The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is an entrance assessment used by many private and elite middle schools and high schools. The test is one of the three most widely used admission tests for private schools. The assessment is administered by the Enrollment Management Association, formerly known as the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB). Many independent schools all over the world require the SSAT test for admission.
The SSAT Test is administered at three different levels (Elementary, Middle, and Upper), and assesses verbal, reading comprehension, mathematical, and writing skills. The SSAT Test provides valuable information about a candidate’s potential for success in the classroom.
TestPrep-Online currently offers SSAT practice packs for all testing levels. Find out more about how we can help your child prepare.
This section measures the student’s abilities in geometry, algebra, and data analysis. The problems are either presented using mathematical terms that indicate which operations to use, or as word problems, which require the students to figure out what operations to use on their own. Find out more about the SSAT Quantitative section.
The verbal section of the test is made up of subsections synonyms and analogies, and is used to assess verbal reasoning and understanding of language. Students must demonstrate an appropriate level of vocabulary, as well as an ability to logically connect ideas within texts. Find out more about the SSAT Verbal section.
In the reading section, students are given a variety of passages and follow-up questions. The questions either require students to extract information from the text, or to infer answers, based on the reasoning of the text. The texts are either literary or argumentative. Find out more about the SSAT Reading Comprehension section.
The final section of the SSAT is the writing one. This section is not graded. Rather, it is used by educators to evaluate a student’s writing abilities. It also allows them to get to know the student better, and can therefore be an excellent way for your child to stand out. Find out more about the SSAT Writing section.
Students in grades 3-4 take the Elementary Level SSAT, which consists of four sections:
SSAT Section | Question Type(s) | Total Amount of Questions and Time | |
---|---|---|---|
Elementary Level | |||
SSAT Quantitative | Word Problems | 30 questions | 30 Minutes |
SSAT Verbal | Synonyms + Analogies | 30 questions | 20 minutes |
Break | 15 minutes | ||
SSAT Reading Comprehension | Passages + Relevant Questions | 7 passages + 28 questions | 30 minutes |
SSAT Essay | Essay Prompt | 1 essay | 30 minutes |
Total | 89 questions | 110 minutes |
In the SSAT Lower Level there is a 15-minute break between the Verbal and the Reading section.
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Students in grades 5-7 take the Middle Level SSAT, which consists of six sections:
SSAT Section | Question Type(s) | Total Amount of Questions and Time | |
---|---|---|---|
Middle + Upper Level | |||
SSAT Essay | Essay Prompt | 1 prompt | 25 Minutes |
Break | 5 minutes | ||
SSAT Quantitative | Word Problems | 25 questions | 30 minutes |
SSAT Reading Comprehension | Passages + Relevant Questions | 40 questions | 40 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes | ||
SSAT Verbal | Synonyms + Analogies | 60 questions | 30 minutes |
SSAT Qunatitative | Word Problems | 25 questions | 30 minutes |
Experimental | Prompt | 16 questions | 15 minutes |
Total | 167 questions | 3 hours + 5 minutes |
In the SSAT Middle Level there is a five-minute break between the Writing Sample and the first Quantitative section, and a ten-minute break between the Reading and Verbal sections.
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Students in grades 8-11 take the Upper Level SSAT, which consists of six sections:
SSAT Section | Question Type(s) | Total Amount of Questions and Time | |
---|---|---|---|
Middle + Upper Level | |||
SSAT Essay | Essay Prompt | 1 prompt | 25 Minutes |
Break | 5 minutes | ||
SSAT Quantitative | Word Problems | 25 questions | 30 minutes |
SSAT Reading Comprehension | Passages + Relevant Questions | 40 questions | 40 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes | ||
SSAT Verbal | Word Problems | 60 questions | 30 minutes |
SSAT Qunatitative | Essay Prompt | 25 questions | 30 minutes |
Experimental | Prompt | 16 questions | 15 minutes |
Total | 167 questions | 3 hours + 5 minutes |
In the SSAT Upper Level there is a five-minute break between the Writing Sample and the first Quantitative section, and a ten-minute break between the Reading and Verbal sections.
Help your child succeed on the SSAT test! Make sure to set aside time to prepare with TestPrep-Online. We currently offer user-friendly SSAT practice tests and material for every level. The SSAT practice packs include realistic practice tests and helpful study guides, allowing your child to become familiar with the test structure. Your child can start preparing for the SSAT test with TestPrep-Online today!
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