SSAT: Top tips and tricks from an expert advisor
What is the SSAT?
The SSAT, or the Secondary School Admissions Test, is an essential part of the U.S. boarding and private school admissions process. The SSAT is standardised, meaning that SSAT questions are asked and scored in a consistent, or ‘standard’, manner. This makes it easier for U.S. boarding schools admissions officers to use the SSAT as a benchmark for academic achievement. The SSAT is administered to distinguish candidates, and provide an overview of the candidate’s academic strengths and weaknesses, while not dominating the boarding school admissions process. Those taking the SSAT should remember that this is only one part of a holistic admissions process.
What is the difference between the SSAT Levels?
The SSAT is split into three possible Levels: Elementary, Middle and Upper. This is done according to the age group of SSAT candidates. For example, a candidate in Grade 3-4 would sit the Elementary SSAT, while those in Grade 5-7 sit the Middle, and Grades 8-11 learners sit the Upper SSAT.
Despite this distinction in the age ranges, all candidates in the SSAT are tested in mathematics, verbal, and reading skills. In addition, learners hoping to sit the SSAT will also be asked to sit a non-scored writing portion. The nature of this task varies according to the SSAT Level of the candidate.
How to prepare for the SSAT
There are two stages of preparation for the SSAT: long-range development of study skills, and short-term review of past papers and questions.
SSAT candidates should know that preparation for the SSAT must begin long in advance of the examination. The SSAT is designed to test skills, not content from a predetermined syllabus. Students are expected to have a wide ranging vocabulary and strong reading comprehension skills for both the verbal and reading sections. SSAT candidates are also expected to meet their grade-appropriate benchmarks in mathematics, and possess good mathematical reasoning skills to support that section of the assessment as well.
We advise those taking the SSAT to begin preparing in earnest six months in advance of their sitting the SSAT. This will include the use of past papers and SSAT questions so that students can familiarise themselves with the structure and question types of the SSAT.
Common mistakes made on the SSAT
There are many factors that make the SSAT an unusual examination. For starters, the SSAT’s focus on skills acquired throughout the candidate’s education journey can make preparation and revision tricky without guidance.
In terms of the examination, however, the SSAT has an unusual marking system for the Middle and Upper SSAT that can easily trip up otherwise thoroughly prepared candidates. For every question that a candidate answers correctly, they earn a point. However, incorrect answers result in a quarter of a point being deducted, and skipped questions result in no change to the candidate’s score. This is very different from typical scoring systems used in schools, and can thus make the SSAT appear more opaque than other examinations.
The other common mistake that students make on the SSAT is rushing. While the examination is timed, the SSAT distinguishes itself from the PSAT and the SAT in that candidates are not rushed through questions. Instead, the SSAT gives students plenty of time to consider their answers carefully, meaning that there is no real need to rush through them.
Strategies to ensure a top SSAT grade
The best strategy to ensure a top SSAT grade is thorough preparation. As said above, this cannot be achieved simply in the days leading up to the SSAT exam itself. Instead, these skills need to be worked on consistently over time, thus making self-management an essential asset when preparing for the SSAT.
In our support of top percentile SSAT candidates, we have noticed that the biggest factor that distinguishes them in the verbal and reading sections are their reading habits. In the SSAT, students read extracts and answer questions spanning a range of text types, difficulty, and eras. Those intending to take the SSAT should aim to read widely, and be consistent in building this habit. Learners hoping to take the SSAT should read newspapers, novels, poetry and even some non-fiction academic writing to expand their vocabulary and understanding of the structure of different text types.
As for the mathematics section of the SSAT, students should similarly aim to have an excellent grasp on the fundamentals of the subject. Much like the reading and writing-focused portions of the SSAT, the mathematics section is designed to test skills. This can best be achieved through consolidation of topics covered in the SSAT candidate’s school classes, as well as rigorous work through targeted practice.
Using the SSAT to support your U.S. boarding school application
Many of the United States’ top private and boarding schools advertise proudly that they are ‘SSAT optional’. However, that does not mean that the SSAT should be avoided. The SSAT is still an important part of the admissions process for U.S. boarding schools, not least because this ‘test optional’ policy does not apply to all schools.
Admissions officers still make use of a candidate’s SSAT score as part of the admissions process, alongside their interview and application essays. They look at the percentile score on the SSAT to make sure that the candidate is meeting certain academic criteria for admission. A good SSAT score can only be of benefit to a candidate. This is especially important as most candidates deliver refined and carefully written application essays, and are also trained to perform well in interviews. The SSAT is an essential opportunity for students to distinguish themselves to admissions officers and earn their place at their dream school.
How a BartyED tutor can help with the SSAT
Like all examinations, the SSAT requires rigorous and careful preparation. The fact that students are expected to conduct this work on top of their existing school work adds a layer of pressure to SSAT preparations. It is easy to see how learners can become overwhelmed. That is why BartyED has a number of expert tutors specialised in the SSAT, and US boarding school admissions more generally. Candidates appreciate the knowledge and experience of our tutors.
Of course, we use past papers to prepare candidates for the SSAT, but more importantly, we work with students to develop their skills. In this way, the SSAT becomes demystified, and candidates feel more confident when it comes to taking the SSAT, an all-important part of the U.S. boarding school admissions process.
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the guidance of a BartyED tutor, contact us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com).
Frequently Asked Questions
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The SSAT is the Secondary School Admissions Test. Those students who are applying for U.S. boarding and private schools are expected to take the SSAT to indicate their readiness for entry. The SSAT is standardised, and the majority of the questions are multiple choice.
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The SSAT is split into four sections: verbal (synonyms and analogies), reading, mathematics, and an unscored writing portion. These sections are designed to test student attainment of a variety of important academic skills, including numeracy and reading comprehension.
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The SSAT sends a score report. This includes the raw score, the scaled score, and the SSAT percentile. The SSAT percentile is the score that is most commonly used by U.S. boarding schools, but the scaled score is also very important.
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The SSAT is an essential part of the admissions process to U.S. boarding and private schools. It gives admissions officers a benchmark of a candidate’s academic performance. Even if a school lists the SSAT as ‘optional’, experts strongly recommend taking the exam.