TACHS Math Prep and Tutoring: 2026 Test, Calculator

In short

The TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) is given by Riverside Insights for three New York dioceses to eighth graders applying for ninth grade. It tests reading, written expression, mathematics and reasoning, online at home, in about 2 hours 10 minutes. Modern Age Coders teaches the underlying math live online, in a batch or 1-on-1.

Learn with a teacher

Courses that build TACHS math

School math done thoroughly, which is what the TACHS organizers themselves say counts.

TAX / 01

Middle school mathematics

Grades 6 to 8. All five TACHS math strands in depth.

Open the syllabus →

TAX / 02

Algebra foundations

Patterns, expressions and equations, the algebraic strand.

Open the syllabus →

TAX / 03

Speed calculation

Number sense and estimation that keep a calculator honest.

Open the syllabus →

The test

What is the TACHS, and what does it test?

The TACHS tests academic achievement in reading, written expression and mathematics, plus general reasoning. Its results go to three high schools the student chooses, together with school records.

TACHS content areas (official TACHS site and 2026 Student Handbook, read 31 October 2026)
Area	What the organizers say it covers
Reading	Factual, interpretative and evaluative comprehension of informational and literary texts
Written Expression	Standard English: organization, sentence structure, clarity, and finding the line with an error
Mathematics	Number sense and operations, algebraic patterns and connections, data analysis, probability and statistics, geometry, and measurement
Ability	Learned reasoning with somewhat novel questions using spatial and figural content

How the day is built

The 2026 Parent Guide says "There are 6 timed subtests". After each of the first three a student may take a 5-minute break; after the fourth and fifth there is only a one-minute pause.

Testing time is about 2 hours 10 minutes for most students, or about 3 hours 15 minutes with approved extended time, which is the only accommodation offered. Each question has four answer choices.

What is not published

The organizers do not publish how many math questions there are or how long the math subtest lasts, and they say they cannot give tutors or families more detail than the site and official materials.

So any prep course claiming to mirror the exact TACHS format is guessing. The site warns that outside practice tests may not match "the number of questions, exam format, and allotted testing time".

Sources: the official TACHS site (exam FAQs) with its 2026 Student Handbook and 2026 Parent Guide, read 31 October 2026. Modern Age Coders is not connected with Riverside Insights, TACHS or any diocese or school.

A straight answer

Do TACHS tutoring and prep courses help?

The organizers say plainly that they do not encourage or endorse coaching for the TACHS. Their view is that students who do well in school math can expect to do well on the test, and we build our classes around that.

On its practice-test FAQ the official site states that Riverside Insights, together with the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, "does not encourage or endorse coaching or tutoring programs for the TACHS Examination." It adds that "Official TACHS practice tests are not published or provided" and that outside practice tests "are not fully representative of the actual TACHS Examination".

We think families deserve to read that before paying anyone, including us. So we do not sell TACHS question drills or claim inside knowledge of the test. What we teach is the middle school math the organizers list, the estimation habits that make the new calculator safe to use, and the pacing that keeps a student moving across a timed subtest. Those skills serve a student in ninth grade math too, whatever the result.

What we do and do not offer for the TACHS (our policy)
We do	We do not
Teach the five math strands the organizers name	Sell copies or imitations of TACHS items
Use the free sample questions in the Student Handbook as a format check only	Reproduce the handbook’s sample questions
Build estimation and calculator judgment for 2026	Claim to know the number or timing of math questions
Report progress against school grade-level math	Predict a percentile, an acceptance or a scholarship

Source: TACHS site FAQ, “Where can I find a practice test?” and “What is the content of the exam?”, read 31 October 2026.

Math strands

What math is on the TACHS?

The Mathematics subtest draws on five strands: number sense and operations; algebraic patterns and connections; data analysis, probability and statistics; geometry; and measurement. All five sit inside a normal grade 6 to 8 course.

The five TACHS math strands and what they usually mean at grade 8 (strand names from the TACHS Student Handbook; the middle column is ours)
Strand	Typical grade 8 skills (our reading)	One habit we drill
Number sense and operations	Fractions, decimals, percents, integers, rounding, order of operations	Estimate before computing
Algebraic patterns and connections	Number and shape patterns, expressions, one-step and two-step equations	Write the rule as a formula in n
Data analysis, probability and statistics	Mean, median, range, reading tables and graphs, simple probability	Sort the data first
Geometry	Perimeter, area, angles, properties of shapes	Label every known length
Measurement	Units of length, time, weight and capacity, and converting between them	Write units on every line

Worked example 1, a pattern turned into a rule (ours). A row of tile squares uses 4 tiles for one square, 7 for two joined squares and 10 for three. How many tiles for 20 joined squares? Each new square adds 3 tiles, so the count is 3n + 1, where n is the number of squares. Check: n = 1 gives 4. For n = 20 the answer is 3 x 20 + 1 = 61 tiles. A student who extends the list 4, 7, 10, 13 by hand gets there too, but the rule takes ten seconds and cannot drift.

Patterns are the strand to watch

“Algebraic patterns and connections” can get less direct attention in grade 8 classes than equations do. Some students can solve 2n + 9 = 31 but freeze when asked for the 12th term of a pattern.

We teach one move for both: find what changes each step, write it as a number times n, then fix the starting value.

Measurement needs facts

Converting 2.75 hours to minutes or 3 feet 8 inches to inches is easy only when the unit facts are automatic: 60 minutes, 12 inches, 3 feet, 16 ounces, 4 quarts.

We test those facts in the first minutes of class until a student never has to pause on them.

New in 2026

Can you use a calculator on the TACHS?

Yes, from 2026, but only the basic 4-function calculator built into the testing platform. A student found using their own calculator is disqualified.

The official FAQ says: "New in 2026: A basic 4-function calculator will be provided within the testing platform for use on applicable questions." It opens from the calculator icon in the Proctorio toolbar. The site points families to a free basic calculator practice page so students can get used to it before test day.

When to reach for a basic calculator, and when not to (our classroom rule of thumb)
Situation	Our advice	Why
Multiplying decimals such as 19.8 x 3.1	Estimate first (20 x 3 = 60), then use the calculator	The estimate catches a mistyped decimal point
A mixed expression such as 3 + 4 x 5	Do the multiplication first, then add	Many basic calculators work left to right and would show 35
Fractions such as 3/5 against 5/8	Convert by division, or cross-multiply by hand	A 4-function calculator has no fraction key
Easy facts such as 25 percent of 48	Mental math: a quarter of 48 is 12	Opening the calculator takes longer than the answer
Choosing between four answers	Estimate and eliminate before computing	Two choices are often far from the estimate

Worked example 2, order of operations (ours). Evaluate 3 + 4 x 5. The correct value is 23: multiply 4 x 5 = 20, then add 3. On a calculator that applies each key as it is pressed, typing 3 + 4 x 5 in that order gives 7 x 5 = 35. The fix is to enter 4 x 5 first and add 3 afterwards. Try this on the practice calculator before test day to see how it behaves.

Worked example 3, estimation as a check (ours). A rectangle is 19.8 cm by 3.1 cm. What is its area? Estimate first: about 20 x 3 = 60 square centimeters. The exact product is 61.38. If the calculator shows 6.138 or 613.8, a decimal point slipped, and the estimate exposes it at once. Among four answer choices, only one is likely to sit near 60.

Sources: TACHS site FAQ “Are students allowed to use calculators?” and the 2026 Parent Guide, page on the in-exam calculator, read 31 October 2026. Our advice table and examples are our own.

Dates

When is the TACHS in 2026?

The 2026 TACHS is on Friday, November 6, 2026 for the Archdiocese of New York and Saturday, November 7, 2026 for Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre. Registration closed on October 28, 2026.

The 2026 to 2027 TACHS calendar (official TACHS site and 2026 Student Handbook, read 31 October 2026)
Date	What happens
August 24, 2026	Registration opened online and by phone
October 2, 2026	Deadline for extended time requests to the student’s diocese
October 28, 2026	Registration closed
November 4, 2026	Test session code, date and time emailed after 1:00 PM
Friday, November 6, 2026	TACHS for the Archdiocese of New York
Saturday, November 7, 2026	TACHS for the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens and the Diocese of Rockville Centre
November 11 and 18, 2026	Make-up session details posted for students who missed the test or had approved technical problems
December 7, 2026	Scores provided to the three high school choices, on or before this date
December 11, 2026	Paper Applicant Records for public school students due at the high schools
January 22, 2027	Home Report available to families online from 3:00 PM

One attempt only

The Student Handbook is firm: "A student may take the TACHS examination only once." It also says results are final, with no reviewing, rescoring or retesting.

That makes grade 7 the real preparation year. A student who strengthens all five math strands then sits the test once, in the fall of grade 8.

How results are used

The site says high schools use a combination of TACHS results, the Applicant Record from the student’s school and state testing results. Families see local and national percentile ranks in the Home Report.

Scholarship and financial aid decisions are made by each high school. Questions about admission go to the high schools directly, not to the testing company.

Sources: the TACHS site registration and exam FAQs and the 2026 Student Handbook calendar, read 31 October 2026. Confirm every date on the official site; it is the organizers’ to change.

Practice set

Twelve original TACHS-style math practice items

Our own items, across the five strands, with four-choice thinking in mind. They are not TACHS items. Use the calculator only where our table above says it helps.

Which is greater, 3/5 or 5/8?
Round 4,768 to the nearest hundred.
A pattern starts 5, 9, 13, 17. What is the 12th term?
If 2n + 9 = 31, what is n?
A spinner has 8 equal sections and 3 are blue. What is the probability of landing on blue?
What is the range of 14, 9, 21, 17 and 9?
What is the perimeter of a rectangle 7.5 units long and 4 units wide?
A triangle has a base of 10 cm and a height of 6 cm. What is its area?
How many minutes are in 2.75 hours?
How many inches are in 3 feet 8 inches?
What is 25 percent of 48? Try it without the calculator.
In a table, x = 1, 2, 3 gives y = 4, 7, 10. What is y when x = 8?

Answers and the idea (ours; every answer checked in Python)
Item	Answer	Idea
1	5/8	0.625 against 0.6, or cross-multiply: 25 against 24
2	4,800	The tens digit 6 rounds the hundreds up
3	49	5 + 11 x 4: the 12th term is eleven steps past the first
4	11	2n = 22
5	3/8	Favorable sections over total sections
6	12	Largest 21 minus smallest 9
7	23 units	2 x (7.5 + 4)
8	30 square cm	Half of base times height
9	165 minutes	2 hours is 120, three quarters of an hour is 45
10	44 inches	3 x 12 + 8
11	12	A quarter of 48
12	25	y = 3x + 1, the same rule as the tile pattern

The off-by-one trap

A common wrong answer to item 3 is 53, from multiplying 12 x 4 and add 5. The 12th term is only eleven steps past the first, so it is 5 + 11 x 4 = 49.

Writing the rule as 4n + 1 and checking n = 1 gives 5 avoids the slip every time.

Using the handbook samples

The free Student Handbook on the TACHS site ends with sample questions and an answer key. Use them once, untimed, to see the screen-style layout and the four choices.

Then come back to strand work. The organizers say there is no official practice test, so the samples show format, not difficulty.

A year plan

A grade 7 math plan for the fall 2027 TACHS

Our plan for a student in grade 7 now, with one live class a week. Dates for the 2027 test are not yet published; the 2026 pattern was registration in late summer and the test in early November.

November 2026 to November 2027 (our plan)
Months	Strand focus	Habit
November 2026 to January 2027	Number sense and operations	Estimate before computing
February to March 2027	Algebraic patterns and connections	Rules in n, checked at n = 1
April to May 2027	Data analysis, probability and statistics	Sort data before any average
June to July 2027	Geometry and measurement	Units on every line
August to September 2027	Mixed review; basic calculator practice	Calculator only where it helps
October 2027	Timed mixed sets of our own; handbook samples once	Keep moving, mark and return within a subtest

Grade 6

Strong fractions and percents now make grade 8 easy.

Grade 7

The plan above: one strand at a time.

Grade 8

Mixed review and the calculator habit in the fall.

Readiness

Four signs a student is ready for TACHS math

The organizers link TACHS success to school coursework. These are the signs we look for in that coursework.

From school math to TACHS-ready (our steps)
Step	What it looks like
1. Accurate	Grade 7 and 8 problems right on homework and quizzes
2. Estimating	Knows roughly what an answer should be before working it out
3. Judicious	Uses the calculator for messy arithmetic only
4. Steady	Marks a hard item and moves on, then returns before the subtest ends

For parents

Look at your child’s school math grades and state test results first; the site says high schools consider them alongside the TACHS.

If the school math is solid, a few weeks on estimation and the calculator may be all that is needed. If it is shaky, fix the school math.

For students

Practice the basic calculator before test day, so it is a tool and not a surprise.

On the day, you can skip and mark items inside a subtest. Once you finish a subtest you cannot go back, so use the marks.

The catalogue

Nine courses for New York middle schoolers

Live online classes with one regular teacher, as a group or one to one.

I

Core math

Grades 6 to 8

TAX / CORE / 01

Middle school math

All five strands.

Open the syllabus

TAX / CORE / 02

Algebra foundations

Patterns into equations.

Open the syllabus

TAX / CORE / 03

Statistics and probability

Data and chance.

Open the syllabus

II

Number sense

Speed and confidence

TAX / NUM / 01

Speed calculation

Mental arithmetic.

Open the syllabus

TAX / NUM / 02

Problem solving

Reasoning and logic.

Open the syllabus

TAX / NUM / 03

Middle school competitions

For extra challenge.

Open the syllabus

III

Ninth grade and beyond

After the test

TAX / HS / 01

High school math

Algebra 1 onward.

Open the syllabus

TAX / HS / 02

Math through coding

Python for math.

Open the syllabus

TAX / HS / 03

Python for teens

Coding from zero.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

Live math classes for New York families, around school and sports

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

Late afternoon or evening, Eastern Time.

Weekends

Saturday and Sunday mornings work for many families.

1-on-1

Focused on one student’s weakest strand.

Strand by strand

Five strands, tracked separately.

Estimate first

Every answer sized before it is computed.

Calculator sense

A basic calculator used with judgment.

Unit facts

Measurement conversions made automatic.

Five boroughs and Long Island

Live online, no travel.

Batch size

Fifteen to twenty students, or one.

Student work

Projects from our students

Our learners also put math to work in code. Browse the student labs.

AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

The TACHS registration fee is paid to the TACHS program, not to us; our fee is for classes only. We bill monthly, so a family can study through grade 7 and stop whenever they choose.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

A free first class
A short strand-by-strand check
No card details

Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

Fifteen to twenty learners
The same teacher each week
Choose your batch
Monthly

Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

A private math teacher
Built around school math gaps
Practice set for one child

Enquire

What families say

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Questions from parents

TACHS math: what New York parents ask

What math is on the TACHS?

The official site lists number sense and operations, algebraic patterns and connections, data analysis, probability and statistics, geometry, and measurement. These are standard middle school topics.

Is a calculator allowed on the TACHS in 2026?

Yes. New in 2026, a basic 4-function calculator is provided inside the testing platform for applicable questions. Personal calculators are not allowed, and a student using one is disqualified.

When is the TACHS in 2026?

The Archdiocese of New York tests on Friday, November 6, 2026, and the Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens and the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Sessions begin at 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM.

How long is the TACHS?

About 2 hours 10 minutes for most students, including directions, across 6 timed subtests. With approved extended time it is about 3 hours 15 minutes.

Is the TACHS taken at home?

Yes. The 2026 TACHS is an online, remote, at-home test with Proctorio proctoring and a webcam, a format the site says has been used since 2020.

Is there an official TACHS practice test?

No. The site says official practice tests are not published or provided, though the Student Handbook includes sample questions and an answer key.

Do the organizers recommend TACHS tutoring?

No. The site says Riverside Insights and the three dioceses do not encourage or endorse coaching or tutoring programs, and that students who do well in school coursework can expect to do well. We teach school math, not TACHS drills.

Can my child take the TACHS twice?

No. The Student Handbook says a student may take the TACHS only once, and results are final with no rescoring or retesting.

When do we get TACHS results?

Scores go to the three high school choices on or before December 7, 2026. Families can view the Home Report online from 3:00 PM on January 22, 2027.

What days and times are classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you connected with TACHS or the dioceses?

No. Modern Age Coders is independent and has no tie to Riverside Insights, the TACHS program, any diocese or any high school.

Elsewhere on this site

More for New York eighth graders

Other entrance tests and help by grade.

ISEE and SSAT math

For independent schools.

7th grade math tutor

The preparation year.

8th grade math tutor

Support through the test year.

Algebra tutoring

Patterns and equations, one to one.

Coding classes in NYC

For students who like to build.

Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: US gifted and selective school tests

Exam schools and private high schools

Gifted and talented screening

Programs for advanced students

More guides: US state math tests by state · US math placement and college readiness tests · Homeschool and school math curricula guide · US math and coding competitions guide

Start here

Book a free first class

Tell us your child’s grade and how school math is going. The teacher runs a short check across the five strands and tells you honestly whether extra classes are worth it.

To see a lesson’s shape first, read how we teach, or look through the course catalogue.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

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Book a priority demo

Courses that build TACHS math

Middle school mathematics

Algebra foundations

Speed calculation

What is the TACHS, and what does it test?

How the day is built

What is not published

Do TACHS tutoring and prep courses help?

What math is on the TACHS?

Patterns are the strand to watch

Measurement needs facts

Can you use a calculator on the TACHS?

When is the TACHS in 2026?

One attempt only

How results are used

Twelve original TACHS-style math practice items

The off-by-one trap

Using the handbook samples

A grade 7 math plan for the fall 2027 TACHS

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Four signs a student is ready for TACHS math

For parents

For students

Nine courses for New York middle schoolers

Core math

Middle school math

Algebra foundations

Statistics and probability

Number sense

Speed calculation

Problem solving

Middle school competitions

Ninth grade and beyond

High school math

Math through coding

Python for teens

Live math classes for New York families, around school and sports

Strand by strand

Estimate first

Calculator sense

Unit facts

Five boroughs and Long Island

Batch size

Projects from our students

NutriLife

Misti

GuardianX

SkyCast

Fees

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

TACHS math: what New York parents ask

What math is on the TACHS?

Is a calculator allowed on the TACHS in 2026?

When is the TACHS in 2026?

How long is the TACHS?

Is the TACHS taken at home?

Is there an official TACHS practice test?

Do the organizers recommend TACHS tutoring?

Can my child take the TACHS twice?

When do we get TACHS results?

What days and times are classes?

Are you connected with TACHS or the dioceses?

More for New York eighth graders

ISEE and SSAT math

7th grade math tutor

8th grade math tutor

Algebra tutoring

Coding classes in NYC

Related pages in this guide

Exam schools and private high schools

Gifted and talented screening

Programs for advanced students

Book a free first class

Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo

Keep exploring Modern Age Coders

More maths tuition

Learn more

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