TACHS Practice Test

The TACHS exam (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) is a critical assessment for 8th-grade students seeking admission to Catholic high schools in New York City. The current format evaluates academic aptitude in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Abilities with strict timing — making TACHS practice test preparation essential for a competitive score. Practice with the free TACHS practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (100+ questions with answer explanations).

The TACHS is administered once a year, typically in November, and your scores determine admission to participating Archdiocese schools. Understanding the exam structure through a TACHS exam practice test is the most effective way to reduce test anxiety and improve performance. Students preparing for other NYC high school exams may also benefit from our SHSAT practice test or the HSPT practice test, which test overlapping skills in math and verbal reasoning.

TACHS Exam at a Glance

What changed for TACHS in 2026

• Nov 1, 2026: Number of questions changed to 6 timed sub-tests (previously 6 timed subtests (reading, written expression, mathematics, reasoning)).^[1]
• Nov 1, 2026: Delivery changed to Online at home, remote proctored (Proctorio) (previously Online at home, remote proctored with Proctorio).^[1]
• Nov 1, 2026: Retake policy changed to One attempt only; no reviewing, rescoring, or retesting (previously One attempt only).^[2]
• Nov 1, 2026: Eligibility changed to Current eighth-grade students only (previously Current eighth-grade students).^[2]
• Nov 1, 2026: Score release changed to January 22, 2027 after 3:00 PM EST (previously January 22, 2027 at 3:00 PM EST).^[2]
• Nov 1, 2026: Exam fee changed to $78 per student (previously $78 per student (nonrefundable)).^[2]
• Nov 1, 2026: Registration opens changed to August 24, 2026, 9:00 AM ET (previously August 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM EST).

According to TACHS Examination Office, “The TACHS is for current eighth grade students only.”^[2]

TACHS content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official TACHS content outline published by TACHS Examination Office. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through TACHS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which strategy is MOST useful when facing a difficult TACHS vocabulary question?

1. Guess randomly without thinking
2. Use prefixes, suffixes, and root words to figure out the meaning
3. Always choose the longest answer
4. Pick the word that looks most familiar

Answer: B. Use prefixes, suffixes, and root words to figure out the meaning

Explanation:

Option B is right because many unfamiliar words are built from parts you already know. A prefix, suffix or root often points toward the meaning, and you can then test that guess against the sentence. Option A fails because random guessing throws away everything you do know. Option C fails because the length of an answer has no link to whether it is correct. Option D fails because a familiar-looking word can be a trap: it may resemble another word yet mean something different.

The rule to remember: when a word is new, take it apart, form a likely meaning, then check it against the context around it.

Example 2

Question: Read the passage: "Many people think bats are blind. In fact, most bats can see quite well, and many also use echolocation to hunt at night." What is the author's main purpose?

1. To tell an entertaining story about a bat
2. To correct a common misconception about bats
3. To persuade readers to keep bats as pets
4. To explain how to build a bat house

Answer: B. To correct a common misconception about bats

Explanation:

Option B is right because the passage opens with a common belief, then says "In fact" and gives the real situation. That turn is the author correcting a misconception. Option A fails because there is no story, no character and no plot, only a statement of fact. Option C fails because nothing in the passage urges readers to do anything, least of all to keep bats as pets. Option D fails because the passage never gives instructions or mentions building anything.

The rule to remember: for a purpose question, ask what the author is doing with the sentences, whether that is correcting, persuading, telling a story or explaining a process. Signal phrases such as "in fact" often reveal it.

Example 3

Question: A student reads a passage about ocean pollution. The author repeatedly uses words like 'devastating' and 'alarming.' This most likely indicates the author's:

1. Objective reporting style
2. Concerned and urgent tone
3. Humorous attitude
4. Indifferent perspective

Answer: B. Concerned and urgent tone

Explanation:

Option B is right because words like 'devastating' and 'alarming' carry strong negative feeling, and an author who repeats them is showing worry and a sense that the problem needs attention. Option A fails because objective reporting would use neutral, measured wording. Option C fails because nothing about ocean pollution described this way is funny or light. Option D fails because an indifferent author would not choose such charged words at all.

The rule to remember: tone lives in word choice. Notice whether the repeated words are positive, negative or neutral, then match that feeling to the tone choice that fits it.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the official Parent Guide and Student Handbook at tachsinfo.com so you know how the online, remote-proctored exam works and what each sub-test asks. Then use the practice sets here to find where you are weakest.

1. Take a short set in each content area: Nonverbal and Figural Reasoning, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Written Expression. Note which feel slow or uncertain.
2. Spend most of your time on the weakest area, using the matching set such as Vocabulary or Language Arts and Grammar.
3. For every missed question, read the explanation and write one sentence on the rule you missed. Return to those notes before the next session.
4. Use Study Skills and Test Strategies to practise pacing, because the sub-tests are timed.
5. In the final days, do timed practice on the device and in the room you will use on test day, so the setup feels familiar. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice rather than a preview.

Free TACHS Study Tools

Interactive TACHS resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• TACHS Mathematics Practice Test 1 — 25 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• TACHS flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• TACHS study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• TACHS cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

TACHS Score Interpretation

Understanding your TACHS scores is key to high school admission. Scores are reported as National Percentile Ranks (NPR), comparing your performance to students nationwide.

How to Register for the TACHS Exam

Completing the TACHS registration correctly ensures you can sit for the exam and have your scores sent to your chosen schools. Follow these steps to register for the TACHS examination:

1. Create Account - Visit the official TACHS website to create a student account.
2. Complete Profile - Enter student information and parent/guardian details.
3. Select Choices - List up to three Catholic high school choices for score reporting.
4. Pay Fee - Submit the TACHS exam fee (approx. $70) online.
5. Receive Admit Card - Download your admit card with testing session details.
6. System Check - For online testing, perform a system compatibility check on your device.
7. Take Exam - Log in on test day to complete the TACHS examination.

If your student is also preparing for other competitive admissions tests, compare strategies with our ISEE practice test and SSAT practice test guides.

If you want more targeted practice, the tachs practice test page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.

Ready to Pass the TACHS Exam?

Start your preparation with our free practice questions and comprehensive study guide. Achieve the score you need for admission to your top-choice Catholic high school.

Sample TACHS Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free TACHS practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A student completes a TACHS practice test and scores lowest in Language. The best next step is to:

   • A. Ignore Language and focus only on Math
   • B. Identify specific Language skills that need improvement and practice those
   • C. Retake the entire practice test immediately
   • D. Conclude that Language cannot be improved

Answer: B. Identify specific Language skills that need improvement and practice those

Targeted practice in weak areas is the most efficient way to improve — identifying specific gaps (grammar, punctuation, etc.) allows focused study.

Answer: B. Incorrect answer choices designed to seem plausible

Distractors are the wrong answer choices on a multiple-choice test, crafted to appeal to students who have partial knowledge.

Answer: B. It improves concentration, memory retrieval, and problem-solving ability

Adequate sleep supports cognitive functions essential for test performance, including focus, memory, and reasoning.

Answer: B. Ability to identify number patterns and logical relationships

Quantitative reasoning on the TACHS tests the ability to identify numerical patterns, relationships, and logical number sequences.

Take the full TACHS practice test

Official Resources

• TACHS official website — the official registration and information site for the Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools, with exam dates, fees, and candidate instructions.
• Scholastic Testing Service (STS) — the company that develops and scores the TACHS exam and publishes the official test format.
• Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York — the admitting school system whose participating high schools use your TACHS scores for admission decisions.

Sources & last verified

1. TACHS Examination Office — number of questions, delivery (official source). “There are 6 timed subtests.” Verified Nov 1, 2026.
2. TACHS Examination Office — exam fee, retake policy, eligibility, score release (official source). “A nonrefundable examination fee of $78.00 will include this online Student Handbook, online test materials, and the reporting of scores to three high schools of…” Verified Nov 1, 2026.
3. TACHS Examination Office — next exam date (official source). “November 6, 2026 (FRI) TACHS ADMINISTRATION for Archdiocese of New York” Verified Nov 1, 2026.
4. TACHS Examination Office — other (official source). “ability” Verified Nov 1, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.