Secondary School Admission Test
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is an admission test administered by The Enrollment Management Association in the United States to students in grades 3–11 to provide a standardized measure that will help professionals in independent or private elementary, middle, and high schools to make decisions regarding student test taking
There are three levels of the test: the Elementary Level (EL), for students in grades 3 and 4 who are applying to grades 4 and 5; the Middle Level, for students in grades 5–7 applying for grades 6–8; and the Upper Level, designed for students in grades 8–11 who are applying for grades 9–12 (or PG (Post-Graduate year before college)). The SSAT consists of a brief unscored writing sample and multiple choice sections that include quantitative (mathematics), reading comprehension, and verbal questions and a experimental section at the end which is unscored.[1] The test, written in English, is administered around the world at hundreds of test centers, many of which are independent schools. Students may take the exam on any or all of the eight Standard test dates; the SSAT "Flex" test, given on a flexible date by approved schools and consultants, can be taken only once per testing year (August 1 – July 31).
Although each year several different SSAT forms are utilized, the SSAT is administered and scored in a consistent (or standard) manner. The reported scores or scaled scores are comparable and can be used interchangeably, regardless of which test form students take. This score interchangeability is achieved through a statistical procedure referred to as score equating. Score equating is used to adjust for minor form difficulty differences, so that the resulting scores can be compared directly.
The SSAT measures three constructs: verbal, quantitative, and reading skills that students develop over time, both in and out of school. It emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for academic success. The overall difficulty level of the SSAT is built to be at 50–60%. The distribution of question difficulties is set so that the test will effectively differentiate among test takers who vary in their level of abilities. In developing the SSAT, review committees are convened which are composed of content and standardized test experts and select independent school teachers.
Test sections
Quantitative
Middle and Upper Level: In the Middle and Upper Level SSATs, there are two 30-minute math sections with 25 questions each. These sections are called the quantitative sections. The quantitative questions measure the test taker’s knowledge of basic quantitative concepts, algebra, and geometry. The words used in SSAT problems refer to basic mathematical operations. Many of the questions that appear in the quantitative sections of the Middle Level SSAT are structured in mathematical terms that directly state the operation needed to determine the best answer choice. The challenge is to figure out what the questions is asking. Some of the wording can be misleading. Other questions are structured as word problems. A word problem often does not specifically state the mathematical operation(s) to perform in order to determine the optimal answer. Often it becomes down to two very similar solutions. Sometimes one must re-read the problem to distinguish between the correct answer; this is time consuming.
Elementary Level: The quantitative section of the EL SSAT consists of thirty quantitative items. These items are a mixture of concepts that are considered to be the basis of the third and fourth grade mathematics curricula and a few that will challenge the third- or fourth-grade student. These include questions on number sense, properties, and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and spatial sense; measurement; and probability.
Preparing for the SSAT's: This requires practice. Because this is a timed test, it may help one's performance to work with practice tests.
Reading Comprehension
In the Middle and Upper Level SSATs, the 40-minute reading comprehension section has 40 questions based on reading passages. These questions measure the test taker’s ability to understand what is read in the section. In general, the SSAT uses two types of writing: narrative, which includes excerpts from novels, poems, short stories, or essays; and argument, which presents a definite point of view about a subject. By presenting passages and questions about the passages, the reading comprehension section measures a test taker's ability to understand what he or she read. Following each passage are questions about its content or about the author’s style, intent, or point of view. The passages are chosen from a variety of categories, including, but not limited to: humanities: art, biography, poetry, etc.; social studies: history, economics, sociology, etc.; science: medicine, astronomy, zoology, etc.
In the Elementary Level SSAT the reading section consists of seven short, grade-level–appropriate passages, each with four multiple-choice questions. These passages may include prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction, from diverse cultures. Students are asked to locate information and find meaning by skimming and close reading. They are also asked to demonstrate literal, inferential, and evaluative comprehension of a variety of printed materials. Questions ask the reader to show understanding of key ideas and details to determine the main idea of the text. Additionally, they ask the reader to determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from non-literal language.
The reading comprehension section of the SSAT of any kind, is the way for a school that requires a SSAT score, to place the student in classes that consist of reading comprehension. Since not all schools require an SSAT score, and only few schools use the SSAT to judge the students academic skills, the reading comprehension test does not help unless it is an independent school judging a students academic skills by the SSAT.
Verbal
SSAT Verbal Reasoning is the first and fastest section in the test. Verbal reasoning is mainly understanding and reasoning using concepts expressed in words. It aims at assessing the ability to think constructively, rather than at simple fluency or vocabulary recognition. This section of the test is composed of two parts – synonyms and sentence completions. It takes 20 minutes to complete the 20 Synonym Questions and 20 Sentence Completion Questions. These questions test your familiarity with vocabulary and your ability to apply that knowledge. Outside of the test having Verbal Reasoning skills will allow oneself to develop qualities such as understanding, and solving complicated subject questions, logical reasoning as well as guaranteeing they have a vast vocabulary.
Synonym questions in the ISEE look like this:
CELEBRATE: (A) align (B) fathom (C) rejoice (D) salivate
Sentence completions in the ISEE look like this:
The farmers were wisely ------- to use the damaged farm equipment. (A) desperate (B) eager (C) happy (D) hesitant On the Middle and Upper Level SSATs, the verbal section is 30 minutes long and consists of 30 synonym and 30 analogy questions. It asks students to identify synonyms and to interpret analogies. The synonym questions test the strength of the students' vocabulary, while the analogy questions measure their ability to relate ideas to each other logically.
Analogies are a comparison between two things that are usually seen as different from each other but have some similarities. They act as an aid to understanding things by making connections and seeing relationships between them based on knowledge already possessed. Comparisons like these play an important role in improving problem-solving and decision-making skills, in perception and memory, in communication and reasoning skills, and in reading and building vocabulary. Analogies help students to process information actively, make important decisions, and improve understanding and long-term memory. Considering the relationships stimulates critical and creative thinking.
Elementary Level SSAT: The verbal section of the EL SSAT has two parts. The first is a vocabulary section and the second is an analogies section. These sections test understanding of language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings by relating them to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).
Writing Sample
In the writing sample section of the Middle and Upper Level SSATs, test takers are given 2 pages and a choice of two writing prompts: Middle Level test takers receive a choice of two creative prompts, and Upper Level test takers receive one essay and one creative prompt from which to choose. The writing sample section is 25 minutes long and is not scored. However, the writing sample is sent to admission officers at the school to which the test taker is applying, along with the scores of the other sections of the test. Schools simply look at writing proficiency so there is no need to waste time thinking about which one would look "best" to schools.
Elementary Level SSAT: The writing sample gives students an opportunity to express themselves through written response to a picture prompt. Students are asked to look at the picture and tell a story about what happened, each being sure their story includes a beginning, a middle, and an end. This writing sample is not graded, but a copy is provided to the school to which the student is applying.
Here are some general tips: test takers must make sure to write legibly because a school can not judge a test taker's writing if they can't read it. Save a few minutes in the end for fixing grammar and/or changing wording. Test takers should have the booklet filled enough so the schools have more than one paragraph to judge (don't compromise quality though).
For the upper level persuasive essay the goal is to build a clear and convincing argument. This means test takers should use solid facts and think logically to convince others of their opinion. Test takers should aim for five paragraphs (Introduction, three arguing why you are right, and a conclusion). Test takers should make sure their intro paragraph has a thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph. Test taker's paragraphs will probably follow the CEAL format (claim-evidence-reasoning-link/concLusion to next evidence or to wrap up your paragraph). Test takers should maintain a clear point of view in other words don't try to argue for both sides (test takers can still use a counterargument if they wish). When figuring out what to put as evidence test takers can look at past events, current event, or in their own life to find convincing evidence.
For writing a story test takers must make sure keep the tense and point of view the same and that the reader knows exactly where they are. A good way to do this is use details that makes the reader see where the story takes place. Make sure the reader clearly knows who the main character/s are and what is the conflict. Conflicts are character against nature, character against character, and character against self. A story can have more than one type of conflict. Test takers should make sure the story follows the structure that in the beginning there is a conflict and overtime gets worse until they solve the problem and things are better in the end (I guess test takers could kill their characters but that would be a good idea in very few circumstances).
To prepare test takers should do timed ssat sample prompts and get someone to read over it and give you feed back(older sibling or a parent. Keep doing this until you take the actual take the test and then have the most stressful two weeks of your life.
Test takers will not receive essay unless purchased separately.
Scoring
For the Upper and Middle Level SSATs, formula scoring is used, with students receiving 1 point for each question answered correctly, losing one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly, and zero points awarded or deducted for questions left unanswered. The Elementary Level SSAT does not use formula scoring, instead giving 1 point for each correct answer and 0 points for each incorrect/incomplete answer, so if taking the elementary test it is best to guess on questions with the chance of choosing the right answer. The SSAT is designed so that students should be able to reach all questions on the test.
Scaled Scores: SSAT scores are broken down by section (verbal, quantitative/math, reading). A total score (a sum of the three sections) is also reported. For the Middle Level SSAT sections, the lowest number on the scale (440) is the lowest possible score a student can earn and the highest number (710) the highest score. All scores combined the lowest score you could get was 1320 and the most at 2130 with a mid point at 1725. For the Upper Level SSAT sections, the lowest number on the scale (500) is the lowest possible score a student can earn and the highest number (800) is the highest score this leads to the lowest score someone could get being 1500 and the highest 2400 and the median at 1950. For the Elementary Level SSAT sections, the lowest number on the scale (300) is the lowest possible score a student can earn and the highest number (600) is the highest score and a combined lowest score of 900 and the highest being 1800 with a midpoit of 1350. The experimental section (15-17 for elementary and 16 questions for middle and upper levels) as stated before is not graded
SSAT Percentile: The SSAT Percentile (1 to 99) compares the student's performance on the SSAT with that of other students of the same grade and gender who have taken the SSAT in the U.S. and Canada on a Standard test date in the previous three years.
test takers may send their results to the independent schools they wish to apply to at any time (before they sit for the test, after they sit for the test, or after they have viewed their scores) and there is no charge for sending scores to schools through the online SSAT account. Students have score choice and may report only the scores they wish for a school to see. There is no designation on the score report if a student has tested multiple times or with testing accommodations. Scores are released approximately 2 weeks after receipt of test materials. If a test taker takes the test multiple times they may not take their best scores from different test or "super score". In other words if you get a quantitative score in the 68 percentile and 88 percentile in reading comprehension and the second time you take the test you're in the 74 percentile for quantitative and 82 percentile you have to choose one result for schools to see and not 74 percentile quantitative and 88 percentile reading comprehension. Some schools do "super score" but they will ask for the scores themselves.
Each school then evaluates the scores according to its own standards and requirements.
References
- "Anatomy of the SSAT". www.kaptest.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.