← All articles# Hunter College High School Announces Pilot Changes for January 2026 Entrance Exam
Hunter College High School (HCHS) has officially updated its admissions guidelines for the upcoming cycle. For the January 2026 entrance exam, the school is piloting a significant change to its testing format. The new exam will combine internally generated English content with licensed mathematics content from the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), owned by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB).
This guide outlines the official policy for the 2026 exam cycle, detailing the new structure, section breakdowns, and what families need to know for Fall 2027 entry.
## The January 2026 Pilot Format
In an effort to strengthen the admissions process, HCHS is integrating specific sections of the **ISEE Middle Level** exam into its traditional testing model. The exam is divided into two main booklets: English and Mathematics.
### 1. English Booklet (110 Minutes Total)
The English sections are developed internally by HCHS faculty to reflect the school's specific performance standards. Students are given a total of 110 minutes to complete this booklet, with suggested time allotments for each part:
* **Reading Comprehension (70 minutes suggested):** This section consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. Students must read a series of passages—ranging from contemporary to classic styles—and respond to questions that measure interpretation, analysis, and understanding. Lines are numbered for easy reference.
* **Writing Assignment (40 minutes suggested):** Students must produce an essay or short creative piece (up to two pages). This section assesses the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively. Depending on the year, students may be given a single prompt or a choice of multiple prompts.
### 2. Mathematics Booklet (75 Minutes Total)
The math sections utilize licensed content from the ISEE Middle Level exam. These sections align with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Students have 75 minutes total for this booklet:
* **Quantitative Reasoning (35 minutes suggested):** Consisting of 37 multiple-choice questions, this section focuses on mathematical reasoning rather than simple procedure recall. It includes word problems, quantitative comparisons, and pattern recognition.
* **Mathematics Achievement (40 minutes suggested):** Consisting of 47 multiple-choice questions, this section covers middle school curriculum-based skills, including computation, algebraic thinking, geometry, measurement, and data interpretation.
## Important Policy Clarifications
Families should note several specific administrative rules regarding the inclusion of ISEE content:
* **Not an Official ISEE Administration:** The HCHS Entrance Exam is *not* an official ISEE test. Taking this exam does not count toward or restrict a student’s ability to take the ISEE for other schools in the future.
* **No Substitutions:** HCHS will not accept past ISEE scores in place of the HCHS Entrance Exam. All applicants must sit for the specific Hunter-administered test.
* **Flexibility within Booklets:** While the school provides suggested times for each section, students may move freely between sections within the same booklet (e.g., moving between Reading and Writing while the English booklet is active).
## Scoring and Student Selection
The selection process remains rigorous. The multiple-choice sections (Reading, Quantitative Reasoning, and Mathematics Achievement) are computer-scored and hand-checked.
A cutoff score is established annually based on the performance of the current test-taking pool and environmental factors. Only students who meet this established cutoff will have their Writing Assignments evaluated by the HCHS faculty panel to determine final admission offers.
## Next Steps for Families
For families preparing for the January 2026 exam, the school recommends the following:
1. **Review Sample Materials:** HCHS has provided sample materials for both the internal English sections and the licensed ISEE math sections. The school notes that Sample Exam #1 contains fewer reading questions than the actual exam will.
2. **Understand the ISEE Format:** Because the math section now uses ISEE Middle Level content, students should familiarize themselves with "Quantitative Comparison" questions, which may differ from standard school tests.
3. **Monitor for Updates:** HCHS emphasizes that the information provided for January 2026 is for general reference and that all components are subject to change for the January 2027 exam and beyond.
4. **Check Eligibility:** Ensure the student meets the specific criteria for Fall 2027 entry before the application deadlines.
Students with approved testing accommodations will receive timing adjustments or other supports as outlined in their official documentation.
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*Source: [Hunter College High School — Entrance Exam](https://www.hunterschools.org/high-school/admissions/entrance-exam-2026) — automatically synced on 2026-09-06.*