High School
Admissions

Entrance Exam 2026

About the Exam

Hunter College High School is piloting a change to the HCHS Entrance Exam in January 2026.  The exam will contain both internally generated content and licensed content from the The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)* which is owned by the Educational Records Bureau, Inc (ERB)* as part of our ongoing work to strengthen our admissions process.

The January 2026 HCHS entrance exam will include:
• Two English sections: Reading Comprehension and the Writing Assignment (Hunter-developed), and
• Two mathematics sections: Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement (from the Independent School Entrance Exam – Middle Level)

The two HCHS English sections reflect internal performance expectations standards by HCHS faculty. The ISEE math sections are aligned with national standards adopted by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and measure both mathematical reasoning and grade-level skills. 

Please note:  the Hunter College High School Entrance Exam is NOT an official ISEE administration. Therefore, taking the HCHS exam will create no restrictions on a student's ability to take the ISEE test in the future. If a student has taken the ISEE test in the past, it will NOT be accepted or take the place of the HCHS exam.

*The Independent School Entrance Exam (“ISEE”) is owned by the Education Records Bureau, Inc. (“ERB”) “Independent School Entrance Exam” and “ISEE” are trademarks owned by ERB.”
To the right are tips and strategies, test day information, FAQs, and sample materials to help you prepare for the 2026 Hunter College High School (HCHS) Entrance Exam. These samples illustrate the types of questions students may encounter; they are not past Hunter exams. 
NOTE: Sample Exam #1 contains fewer Reading Comprehension questions than the actual test.

In January 2026, the HCHS Entrance Exam includes two test booklets, with two sections each:
ENGLISH (110 minutes total)
• Reading Comprehension (50 multiple-choice), 70 mins, suggested
• Writing Assignment, 40 mins, suggested

MATH (75 minutes total)
• Quantitative Reasoning (37 multiple-choice), 35 mins, suggested
• Mathematics Achievement (47 multiple-choice), 40 mins, suggested

Students will begin with the English booklet, then the math booklet. Students are given 110 minutes to complete the English booklet and 75 minutes to complete the math booklet. The time allotments for each section are suggested, and students may move freely within each booklet. A staff member in the testing room will announce the suggested start and end times for each section and provide time warnings.

Students approved for testing accommodations may receive adjustments to timing or other supports, as outlined in their documentation.
Reading Comprehension 
This section assesses your reading comprehension. You will read a series of passages of varying lengths and respond to multiple-choice questions that measure your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze different types of writing. Lines within passages are numbered so you can easily locate the part of the text referenced in a question.

Passages represent a range of writing styles and time periods. In these samples, older public-domain texts are used, but actual exams typically include both contemporary and classic passages.
Writing Assignment
You will be asked to write an essay or short creative piece (up to two pages) to demonstrate your ability to express ideas clearly, effectively, and with appropriate detail. Space is provided in the booklet for your writing. Some years you may choose from multiple prompts; other years you will respond to one prompt.
Quantitative Reasoning (ISEE content)
This section measures your ability to reason mathematically, not simply recall procedures. You will encounter a variety of question formats, including:
  • Word problems that require logical analysis and comparison
  • Quantitative comparison questions that ask you to determine the relationship between two quantities
  • Problems requiring pattern recognition or deductive reasoning 
Mathematics Achievement (ISEE content)
This section focuses on middle school curriculum-based mathematics skills. Questions may involve:
  • Computation and number operations
  • Algebraic thinking and simple equations
  • Geometry and measurement
  • Interpreting data, charts, and graphs
  • Multi-step problem solving
 
Purpose of the Exam
The HCHS Entrance Exam is designed to assess aspects of your academic readiness and creativity. We recognize that no single test captures everything about a student; however, your responses provide a meaningful sample of your comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, and writing skills.

We hope these sample materials help you understand the exam format, feel prepared for test day, and perform your best.

Good luck!

Entrance Exam Information

The Test: Scoring and Student Selection

The multiple-choice sections are computer-scored and then hand-checked for accuracy. After scoring is complete, a cutoff score is established. Because the score is influenced by the number of test takers and other environmental factors, it varies from year to year.

Based on established criteria, a portion of test takers are selected to have their essays evaluated by a panel of readers. Essays are read “blind:” students are identified only by their HCHS identification numbers and readers do not know identities of the writers at any point. A percentage of students who submit the most impressive essays are selected for admission to HCHS.

HCHS maintains a pool of waitlisted students. If admitted students decline or withdraw, families from the waitlist may be contacted regarding admission. Please note that the waitlist is not ranked. For information about how long your child will remain on the waitlist, please refer to the letter you received at the time decisions were released. 

HCHS does not re-score exams, re-read essays, or reconsider admissions decisions. HCHS does not share or publish any portion of the Entrance Exam and does not endorse any test preparation service or agency.

Students and families will NOT receive scores for any part of the HCHS Entrance Exam, nor will they be informed whether the applicant advanced to the essay evaluation stage.
Hunter College Campus Schools
71 East 94th Street 
New York, NY 10128
Elementary School: 212-860-1292
High School: 212-860-1267
Professional Photography © Laura Dwight