What is the TACHS?
The Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS) is part of the admissions process used by participating Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the dioceses of Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre. The 2026 administration is for current eighth-grade students.
Use the official handbook for decisions. School choices, accommodations, registration, equipment, and test-day instructions can change. This guide summarizes public information; it does not replace the official TACHS handbook or the Archdiocese’s TACHS page.
2026 dates at a glance
| Milestone | Published date | Parent action |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | August 24, 2026 | Review the official handbook and register through the official TACHS site. |
| Registration closes | October 28, 2026 | Do not use a prep company as your source of truth for registration. |
| Archdiocese of New York test | November 6, 2026 | Confirm the exact instructions in the official materials. |
| Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre test | November 7, 2026 | Confirm your student’s diocesan schedule and requirements. |
What does the TACHS cover?
The official materials identify four broad areas. A sound preparation plan should touch all four rather than treating the TACHS as a math-only or vocabulary-only test.
Reading
Practice understanding passages, finding main ideas and supporting details, making reasonable inferences, and using context to interpret words and ideas.
Written Expression
Practice standard English usage, clear sentence construction, organization, and revising language for meaning and correctness.
Mathematics
Review the grade-level number, operation, algebraic, geometry, measurement, data, and problem-solving skills a student has already encountered. Diagnose gaps before adding speed.
Ability
Build comfort with verbal and nonverbal reasoning formats such as classifications, analogies, patterns, matrices, and spatial relationships. Format familiarity matters because some of these items may feel less like ordinary homework.
What “aligned” should mean
The publisher does not provide a complete public blueprint showing the exact weight and difficulty of every skill. A responsible independent program can align to the named domains and example formats, but it should not claim to know unpublished questions or predict an admission result.
- Questions should be original, not copied from official samples or competitors.
- Coverage should span all four named areas.
- Explanations should teach a repeatable method, not just reveal an answer.
- Students should get immediate explanations and a quick way to replay mistakes.
- Any practice score should be labeled as practice—not an official TACHS score.
A practical preparation timeline
Seven or eight weeks gives families room to diagnose, practice, review, and complete a few longer mixed sessions without cramming. Seventh graders can start earlier with reading, writing, mathematics, and reasoning foundations; they do not need a high-pressure exam simulation every week.
For a detailed weekly sequence, use our free eight-week TACHS study plan. If the test is closer, keep the same order but reduce volume: diagnose first, focus on two or three high-value gaps, and protect sleep during the final week.
Sources and independence
Catholic Entrance Prep is an independent product operated by Lemieux Strategic Solutions. It is not affiliated with TACHS, its publisher, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, or any Catholic high school. Dates were checked September 3, 2026; verify them with official sources before acting.