The SSAT is used for admission to many independent elementary, middle and high schools.
Test results are often reviewed by school admissions at the end of the year proceeding school enrollment. Students are tested on performance of verbal skills, math, reading comprehension and essay writing. The SSAT format for all students is the same, but the content is divided into three grade-specific iterations: elementary level, middle level, and upper level. The SSAT is normally administered in October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and June.
We recommend students take an initial practice test, as it assesses achievement and helps formulate an appropriate timeline for preparation. Typically, we recommend students begin SSAT preparation at least six months before their scheduled test date.
Elementary Level
| Section | Questions | Time Allotted | Types of Questions Note: All Sections except the Writing Example are Multiple Choice. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 30 questions | 30 minutes | Number sense Properties and operations Algebra and functions Geometry and spatial sense Measurement Probability |
| Verbal | 30 questions | 20 minutes | Vocabulary Analogies Understanding of language, word relationships, and nuance |
| Reading | 28 questions | 30 minutes | Reading comprehension |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 15 minutes | Written Essay |
| Experimental Section | 15-17 questions | 15 minutes | Mixed content Does not count towards reported scores |
| 104-106 questions | 2 hours, 5 minutes |
Middle Level / Upper Level
| Section | Questions | Time Allotted | Types of Questions Note: All Sections except the Writing Example are Multiple Choice. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 prompt | 25 minutes | Written Essay |
| Math I | 25 questions | 30 minutes | Arithmetic Elementary Algebra Geometry |
| Reading | 40 questions | 40 minutes | Reading Passages Reading Speed Reading Comprehension |
| Verbal | 60 questions | 30 minutes | Synonyms Analogies |
| Math I | 25 questions | 30 minutes | Arithmetic Elementary Algebra Geometry |
| Experimental Section | 16 questions | 15 minutes | Mixed content Does not count towards reported scores |
| 167 questions | 3 hours, 10 minutes |