TPS - SSAT Tips
SSAT is not featured as prominently as some of the other tests but you can still get advice and tips from more credible websites and YouTube videos. In addition, are some textbooks that seem to best get the job done. Beyond what I give, it is important to use your own searches for sources. You can be overloaded so keep the list manageable.
As well, if you look on my SSAT blog page you can see tips on studying SSAT.
As well, if you look on my SSAT blog page you can see tips on studying SSAT.
Free SSAT Websites and Blogs
There are four important SSAT websites that seem to give credible information and give you a lot of detail on the test itself.
The first stop should obviously be the official website. for strategies and tips. It also talks about the SSAT and the format of the elementary test, middle level test and upper level test
The next one is SSAT Practice Test which gives worthwhile tips and a blog. In the same site there is lots of practice examples but you have to pay for them. See my page on free SSAT practice to save yourself some money.
Wikipedia has a good summary of the SSAT test and the scoring system. They offer no advice but do put it all in one page so you don't wast time browsing.
A well detailed site is under prepskills.com under the SSAT test. This is a program provider specializing in both the SAT and the SSAT.
The site ourkids.net devotes space as a guide for schools that require the test, but also has a good section that answers various questions about the SSAT test.
Test Prep practice gives sections which they call tutorials on the reading comprehension section and on the analogies section.
If you do a google search on "Best SAT Websites" you can see a whole lot more. The ones I have mentioned are just my opinion. Foir practice questions see my site under Free SAT Practice
The first stop should obviously be the official website. for strategies and tips. It also talks about the SSAT and the format of the elementary test, middle level test and upper level test
The next one is SSAT Practice Test which gives worthwhile tips and a blog. In the same site there is lots of practice examples but you have to pay for them. See my page on free SSAT practice to save yourself some money.
Wikipedia has a good summary of the SSAT test and the scoring system. They offer no advice but do put it all in one page so you don't wast time browsing.
A well detailed site is under prepskills.com under the SSAT test. This is a program provider specializing in both the SAT and the SSAT.
The site ourkids.net devotes space as a guide for schools that require the test, but also has a good section that answers various questions about the SSAT test.
Test Prep practice gives sections which they call tutorials on the reading comprehension section and on the analogies section.
If you do a google search on "Best SAT Websites" you can see a whole lot more. The ones I have mentioned are just my opinion. Foir practice questions see my site under Free SAT Practice
SSAT YouTube Videos
I would recommend you look through Test prep Review. There are about 3 videos posted on the SSAT test (math, reading and verbal) and although the presenter does not look much older than about 17, the presentations are reasonable.
Prepped & Polished, Tutoring and Test Preparation has a 10 videos on SSAT. The tips are reasonable but do not treat them as magic.
Mometrix has a few. Its channel has so many videos on other tests it may be daunting to search for SSAT but one I like is its feature on the upper level
Eprepper has some videos on SSAT, even thought they tend to specialize on SAT and ACT. Their video "SSAT Test Prep for 8th and 9th Graders" is well presented and their are more but I will let you find them on your own.
Prepped & Polished, Tutoring and Test Preparation has a 10 videos on SSAT. The tips are reasonable but do not treat them as magic.
Mometrix has a few. Its channel has so many videos on other tests it may be daunting to search for SSAT but one I like is its feature on the upper level
Eprepper has some videos on SSAT, even thought they tend to specialize on SAT and ACT. Their video "SSAT Test Prep for 8th and 9th Graders" is well presented and their are more but I will let you find them on your own.
Textbooks
Many SSAT textbooks books share space in one book with the ISEE test as well, since they are similar tests in many respects. Choosing the right book is very important because children do not have a lot of patience for badly written books. Many parents and students do not end up very happy with SSAT textbooks as they find that 1) the tests are much easier than the real ones 2) the math sections have wrong answers 3) the newer versions are very similar to the older versions and so a student could have saved money by taking out an older version from the library or buying a second hand copy. My advice is to get any book that is past 2012, but if you do get a 2013 book be careful that the test has been updated to include changes (the major change being the inclusion of an elementary test). Even if your child does not need the elementary test, it will be easier to resell the textbook if it includes the lower level.
The official SSAT/ISEE study guide by McGraw Hills is a very good source of both advice and practice exams. It is clear and easy to read and I have used this book repeatedly with my own students. Some complain that the practice tests are much easier than the real exam, but this is a very common problem among all the textbooks.Two other good books are the Kaplan SSAT/ISEE and the Barrons SSAT/ISEE books are both well detailed and trustworthy but they are a bit cumbersome and some students complain that they are boring books. Kaplan's book is good in that it has a practice test for all three levels of ISEE and many students find that the practice tests in this book are the most realistic. The Barron book has plenty of tests but unfortunately many students find them much easier than the actual test. Still, as supplemental books, they are good ones to have. A more interesting book is the one made by the Princeton Review called "Cracking SSAT/ ISEE". A used one can be bought quite cheaply. It has an excellent essay section and a nice separate section for answers but unfortunately its tests are also a bit easy and its sections on synonyms and reading comprehension could be much better.
The official SSAT/ISEE study guide by McGraw Hills is a very good source of both advice and practice exams. It is clear and easy to read and I have used this book repeatedly with my own students. Some complain that the practice tests are much easier than the real exam, but this is a very common problem among all the textbooks.Two other good books are the Kaplan SSAT/ISEE and the Barrons SSAT/ISEE books are both well detailed and trustworthy but they are a bit cumbersome and some students complain that they are boring books. Kaplan's book is good in that it has a practice test for all three levels of ISEE and many students find that the practice tests in this book are the most realistic. The Barron book has plenty of tests but unfortunately many students find them much easier than the actual test. Still, as supplemental books, they are good ones to have. A more interesting book is the one made by the Princeton Review called "Cracking SSAT/ ISEE". A used one can be bought quite cheaply. It has an excellent essay section and a nice separate section for answers but unfortunately its tests are also a bit easy and its sections on synonyms and reading comprehension could be much better.
Tip #2: Identify the Relationships in the Analogies Section
A is to B
C is to ?
In simple terms the analogies section are just statements of connection. there are luckily a limited number of the sections. Before you attempt to solve the analogy, identify which kind it is:
1. A is a degree of B
big is to huge as wet is to soaked
2. A is opposite to B
Light is to dark as high is to low as modest is to boastful
3. A is defined by B
Philanthropist is to generous as miser is to stingy
4. A is a part of B
leg is to chair as finger is to hand
5. A is a member of B
a sheep is to a herd as a province is to a country
6. A is a function of B
Drive is to car as draw is to artist
7. A makes B
Orange is to juice as pulp is to paper
8. A causes B
fire is to burn as onions are to cry
9. A is the same but older than B
Puppy is to dog as seedling is to plant
C is to ?
In simple terms the analogies section are just statements of connection. there are luckily a limited number of the sections. Before you attempt to solve the analogy, identify which kind it is:
1. A is a degree of B
big is to huge as wet is to soaked
2. A is opposite to B
Light is to dark as high is to low as modest is to boastful
3. A is defined by B
Philanthropist is to generous as miser is to stingy
4. A is a part of B
leg is to chair as finger is to hand
5. A is a member of B
a sheep is to a herd as a province is to a country
6. A is a function of B
Drive is to car as draw is to artist
7. A makes B
Orange is to juice as pulp is to paper
8. A causes B
fire is to burn as onions are to cry
9. A is the same but older than B
Puppy is to dog as seedling is to plant
