What (exactly) is the SSAT®?
The Breakdown
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) has four sections (170 questions total) and one unscored essay prompt. It'll take approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete the test with a couple of short breaks built in.
The exam is administered on three levels:
Current Grade | Appropriate Test Level |
|---|---|
Grades 3-4 | SSAT Elementary Level Test |
Grades 5-7 | SSAT Middle Level Test |
Grades 8-11 | SSAT Upper Level Test |
Section | Number of Questions | Question Types | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Writing Sample | 1 (unscored) prompt | Topic statement which you will be asked to respond to (support or argue), using specific examples from personal experience, current events, history or literature | 25 minutes |
Break | 5 minutes | ||
Quantitative (Math) | 25 multiple choice | Number Concepts and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data Analysis, Probability | 30 minutes |
Reading | 40 multiple choice (7 passages) | Main Ideas, Details, Inferences, Word Meanings, Author’s Purpose and Tone, Opinions and Arguments, Predictions | 40 minutes |
Break | 10 minutes | ||
Verbal | 60 multiple choice (30 synonyms and 30 analogies) | Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, Ability to Relate Ideas Logically | 30 minutes |
Quantitative (Math) | 25 multiple-choice | Number Concepts and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data Analysis, Probability | 30 minutes |
Experimental | 16 multiple choice | Verbal, Reading, and Quantitative-style questions | 15 minutes |
Total | 167 questions | 3 hours, 5 minutes |
Testing normally begins at 9:00 am, and ends between 12:30–1:00 pm. Make sure you arrive about 30 minutes early.
Registration Details
The SSAT middle/upper level test fee is $127 ($45 late fee, $35 change fee). The international fee is $247 (outside the US, Canada, Am. Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and USVI). You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you are unable to pay it, though waivers are limited. Contact your admission office if you have more questions about test fees or waivers.
What's a good SSAT score?
All questions on the SSAT are equal in value. Raw scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly minus one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly.
The SSAT score report will include multiple sets of scores and percentiles:
Scaled Scores
Scaled score for each section (Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, and Total)
Grades 5-7 (Middle Level): 440-710 (V/Q/R), 1320-2130 (Total)
Grades 8-11 (Upper Level): 500-800 (V/Q/R), 1500-2400 (Total)
SSAT Percentile Ranks for each category (1-99%)
The SSAT percentile ranks compare your scores to similar students who have taken the SSAT in the past three years. Heads up, the essay section is not graded, but a copy of the essay will be sent to a school or consultant.
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