The DOE has never published how often each topic or New York State learning standard appears on the SHSAT. Its released questions are the only public evidence. Across the 1,085 questions it printed in 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, these are the topics and standards tested most often: the ones worth studying first.
Each printing counts, so a question reprinted in a later year counts again there. Topics are this site’s question types and standards its analysis of each question; a question can have more than one of each, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Math topics
| Topic | 2018 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | All years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractions and decimals | 7 (6%) | 20 (18%) | 8 (7%) | 21 (11%) | 56 (10%) |
| Linear equations | 11 (10%) | 8 (7%) | 13 (11%) | 22 (11%) | 54 (10%) |
| Probability | 11 (10%) | 9 (8%) | 11 (10%) | 21 (11%) | 52 (10%) |
| Proportions and scale | 5 (4%) | 13 (11%) | 7 (6%) | 21 (11%) | 46 (8%) |
| Percents | 10 (9%) | 16 (14%) | 5 (4%) | 12 (6%) | 43 (8%) |
| Number line and absolute value | 8 (7%) | 8 (7%) | 8 (7%) | 11 (6%) | 35 (6%) |
| Number properties | 11 (10%) | 4 (4%) | 9 (8%) | 10 (5%) | 34 (6%) |
| Algebraic expressions | 6 (5%) | 7 (6%) | 8 (7%) | 11 (6%) | 32 (6%) |
| Ratios | 9 (8%) | 2 (2%) | 8 (7%) | 12 (6%) | 31 (6%) |
| Inequalities | 5 (4%) | 5 (4%) | 6 (5%) | 12 (6%) | 28 (5%) |
| Counting and arrangements | 7 (6%) | 2 (2%) | 7 (6%) | 10 (5%) | 26 (5%) |
| Unit conversion | 7 (6%) | 1 (1%) | 8 (7%) | 8 (4%) | 24 (4%) |
| Area and perimeter | 4 (4%) | 7 (6%) | 4 (4%) | 8 (4%) | 23 (4%) |
| Arithmetic and order of operations | 3 (3%) | 8 (7%) | 2 (2%) | 10 (5%) | 23 (4%) |
| Rates and speed | 3 (3%) | 4 (4%) | 3 (3%) | 9 (5%) | 19 (4%) |
| Mean, median, mode and range | 5 (4%) | 4 (4%) | 5 (4%) | 5 (3%) | 19 (4%) |
| Circles | 3 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 3 (3%) | 7 (4%) | 15 (3%) |
| Volume and surface area | 2 (2%) | 5 (4%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 13 (2%) |
| Angles and lines | 3 (3%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) | 5 (3%) | 11 (2%) |
| Tables, charts and graphs | 3 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 11 (2%) |
| Two-variable problems | 4 (4%) | – | 3 (3%) | 3 (2%) | 10 (2%) |
| Exponents and roots | 1 (1%) | 4 (4%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 7 (1%) |
| Patterns and sequences | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 5 (1%) |
| Coordinate plane | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 4 (1%) |
| Triangles and the Pythagorean theorem | – | 1 (1%) | – | – | 1 (0%) |
| Functions and slope | – | 1 (1%) | – | – | 1 (0%) |
English Language Arts topics
| Topic | 2018 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | All years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text structure | 28 (25%) | 22 (19%) | 28 (25%) | 46 (23%) | 124 (23%) |
| Central idea and theme | 20 (18%) | 23 (20%) | 24 (21%) | 30 (15%) | 97 (18%) |
| Textual evidence | 16 (14%) | 21 (18%) | 24 (21%) | 35 (17%) | 96 (18%) |
| Word meaning and figurative language | 14 (12%) | 13 (11%) | 14 (12%) | 29 (14%) | 70 (13%) |
| Development of ideas and characters | 7 (6%) | 7 (6%) | 16 (14%) | 16 (8%) | 46 (8%) |
| Author's purpose and point of view | 9 (8%) | 9 (8%) | 6 (5%) | 18 (9%) | 42 (8%) |
| Introductions and conclusions | 4 (4%) | 6 (5%) | 3 (3%) | 6 (3%) | 19 (3%) |
| Key details | 12 (11%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 4 (2%) | 18 (3%) |
| Supporting details | 3 (3%) | 5 (4%) | 2 (2%) | 7 (3%) | 17 (3%) |
| Inferences and conclusions | 6 (5%) | 3 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 3 (1%) | 14 (3%) |
| Grammar and usage | 2 (2%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (4%) | 5 (2%) | 13 (2%) |
| Sentence structure | 3 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 3 (3%) | 4 (2%) | 12 (2%) |
| Punctuation | 3 (3%) | 3 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 12 (2%) |
| Precise language and style | 2 (2%) | 3 (3%) | 1 (1%) | 4 (2%) | 10 (2%) |
| Transitions | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) | 2 (2%) | 5 (2%) | 10 (2%) |
| Combining and revising sentences | – | 1 (1%) | 2 (2%) | 5 (2%) | 8 (1%) |
| Organization | 2 (2%) | 2 (2%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (1%) | 8 (1%) |
NYS standards
Every standard’s official wording, with its questions