Secondary School Admission Test
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a standardized test used by private and independent schools to evaluate the academic skills of applicants for admission to Elementary School through High School grades 3 through 11. The Enrollment Management Association (EMA) administers the SSAT test. The SSAT consists of four multiple-choice sections (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and an unscored essay. There is also an experimental section that is neither scored nor sent to schools. The test has different levels for different age groups and plays a pivotal role in the admissions process.
EMA
Consists of vocabulary and analogy questions.
These sections consist of math computations.
Evaluates the ability to understand passages and answer questions pertaining to main ideas, vocabulary, supporting details, inference, author’s purpose and tone. If a student is doing SAT or ACT preparation, it assists in preparing for this test.
Mixed questions from all sections (verbal, reading, and math). This section does not count toward the reported score.
A writing sample is sent to schools but is not scored. Students write a short response to a prompt. The schools utilize it to evaluate writing skills.
The SSAT has different levels for different age groups, ensuring the test is appropriate for each student’s grade level.
Grades 3-4
For students entering grades
Grades 5-7
For students entering grades
Grades 8-11
For students entering grades
The test level is determined by the grade the student is applying to enter, not their current grade. Each level is tailored to assess skills appropriate for that grade range.
Understanding the SSAT test format and policies helps students prepare effectively and
perform their best.
Flexible Testing
The in-person tests are offered from (October-March). Students can take advantage of flex testing which increases the availability of the paper SSAT beyond the Standard testing dates.
Grade-Appropriate
Each section is timed. Timing varies by test level.
Mental Math Focus
No calculators, or other electronic devices are allowed during the test.
Fair Assessment
The four sections of the test are scored. The essay is not scored. The test consists of a scaled score and a percentile rank.
Multiple Opportunities
Students can take the SSAT in a paper-based format or an online test format.
Detailed Results
Provides a standardized way for schools to compare applicants from diverse backgrounds and predict their academic success.
