New York School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 41 in-depth prep guides covering 25 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in New York, including Bard High School Early College Bronx (BHSEC Bronx), Bard High School Early College Brooklyn (BHSEC Brooklyn), Bard High School Early College Manhattan (BHSEC Manhattan), Bard High School Early College Queens (BHSEC Queens), Brooklyn Technical High School, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Canisius High School, Catholic High Schools — Archdiocese of New York & Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens (TACHS schools), and 17 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

TACHS Ability Section: The Hidden STEM Reasoning Test Most Students Aren't Preparing For (2026 Guide)

Catholic High Schools — Archdiocese of New York & Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens (TACHS schools)

June 16, 2026 10 min read

TACHS Ability Section: The Hidden STEM Reasoning Test Most Students Aren't Preparing For (2026 Guide)

The TACHS Ability section — covering figure matrices, paper folding, and figure classification — is the one section no school teaches and almost no student prepares for. This guide explains why spatial reasoning is trainable, how it affects Catholic high school admissions and scholarships, and how to build the skill before November test day.

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BPS Cognitive Ability Assessment: Complete Prep Guide for City Honors & Olmsted (2027 Edition)

City Honors School (P.S. 195)

October 03, 2026 9 min read

BPS Cognitive Ability Assessment: Complete Prep Guide for City Honors & Olmsted (2027 Edition)

The BPS Standardized Cognitive Ability Assessment is the single exam that determines placement at both City Honors School #195 and Olmsted #156 — and most prep guides get the details wrong. This guide covers the actual test format, the 20-point scoring system, the one-test-per-year rule, and exactly how to prepare before the October Saturday testing window closes.

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What's Actually on the Olmsted & City Honors Admissions Test? A 2027 Parent's Complete Guide

Frederick Law Olmsted School (P.S. 156)

October 06, 2026 9 min read

What's Actually on the Olmsted & City Honors Admissions Test? A 2027 Parent's Complete Guide

The Buffalo Public Schools Olmsted & City Honors Admissions/Placement Test determines entry to two of Buffalo's most competitive gifted programs — and most families don't know what's actually on it. This guide covers every section of the test, the full 2026–2027 application timeline, and the most effective prep strategies available for PS 156 Olmsted and City Honors applicants.

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HSMSE SHSAT Practice Test Guide: What Score You Need and How to Train for It in 2026

High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at City College (HSMSE)

August 19, 2026 9 min read

HSMSE SHSAT Practice Test Guide: What Score You Need and How to Train for It in 2026

Getting into HSMSE at City College requires an SHSAT composite near 526 — and the test goes fully adaptive in Fall 2026. This guide covers the current cutoff, explains what the new format means for your child's prep, and shows how STEM Critical Thinking practice tests build the reasoning skills HSMSE-bound students need most.

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How to Get Into HSMSE in 2026: SHSAT Score Targets, Cutoffs, and STEM Prep Strategy

High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at City College (HSMSE)

June 24, 2026 11 min read

How to Get Into HSMSE in 2026: SHSAT Score Targets, Cutoffs, and STEM Prep Strategy

Getting into the High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at City College means beating a 526+ SHSAT cutoff for roughly 140 seats. This guide covers the 2026 adaptive SHSAT format, HSMSE-specific score targets, and how STEM critical thinking practice raises your composite. If your child is in 7th or 8th grade, the prep decisions you make right now are the ones that matter.

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SHSAT Critical Thinking Questions: What They Are and How to Master Them for the 2026 Digital Format

High School of American Studies at Lehman College

August 20, 2026 9 min read

SHSAT Critical Thinking Questions: What They Are and How to Master Them for the 2026 Digital Format

The SHSAT is the only path into the High School of American Studies at Lehman College — and the 2026 format raises the stakes on critical thinking skills. This post breaks down exactly which SHSAT question types demand STEM reasoning, what cutoff score to target for HSAS, and how targeted practice can close the gap.

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How to Get Into HSAS-Lehman in 2026: SHSAT Score Targets, Cutoffs & Prep Plan

High School of American Studies at Lehman College

June 25, 2026 10 min read

How to Get Into HSAS-Lehman in 2026: SHSAT Score Targets, Cutoffs & Prep Plan

The 2025 HSAS-Lehman cutoff was approximately 504 — but with only 104 seats and a computer-adaptive SHSAT format anticipated for 2026, your child needs a sharper target and a smarter prep plan. This guide gives you exact score benchmarks, registration deadlines, and a STEM critical thinking practice strategy built specifically for High School of American Studies admissions.

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How to Write a Winning Hunter College High School Essay: Tips, Prompts & Scoring Guide (2026)

Hunter College High School (HCHS)

August 20, 2026 9 min read

How to Write a Winning Hunter College High School Essay: Tips, Prompts & Scoring Guide (2026)

The Hunter College High School entrance exam awards roughly 170 seats based almost entirely on essay quality among top scorers. This guide covers the two-stage scoring process, the no-first-person convention, and how to prepare for the updated January 2026 exam format — including the announced ISEE-based math sections.

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Hunter College High School Entrance Exam 2026-2027: New ISEE Format, STEM Critical Thinking Tips & How to Prepare

Hunter College High School (HCHS)

June 26, 2026 10 min read

Hunter College High School Entrance Exam 2026-2027: New ISEE Format, STEM Critical Thinking Tips & How to Prepare

The Hunter College High School entrance exam changed significantly in January 2026, adding ISEE-licensed Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement sections. This guide covers what changed, who qualifies, how the two-stage scoring works, and how to build a 16-week STEM critical thinking and essay prep plan for your 6th grader.

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Mark Twain IS 239 STEAM Aptitude Test: What It Is, What Changed, and How to Prepare (2026 Guide)

Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted & Talented

August 24, 2026 9 min read

Mark Twain IS 239 STEAM Aptitude Test: What It Is, What Changed, and How to Prepare (2026 Guide)

Mark Twain IS 239 has redesigned its Computer/Math and Science talent tests into a new STEAM-Oriented Aptitude format — and most prep resources still describe the old exam. This guide covers exactly what changed, what's on each test, and how your 5th grader can build the reasoning skills the new format demands.

Mark Twain IS 239 STEAM aptitude test

$Mark Twain IS 239 Computer/Math vs. Science Talent: Which Should Your Child Choose? (2026)$

Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted & Talented

July 01, 2026 8 min read

Mark Twain IS 239 Computer/Math vs. Science Talent: Which Should Your Child Choose? (2026)

Mark Twain IS 239 offers two rigorous talent programs — Computer/Math and Science — each with its own aptitude test format. This post compares both tests in detail, explains the dual-application strategy, and shows you exactly how to prepare for the redesigned STEAM-oriented exam.

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Nardin Academy

October 17, 2026 10 min read

How to Prepare for the Nardin Academy Entrance Exam: HSPT + WNY Catholic Schools Guide (2027)

Nardin Academy entrance exam prep starts with understanding exactly what the HSPT tests — and most students skip the logic and critical thinking sections that matter most. This guide maps out the WNY Catholic Schools exam structure, Nardin's November test date, and a step-by-step prep timeline for Buffalo-area families applying to Buffalo's top all-girls Catholic high school.

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