SSAT Test

Taking The SSAT Test

Many elite private schools use the SSAT test as an admissions test. The exam is especially common for students who hope to attend elite boarding schools. The SSAT is given at testing centers all over the U.S. and Canada eight times a year. Tests are given one Saturday a month from October through June. On several of these dates, but not all, the test is also given at locations around the world. Testing usually starts at 9:00 A.M. local time, and the test itself lasts about two and a half hours. However, because of the breaks that are allowed, it generally takes three to three and a half hours to take the SSAT test.

It currently costs $116 to take the SSAT in American, Canada, and the American territories, such as Guam. The fee for international locations is $225. For those students who cannot test on Saturdays because of religious beliefs, other arrangements can be made. One option is the SSAT flex test, which is actually the same exact exam, except anyone may take it at his or her convenience by scheduling with a local testing center and paying the appropriate fees, which will vary by testing center. Many students prefer this option, feeling that it is less stressful than taking the SSAT test on the same day as thousands of other students.

SSAT: Preparation Is Essential

SSAT preparation is not an option; it is a requirement. The SSAT is used by exclusive private and boarding schools to determine which applicants get one of the few slots that open up at their schools every year and which students will be turned down for admission. Yes, grade point averages, letters of recommendation and other factors play a role in the admissions process of these schools, but the applicant's SSAT score is considered to be the most important. Students who hope to win admittance to one of these top tier schools cannot take any chance of getting a low score. SSAT preparation is nothing less than essential.

Many people tend to underestimate the importance of the SSAT, thinking that if their children do well on it, great, and if not, well, it is not that big of a deal. These days nothing could be further from the truth. Every year, thousands more students apply for admittance to elite-and even second-tier colleges-than did the year before. It is getting harder and harder to secure a spot in one of the better colleges and universities, but attending an elite private or boarding school can make a huge difference on a college application. The effects of the SSAT do not stop at the college level, either. Students who graduate from better colleges have a much greater chance of being admitted to graduate and professional schools. While it may not seem so at the time, the effects of a student's score on the Secondary School Admissions Test can truly last a lifetime. That is why SSAT preparation is essential.

Secondary School Admission Test: Tips for High Score

Are you getting ready the Secondary School Admission Test? Elite boarding and private schools use the SSAT as part of their admissions process. Because the test is very good at predicting which students will do well in a rigorous academic environment, it is used by schools all over the country. The results of your score on this challenging exam can truly have lifelong consequences, affecting your chances of getting into selective colleges and universities, which will then impact your eligibility for admission to elite graduate schools. Here are some tips that will help you achieve a high score on the Secondary School Admission Test.

First, realize how difficult the test is. In addition to writing an essay on a given topic, you will also be tested on math, verbal ability, and reading comprehension. Although the essay portion is not graded, it is sent to your designated schools for evaluation. The reading comprehension, verbal ability, and math sections are multiple choice, but they are not easy. Assuming the test will be a breeze can lead to failure.

Second, prepare for the SSAT using study aids, even if you do not think you need them. Nearly every student who fails the SSAT expected to pass, so confidence is no indicator of success. There are some excellent study aids available, such as SSAT study guides and SSAT flash cards. Just a few hours a week spent using these tools can mean the difference between a low score and a high score on the SSAT.

Finally, be as relaxed as possible on the day of the SSAT. You should keep your calendar as free as possible in the week or so leading up to the test. You will be nervous enough without the added pressure of worrying about keeping up with a lot of different responsibilities. In fact, it might well be to your advantage to take the flex SSAT on your own schedule, instead of taking the Secondary School Admission Test on one of the national testing dates.

SSAT Practice Questions

Using SSAT practice questions can make a remarkable difference in the score you achieve on the Secondary School Admission Test, and you will want to have every advantage you can when you sit down to take this grueling exam. Besides writing an essay, you will be required to answer dozens of multiple-choice questions in math, reading comprehension, and verbal ability. Do well on the exam, and you might win admission to an elite private or boarding school and go on to attend a prestigious college or university. Get a low score and your future educational options are likely to be much more limited. That is why SSAT practice questions are so vital.

In fact, education and testing experts say that when it comes to such standardized tests as the SSAT, prepping for the test with study aids, especially practice questions and flash cards, is what usually separates the winners from the also-rans. Many students assume that because the SSAT is described as an aptitude test, there is really no point in preparing for it. Some individuals do not believe that there is even any effective means of doing so. That is a misconception; the SSAT may be called an aptitude test, but it is also going to test you on how much you know about math, vocabulary, grammar, etc. That is where practice questions come in. By taking the time to quiz yourself with a trial run of the kinds of things you will see on the test, you will know which areas you need to work on. You can find good study guides with SSAT practice questions, and you should definitely take advantage of them.