
Question Type | Example |
Main Ideas | Which statement best expresses the main ... |
Detail | The Wood River Valley is unique because… |
Inference | The reader can infer that the Wood River ... |
Words in Context | In paragraph 2, “geography” most exactly ... |
What does SSAT stand for?
What does SSAT stand for? SSAT stands for Secondary School Admission Test. Though its name is similar, the test is not associated with the SAT, which students take for college admissions. The SSAT is a test taken by students applying to independent day schools and boarding schools in North America.
How to do well on the SSAT?
Part 2 Part 2 of 3: Using Test-Taking Strategies Download Article
- Wear a watch. Most test centers will have a clock in the room, but you may not be able to see it easily.
- Answer the questions that are easiest for you first. The SAT tends to have easier questions at the beginning and harder questions toward the end.
- Make educated guesses for answers you don’t know. ...
- Ration your time wisely. ...
How do I register for the SSAT?
- Your SSAT admission ticket, and special accommodations document (if applicable)
- At least two sharpened #2 pencils
- Photo ID
- A snack and drink for the break
How to register for the SSAT?
SSAT standby registration is available online from two weeks before a test date through 8:00am on the test date. Standby registration does not guarantee a student a seat; standby registrants will be admitted based on seat and test booklet availability. There is an $85 fee for standby testing (in addition to the regular $149 registration fee).

What subjects are on the SSAT?
What's on the SSAT?Quantitative (Math): Composed of math computation.Verbal: Vocabulary and analogy questions.Reading: Reading passages.Writing Sample: The writing sample is not scored, but schools use it to assess writing skills.Experimental: Mixed content questions (verbal, reading, and math).
What math is in the SSAT?
The SSAT tests a student's skills in three mathematical areas: computations, geometry/algebra, and mathematical concepts.
What is a good score in SSAT?
If you score in the 50th percentile on any SSAT section, you will achieve the “median” SSAT score for that test. And if you score higher than the 50th percentile, you perform better than the median.
Is the SSAT test hard?
While the test is designed to be of "middle difficulty," this is a very competitive group of students against which you're being scored—these are the select students applying to the finest independent schools.
Is there an essay on the SSAT?
The SSAT requires an essay, but it's not graded. So why do you need to write it? Well, the essay is a great way for schools to see how well you express yourself.
Is the PSAT or SSAT harder?
Differences Between the PSAT and SAT The SAT is scored on a total scale of 400-1600, with math and verbal scores of 200-800 each. Because the test is meant to cover an additional school year of material, the SAT is a bit harder than the PSAT, particularly in the math section.
What is a good SSAT score for a 9th grader?
A: This is not an easy question to answer, but according to some informed sources, the average private school student scored in the 60th percentile (about 2030) or above, and the best private schools prefer SSAT scores in the 80th percentile (2120) or higher.
What is 99th percentile on SSAT?
It means you're beating 99% of the students out there for the exam you've taken. You can see from the above example of one of our students. The student scored 92% on reading and 98% on the other 2 sections, yet combined, the student was in the 99% percentile for the entire exam.
What is the average SAT score for a 7th grader?
Therefore, the SAT score of the median 7th grader is about a 300 per section on the SAT, while the ACT score of the median 7th grader is about a 10.
What is a good SSAT score for a 7th grader?
Median Scores (SSAT 50th Percentile)GradeReadingMiddle Level5569659376113 more rows
Is 1800 a good SSAT score?
The score range of the SSAT sections and the total sum scores differs depending on whether you've taken the elementary, middle, or upper level SSAT....How Does SSAT Scoring Work?LevelSection Score RangeSum Score RangeElementary300-600900-1800Middle440-7701320-2310Upper500-8001500-2400Apr 3, 2017
How do kids prepare for the SSAT?
Prepare For SSAT | Read, Read, Read Reading helps contextualize knowledge; it helps cement vocabulary, and it teaches kids to follow logic. Always encourage your child to read, inside and outside of test-taking season.
What does the SSAT test?
SSAT stands for the Secondary School Admissions Test, and it's used for admission to private middle schools and high schools. If you're looking to attend an elite private middle or high school, this is a test you'll need to do well on.
When should I start studying for the SSAT?
When should you start preparing for the SSAT? As a general rule, we recommend starting your SSAT prep six to four months before your test date. So if you are planning to take the test in November, then you should take a diagnostic practice test sometime between May and July.
How do I prepare for the SSAT?
7 Prep Tips for the SSATPlan to take the test more than once. We recommend planning to take the test at least two times. ... Simulate test day with practice tests. ... Study in shorter, more frequent sessions. ... Learn test-taking strategies. ... Learn new vocabulary. ... Read, read, read. ... Don't worry too much about unfamiliar questions.
Are calculators allowed on the SSAT?
Students will be permitted to use this piece of equipment ONLY when completing the quantitative sections of the SSAT. The use of scientific calculators, calculator watches, or calculator applications on laptops or personal computers is strictly prohibited.
The breakdown
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) has four sections (170 questions total) and one unscored essay prompt. It'll take approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete the test with a couple of short breaks built in.
Registration Details
The SSAT middle/upper level test fee is $127 ($45 late fee, $35 change fee). The international fee is $247 (outside the US, Canada, Am. Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and USVI). You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you are unable to pay it, though waivers are limited.
What's a good SSAT score?
All questions on the SSAT are equal in value. Raw scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly minus one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly.
What Is the SSAT? Expert Guide to the 3 Levels
Are you interested in going to private school? If so, you might need to take the SSAT to get in. But what is the SSAT? It's an admissions test that independent schools throughout the U.S. and the world use to assess their prospective students.
What Is the SSAT and Who Takes It?
The SSAT is designed for students in grades 3 through 11 who are seeking admission to private schools. It's available in three levels: elementary for students in grades 3 and 4, middle for students in grades 5 through 7, and upper for students in grades 8 through 11.
What Does the SSAT Test? Questions and Skills
Despite their differences, all levels of the SSAT share the same goal, to measure your verbal, quantitative, and reading comprehension skills. The verbal sections of the test ask about vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and relationships between ideas. The quantitative sections will ask you to solve problems with mathematical concepts.
SSAT: Elementary Level
The elementary level is geared toward students in grades 3 and 4. The test at this level is unique since it's further divided into sublevels, one that's slightly easier for third graders and one that's a bit more advanced for fourth graders. Both tests, though, share the same format and structure.
SSAT: Middle Level
If you're in grade 5, 6, or 7 applying for grades 6, 7, or 8, then you'll take the middle level SSAT. The middle level test is much longer than the elementary level at three hours and five minutes. Its Writing section, while still unscored, comes at the beginning of the test.
SSAT: Upper Level
The upper level test is geared toward students in grade 8 to 11 who are applying to private high schools. It has the same structure as the middle level test, but again, it features more advanced material. This chart shows the test's format as a whole.
How Is the SSAT Scored?
Your SSAT score report will tell you how you did on each scored section—verbal, math, and reading—as well as your total score, or the sum of your section scores. You'll also get percentiles that show how your performance compares to that of other test-takers.
The SSAT: The Basics
Just like most standardized tests, the SSAT follows a predictable format broken into sections testing different skills and abilities.
The SSAT Test Format
Here is the official section and timing breakdown of the Upper Level Test from SSAT.org (Middle Level is the same):
