SSAT tutoring prepares students for the SSAT or Secondary School Admission Test, used as an entrance exam for admission evaluation into private elementary, middle, and high school. It is administered seven times each year by the Secondary Schools Admissions Testing located in Princeton, New Jersey. Scores are accepted by more than 600 schools. Schools that accept SSAT scores include independent unaffiliated private day and boarding schools, non-diocesan Catholic schools or Catholic schools operated by religious orders, and non-Catholic religious-affiliated schools.
There are currently three levels of the SSAT for admission into different grades:
The scoring of the SSAT is as follows:
If a student is applying to a private school, there is a good chance that the school will require students to submit standardized test results. The two most frequently accepted tests are the ISEE and SSAT.
Students should check with the schools to which they are applying which tests the schools accept or require. If the school accepts both the ISEE and SSAT, then students should take a practice test of each to determine which test fits them best.
To determine which test to take, students should take a diagnostic of both to see which one fits them best.
Note: Because the ISEE can only be taken once in any given testing season (Fall: August t0 November. Winter: December to March. Spring: April to July), students are likely to only have one try on the ISEE when they are fully prepared for it.
There is variability in any test date: Students could have a good or bad day, the content tested on that test date might fit them particularly well or not, etc. Given that variability, there’s higher risk inherent with going with the ISEE.
For that reason, if a student scores significantly higher on the ISEE, they should prepare for the ISEE. If they only score slightly higher on the ISEE diagnostic, then it’s still safer for them to prepare for the SSAT, because they can easily take the SSAT multiple times. And, if a student does prepare for the ISEE, they still might want to register for and take an SSAT as a back-up, just in case they get unlucky on the ISEE test day and the test does not go as planned.
Students cannot use a calculator on any portion of this exam.
There are usually two score reports. The first is the school score report, and the second is the student/parent report. The schools normally receive students’ scores about two weeks after the test, and they are released both by mail and online. For students, their scores are usually released online within two weeks of the exam and can also be sent by mail for an additional fee. When students and parents log into their online account on SSAT.org, they can click on the “Check Scores” button which will take them directly to their scores. For all info about scores (how to check, send, verify, etc), see the SSAT page by clicking here.
Click here for more info about the Elementary Level SSAT from the makers of the test.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Verbal | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Break | 0 | 15 minutes |
| Reading | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Writing Sample | 1 | 15 minutes |
| Experimental Section | 15-17 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 104-106 | 2 hr and 5 min |
Students in 3rd and 4th grade take this test for admission into 4th and 5th grade, respectively.
Click here for more information about the Middle Level SSAT from the makers of the test.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample | 1 | 25 minutes |
| Break | 0 | 5 minutes |
| Mathematics | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Reading | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Break | 0 | 10 minutes |
| Verbal | 60 | 30 minutes |
| Mathematics | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Experimental | 16 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 167 | 3 hr and 5 min |
Students in grades 8-11 take this test for admission into grades 9-12, respectively.
Click here for more information about the Upper Level SSAT from the makers of the test.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample | 1 | 25 minutes |
| Break | 0 | 5 minutes |
| Mathematics | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Reading | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Break | 0 | 10 minutes |
| Verbal | 60 | 30 minutes |
| Mathematics | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Experimental | 16 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 167 | 3 hr and 5 min |
Once you start high school (or before), we are here to support you if you need help in any academic subjects and/or if you are struggling to stay motivated and succeed. And, when you need it, we specialize in SAT and ACT prep and provide one-on-one, customized tutoring to over 1,000 students every year for these college entrance exams.
Students take the PSAT in October and get results back in early December. These results do not count toward National Merit status, and we recommend that students do not prep for it (here’s more info one why we make that recommendation). But, the results do give us an early indication of where a student’s standardized test score is at, which can inform if we need to start SAT/ACT prep earlier than anticipated.
Take the SAT/ACT tests until you hit your score goal (ACT scores, in particular, can be deleted at any time, so there’s no downside to re-taking the test).
Most students take the PSAT (this score does not matter for the vast majority of students) — the results for this test come back in early December of that year.
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If you’re interested, we would love to give you a complimentary strategy consultation over the phone or online to discuss the best plan for your child’s educational goals: which test to take, when to take them, what scores are needed for admission, and any other questions you have.
It is our privilege and pleasure to serve you and to help empower your children to succeed in life.
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The cost of tutoring will vary depending on the number of sessions needed to hit a student’s score goal.
