SHSAT ELARevising & Editing, Reading Comprehension & Strategies (2026)
The SHSAT ELA section is 57 questions — 47 scored, 10 unscored experimental. It has three question types, and the strategy for each one is different. Here's how to prepare for all of them.
Total questions
57
Scored questions
47
Scrambled paragraphs
Removed (2022)
Passages
~6 passages
Scrambled Paragraphs were removed in 2022 — most prep books are outdated on this
The current SHSAT ELA section has only two types: Revising & Editing and Reading Comprehension. If your prep book or tutor mentions Scrambled Paragraphs as a current question type, that information is outdated.
SHSAT ELA question types breakdown
Revising & Editing — Standalone
Individual sentences or short two-sentence prompts. You choose the best revision — fixing grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, or word choice.
What's tested
- Subject-verb agreement
- Pronoun agreement and clarity
- Comma splices and run-on sentences
- Misplaced and dangling modifiers
- Parallel structure
- Redundancy and wordiness
- Apostrophes and punctuation
Strategy
These questions have the most rule-based right answers on the entire ELA section. A focused 2-week review of grammar rules yields the highest score improvement per hour of prep on ELA.
Revising & Editing — Passage-Based
A full passage (3–5 paragraphs) with numbered sentences. Questions ask you to add, remove, combine, or reorder sentences; strengthen topic sentences; or fix transitions and coherence.
What's tested
- Adding relevant supporting details
- Removing off-topic sentences
- Combining sentences effectively
- Improving transitions between paragraphs
- Strengthening introductions and conclusions
- Maintaining consistent point of view
Strategy
Read the full passage before answering any questions. The most common mistake is editing a sentence without considering how it fits in the paragraph. Train yourself to evaluate changes in context, not in isolation.
Reading Comprehension
Six passages (fiction, nonfiction, informational, historical) with 4–6 questions each. Questions test literal comprehension, inference, vocabulary in context, author purpose, and text structure.
What's tested
- Main idea and central argument
- Inference and implied meaning
- Vocabulary in context
- Author's purpose and tone
- Text structure and organization
- Evidence and support questions
Strategy
RC is the largest category (~27 questions) and the hardest to improve quickly. Focus on inference questions first — they appear most often and most students miss them. Practice asking 'what does the author want me to understand beyond what's literally stated?'
8 grammar rules that cover most Revising & Editing questions
These rules account for the majority of standalone R&E questions. Learning all 8 is typically a 1–2 week project.
Subject-verb agreement
The group of students is (not are) ready.
Pronoun agreement
Everyone must bring their (not his or her) materials.
Misplaced modifier
Running down the street, the dog chased the ball. (Who is running?)
Parallel structure
She likes to read, to write, and to edit. (Not: …and editing.)
Comma splice
She studied hard; she aced the test. (Semicolon fixes it.)
Redundancy
The final conclusion (conclusion is always final — drop one).
Apostrophes
It's = it is. Its = possessive. Never 'its'.
Transition logic
Use 'however' for contrast, 'therefore' for consequence, 'furthermore' to add.
Reading Comprehension question types — and how to approach each one
RC has ~27 scored questions — the single largest chunk of the ELA section. These are the five types you'll see:
| Question type | How to approach it |
|---|---|
| Main idea | Read the opening and closing of each paragraph first, then confirm with the full text. |
| Inference | Find evidence in the text. The answer must follow logically — not just feel related. |
| Vocabulary in context | Ignore your prior knowledge of the word. Read the surrounding sentence for context. Substitute each choice. |
| Author's purpose / tone | Ask: what does including this detail accomplish? Tone is revealed by word choice, not topic. |
| Evidence / support | Re-read the specific lines. The correct answer must directly support the claim — not just be related. |
4-week SHSAT ELA study plan
This plan assumes 5 days/week, 30–45 minutes per session. Adjust the pacing if you have more or less time before the October test.
Revising & Editing — Grammar Rules
- Learn the 8 core grammar rules (agreement, modifiers, parallel structure, punctuation)
- Practice 30 standalone R&E questions
- Track which rule type you miss most
Revising & Editing — Passage-Based
- Practice full R&E passages (read first, then edit)
- Focus on adding/removing sentences and transitions
- Time yourself — 10–12 min per passage
Reading Comprehension — Inference + Main Idea
- Practice inference and main idea question sets
- Read actively: annotate purpose of each paragraph
- Do not skip to questions first
Full ELA timed practice + review
- Take a full timed ELA section (57 questions)
- Score your work and categorize every wrong answer by type
- Re-read the explanation for every missed question
The most common ELA mistakes on the SHSAT
✗ Skipping the passage before doing RC questions
Fix: Always read the full passage first, even if it feels slower. Students who skip ahead spend more time re-reading and miss tone and structure entirely.
✗ Using prior grammar knowledge instead of the rules
Fix: The SHSAT tests specific grammar rules that may differ from what 'sounds right'. If a sentence sounds correct to you, check it against the specific rule before moving on.
✗ Choosing RC answers based on topic familiarity
Fix: The correct RC answer must be supported by the text. An answer that's true in real life but not stated or implied in the passage is wrong.
✗ Rushing the passage-based R&E without reading context
Fix: Every R&E passage has a central idea. An edit that works grammatically but contradicts the paragraph's point is still wrong. Read the paragraph before evaluating the change.
✗ Leaving ELA questions blank
Fix: There is no penalty for wrong answers. Always guess on questions you're unsure about — eliminate what you can and choose from the remaining options.
SHSAT ELA FAQs
What is on the SHSAT ELA section in 2026?
The 2026 SHSAT ELA section has 57 questions — 47 scored, 10 unscored experimental. It includes: Revising & Editing standalone questions (~11), Revising & Editing passage-based questions (~9), and Reading Comprehension (~27 across ~6 passages). Scrambled Paragraphs were removed in 2022 and are not on the current test.
Are scrambled paragraphs still on the SHSAT?
No. Scrambled Paragraphs were removed from the SHSAT in 2022. If any prep book, tutor, or online resource you are using still includes Scrambled Paragraphs as a current question type, that information is outdated. The current ELA section consists only of Revising & Editing and Reading Comprehension.
Is the SHSAT ELA hard?
The Revising & Editing section is rule-based and very learnable — most students see significant improvement after 2–3 weeks of focused grammar practice. Reading Comprehension, especially inference questions, is harder to improve quickly because it requires developing a new way of reading rather than memorizing rules. Most students find RC the more challenging of the two.
How many ELA questions are on the SHSAT?
57 ELA questions total. Of those, 10 are unscored experimental questions used for test development — they look identical to scored questions and you can't tell them apart. Only 47 ELA questions count toward your score.
What is the best way to study for SHSAT ELA?
For Revising & Editing: learn the 8 core grammar rules systematically, then practice standalone and passage-based questions. For Reading Comprehension: practice inference questions specifically (not just general reading), and always read the full passage before looking at questions. Use the free NYC DOE SHSAT Handbook practice tests to practice both under timed conditions.
Find out exactly which ELA topics need the most work
The free practice test breaks down your score across all ELA categories — Revising & Editing, RC inference, RC main idea, and more — so you know where to focus first.