Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)

If you’re applying to a private secondary school, you might be expected to complete the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), which measures a student’s capabilities and potential to succeed. Schools use these test results, in addition to recommendations, grades, and other criteria, to determine whether a student offers the right fit for them. The test is available for students currently in Grades 5-11. Students in Grades 5-7 take the lower level exam, while students in Grades 8-11 take the upper level one.

The SSAT is a multiple-choice exam consisting of verbal, qualitative, and reading comprehension sections. The qualitative section tests a student’s ability to solve math problems using arithmetic and elementary algebra and geometry skills. The reading comprehension section tests a student’s ability to understand what he or she reads. Students are also required to provide a writing sample based on a given topic. This sample is not graded, but a copy is sent to the school or consultant along with the student’s scores.

Students who take the SSAT in Grades 5-7 are graded on a scale from 400-710 for each of the three individual sections and receive from 1320-2130 as a total score. Students in Grades 8-11 are graded on a scale from 500-800 for each section and from 1500-2400 as a total score. Students in Grades 7-10 are also given a predicted 12th grade SAT score. Scores are released to requested schools about two weeks after testing. A few days after this, students receive their scores via mail, FedEx, or e-mail.

There are three ways to take the SSAT. “National Tests” are administered at various locations eight Saturdays per year, and you can take this version up to eight times per year. The “Flex Test” is administered in a group or individually on days other than the national test dates. This type of test is administered to students testing with an educational consultant, and you may only register if you have made an appointment with a consultant or school for the specific date of administration. The “Regional Flex Test” is also offered in some regions on dates other than the national test dates. You may only test using the regional flex administration or the flex administration once per year.

The national test administrations usually start at 9:00 am, and students are released between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm. Verify the testing time on your admission ticket and plan to arrive at least half an hour early. Two breaks are provided during the test, at which time students may consume their own snacks and beverages.

Before registering, contact the admissions office of the school to which you are applying to verify whether they are an SSAT member and whether they require SSAT scores for admission. You can register at any time online at www.ssat.org, or by mail or fax. After registering, you will receive an admission ticket. The fee to take the test is $116. Fee waivers may be available from individual schools. Contact the school to receive the waiver before you register for the test.