SSAT Practice Test

Test Levels

• Elementary Level (grades 3–4)
• Middle Level (grades 5–7)
• Upper Level (grades 8–11)

The SSAT consists of four different sections:

1. The SSAT Quantitative section is made up of word problems that measure a student's ability to solve problems involving quantitative concepts.
2. The SSAT Verbal section is made up of synonyms and analogies and is used to assess verbal reasoning and one's understanding of language. 
3. The SSAT Reading Comprehension section requires students to read passages and then answer relevant questions.
4. The SSAT Writing section provides students with a prompt (a picture prompt for elementary level) from which the students are to write an essay in response.

Elementary Level

Duration: ~2 hours 5 minutes (1 h 50 m in some descriptions)

Sections:

• Writing Sample – ~15 mins (picture prompt)
• Verbal – ~20 mins, 30 questions (synonyms & analogies)
• Quantitative – ~30 mins, 30 questions
• Reading Comprehension – ~30 mins, ~28 questions from 7 passages
• Experimental section – ~15 mins, ~15–17 questions

Middle & Upper Level

Duration: ~3 hours 5 minutes

Sections:

• Writing Sample – 25 mins (unscored)
• Verbal – 30 mins (30 synonyms + 30 analogies = 60 questions)
• Two Quantitative sections – 2 x 30 mins (25 questions each; 50 total)
• Reading Comprehension – 40 mins (40 questions from passages)
• Experimental section – ~15 mins, unscored, includes mixed question types

Scoring Mechanics

• Middle & Upper Levels: Formula scoring — +1 for correct, –¼ for incorrect, 0 for blank to discourage guessing
• Elementary Level: No penalty — +1 for correct, 0 for incorrect or blank

Scaled Score Ranges (by section)

• Upper Level: 500–800 per section; total score range: 1500–2400 (median ~1950)
• Middle Level: 440–710 per section; total: 1320–2130
• Elementary Level: 300–600 per section; total: 900–1800 (midpoint ~1350)

Scores are accompanied by percentiles, comparing the student to similar-grade peers in the U.S. and Canada over the prior three years

Acceptable SSAT scores for test takers vary from school to school, as some schools require higher scores than others. Most independent schools are interested in scores above the 50th percentile, however, the expected score for admission to more competitive programs is generally higher (above the 75th percentile). Schools generally take into consideration several things in addition to SSAT scores when considering a student for admission, such as recommendations, grades, extracurricular activities, etc.

Effective Prep Strategies

• Use official resources first: The Official SSAT Online Practice includes four full-length tests, section tests, and quizzes, all created by the test-maker
  
  
• Understand differences between providers: Test Innovators is an EMA-licensed partner, offering access to three official SSAT practice tests with the Valedictorian package. Lower-cost options may not include official questions
  
  

Prep tips:

• Start with a diagnostic mini-test to identify strengths and weaknesses
  
  
• Study small but consistently—short, focused sessions are effective
  
  
• Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions to build stamina and familiarity
  
  
• Learn guessing strategy—the SSAT penalizes incorrect answers (¼ point deduction), so if you can eliminate at least one answer choice, a guess may be worthwhile
  
  
• Manage tricky questions smartly—skip and return if needed instead of getting stuck
  
  

Writing sample prep

Use the first 5 minutes to outline (structure: beginning, middle, end for stories; intro, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion for expository).

Spend 15 minutes writing, leaving 5 minutes to proofread. If you’re proficient in grammar/spelling, you can write more and save time on editing

Although both the SSAT and the ISEE are used to screen students to independent and private schools, they differ in several ways. The following chart presents the major differences: 

As you can see above, there are differences in the structure of the tests, duration, and number of questions. In addition, there are differences in the question types: the Verbal section on the SSAT is divided into two subsections – synonyms, and analogies, whereas the ISEE Verbal section is divided into synonyms and sentence completion questions.  

There is a certain overlap between the quantitative and math sections of the ISEE and the SSAT math sections, but the ISEE math sections are considered more difficult. In contrast, the verbal and reading sections of the SSAT are considered more challenging than those on the ISEE. Therefore, if your child has a choice between these two tests (some schools give the option to choose), he or she should take these factors into consideration and prefer the test they feel more comfortable with. 

As part of both tests, there is a writing portion where your child has to write an essay in response to a prompt. on the ISEE, the students are only given the option to write an expository essay, while on the SSAT they are allowed to compose either an expository essay or a creative essay. 

Additionally, the SSAT has an experimental section that is not scored but adds more questions compared to the ISEE. 

To learn more about the ISEE and how it differs from the SSAT, click here.   

The SSAT Test is used for admissions purposes at independent schools all over the world. It provides a standard assessment so that admissions departments are able to objectively compare applicants of various educational backgrounds. 

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