Parent FAQ
Start with the questions that change the plan
Check eligibility, dates, and the assessment before investing in preparation work.
Checked against Hunter's published admissions pages on October 6, 2026.
Before you enroll
Questions from parents.
Does Hunter Prep Flex include essay feedback?
Yes. Instructor feedback on your child's practice Writing Assignment essays is included: 6 feedback credits, one for each response your student submits for review. An instructor returns line-by-line notes on what to keep, cut, and strengthen, usually within 7 business days.
Who can take the Hunter exam?
For the 2027 entrance exam (fall 2027 entry), a candidate must meet all three criteria: current grade, NYC residency, and a minimum qualifying score.
Is there a ninth-grade entry?
There is no ninth-grade entry to Hunter College High School.
Are calculators allowed?
Calculators are not permitted on the Mathematics section.
Do families see exam scores?
Families do not receive scores for any part of the entrance exam and are not told whether the student reached the essay round.
Does Hunter charge tuition?
Hunter is publicly funded and tuition free.
Is HunterPrep affiliated with Hunter?
No. HunterPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Hunter College High School. Check every requirement and date on the school's own website before you apply.
How current is the admissions information on this site?
The admissions facts on this site were last checked against the school's published pages on October 6, 2026. Schools can change requirements and dates at any time.
Free download
The Hunter Exam Planner
A one-page plan for eligibility, the application, and exam preparation, with a step-by-step checklist. Free, and it opens right on this page.
Your Hunter exam planner
The dates and rules that shape the year, then a plan to work through in order.
- Who can apply
- For the 2027 entrance exam (fall 2027 entry), a candidate must meet all three criteria: current grade, NYC residency, and a minimum qualifying score.
- Score screen
- For the January 27, 2027 exam, the minimum 5th grade NYS scale scores (Spring 2026) are 478 in ELA and 497 in Math.
- Application opens
- For fall 2027 entry, the HCHS application opened at noon on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Application due
- For fall 2027 entry, the HCHS application is due by 2:00 PM on Friday, December 4, 2026.
- No Scores testing
- For fall 2027 entry, approved 6th grade qualifying testing (No Scores route) must be completed by Monday, December 21, 2026, and the child must score at the 90th percentile in both Reading and Math.
- Exam day
- For fall 2027 entry, the Hunter College High School Entrance Exam is on Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
- Make-ups
- There are no make-up dates for students who miss the entrance exam.
- The exam
- The HCHS Entrance Exam has three sections: Reading Comprehension (50 multiple-choice questions), a Writing Assignment, and Mathematics (30 multiple-choice questions).
- Timing
- Students have three hours for the whole exam and may complete the three sections in any order.
- 01
Confirm all three eligibility criteria against your own documents, including the 5th grade score report, before anything else.
- 02
Submit the application well before the deadline, and keep a copy of the score screenshot you upload.
- 03
Take one of the published sample exams under real timing, with no calculator, to see where your student stands.
- 04
Build weekly practice around the weakest section first: reading passages, math without a calculator, or timed writing.
- 05
Practice the writing assignment on fresh prompts, planning for a few minutes before drafting.
- 06
In the last two weeks, take a second full timed practice and rehearse how to split the three hours.
- 07
Plan exam-day logistics early, because there is no make-up date.
Dates and rules can change. Check each one on the school's own admissions pages.