If your child is preparing for the SHSAT this year, you've probably heard: the test went digital.

No more paper booklets. No more #2 pencils. Everything's on a computer now.

Parents ask: "Is it harder? Easier? Do we prep differently?"

Here's what actually changed and what you need to know.

What Changed: The Format

1. It's Computer-Based Now

Students take the SHSAT on a computer. Questions appear on screen, answers are clicked.

What this means:

No paper test booklet to write on
Digital or physical scratch paper provided
Can't circle and comeback as easily
Need comfort reading on screen for 3 hours

2. Navigation Tools Added

The digital test includes:

"Mark for Review" button
Question navigator showing what's answered
Jump to any question
On-screen timer

Actually helpful—students see at a glance which questions they skipped.

What DIDN'T Change: The Content

Important part: The test itself—questions, difficulty, scoring—is exactly the same.

Same questions:

57 Math (90 minutes)
57 ELA (90 minutes)

Same types:

Math: word problems, algebra, geometry, data
ELA: reading, revising/editing

Same scoring. Same cutoffs.

If your child was ready for paper SHSAT, they're ready for digital SHSAT.

Content hasn't changed. But the experience is different.

How to Prepare for Digital Format

1. Practice on Computer

Most important adjustment.

If your child has been doing paper practice tests, switch to digital at least 4-6 weeks before exam.

Why?

Reading on screen for 3 hours is more tiring
Can't underline as easily
Navigating feels different
Some kids get distracted by interface

NYC DOE provides free simulator at nycshsat.com

Have your child take 2-3 full tests using this so format feels familiar test day.

2. Learn Scratch Work Strategy

On paper, kids wrote in test booklet—circling keywords, crossing out answers, drawing margins.

On digital, they can't. Need scratch paper.

Teach them to:

Write question number before working
Copy key info from word problems
Draw diagrams for geometry
Show all algebra work
Keep organized for checking later

Takes practice. If your child does mental math, they need retraining.

3. Master "Mark for Review"

Best part of digital format—if used right.

Strategy:

First pass: Answer confident questions. Mark harder ones.
Second pass: Return to marked, spend more time.
Final 5 min: Ensure EVERY question has an answer (guess if needed).

On paper, kids manually tracked skipped questions. Digital makes this automatic.

But you need practice using it, or kids waste time clicking aimlessly.

4. Build Digital Stamina

Staring at screen for 3 hours is exhausting—more than paper.

Some kids get:

Eye strain
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating after 90 min
Urge to zone out when tired

Build stamina:

3 full-length practice tests on computer
One sitting (no section breaks)
Real conditions (quiet, timer, no phone)
Practice maintaining focus when eyes tired

By 3rd digital test, most kids adjust and fatigue becomes manageable.

Common Parent Concerns

"My child isn't comfortable with computers"

The interface is simple—clicking answers, few buttons. Not like learning software.

If your child can navigate a website or Google Classroom, they can handle SHSAT digital.

Still: practice essential. One full test on NYC simulator eliminates surprises.

"Will digital make it harder?"

Not inherently. Questions are same difficulty.

But some kids find screen focus harder, or miss margin writing.

Solution: practice digital tests early and often. By test day, should feel normal.

"Can my child skip and comeback?"

Yes! Works even better digitally.

Question navigator shows all 57 at once. Your child can:

Click any question to jump
See what's answered vs. skipped
See what's marked for review

Actually improvement over paper, where kids manually tracked.

4-6 Week Prep Plan

Weeks 1-2: Transition to Digital

First digital practice test (NYC simulator)
Don't worry about score—get used to format
Practice scratch paper instead of writing on test

Weeks 3-4: Master Digital Strategies

Practice "Mark for Review"
Work on pacing with on-screen timer
Build stamina with full 3-hour tests on computer

Weeks 5-6: Final Digital Tests

2-3 full tests in digital format
Real conditions (no breaks, quiet, scratch paper only)
Review mistakes, adjust strategies

Week Before: Light Review

Few practice sections (not full tests) to stay sharp
Review "Mark for Review" strategy
Plenty of sleep—screen fatigue is real

Bottom Line

SHSAT going digital isn't panic-worthy.

Content same. Scoring same. Cutoffs same.

What's different is experience—and that's prep-able.

If your child:

Takes 2-3 full digital practice tests before exam
Learns scratch paper effectively
Masters "Mark for Review"
Builds 3-hour screen stamina

Digital format will feel natural test day. Maybe even easier than paper.

Don't wait until week before to practice digitally. Start now, and by November, your child will be ready.

The SHSAT Went Digital in 2025 — Here's What Changed