Where do I take the SHSAT? How do I sign up?

You’re jazzed to take the SHSAT and land in your primo specialized high school of choice—but don’t forget to sign up to take the test!  All current 8^th graders, and first-time 9^th graders (regardless of whether you go to a public, private, or parochial school in one of the five Boroughs) can sign up to take the SHSAT. (Homeschooled students:  make sure to check out “What if I’m homeschooled?”).  Remember, if you are a student who is on an IEP, a 504 plan, or an English Language Learner, you’re encouraged to apply! You also will receive support and accommodation for the SHSAT exam, just like you do at school.

(For more information, see “ What if I’m on an IEP, 504, or am an English Language Learner?”)

If you’re an 8^th grader who is new to the City—if you’ve moved to New York City after November 1—you will have to wait until August to take the SHSAT.  You’ll register at your local Family Welcome Center.

If you’re not new to the City, you’ll register for the SHSAT at school, through your school counselor. In Early September, you’ll tell your counselor you want to take the exam, then your counselor will sign you up for the all-important Ticket.
Land that Ticket!

When you tell your counselor in early September that you want to take the SHSAT, they will sign you up for the exam (it’s free!).  In early October after you’ve registered, your counselor will give you the KEY to getting in to take the test:  the Test Ticket.  Your Test Ticket includes crucial information:  where you will take the test, when you will take it, your student ID, and your current school’s code number. Students who need accommodations will have information on their Tickets about where they will test and what accommodations will be made. Once you get the Test Ticket, review the information on there, and check it for accuracy.  If there is a mistake on the Ticket, tell your counselor right away.

Your test location is not based on where you live, and isn’t based on where you want to go to school, either.  Instead, your test site will be within your school’s district.  If your school is in the district that is in bold below, you’ll go to the corresponding school for your exam:

What happens if I cannot take a test on a Saturday or Sunday?

Many students are not able to take the test on a Saturday or Sunday due to obligations they have to observe religious traditions.  If you aren’t able to take the exam on a weekend because of your religious observance don’t worry—you have the right to take a test on a different day of the week.
When you register, you need to let your counselor know of any religious limits you have on when you can take a test.  Make sure when you receive your Test Ticket that the date that is on the ticket is not on your religious observance dates!  If you notice that your Ticket doesn’t have the correct date, talk to your school counselor immediately so that your test date can be fixed.  You will receive a new Test Ticket if your original ticket doesn’t include your accommodation.

What happens if I get sick and can’t take the test?

Sometimes a virus is passed around school at the absolute worst time!  If that happens, and you get sick so that you cannot take the SHSAT when you are scheduled to take it, there are some steps you need to take to make sure you can take the test on a make-up date.  First, make sure that you have medical documentation that indicates that you were not well enough to take the test.  (This can’t be a note from your parents, your sister, your best friend, or your pet.  This has to be *official* documentation from a medical professional who can give you a professional letter of excuse to the counselor.  This also can’t be a scheduled dentist’s appointment or well-visit.  Make sure that you get to the exam if at all possible! But, if you can’t, makes sure to get to a doctor so you can land that official note!
Next, make sure the first person you see on your first day back at school is your school counselor.  You will give the counselor your official notice from the doctor that you were not well enough to take the exam.  Then, you can request that the school counselor provide a make-up date to take the exam.
Make sure you don’t wait to talk to the counselor! The counselors are required to give notice of make-up dates almost immediately, so don’t delay!