Current format
Math uses 50 word problems and computational questions.
Official guidance says the questions apply grade-level skills, terms, and general concepts to complex, multi-step problems. Grade 8 test forms use standards through Grade 7, while Grade 9 test forms use standards through Grade 8.
Each Math question must be answered before the student moves forward. Once the student advances, the question cannot be revisited.
Source: NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2027 Admissions, pages 19 through 21.
Content areas
The SHSAT Math study guide covers the official domains.
Ratios and proportions
Unit rates, equivalent ratios, percent relationships, scale, and proportional reasoning.
Number systems
Fractions, decimals, rational numbers, operations, factors, multiples, and number properties.
Expressions and equations
Translate situations into expressions, solve equations, and reason about equivalent forms.
Inequalities
Represent constraints, solve inequalities, and interpret solutions in context.
Statistics and probability
Analyze data, measures of center, variability, samples, and chance.
Geometry
Angles, area, surface area, volume, coordinate relationships, and geometric reasoning.
Definitions, symbols, and formulas are not supplied as a general reference. Practice using grade-appropriate terms and formulas until they are familiar.
A solving process
Write the structure before doing the arithmetic.
- 01
Read for the exact task
Identify what must be found and whether the question requires one response or multiple selections.
- 02
Translate words into Math
Label quantities, define variables, and represent the relationships with an equation, diagram, table, or proportion.
- 03
Solve with visible work
Use scrap paper or the notepad so each step can be checked. Mental shortcuts are useful only when they remain reliable.
- 04
Check the result in context
Verify units, sign, scale, and reasonableness before committing to the answer.
Digital tools
Practice the tools before they count.
- Highlighter: mark the target quantity, constraints, and important values.
- Answer eliminator: remove choices that are impossible by sign, size, units, or estimation.
- Notepad: work through a problem digitally. It refreshes for each Math item.
- Pencil tool: draw or mark directly on an item when a visual approach helps.
- Line reader mask: isolate text when a dense word problem is difficult to scan.
- Equation editor: enter responses for applicable items.
Calculators are not permitted on the SHSAT. Students should practice both exact computation and estimation without one.
A useful practice routine
Mix fundamentals with multi-step application.
Basic questions reinforce fluency. Challenging questions require students to combine skills, interpret language, and organize several steps. A balanced routine needs both.
- A
Refresh one skill
Review a compact concept such as percent change, equation balance, or triangle area.
- B
Solve a short focused set
Practice the same skill in several forms until the setup becomes recognizable.
- C
Add mixed problems
Choose questions that require deciding which skill or combination of skills applies.
- D
Review the error type
Separate content gaps from reading errors, setup errors, calculation errors, and pacing decisions.
Original practice example
Translate the relationship first.
A map uses a scale of 1 inch for every 12 miles. Two towns are 3.5 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between them?
Choose the correct answer.
Multiply 3.5 inches by 12 miles per inch: 3.5 × 12 = 42 miles.