SSAT Test

Getting in to a top-flight private, charter, or parochial school is no longer a matter simply of affordability or location. Admission to high-tier schools has become a highly competitive process even for the youngest of students. One of the most reliable indicators of success in admissions is a top score on the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test). The test is a standardized, multiple-choice test of basic academic skills taken by fifth to eleventh graders seeking admission to a private school. The test resembles the SAT, but it is geared toward a younger cohort. There are two levels of the test: lower (for grades five through seven) and upper (for grades eight through eleven).

The test has four sections, only three of which count toward the final score. The verbal reasoning exam consists largely of vocabulary questions based on analogy, synonyms, and antonyms. Vocabulary is grade appropriate for academics at either the lower or upper level. Quantitative reasoning has questions about grade-level math, featuring arithmetic, basic geometry, and algebra. The reading comprehension has essays on scholastic topics like science and social studies. The final section of the test is a written essay. This does not count toward a student's final score but is included in total with the score report to the schools the student is applying to. The school can choose to use it as an admissions criterion or as a guide to class assignments.

The score report is sent to whichever schools the test taker wishes. The score report gives a variety of information, including a raw score (total number of questions answered correctly) and a scaled score (between 1320 and 2130 for the lower or between 1500 and 2400 for the upper). In addition, a percentile is given showing a test taker's rank amongst other test takers of the same grade for the last several years. The information is useful for admissions officers as well as the parents of the student in gauging the student's academic strengths and weaknesses.

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