For almost 50 years, the SAT has played a pivotal role in the college admissions process. The upcoming transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to a digital, adaptive SAT marks one of the most significant changes since its inception in 1926. The Class of 2025 will be the first cohort of U.S. students to undergo both the PSAT and SAT in a digital, adaptive format.
Early acceptance rates at these institutions showed a significant advantage over regular decision rates, according to U.S. News data. Though crafting a standout college application can be a time-consuming and stressful process, submitting an application in the fall, well before the typical winter deadline for regular admissions, is possible.Read on to find out more.
Admission tests are a required step for entering many independent schools all around the world. Independent schools use the SSAT to determine whether students are qualified for admittance. Often, a great deal of pressure is put on students to do well on the SSAT. Read on to find out the steps that can be taken to ensure you're adequately prepared.
1) Get your bag together. It’s extremely important to include your admission ticket. If your ticket is missing or you never printed it, login to your SSAT account and print one immediately. The ticket is located under “My Tests.” Find the test date and click on “Print Ticket.” Remember additional items: three No. 2 pencils with erasers, snacks, water bottle, etc. Do not bring mechanical pencils. Do not bring anything like a running watch or any type of a watch/alarm that beeps.
2) Get a good night’s sleep the entire week before the test. Practice waking up early for a few days. Eat a healthy breakfast before you leave on test day. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes to the test center.
3) Don't bring a calculator or computer, or other electronic device unless you've been approved for testing accommodations that require them. Do not bring a cell phone.
4) A photo ID is NOT needed. The SSAT doesn’t require a photo ID of the student. This is why it is so important to remember your admission ticket.
5) Gather yourself during the scheduled breaks. It is common to discuss the questions amongst other students in the hallway, but that will only make you more anxious.
6) Watch the weather reports. If there is bad weather in the area the night before the test, the test center could close. You don't want to go out in an icy winter storm and the test center is closed when you show up.
7) Plan to arrive at the test location at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. Total testing time for the middle and upper level SSAT is 2 hours and 50 minutes, plus two added breaks. With the breaks included, the total time comes to 3 hours and 5 minutes. Most students are not familiar with taking a test for such a long period of time. Make sure that pickup is arranged for after the test. Test supervisors are not responsible for remaining at the center after the test ends.
8) No visitors, this includes parents, are allowed in the testing room. Also, all test materials will be picked up at the end of the test and cannot be taken from the testing room.
Please contact us should you have any questions about the SSAT.
• Guess if you can eliminate 2 answer choices on easy or medium questions. Guess on hard questions if you can eliminate 3 answer choices.
• "Attractor" answers are most common towards the middle and end of a section.
• The student receives 1 minute per question on the reading section.
• The student receives 30 seconds per question on the verbal section.
• The student receives 72 seconds per question on both math sections.
MATH
• Half of the math questions are arithmetic and about one-fifth Geometry based.
• If it doesn’t say “not drawn to scale” then estimate by looking at it.
• Use numbers that are easy to work with when plugging in for variables.
• If you think a question will take more than 72 seconds, circle it and come back to it later.
• Watch out for sudden measurement changes. For example, the chart lists yards and the answers are given in feet.
VERBAL
• Review the word and find the correct definition.
• The answers may also use a secondary definition.
• Examine the word for roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
• Does the word sound positive or negative.
• For analogies, build a sentence with the word to understand the relationship.
• Eliminate answer choices with no relation and that seem weak in their relationship.
READING
• Spend the first minute looking for “easy” passages to tackle.
• Reading is the only section that doesn’t progress from easy to difficult.
• Usually the very first sentence will be the main idea.
• Read at a strong pace, but do not re-read.
• Try not to worry about rushing through passages.
• Don’t move onto the next passage until you answer all the questions.
• If you’re running short on time, look for the questions that ask for a definition.
Contact us if you're interested in learning more about SSAT prep!
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