EVERYTHING SSAT.
When does registration start?
SSAT registration opens on the first of August every calendar year. The level of the test is dependent on your child’s grade level. Based on the grade, your child will fall into one of three testing levels. We believe that preparation for this test is truly about practice and comfortability with the test information.
How should we prepare?
It is likely that the test material will be much more advanced than what your child has been instructed in school. Your child may be at the lower end of the criteria for test age, and it is important for your child to feel comfortable with all the concepts and test questions prior to taking the test. Many families tend to use the test for middle or high school entry, so make sure your child is adequately prepared. Say your child is an 8th grader who wants to take the the Upper Level SSAT. The Upper Level test has concepts that go through 12th grade, so it is crucial to have the knowledge necessary to answer the test’s questions. The test itself is long, and most children do not have experience sitting for a test.
Which test should my child take?
There are three levels - the lower level, middle level and upper level. When signing your child up for the SSAT in June, you should be certain to select your child's grade level. For example, if your student is a current 7th grader in June and you’d like to apply for 9th grade, you should indicate them as an 8th grade to take the upper level test.
Instead of focusing on concepts taught in school, the SSAT measures acquired verbal, quantitative (math) and reading skills to determine how your child compares to other children in the same grade. The SSAT test is broken down into five parts. Math, reading, and verbal reasoning will be factored into the score. The writing section will not be factored into the score, but will be sent to the school you are applying for as a sample of your child's writing (and handwriting) ability. The test is comprised of questions that emphasize critical thinking and problem solving.
Should my child skip questions that they don’t know or should they guess?
It is ok for your child to guess on the elementary level, as there will be no penalty for guessing. Therefore, your child should be encouraged to answer each question. On the middle and upper level, your child will receive a loss of ¼ of a point for each wrong answer, and neither gain nor lose points for omitted questions. Test preparation strategies will help your child understand when to guess and when to omit in order to obtain the highest possible score.
What is the format of the test?
The elementary level test has 4 sections that overall contain 89 questions. The middle & upper level tests both contain 171 questions broken up into 5 sections + 1 experimental section which is not factored into the score.
Will there be breaks in between?
There is one break on the elementary level and two breaks on the middle/upper level. The test is long, and may very well be the longest test your child has ever sat for. The SSAT allows for snacks during breaks, but not during the test.
Finding a test center
Finding a test center in your area might be tough, since spots fill up quickly. We advise picking a test date well into the future, so that your child has time to prepare and is guaranteed a seat. More information can be found at http://www.ssat.org/test-center-search
More information on the SSAT website
https://ssat.org/
SSAT registration opens on the first of August every calendar year. The level of the test is dependent on your child’s grade level. Based on the grade, your child will fall into one of three testing levels. We believe that preparation for this test is truly about practice and comfortability with the test information.
How should we prepare?
It is likely that the test material will be much more advanced than what your child has been instructed in school. Your child may be at the lower end of the criteria for test age, and it is important for your child to feel comfortable with all the concepts and test questions prior to taking the test. Many families tend to use the test for middle or high school entry, so make sure your child is adequately prepared. Say your child is an 8th grader who wants to take the the Upper Level SSAT. The Upper Level test has concepts that go through 12th grade, so it is crucial to have the knowledge necessary to answer the test’s questions. The test itself is long, and most children do not have experience sitting for a test.
Which test should my child take?
There are three levels - the lower level, middle level and upper level. When signing your child up for the SSAT in June, you should be certain to select your child's grade level. For example, if your student is a current 7th grader in June and you’d like to apply for 9th grade, you should indicate them as an 8th grade to take the upper level test.
- Elementary Level SSAT - For children currently in grades 3rd-5th who are applying for admission to 4th & 5th grades. Total time: 1 hour, 50 minutes.
- Middle Level SSAT - For children currently in grades 5th-7th who are applying for admission for 6th - 8th grades. Total time: 3 hours, 10 minutes.
- Upper Level SSAT - For children currently in grades 8-11 who are applying for admission to grades 9th - 12th grades. Total time: 3 hours, 10 minutes.
Instead of focusing on concepts taught in school, the SSAT measures acquired verbal, quantitative (math) and reading skills to determine how your child compares to other children in the same grade. The SSAT test is broken down into five parts. Math, reading, and verbal reasoning will be factored into the score. The writing section will not be factored into the score, but will be sent to the school you are applying for as a sample of your child's writing (and handwriting) ability. The test is comprised of questions that emphasize critical thinking and problem solving.
Should my child skip questions that they don’t know or should they guess?
It is ok for your child to guess on the elementary level, as there will be no penalty for guessing. Therefore, your child should be encouraged to answer each question. On the middle and upper level, your child will receive a loss of ¼ of a point for each wrong answer, and neither gain nor lose points for omitted questions. Test preparation strategies will help your child understand when to guess and when to omit in order to obtain the highest possible score.
What is the format of the test?
The elementary level test has 4 sections that overall contain 89 questions. The middle & upper level tests both contain 171 questions broken up into 5 sections + 1 experimental section which is not factored into the score.
Will there be breaks in between?
There is one break on the elementary level and two breaks on the middle/upper level. The test is long, and may very well be the longest test your child has ever sat for. The SSAT allows for snacks during breaks, but not during the test.
Finding a test center
Finding a test center in your area might be tough, since spots fill up quickly. We advise picking a test date well into the future, so that your child has time to prepare and is guaranteed a seat. More information can be found at http://www.ssat.org/test-center-search
More information on the SSAT website
https://ssat.org/