SSAT Facts & Schedule

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized test used by admission officers to assess the abilities of students seeking to enroll in an independent school. The SSAT measures the basic verbal, math, and reading skills students need for successful performance in independent schools. It's an indispensable tool that gives admission professionals an equitable means to assess and compare applicants, regardless of their background or experience.

The SSAT is required by many of the finest independent schools around the world, including many in St. Louis. The timed, multiple-choice test includes the following:

  • a brief unscored writing sample.
  • a quantitative (math) section, which measures computational skills.
  • a verbal section which measures understanding of synonyms and analogies.
  • a reading comprehension section which measures a student's ability to read quickly and to comprehend what has been read.
  • One section of mixed content questions (verbal, reading, and math). This section does not count toward reported scores.

Families should verify test and application deadlines with each school they are considering.

The test is available in three versions:

  • The Elementary Level test is taken by students who are applying to Grades 4 and 5.
  • The Middle Level test is taken by students who are applying to Grades 6-8.
  • The Upper Level is test taken by those students who are applying to grades Grades 9-12.
  • Score reports can be sent to as many schools as needed, either before or after viewing the child's score. Score reports ordered online are free and unlimited.
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