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Bonus Treat: 7 Tips to Prepare for the SSAT

We told you—no tricks here! Here are 7 tips you need to know to prepare for the SSAT. If you have kiddos in grades 6-12: the SSAT should be on your radar. I had the pleasure to meet with a representative from the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), the governing body who develops, implements, and reviews the administration of the SSAT for private school admissions. Read on to learn more about this required aspect of the admissions process—and learn how you can be prepared:

  1. The SSAT is very unlike tests your child is used to. Because of this, parents need to utilize a unique approach to understand the nuances of the test.

  2. The SSAT is correlated to produce first-year academic success in the first year of an independent school’s college-preparatory curriculum.

  3. The SSAT serves as a common measure for cognitive functioning (consistent measure for an administrated standardized test, rooted in fairness and consistency. Did you know that the SSAT is always designed and scored in the same location (Princeton, New Jersey) to ensure equity?

  4. The test consists of 2 Math sections, 2 Science sections, a Verbal Reasoning section, and Reading Comprehension section as well as an unscored Writing section. Though not scored officially by the EMA (they do compare your student’s writing results to those in the same grade level by region and nationally), the Writing section is still an important part of the admissions process!

  5. Be sure to request that the Writing section be sent to the school, if applicable.

  6. Scoring is different! Make sure you are prepared. For each correct question, your student receives 1 point. Incorrect questions result in a 0.25 point deduction and skipped questions have no penalty or advantage (0 points). This is unlike any other test your student has taken thus far.

  7. Check the deadline with your schools on your short list. Generally, the last SSAT private schools will accept will be the exam in late February. Be sure to confirm details with your specific school!