SSAT Basics
Transcription
SSAT Basics
myivylink.com | 1.888.844.4439 | [email protected] UNDERSTANDING THE SSAT SSAT stands for Secondary School Admission Test. It is a multiple-choice aptitude test for students in grades 3-11 seeking admission to private school. The SSAT is administered on three levels: Elementary (for students currently in grades 3-4 seeking admissions to grades 4-5); Middle (for students currently in grades 5-7 seeking admissions to grades 6-8); and Upper (for students currently in grades 8-11 seeking admissions to grades 9-12). The test consists of the following sections: Quantitative (math) Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Writing. While in the past the SSAT measured the speed at which students answered the questions, the test time has been extended by 30% so that most students should be able to finish each section comfortably. Elementary Level Test Section Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Reading Comprehension Essay Total Time No. of Questions 30 30 28 1 Time (Min) 30 20 301 15 1 hour, 50 minutes No. of Questions 1 25 40 60 25 16 Time (Min) 25 30 40 30 30 15 3 hours, 5 minutes2 Middle & Upper Level Test Section Essay Quantitative Reasoning Reading Comprehension Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Experimental Total Time Quantitative Reasoning For the Middle and Upper level exams, the quantitative reasoning portion is divided into two 30-minute sections with questions that test the student’s ability to solve problems involving number properties, arithmetic, interpretation of graphs, elementary algebra and There is a 15-minute break between the Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Sections. There is a 5-minute break between the Essay and first Quantitative Reasoning Section, and a 10-minute break between the Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning Sections. 1 2 All contents copyright © 2008-2013 Ivy Link LLC. All rights reserved. 1 myivylink.com | 1.888.844.4439 | [email protected] elementary geometry. For all levels, the questions will be structured in mathematical symbols, as well as word problems. Verbal Reasoning The Verbal Reasoning section is divided into two sub-sections with one part synonym questions and one part analogy questions. These questions are designed to test the student’s vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and ability to relate ideas logically. Reading Comprehension The Reading Comprehension section is comprised of approximately several short reading passages. Each passage is then followed by approximately 4 to 6 questions relating to the passage. The Reading Comprehension section tests the student’s ability to understand what he or she has read, as well as his or her ability to draw conclusions, make inferences, and understand the purpose or main idea of the passage. Writing Sample The test includes a Writing section, which asks the student to respond to a topic statement. The Elementary Level test provides the student with a picture prompt to which the student must respond with a descriptive essay telling a story about the picture. Students taking the Middle Level test will choose from one of two creative writing prompts, while students taking the Upper Level test will be asked to respond to either a creative writing prompt or an essay-style prompt. The essay is not graded, but a copy accompanies each SSAT score report sent to a school. Experimental Questions The Middle and Upper Level tests also include an Experimental section of 16 questions that may appear on future versions of the test. This section is not scored. Scoring Students score one point for each correct answer and lose ¼ of a point for each incorrect answer (omitted questions receive 0 points). A raw score for each section (quantitative, verbal, reading comprehension) is calculated. That score is than equated to a scaled score. For students taking the Elementary Level tests, the scale for each section ranges from 300600 (for a total score of 900-1800). For students taking the Middle Level test, the scale for each section ranges from 440-710 (for a total score of 1320-2130). For students taking the Upper Level test, the scale ranges from 500-800 (for a total of 1500-2400). In addition to a scaled score, students will receive a percentile rank for each section of the test. For students taking the Middle or Upper Level test, the percentile rank compares the students’ scores to those of other students who have taken the SSAT in the past three years. For students taking the Elementary Level tests, the percentile rank is calculated based on All contents copyright © 2008-2013 Ivy Link LLC. All rights reserved. 2 myivylink.com | 1.888.844.4439 | [email protected] the norm group of all students in the same grade taking the test for the first time on a Standard Saturday or Sunday in the US or Canada. For students in grades 5-9, the SSAT score report provides an estimated national percentile rank, which compares a student’s performance to the national student population, not only to the students who have taken the SSAT. Students in grades 7-10 also receive a predicted 12th grade SAT score. Test Types/Timing National Test The SSAT “National Test” is offered at testing centers nationwide in October, November, December, January, February, March, April and June. A student may take the Middle or Upper Level test as often as desired. A student taking the Elementary Level 4th grade test may do so twice during the testing year; a student taking the Elementary Level 3rd grade test may do so once during the testing year. Flex Test A flex test is a group or individual administration on any date other than the national test dates. If a student is testing with an educational consultant, he or she will take the flex test. Although Flex Tests occur year round, a student may only take one Flex Test per year. SSAT "Regional Flex Test" Several regional consortia offer test administrations on dates other than the national test dates. Although they are called Regional Tests, these are flex test administrations. Therefore, a student may test at one regional flex administration OR one flex administration per year. *** Note: This article discusses information current as of Summer of 2014, and the information presented herein should not be relied upon without consulting directly with the school admissions offices. For additional information, please contact Ivy Link experts at [email protected] or 1.888.844.4439 All contents copyright © 2008-2013 Ivy Link LLC. All rights reserved. 3