Abstract: A method and apparatus for the in-place testing of the shear strength of a rectangular area of a wall. The method includes affixing a first shoe to an upper corner of a rectangular area of the wall and a second shoe to the lower opposite corner of this rectangular area. A strut is placed between the two shoes and its length is increased or decreased and measurements are made along the vertical, the horizontal and the diagonal as the length of the strut is changed. Preferably this is done with a hydraulic cylinder. The shoes have holes along a vertical side and a horizontal side and several brackets may be affixed at preferred locations to the sole and a stud at the bottom corner and to the plate and a stud at the top corner. A length adjusting strut is affixed between these attached plates and preferably rests on curved surfaces on each shoe.