Studying for the SSAT (Upper level)
Congratulations, you are taking a big step towards helping your child succeed on the SSAT. Enrolling them in our comprehensive program ensures they acquire the skills necessary to attain the scores for acceptance into the private school of your choice. This exam is structured to test what your child has learned as well as how they learn. The following private schools in Miami accept the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) as part of their admissions process:
- Gulliver Preparatory School
- Ransom Everglades
- Palmer Trinity
- Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
- Miami Country Day
About The Test
When preparing for a standardized test, it is important to understand the exam's format. The SSAT is approximately 3 hours 10 minutes long and contains 166 multiple-choice questions and one essay question divided into the following five subtests:
Writing Sample (25 min.)
Students have to write an essay, choosing between a personal or general question prompt. Writing samples aren't scored, but they are provided to the schools that you opt to receive the SSAT score report, helping them assess the student's writing abilities.
Quantitative (Math) (50 questions / 30 min)
The questions in this section test your ability to do reasoning problems that involve various quantities. Here’s a look at the specific topics that will be covered:
- Quantitative Concepts
- Algebra
- Geometry
Reading Comprehension (40 questions / 40 min)
The questions in this section test your ability to comprehend various aspects of a text. Here’s a look at the specific topics that will be covered:
- Recognize Main Idea
- Locate Details
- Inferences
- Word Definition Within Context
- Literary techniques (Purpose, Attitude, Tone)
- Evaluate Opinions and Arguments
- Make Prediction Based on Passage
Verbal (60 questions / 30 min)
The verbal section asks students to identify synonyms and interpret analogies. Synonym questions test a student's vocabulary strength, while analogy questions measure the ability to logically relate ideas to each other. Here’s a look at the specific topics that will be covered:
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Analogy
- Vocabulary
- Verbal Classification
- Verbal Reasoning
Experimental (16 questions / 15 min)
The experimental section quality tests future SSAT questions to ensure they are reliable, secure and acceptable. Here’s a look at the specific topics that will be covered:
- Verbal
- Reading
- Quantitative