Our tailored virtual classrooms meet your child's unique needs! Enjoy peace of mind with reliable online support from our expert tutors, just a click away. No more stress—we provide top-notch tuition that empowers your child for success, wherever they are!
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a standardized test commonly used by private and independent schools in the United States and Canada to evaluate the academic abilities of applicants for grades 3-12. It assesses students' skills in key areas and helps schools make admission decisions.
The SSAT includes four main sections:
Quantitative (Math): This section tests basic math skills, including arithmetic, geometry, and algebra.
Verbal: This section measures vocabulary, analogies, and understanding of synonyms.
Reading Comprehension: Students are required to read passages and answer questions related to the content, theme, and inference of the passages.
Writing Sample: The essay section is unscored but is sent to schools as part of the application. It assesses a student's writing ability and how well they can organize their thoughts.
Scores are presented as scaled scores and percentile rankings. The Elementary Level has a different scoring system (scaled scores from
300-600), while the Middle and Upper Levels are scored from 500-800 per section. The writing sample is not graded but is used by schools to evaluate writing skills.
The Elementary Level test takes about 2 hours. The Middle and Upper Levels take about 3 hours and 5 minutes.
The SSAT is offered multiple times throughout the year. There are Standard Test Dates (often held in fall and winter), as well as Flex Test Dates for students who cannot attend on the standard dates. SSAT at Home is also available for certain grade levels, providing more flexibility.
The SSAT helps schools evaluate the academic abilities of applicants in comparison to their peers. It is used alongside other elements like grades, teacher recommendations, and extracurricular involvement in the admission process.
Students can register for the SSAT on the official SSAT website. A fee is required for the test, though fee waivers are available for eligible families.
Students can prepare for the SSAT using official prep guides, online resources, or through tutoring services like A+ PLUS Online Tutoring, which offers personalized test preparation.
On the test day, students are required to bring proper identification, registration tickets, pencils, and an approved calculator (only allowed for the Elementary Level).
The SSAT is often compared with the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). While both are used for admissions, the structure and content differ slightly, and schools may prefer one over the other.
