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.