Use the official **SHSAT Score Calculator** to estimate your composite score based on the number of correct raw answers you earned in the English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics sections.
SHSAT Score Calculator
Estimated Composite SHSAT Score
Detailed Calculation Steps
SHSAT Score Calculator Formula
Composite Score = Scaled Score (ELA) + Scaled Score (Math)
Where Scaled Score $\approx f(\text{Raw Correct Answers}, \text{Test Difficulty})$
Formula Source (Real scaling is proprietary): NYC DOE Official SHS Admissions, SHSAT Test Prep Resources
Variables Explained
- Raw ELA Correct Answers: The total number of questions answered correctly in the English Language Arts section (Comprising Revising/Editing and Reading Comprehension). Max 57.
- Raw Mathematics Correct Answers: The total number of questions answered correctly in the Mathematics section (Both Grid-In and Multiple Choice). Max 57.
- Composite SHSAT Score: The final score (typically 400-800 range) used for specialized high school admission decisions.
Related Calculators
What is the SHSAT Score?
The SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test) score is the sole criterion for admission to eight of New York City’s nine Specialized High Schools. The score is a composite of two separately scaled sections: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. The total possible score ranges from 400 to 800 (the range can slightly vary by test year, but 800 is the typical maximum).
Unlike standard percentile-based tests, the SHSAT uses a complex process called “scaling” to convert the raw number of correct answers (the raw score) into a scaled score. This scaling process adjusts for slight variations in test difficulty from year to year. A raw score of 50 correct answers in one year might yield a scaled score of 380, while the same raw score in a slightly harder year might yield 390.
The final Composite SHSAT Score determines which, if any, Specialized High School a student is eligible for. Each school has a unique cutoff score that fluctuates annually based on the test-takers’ performance and the number of seats available. The highest possible raw score (114 correct) will always yield the maximum composite score, but the minimum score needed for entry is the crucial, fluctuating factor.
How to Calculate SHSAT Score (Example)
- Determine Raw Scores: Count the number of correct answers for the ELA and Math sections. *Example: 48 Correct ELA, 52 Correct Math.*
- Apply ELA Scaling: Convert the ELA raw score (48) into a Scaled ELA Score using the official (and proprietary) conversion table. *Example: 48 Raw ELA converts to approximately 370 Scaled ELA.*
- Apply Math Scaling: Convert the Math raw score (52) into a Scaled Math Score using the official conversion table. *Example: 52 Raw Math converts to approximately 385 Scaled Math.*
- Calculate Composite Score: Sum the two scaled scores. $370 + 385 = 755$.
- Compare to Cutoff: Compare the Composite Score (755) to the latest cutoff scores for the Specialized High Schools you wish to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: No. The SHSAT is a “rights-only” test. Only correct answers contribute to your raw score, and there is no penalty for incorrect or blank answers. This means you should always guess if you don’t know the answer.
Q: What is a “good” SHSAT score?A: A “good” score is one that meets or exceeds the cutoff for your desired school. Historically, scores above 550 are generally competitive, while scores above 600 make you eligible for most schools, with Stuyvesant having the highest cutoff (often in the low 620s or 630s).
Q: How often does the SHSAT scaling change?A: The raw-to-scaled conversion table is recalibrated every year to ensure fairness, as no two test forms are identical in difficulty. While the changes are usually minor, they are significant enough that official score reporting is based on the specific year’s scaling.
Q: Can I use this calculator to predict my exact admission?A: This calculator provides a very close *estimate* based on simulated scaling. The actual official score may vary by a few points. Admission depends on meeting the exact, annual cutoff score for the school you rank first.