SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test)

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What Are the SSAT Testing Options?

SSAT testing options vary according to test level and location. Families should always confirm current availability when registering because not every testing format is available in every location.

Paper-Based Standard SSAT

Standard SSAT administrations are scheduled paper-based tests offered on designated dates during the testing season.

Middle and Upper Level students have multiple Standard test dates during the testing season.

Flex SSAT

A Flex test is a paper-based SSAT administered on a date other than a Standard test date. Participating EMA member schools or approved educational consultants administer Flex tests.

Prometric SSAT

Middle and Upper Level students may have the option to take a computer-based SSAT at a Prometric Test Center.

Availability varies by location.

SSAT at Home

Middle and Upper Level students may also have the option to take the computer-based SSAT at home.

SSAT at Home is available to eligible students physically located in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories at the time of testing.

How Many Times Can a Student Take the SSAT?

Testing limits can change from one testing season to another, so families should verify the current rules before registering.

Elementary Level students may take up to three tests:

• Two Standard tests
• One Flex test

Middle and Upper Level students may take:

• Up to six Standard paper-based tests
• One Flex test
• Up to two Prometric computer-based tests
• One SSAT at Home test

Actual availability may be more limited depending on the student’s location and test dates.

What Is the Format and Timing of the SSAT?

The SSAT format varies by level. Students should become familiar with the content and timing of the level they will take.

Elementary Level

The Elementary Level SSAT is designed specifically for younger students in Grades 3 and 4. It includes sections assessing quantitative, verbal, and reading skills, along with an unscored writing sample and experimental questions.

Students encounter skills such as:

• Quantitative: Number concepts, arithmetic, basic geometry, measurement, and mathematical reasoning
• Verbal: Vocabulary, synonyms, and analogical reasoning
• Reading: Understanding and interpreting grade-appropriate passages
• Writing: Responding to a visual/picture prompt

Because the Elementary Level differs from the Middle and Upper Level tests, students should practice specifically for the Elementary SSAT rather than using materials designed for older test-takers.

Middle Level

The Middle Level SSAT is for students currently in Grades 5–7.

The test includes:

• Writing Sample: 25 minutes
• Quantitative Section 1: 25 questions, 30 minutes
• Reading: 40 questions, 40 minutes
• Verbal: 60 questions, 30 minutes
• Quantitative Section 2: 25 questions, 30 minutes
• Experimental Section: 16 questions, 15 minutes

The Middle Level assesses:

Quantitative: Arithmetic, number concepts, elementary algebra, geometry, and mathematical problem solving

Reading: Comprehension, main idea, details, inference, vocabulary in context, author’s purpose, and interpretation of literary and informational passages

Verbal: Synonyms and analogies that measure vocabulary and verbal reasoning

Writing: A writing sample that allows students to demonstrate organization, expression, and written communication. The writing sample is not included in the student’s scaled SSAT score but may be sent to schools.

Upper Level

The Upper Level SSAT is for students currently in Grades 8–11.

Its overall structure is similar to the Middle Level:

• Writing Sample: 25 minutes
• Quantitative Section 1: 25 questions, 30 minutes
• Reading: 40 questions, 40 minutes
• Verbal: 60 questions, 30 minutes
• Quantitative Section 2: 25 questions, 30 minutes
• Experimental Section: 16 questions, 15 minutes

The Upper Level uses more advanced material appropriate for older students.

Quantitative questions may involve arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation, and mathematical reasoning.

Reading questions measure students’ ability to understand, analyze, and interpret increasingly sophisticated literary and informational passages.

Verbal questions use synonyms and analogies to assess vocabulary and verbal reasoning.

The writing sample provides schools with an additional look at the student’s ability to communicate ideas in writing but is not included in the student’s scored sections.

What Skills Does the SSAT Measure?

The SSAT is not simply a test of what a student has memorized in school. It measures academic and reasoning skills that independent schools consider important for success in a rigorous academic environment.

Quantitative

Students need to understand mathematical concepts and apply them to unfamiliar problems. Depending on the test level, questions may involve arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data.

Reading

Students read passages and answer questions requiring them to identify important information, understand vocabulary in context, make inferences, determine an author’s purpose, and analyze ideas.

Verbal

The Verbal section assesses vocabulary and the ability to recognize relationships among words and ideas. Synonyms and analogies are particularly important question types on the SSAT.

Writing

The writing sample is unscored, but students should not ignore it. Schools receiving the sample may use it to learn more about how an applicant organizes and communicates ideas in writing.

TestingMom SSAT Resources

TestingMom.com provides resources to help students strengthen the skills assessed on the SSAT and become more comfortable with the test format.

Depending on your membership and the resources currently available, students may have access to:

• Over 3,000 SSAT practice questions
• Quantitative reasoning practice
• Verbal reasoning, vocabulary, synonym, and analogy practice
• Reading comprehension practice
• Writing guidance and practice
• Test-taking strategies
• Skill-building resources
• Educational games and activities
• One-to-one tutoring options

Regular practice helps students identify skills that need extra work and feel more comfortable with the types of questions they will encounter on test day.

SSAT Test-Taking Tips

Effective SSAT preparation should focus on building skills and practicing retrieval and application—not simply memorizing answers.

Here are some practical strategies:

• Start preparing early. Short, consistent practice sessions are generally more manageable than trying to cover everything immediately before the test.
• Use practice questions. Familiarity with SSAT-style questions can help students understand what is being asked and identify skills that need additional work.
• Learn the test format. Students should know what sections they will encounter, how questions are presented, and how much time they will have.
• Build vocabulary over time. Reading regularly and learning new words in context can strengthen both verbal and reading performance.
• Practice reading actively. Ask questions about main idea, details, inference, tone, vocabulary, and author’s purpose.
• Strengthen math fundamentals. Students should be comfortable with the concepts appropriate for their SSAT level before moving on to more challenging timed practice.
• Practice eliminating incorrect choices. When unsure, students can often improve their decision-making by identifying choices that clearly cannot be correct.
• Watch for distractors. Some answer choices may appear reasonable at first but do not fully answer the question.
• Read the entire question. Pay attention to words such as except, not, most likely, and best that can change what the question is asking.
• Practice pacing. Students should learn when to continue working on a problem and when to move on so that one difficult question does not consume too much testing time.
• Use full-length practice tests strategically. Timed practice can help students build stamina and learn how to manage the pace of each section.
• Prepare for test-day nerves. Familiarity with the test, adequate sleep, a normal breakfast, and simple calming strategies can help students approach the assessment with greater confidence.

Before Registering for the SSAT

Testing formats, dates, locations, fees, and limits on how many times a student may test can change from year to year. Families should check the official SSAT website for the most current registration information and confirm each school’s requirements for their child.

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