ABCMath Academy · Flushing, NY · Since 1996
Hunter College High School Test Prep in Flushing
A 6th grade course for the Hunter entrance exam: reading, essay writing and math, with NYS-certified teachers.
Hunter College High School admits one class a year, in 7th grade, through a single January exam taken by 6th graders. It is one of the most selective public schools in the city, and preparing for it means preparing a 10- or 11-year-old to write a timed essay and solve math problems above grade level. ABCMath has prepared Flushing students for this exam for 30 years as part of our 6th grade program.
Who this course is for
- 6th graders who qualified on the 5th grade NYS tests and will sit the January exam.
- 5th graders whose families are planning for Hunter: qualifying is based on the 5th grade state tests, so our 5th grade class is the real starting point.
- Students who are also preparing for the SHSAT two years later. The reading and math work carries over.
The Hunter exam: what to expect
To sit the exam a student must be in 6th grade, live in New York City, and meet the minimum qualifying scores on the 5th grade NYS ELA and Math exams from the previous spring. The January 2026 exam had two English sections written by Hunter, reading comprehension and a writing assignment, and two math sections drawn from the Independent School Entrance Exam (Middle Level). Hunter notes that the format can change from year to year. (Sources: eligibility, 2026 exam, hunterschools.org.)
What we teach
Reading comprehension
Long passages, fiction and non-fiction, at a level most 6th graders have not seen in school. Students learn to find the main idea, track an argument, read for tone and answer inference questions with evidence from the text. Weekly vocabulary builds the word knowledge the passages assume.
The writing assignment
Hunter's essay is the section families worry about most. We teach a repeatable structure, how to plan in the first few minutes, how to develop an example instead of listing three, and how to finish on time. Every essay is marked and returned with comments, and students rewrite until the structure is automatic.
Math
Quantitative reasoning and mathematics achievement at the middle-school level: fractions, decimals and percents, ratios, pre-algebra, basic geometry and data. Our math is taught one to two grade levels ahead, which is exactly what this exam rewards.
Timed practice sections run throughout the course, and full practice exams in the weeks before January show each student where the remaining points are.
How the course runs
- Weekend classes in person at 43-55 Kissena Blvd or 140-22 Beech Ave in Flushing.
- Live online classes for families who cannot travel on the weekend.
- Weekday online tutoring, an hour of math and an hour of English each week, for students who need more essay practice or more math. See weekday online tutoring.
Why ABCMath for Hunter
- NYS-certified teachers, with TAs available during and after class.
- 30 years in Flushing and more than 5,000 students taught; our students have placed at Hunter and at every specialized high school.
- Weekly writing instruction from 3rd grade on, so by 6th grade the essay is a familiar task rather than a new one.
- A single path from state tests and G&T through Hunter to the SHSAT, with teachers who know your child.
Free guides from ABCMath
- What changed in the 2026 SHSATThe new computer-adaptive format and how to prepare for it.
- Free SHSAT practice questions23 SHSAT-style questions with worked answers.
- SHSAT test dates & deadlinesTest dates, registration deadlines and when results come out.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hunter College High School entrance exam?
The exam is given in January of 6th grade, for entry into 7th grade the following September. The 2025 exam was held on January 24, 2025; check hunterschools.org for the exact date of the next administration.
Who is eligible to take the Hunter test?
Students must be enrolled in 6th grade (or be homeschooled), live in one of the five boroughs of New York City, and earn a minimum qualifying score on both the 5th grade NYS ELA and Math exams taken the previous spring. Hunter publishes the cutoff scores each year.
When should my child start preparing?
The qualifying scores come from the 5th grade state tests, so preparation really begins in 5th grade. Our 5th grade program covers the NYS tests; the dedicated Hunter class runs in 6th grade through the January exam.
How is the Hunter test different from the SHSAT?
Hunter is taken in 6th grade and includes a written essay and reading comprehension written by Hunter itself, plus multiple-choice math. The SHSAT is taken in 8th grade, is computer-based and has no essay. Many of our students prepare for both; the reading and math foundations overlap.
Is the Hunter class in person or online?
Both. Weekend classes meet in person in Flushing, and a live online option is available. Weekday online tutoring can be added for extra writing or math practice.
How do I register?
Use the registration form or call 718-888-7866. A representative will contact you to confirm placement.
Ready for Spring 2027?
Classes start January 9. Save up to $300 when you register by October 30.
Seats fill well before the January exam. Register early to lock in the discount.
Register Now