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Test Preparation Services (TPS)
TPS is a leading tutor school in English test preparation for IELTS, SAT, SSAT, ACT, CELPIP, TestCAN and TOEFL
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TPS - Understanding the SSAT Exam
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If you are the parent, please take some time to learn about the test and teach your daughter or son about the SSAT before you meet with a teacher. This way you are not wasting valuable time (and money) on a tutor teaching the structure of the test and your child can concentrate on the skills and strategies for doing well.
It is important that your child goes through a practice exam to see what his or her particular strengths and weaknesses are before approaching a tutor. For example, SSAT is a vocabulary rich test and there are sections on it that many students find tougher than other sections. On this page, the goal is to help you get to know as much as you can about SSAT and help you to find a tutor, study help and practice. I will provide a start but also links to give you as much knowledge as possible about SSAT. There is certainly much more detail on the official SSAT website, but I will try to make it a bit simpler since people often find it difficult to read through everything on the official sites. To register for the test go through the official site under registration , not with the school that implements it. |
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What Is SSAT?
For many private schools, SSAT is the test a child must take to enter many of the more prestigious independent or private school. SSAT is a standardized test developed as a measure of a child’s proficiency in English. The reason it is used in private and independent schools and not in public schools is because ESL teaching is mandatory at all levels in public schools, but not in private schools. Private/independent schools can handle ESL at the higher levels but are often unwilling to take them in at lower levels. For this reason, private or independent schools must have a measure to see whether a student can cope.
What are the SSAT Parts?
On the official website, it explains the levels and parts in more detail than I can hope to do, but I will try to simplify it for the busy-minded.
SSAT is an all multiple choice test except for the writing. There are three levels.
Elementary Level SSAT – Students who are in grades 3-4
Middle Level SSAT – Students who are in in grades 5-7
Upper Level SSAT – Students who are in grades 8-12
There are 5 major components of SSAT (Verbal has 2 parts)
1. Verbal
Synonyms (multiple choice options as synonyms of a featured word)
Analogies (choices that fit the analogy specified eg A is to B as C is to ___?)
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Math (Quantatative)
4. Writing
- Picture prompt for Elementary Level
- Choice between 2 Creative story starters for Middle Level,
- Choice between essay and creative writing for Upper Level
SSAT is an all multiple choice test except for the writing. There are three levels.
Elementary Level SSAT – Students who are in grades 3-4
Middle Level SSAT – Students who are in in grades 5-7
Upper Level SSAT – Students who are in grades 8-12
There are 5 major components of SSAT (Verbal has 2 parts)
1. Verbal
Synonyms (multiple choice options as synonyms of a featured word)
Analogies (choices that fit the analogy specified eg A is to B as C is to ___?)
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Math (Quantatative)
4. Writing
- Picture prompt for Elementary Level
- Choice between 2 Creative story starters for Middle Level,
- Choice between essay and creative writing for Upper Level
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The Elementary Level SSAT See Official SSAT website for more details Section 1 (Math) 30 min (30 questions) Section 2 (Verbal) 20 min (30 questions) Break 15 min Section 3 (Reading) 30 min (28 questions) Writing Sample 15 min (1 prompt) Total 110 min |
Mid and Upper Level SSAT See Official Website for Middle level and Upper level Writing Sample 25 min (1 prompt) Break 5 min Section 1 (Math) 30 min (25 questions) Section 2 (Reading) 40 min (40 questions) Break 10 min Section 3 (Verbal) 30 min (60 questions) Section 4 (Math) 30 min (25 questions) Section 5 (experimental) 15 min (16 questions) Total 185 min |
How is SSAT Scored?
Interestingly, there are a number of parts that are unscored on the SSAT. For example the writing section and experimental sections are unscored. However, it is noteworthy that there is no standard pass mark and that schools have their own policies. Check with the school to find out what the standard is. Some may look at the writing in the essay as being a big factor in the final decision, even though it is unscored. Therefore, do not leave it out of a tutorial program just because it is unscored in SSAT.
There is a penalty for guessing wrongly on a test as opposed to just leaving the answer blank. It represents 1/4 of a mark so one has to take into consideration your chances of a right answer as a part of your strategic approach.
There is a penalty for guessing wrongly on a test as opposed to just leaving the answer blank. It represents 1/4 of a mark so one has to take into consideration your chances of a right answer as a part of your strategic approach.
Is this the test for me?
There are two types and upper and elementary test which is determined by age. It is important to note that the SSAT test is primarily a math, reading and vocabulary test and even if your child is quite adept at talking in English he or she may be lacking the vocabulary level to even begin this test, so bear in mind the actual level by perhaps having him or her do some of the many practice tests online such as those on testpreview.com the website or those on the ssatprep.com website
It may be better to have your child continue to study ESL before taking on the challenge of an SSAT test. The most difficult areas are in the Synonym Section of the Verbal Test and without a reading and high frequency word foundation, studying the SSAT is like setting up a child or failure.
It may be better to have your child continue to study ESL before taking on the challenge of an SSAT test. The most difficult areas are in the Synonym Section of the Verbal Test and without a reading and high frequency word foundation, studying the SSAT is like setting up a child or failure.
Find an SSAT Course
Look through the SSAT course in the SSAT Tutor Courses Page. This provides an overview of what is involved, but of course all tutorial programs are highly tailor-made so feel free to express your specific requirements and issues to the tutor. Whether or not you wish to include writing or not is up to you. Be aware that different private schools have different standards for the SSAT test and so you should talk to the administrators at your target school before approaching tutor so that he or she knows your targeted score. As I mentioned earlier, it is also a good idea for your child to do a few practice tests to see what are the strengths and weaknesses.
SSAT Online Tutoring
If you would rather study it in the comfort of your home, with a tailor-made set of classes, please check with us for open times. You can choose a date and time to study conveniently.
If you are not familiar with what a course might demand from you, look through the SSAT courses and registration page if you are sure it fits your needs.
Lessons are 1-2 hours (minimum) at $50/hr or $100/lesson. After the first class, 4 subsequent classes must be paid in advance.
With online marking, although we encourage as much writing as possible, we do cap submitted compositions at 5 writing per lesson
You may add students for no charge in the lesson but writings by other students will not be marked unless you submit them as your own.
If you are not familiar with what a course might demand from you, look through the SSAT courses and registration page if you are sure it fits your needs.
Lessons are 1-2 hours (minimum) at $50/hr or $100/lesson. After the first class, 4 subsequent classes must be paid in advance.
With online marking, although we encourage as much writing as possible, we do cap submitted compositions at 5 writing per lesson
You may add students for no charge in the lesson but writings by other students will not be marked unless you submit them as your own.
Find an SSAT Tutor
We have tutors in Ottawa, Make sure that you also look at the times available page, the student and tutor obligations page as well as the pricing and policy page. When you do, think about a convenient time to meet with the tutor for a free needs analysis and if necessary an assessment. Tutors that go to your home are priced at $60/hr.
SSAT TIPS and Practice
There are many ways to self-study SSAT at no cost. We provide our own tips as well as useful links to in our SSAT Tips page. There you will find a wealth of resources and free exams from the more reputable sources. For free practice we provide a page on the synonyms and analogies, reading and writing sections. You can also submit your SSAT essays for a free analysis and score.