🎓 SHSAT Score Calculator
Estimate your SHSAT scaled score from ELA & Math raw answers — see which NYC specialized high schools you may qualify for
🎓 Your SHSAT Score Estimate
| School Name | 2023 Cutoff | 2022 Cutoff | 2021 Cutoff | Seats Available | Borough |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | 559 | 562 | 552 | 762 | Manhattan |
| Bronx High School of Science | 518 | 520 | 516 | 761 | Bronx |
| Brooklyn Technical High School | 493 | 496 | 485 | 1,613 | Brooklyn |
| High School of Math, Sci & Engineering | 517 | 519 | 509 | 125 | Manhattan |
| High School of American Studies | 514 | 516 | 508 | 120 | Bronx |
| Queens High School for Sciences | 516 | 518 | 507 | 130 | Queens |
| Staten Island Tech High School | 397 | 398 | 391 | 354 | Staten Island |
| Brooklyn Latin School | N/A | N/A | N/A | 112 | Brooklyn |
| Raw Score (out of 114) | Approx. Scaled Score | Percentile (Est.) | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100–114 | 700–800 | Top 1% | Stuyvesant Likely |
| 85–99 | 600–699 | Top 3% | Multiple Schools |
| 75–84 | 540–599 | Top 8% | Bronx Sci / HSMSE Range |
| 65–74 | 500–539 | Top 15% | Brooklyn Tech Range |
| 55–64 | 460–499 | Top 25% | Near Cutoff – SI Tech |
| 45–54 | 410–459 | Top 40% | Below Most Cutoffs |
| 35–44 | 350–409 | Top 55% | Well Below Cutoffs |
| 0–34 | 200–349 | Bottom Half | Significant Prep Needed |
| Additional Correct Answers | Approx. Scaled Score Gain | Impact Level | Recommended Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1 correct answer | +5 to +7 points | Minor | Any weak area |
| +3 correct answers | +15 to +21 points | Moderate | One topic area |
| +5 correct answers | +25 to +35 points | Significant | Targeted practice |
| +10 correct answers | +50 to +70 points | Major | Intensive prep |
| +15 correct answers | +75 to +100 points | Transformative | Full tutoring program |
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The SHSAT is the only rule for admitting students to eight Specialized High Schools in New York City. No other factor is used. LaGuardia high school is different because it reviews the audition of every student
For counting the results, you score the sections of ELA and Math separately and then add them. Every right answer gives one raw point. To find the raw score, you simply add up the right answers of every part.
How the SHSAT works and what scores you need
Later, that number is converted to a scaled score for every section and a composite score for the whole test. That final score, together with the preferences of the students and the available seats, determine the admissions. The process of calibration and normalization is repeated yearly specifically for the tests of that year.
The DOE says that the maximum score usually is around 700, though in practice it occasionally reaches 710. The score does not grow proportional to the raw result. Hence, one alone question can cause a difference of 3 to 10 points.
Because the SHSAT uses a curve, you can hardly predcit the scaled score based on any practice test.
The examination lasts 180 minutes. You should use 90 minutes for every section, but the student can split the time as they want. If a student has an IEP, they can receive more time.
A score of 600 is excellent and will almost ensure entry to any Specialized High School. During the school year 2023-2024, there were 17,529 candidates for only 215 seats, which means an average of 82 applications for one seat. Normally, a score in the low 500s should suffice for acceptance.
If you put a higher school as first or second choice, the chances improve.
To enter Brooklyn Tech, you usually need a score between 500 and 520. A score under 500 is not very competitive. With 540 or more, the chances are strong, and with 560 or more, even the elite schools become possible.
For Stuyvesant, a good target is at least 100 right answers from 114. For most other schools, 90 from 114 should work, and 87 maybe is enough for Brooklyn Latin or Tech. Queens has a very narrow range of accepted scores, between 523 and 562.
The HSAS at Lehman has the lowest acceptance score, 510 from 700.
Starting with the 2026 SHSAT, the test will change to a computer-adaptive model. An SHSAT calculator can help estimate the results of a practice test and show how muchmore preparation is needed.
