The fall 2026 SHSAT becomes computer-adaptive, meaning the test changes which questions students see based on their responses. NYCPS says the scoring process remains unchanged: students receive raw scores, raw scores are converted to scaled scores, and ELA + Math scaled scores combine into the composite score used for ranking.
How is the SHSAT scored in 2026?
NYCPS says the SHSAT scoring process remains the same: each section receives a raw score based on the number of correct answers on scored questions, raw scores are converted into scaled scores, and the ELA and Math scaled scores are added into a composite score.
The 2026 update is primarily about test delivery: the SHSAT becomes computer-adaptive, so questions are selected based on ongoing performance. NYCPS also states that every scored question counts the same as one raw score point within each section, and that it does not matter which particular questions a student gets right or wrong within that section.
Pair this with our original how the SHSAT is scored guide for the full composite and cutoff context.
Paper / fixed-form vs. 2026 adaptive delivery
| Area | Paper / fixed-form SHSAT | 2026 computer-adaptive SHSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Test delivery | Same fixed test form for students taking that form | Questions are selected based on ongoing performance |
| Raw score | Number correct on scored questions | NYCPS says raw score is still based on number correct on scored questions |
| Scaled score | Raw score converts to scaled score | Raw score still converts to scaled score |
| Composite score | ELA + Math scaled scores | ELA + Math scaled scores |
| What changed | Paper / fixed digital delivery | Adaptive question delivery and navigation |
Does the composite score still work the same way for cutoffs?
Yes. Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science, and the other test-based Specialized High Schools still admit by ranked composite. Cutoffs change every year based on student scores, rankings, and available seats.
NYCPS lists the lowest qualifying SHSAT scores for 2026 admissions as 561 for Stuyvesant, 525 for Bronx Science, and 506 for Brooklyn Tech (see the official NYCPS page for all eight test-based Specialized High Schools).
The cutoff logic is the same families already know — the test format is what changed in 2026.
Why can practice scores feel different in 2026?
Because the test format changed. Students now need to think about digital tools, navigation rules, and adaptive question delivery. But NYCPS still describes the scoring process as raw score → scaled score → composite score.
Every student answers the same number of questions (50 per subject) on the same standards and item types — only which questions appear can adapt. See 57 vs. 50 explained if older materials still show 57 per section.
How should you use practice test scores now?
