEE score. Each school uses ISEE scores in its own way, along with grades, recommendations, interviews and activities.What to Expect on the ISEE, Upper Level (ERB guide, 2021 edition) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Students do not pass or fail the ISEE. ERB recommends no cutoff or passing score.What to Expect on the ISEE, Upper Level (ERB guide, 2021 edition) · checked Wed, Sep 30
The ISEE counts only correct answers with no penalty for wrong ones, so students should answer every question.About the ISEE (admission.org, E3n; erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb redirects here) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ISEE percentile ranks compare a student only with independent-school applicants in the same grade who took the ISEE over the past three years, not with a national sample.ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE, Lower Level (2021) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ISEE section scaled scores range from 760 to 940, and reports also show a percentile rank (1-99) and a stanine (1-9) compared with same-grade students over the past three years.ISEE Score Reports for Families (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ERB's guide says stanines 1–3 are generally below average, 4–6 average, and 7–9 above average, with stanine 5 as the midpoint.ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE, Lower Level (2021) · checked Wed, Sep 30
ERB groups ISEE percentile ranks into stanines as follows: 1 = 1–3, 2 = 4–10, 3 = 11–22, 4 = 23–39, 5 = 40–59, 6 = 60–76, 7 = 77–88, 8 = 89–95, 9 = 96–99.ERB, Understanding the ISEE Report · checked Wed, Sep 30
In ERB's official Upper Level guide, the middle (50th percentile) scaled scores for students applying to 9th grade were 879 Verbal, 882 Quantitative, 891 Reading and 882 Math, based on 2018-2019 norms.What to Expect on the ISEE, Upper Level (ERB guide, 2021 edition) · checked Wed, Sep 30

General

Several key NYC-area entrance tests fall in the same two weeks: TACHS on November 6-7, NJ HSPT on November 6, the SSAT Standard on November 14, and the SHSAT on November 14-21, 2026.Specialized High Schools (NYC Public Schools, Office of Student Enrollment) · checked Wed, Sep 30
EMA (maker of the SSAT) and ERB (maker of the ISEE) finished merging in early March 2026 to form the nonprofit E3n; both tests continue.E3n Is Officially Here (enrollment.org) · checked Wed, Sep 30
After the merger, ISEE and SSAT family information is on admission.org (erblearn.org and ssat.org pages redirect there), and E3n's own site is e3n.org.E3n | Enroll. Educate. Excel · checked Wed, Sep 30
Not every private school requires the SSAT. E3n says many schools accept either the ISEE or the SSAT, some areas (especially local day schools) use only one, and families should check each school's requirements.ISEE or SSAT: Which Assessment Should My Student Take? (admission.org, E3n) · checked Wed, Sep 30
In the NYC area, Catholic high schools in NY dioceses (Archdiocese of NY, Brooklyn/Queens, Rockville Centre) use the TACHS, while North Jersey's Newark and Paterson dioceses (plus Rockland County, NY) use the HSPT.Cooperative Admissions Examination Program (COOP) (NJ) · checked Wed, Sep 30
Who runs each test: SHSAT by NYC Public Schools; TACHS by Riverside Insights for the NY-area Catholic dioceses; HSPT by Scholastic Testing Service; ISEE and SSAT by E3n.E3n | Enroll. Educate. Excel · checked Wed, Sep 30