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SSAT Writing: Essay Prompts and Samples

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The SSAT Essay

The SSAT essay is the first part of the SSAT exam. You will be given a choice of two topics, one creative writing topic, and one topic that asks for your opinion about an issue. You have 25 minutes to read the topics, choose the topic you wish to write about, organize your essay, and write.

Six Steps For Essay Writing: Getting It Right

1. Read the question to find out exactly what it asks you to do.

2. Choose a point of view or decide how to answer the question.

3. Outline your essay. For creative writing topics, use the topic given as the first sentence of your essay. Then write a descriptive story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. For all other essays, you will probably want four paragraphs: an introduction, two paragraphs for two supporting ideas or illustrations, and a conclusion.

4. Write the essay.

5. Proofread. Correct errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, and word choice.

6. If needed, make phrasing changes as neatly as possible.

Now let's try these steps on a couple of sample topics:

Topic: Every student should be required to complete 60 hours of community service during his or her high school years. Do you agree or disagree?

1. This question is asking you to choose sides, then support your position.

2. You must now decide whether you want to write in favor or in opposition. Choose the side that you will find easier to defend with strong examples; which side you choose does not matter. The question is not really seeking your opinion. For this exercise, let's disagree.

3. Introduction: Community service should not be compulsory.

Point 1: Involuntary activities are never performed well.

A. Beneficiaries suffer from half-hearted service.

B. Student is resentful and gains no satisfaction.

Point 2: Teenagers must learn to arrange priorities and manage their time for their own benefit.

A. Some poor students cannot afford to give up so much study time.

B. Many beneficial extracurricular activities compete for precious time.

C. Some students must hold part-time jobs to help their families.

Conclusion: Community service should be encouraged, not be compulsory.

5. Proofread. Ask yourself these questions:

- Does each paragraph have a topic sentence? Is the topic sentence well developed within the paragraph?

- Is my language colorful and descriptive? Have I varied my sentence

- Do I make a convincing argument for my position?

- How is my spelling? Is my punctuation correct? What about my grammar?

6. Refine the essay if necessary. Remember: Neatness counts.

Tips for Writing Excellent Essays for the SSAT and ISEE exams

SSAT Essay Samples

• What Is the SSAT Writing Sample?
• SSAT Essay Writing Sample 1
• SSAT Essay Writing Sample 2
• A Well-written SSAT Essay Example
• SSAT Writing: Example of A Well-written Essay

SSAT Essay Prompts

• SSAT Essay Prompt 1
• SSAT Essay Prompt 2
• SSAT Essay Prompt 3
• Test Structure
• SSAT Verbal
• SSAT Synonyms
• SSAT Analogies
• SSAT Reading
• SSAT Writing
• Essay Samples
• Essay Prompts
• ISEE Verbal
• ISEE Synonyms
• ISEE Sentence Completion
• ISEE Reading
• ISEE Quantitative Comparisons
• ISEE Mathematics Achievement
• ISEE Word Problems
• ISEE Writing
• SSAT&ISEE Downloads

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SSAT Tips and Advice

Which SSAT testing mode is the best fit for your child? What can you do now to help them do their best? Is it a good idea to guess? Our SSAT advice will help your family prepare, and visit Admission.org for more articles filled with private school application tips.

How to Get Your Best Score on the SSAT

The Importance of the SSAT Writing Sample

9 Essential SSAT Test-Taking Tips

Which SSAT Testing Method Should Your Child Take?

Guessing on the SSAT: Good or Bad?

5 Stress-Reducing Tips for Feeling Good About the SSAT

Understanding the SSAT: Test Options and Preparation Strategy

Practice for the SSAT.

The Official SSAT Practice Materials from the assessment team that creates the SSAT include Online Practice and Guide Books . Both have four full-length practice tests mirroring the SSAT experience. Get started with the free online Mini-Practice Test to identify where to focus studying.

Questions about SSAT test options, scores, and more?

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources

Your Complete Guide to the SSAT for 2024

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s FREE SSAT Guide

The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is an important part of secondary school applications. If you’re applying to private school in the U.S., you’ll likely to submit SSAT scores when doing so.

The SSAT is a challenging standardized test for many reasons. That’s why we created this post — so that you can have confidence at every step of the SSAT test-taking journey, from wrapping your head around what the test is all about to actually taking it.

In this guide to the SSAT, you’ll learn the basics about the test, how to prepare, and what to expect on Test Day.

We also give readers access to PrepMaven’s SSAT Guidebook, which includes all of the information in this post and much more. It’s absolutely free and you can grab it below!

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s SSAT Guidebook

• Details about SSAT scoring, content, testing options, and more
• An introduction to PrepMaven’s SSAT strategies
• Information about SSAT prep resources
• Application essentials for the top U.S. private high schools

Click here to download a copy of our digital guide!

Here’s what we cover:

What is the SSAT and Who Needs to Take It?

• The Sections of the SSAT
• SSAT Scoring  
• When To Start SSAT Test Prep

SSAT Prep Resources

• Your SSAT Study Plan
• When to Take the Test

The Character Skills Snapshot

• SSAT Testing Accommodations
• Next Steps: The Ultimate SSAT Guide

1) SSAT Basics

The SSAT is one component of most secondary school applications. It is a standardized test focused on the following skills:

The Enrollment Management Association (EMA) administers the SSAT at three levels:*

• Elementary Level for students in grades 3 and 4
• Middle Level for students in grades 5-8 
• Upper Level for students in grades 8-11 

*Students take the test that corresponds to the grade they are currently in , not the grade they are entering. The three different SSAT levels are designed to test material appropriate for each student’s respective grade level.  

According to the EMA, “the SSAT is not an achievement test or a measurement of personal characteristics. It is one component of a complete application.” It is written and reviewed by independent school educators and content and testing experts.

Most students applying to U.S. private schools must submit SSAT scores as part of their application. However, schools are likely to place different emphases on SSAT scores in the admissions process .

• What’s on the SSAT?

No matter which level SSAT test you take, the sections are always the same: a Writing Sample section and Quantitative, Reading, and Verbal multiple-choice sections. 

Here is a birds-eye view of the Upper-Level SSAT’s structure and timing:

You can find a detailed breakdown of each section of the SSAT in our What’s on the SSAT? post . For now, here are the highlights for each!

SSAT Writing Sample

This section is unscored but sent to admission departments for review. It helps give admission officers a sense of a student’s writing abilities. Upper-Level SSAT test-takers will have the choice of writing a persuasive essay or creative story in 25 minutes based off of two prompts.

Here are two sample persuasive prompts typical of an Upper Level SSAT writing sample:

• What does it mean to be a “well-rounded” student?
• What is, in your opinion, the most pressing social issue today? How would you resolve it?

Here are two sample creative prompts:

• She could not believe her eyes.
• They knew it was time to turn back.

You can learn more about the SSAT Writing Sample–and get access to free SSAT Writing Sample prompts–in this post here .

SSAT Quantitative 1 & 2

The SSAT features multiple-choice questions that span a range of math topics. Questions are designed to be solved without a calculator (students are not allowed to use one).

In its official online practice portal, the SSAT provides a list of topic categories for practice. These are a good indication of the topics that will surface on the actual test.

Upper-Level: 

• Computation
• Number Sense
• Pre-Algebra
• Statistics and Probability

Middle-Level: 

• Algebra 
• Data Analysis
• Measurement
• Number Concepts
• Number Conversion
• Statistics & Probability 

Want more information about SSAT Quantitative? Check out our detailed post on SSAT Math and what to expect.

SSAT Reading

There are approximately 8 SSAT reading passages. Each is about 250-350 words in length, and there are generally 4-6 questions per passage. About half of the passages are narrative and half are argument-based. 

Passage genres include: 

• Literary fiction 
• Humanities (biography, art, poetry) 
• Science (anthropology, astronomy, medicine) 
• Social studies (history, sociology, economics)

SSAT Reading questions test your reading comprehension on both a general and specific level . Question types include:

• Words in context
• Author’s purpose
• Author’s tone and attitude
• Evaluation of author’s attitude and opinions
• Evidence-based predictions

We discuss more in our Introduction to SSAT Reading and SSAT Reading Strategies from the Experts .

SSAT Verbal

The SSAT Verbal section contains 60 multiple-choice questions, divided into Synonyms and Analogies sections of 30 questions each.

In the Synonyms section, students must choose the answer that has the closest meaning to the capitalized word. Here is an example Synonyms question:

An analogy is a comparison of two things. On an SSAT Analogies question, these two things will have a very specific relationship. Students must determine what this relationship is, and select the answer choice that most closely features that same relationship. 

Here is a sample Analogies question:

Dive deeper into this section in our SSAT Verbal Introduction and SSAT Verbal Strategies from the Experts .

Experimental Section

This section is not scored and features questions from the different multiple-choice sections. It is intended to test the reliability of future SSAT questions.

Scoring on the SSAT

We demystify SSAT scoring in a separate post . For now, here are a few essential takeaways for students and parents new to the test.

1) Your SSAT score consists of 3 scored sections.

These include:

• Quantitative

There are 2 additional unscored sections: a Writing Sample and Experimental section. The Writing Sample is the first section of the SSAT, while the Experimental section is the last.

2) There is a wrong answer penalty on the SSAT.

On the SSAT, test-takers receive 1 point for every correct answer. If you leave a question entirely blank, you neither lose nor gain points. However, if you answer a question incorrectly, you lose a 1/4 point.

3) Students earn a percentile ranking for each SSAT section.

Your raw score is the number of questions you get right on a section minus 1/4 point for each incorrect answer. This raw score is converted to a scaled score between 500 and 800. Then this scaled score becomes a percentile ranging from 1 to 99. 

This percentile compares performance to that of first-time test-takers of the same grade/gender who have taken an SSAT on a standard test date in the U.S. / Canada in the past three years (not including this year). This group of test-takers is called the “norm group,” and this norm sample is unique for every SSAT the test-makers score.

Most schools have an average SSAT percentile that they consider in the admissions process. Many look at your percentile score when reviewing your application.

We want to point out that a 50th percentile score on an SSAT section isn’t a big red F for failure: it’s right in the middle of the pack! In technical terms, it is the median score within the designated norm group.

Here’s an example of percentiles in action:

If you scored in the 50th percentile overall, you performed better than 50% of the test-takers in the “norm group.” The same goes for the individual sections: if you ranked in the 70th percentile on the Verbal section, you performed better than 70% of students in the norm group on the Verbal section. 

Remember that scaled scores and percentiles are calculated based on data from a unique norm group. Because every test’s norm group is different, it is difficult to precisely pinpoint what raw/scaled score you need to get a certain percentile ranking! EMA actually admits this on SSAT.org:

“The same scaled score on the SSAT may have a different percentile rank from year to year or even from test to test, and the SSAT percentile ranks should not be compared to those of other standardized tests because each test is taken by a different group of students.”

Here’s an example. Let’s say that Darla is a rising 9th grader who has taken the SSAT twice to date. Here are her raw and scaled scores and percentile rankings for the SSAT Math section.

On the second test, Darla got twice as many questions incorrect as she got wrong on the first test. Yet this only translated to losing four percentile points. From another perspective, however, getting only two more questions right meant Darla broke the 90th percentile range on her first test.

Our conclusion?

Because percentile rankings are essentially out of a student’s control, the best bet is to focus on maximizing the raw score of each section . Doing so is the safest means of increasing a student’s likelihood of earning a higher percentile on each section. We also strongly encourage SSAT students to take the official SSAT several times, given that test difficulty is likely to fluctuate from exam to exam.

Your SSAT Score Report

Student scores become available on the SSAT website within two weeks of the test date. Log in to the student version of your SSAT account to view your scores.

When you do so, you will first see a score overview page that looks like this:

You may be wondering what the “T Scaled/V Scaled/Q Scaled/R Scaled” columns mean. These refer to a student’s scaled total SSAT score (T), Verbal score (V), Quantitative score (Q), and Reading score (R). Don’t worry about these too much, as scaled scores are mainly intermediaries to get to that percentile score, which schools are most focused on. 

There is a little more information we can get out of the SSAT score report.

Simply expand the menu and click “View Score Report.” This gives students their scaled scores, percentiles (“SSAT Reference Information”), and a listing of right, wrong, and unanswered questions in each section. 

This report also includes a brief breakdown of question types for each section (i.e., “Main Idea” vs “Higher Order” for Reading). 

What’s a “Good” SSAT Score?

If you score in the 50th percentile on any SSAT section, you will achieve the “median” SSAT score for that test. And if you score higher than the 50th percentile, you perform better than the median.

A good starting place for SSAT test-takers is to surpass the median SSAT score for each individual section.

But what counts as a “good” SSAT score? 

Our answer: it depends.

Each student’s talents, interests, and goals are entirely unique. What’s more, a “good” SSAT score is likely to fluctuate depending on the institution a student is applying to.

We can still make some general conclusions, however, to guide students in their SSAT test prep journey. Find our thoughts on a “good” SSAT score here .

Additional Resources

• PrepMaven’s SSAT Guide
• SSAT Score Release Dates and Services
• Scoring on the SSAT: Your Complete Guide for 2021
• What is a Good SSAT Score for 2021?
• How Important Are SSAT Scores to Private Schools?

2) Preparing for the SSAT

One of the most difficult things to figure out is how to actually prepare for the SSAT! In many cases, it’s the first standardized test students take in the context of school admissions.

The good news, however, is that the SSAT is a standardized test . This means that the content is predictable, even if it is unfamiliar and highly strategy-based. It also means that students can and should take the time to learn the test so they can walk into that Testing Center with confidence.

Effective SSAT prep boils down to the three following components:

These three things all help students master the three aspects of the SSAT that set it apart from other tests: duration, content, and strategy.

When Should I Start Preparing for the SSAT?

We encourage students to start preparing for the SSAT as soon as possible, yet in general, we suggest allocating at least three months prior to an official test date for adequate preparation. 

Yet a percentage of our students choose to start preparing 1+ years beforehand . Doing so can enable students to more effectively build vocabulary, prepare for tested material not covered in school, and develop skills specific to standardized testing.

While many students take the test only once, most of the students we work with will sit for the SSAT at least twice to maximize the potential for score increases. Some private schools also “superscore,” meaning that they review a student’s highest scores across multiple test dates.

Great resources for your SSAT prep can be difficult to find, especially as EMA has released a very limited supply of official practice materials.

We’ve compiled a full list of reputable SSAT prep resources we recommend our students utilize when preparing for this test. Here are the highlights:

1) Official SSAT Practice Online*

The Enrollment Management Association doesn’t release a ton of materials, but their Official SSAT Online Practice is ideal for students preparing for the Middle and/or Upper-Level SSAT. An SSAT Practice Online account includes 3 full-length practice tests, 15 section tests, quizzes, on-demand content, and more.

2) Official SSAT Guide Books*

If you’d rather work from a physical book, we recommend that students purchase an Official SSAT Guide Book (Middle or Upper Level). Each book includes 3 full-length practice tests with answers and explanations, which are exactly the same as those offered online through the SSAT Practice Online package.

3) Tutorverse Upper-Level SSAT Practice Questions

Tutorverse is a third-party test prep company, but that being said, we do find the practice questions in this text to be more reflective of SSAT questions than other materials. This book comes with more practice questions than 10 official SSAT tests, spanning all content areas on the SSAT (Verbal, Reading, Quantitative, and Writing).

4) Success on the Upper-Level SSAT Course Book

Students seeking a supplementary text to official SSAT or Tutorverse content should consider this text by Test Prep Works. It includes content instruction, suggested strategies, drills, practice questions, and one full-length practice test.

5) PrepMaven’s SSAT Prep Resources

We’ve compiled a wide variety of SSAT prep resources for our students and families, including valuable strategies, practice questions, and more.

• SSAT Verbal Strategies from the Experts
• SSAT Reading Strategies
• SSAT Writing Sample Strategies and Sample Prompts
• Tips for Mastering SSAT Vocabulary

Creating an SSAT Study Plan

As we’ve already mentioned, we encourage students to allocate at least three months for effective SSAT prep. How should you fill those three months? Create an SSAT study plan that aligns with your goals and timeline.

1) Identify Your Testing Date & Type

Begin by identifying the first official SSAT testing date and type. EMA now offers multiple testing options and dates, which can you learn more about in our post on SSAT Testing Options .

2) Take a Diagnostic Exam & Establish a Target Score

Taking a diagnostic SSAT effectively introduces students to those components that make this standardized test so different from standard exams: duration, content, and strategy.

It also establishes a baseline score for all sections, giving students a clearer sense of what stands between them and their target score. Diagnostic score reports can additionally highlight content areas for further work, essential strategies, and timing issues.

3) Determine Your Resources & Study Tools

Effective SSAT studying requires effective resources. Take the time prior to jumping into your prep to assemble the study tools guaranteed to give you success! We’ve already outlined SSAT prep resources available to students. Tutors or test prep experts can also be helpful, specifically to aid in strategy development.

4) Set Aside Weekly Time

Effective SSAT prep requires consistent time and effort. Treat your prep as you would any high school class, and devote weekly time to homework and practice. 

5) Take Regular SSAT Practice Tests

Regular practice tests give students the surest means of enforcing the strategies they’ve been developing on their own. It can also build physical and mental stamina – not to be underestimated on Test Day! We recommend taking a practice test every 3-4 weeks prior to your official test date.

6) Establish Consistent Goals

Your SSAT study plan should include realistic, specific, and actionable goals. Begin by setting a goal SSAT score after you’ve taken your first diagnostic exam. Then set smaller, individual goals throughout your practice to help you reach this goal score.

Here are some examples:

• Scoring 80% accuracy on all geometry questions on Quantitative 1 & 2
• Getting Synonym questions 1-10 100% correct
• Working through 80% of the Reading passages with high accuracy
• Creating an effective outline for an SSAT Writing Sample prompt
• SSAT Prep Resources: Your Guide
• Creating an Effective SSAT Study Plan
• SSAT Testing Options 2020-2021

3) Taking the SSAT

When Should I take the SSAT for the First Time?

Many SSAT test-takers will take the SSAT for the first time in September, several months before they submit applications to secondary schools. The September administration is the first in the academic year testing cycle.

However, students who wish to have more opportunities to take the SSAT may take their first official exam in June. 

While the vast majority of students take the test only once, most of the students we work with will sit for the SSAT at least twice to maximize the potential for score increases. Some private schools also “superscore,” meaning that they review a student’s highest scores across multiple test dates.

Historically, the standard SSAT has been offered eight times at testing centers per academic year (August 1 – July 31) in the following months:

Yet as of August 2020, there are three current SSAT testing options, which have dramatically increased the available SSAT testing dates:

• Computer-Based SSAT at Home
• Computer-Based SSAT at a Prometric Testing Center
• Paper-Based SSAT 

SSAT Flex Tests are also an option. Flex Tests occur on any date that is not a standard SSAT administration date. They can occur at member schools or special testing locations, called “educational consultants.”

There are a few reasons why a student may wish to take a Flex Test. They may:

• have testing accommodations that require a special testing situation
• prefer a non-traditional testing environment (i.e., small group or individual)
• be unable to sit for any of the standard SSAT test administration dates

Member schools are those secondary schools that provide on-site SSAT Flex Testing. Your schools of choice may or may not provide Flex Tests on their premises–we recommend calling to see if they do!

If your school(s) of choice do(es) not offer on-site SSAT Flex Testing, you can work with an educational consultant to register for a Flex Test at their approved SSAT Flex Test center. Educational consultants are approved professionals who provide on-site SSAT Flex Testing and, in many other cases, other admissions services.

Here’s what Learning Associates , an educational consultant that offers SSAT Flex Testing in Morristown, New Jersey, says about Flex Tests:

Learning Associates is an approved SSAT Flex Test center. This means we can administer the SSAT in our office on dates we establish, outside the prescribed test dates. Some clients prefer the Flex Test because of the very small setting and greater scheduling flexibility. If your child has accommodations approved by the SSATB, those will be incorporated in our testing. Appointments can be made through our office.

Students can only take one SSAT Flex Test per calendar year. Any other SSATs they sit for must be standard administration.

It can also be pretty confusing navigating the registration process for SSAT Flex Tests. We walk you through the ins and outs of this process in our detailed post on SSAT Flex Testing .

There’s more to the SSAT than just the test itself. Students have the option of taking the SSAT Character Skills Snapshot, an additional online assessment that is meant to give schools a “richer holistic view” of an applicant.

Here’s what SSAT.org says about the Snapshot on its website:

It measures your student’s view of his/her character skill development and is meant to complement more traditional cognitive assessments such as the SSAT. The Character Skills Snapshot gives admission teams additional information and illuminates areas where their schools can help your student grow, thrive, and shine. 

Also, according to SSAT.org, the SSAT Character Skills Snapshot tests a wide range of character traits, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Social Awareness
• Self-Control
• Openmindedness
• Intellectual engagement

This online assessment takes approximately twenty minutes to complete, and can be completed in one sitting at home. Students who are in grades 5 through 11 applying to grades 6-12 are eligible to take the Snapshot.

SSAT.org admits that the Snapshot may not be representative of the full scope of a student’s character:

The Snapshot is meant to provide a snapshot in time of your student’s view of his/her character skills – it is not a fixed, absolute measure.

While we agree that it’s pretty challenging to assess a person’s full character in twenty minutes, the Snapshot can provide potentially valuable information not otherwise able to be gleaned from other parts of an application.

You can check out the Character Skills Card for more details here , or read through our post on what to expect with the SSAT Character Skills Snapshot .

SSAT testing accommodations are designed to give every student a fair shot at demonstrating their academic potential on the test. According to the SSAT.org , testing accommodations are

“necessary practices and/or procedures which are intended to provide equitable access to the test for students with disabilities by limiting or eliminating the effects of a student’s disabilities on their performance.”

Students must fulfill two criteria for SSAT testing accommodations. They must:

• Have an “identified disabling condition or impairment”
• Be substantially limited by this condition or impairment in performing “major life activities”

We’ve written a lengthy pos t that walks families through the types of SSAT testing accommodations, how to request them, and other frequently asked questions.

• SSAT Character Skills Snapshot
• SSAT Flex Tests
• SSAT at Home

Navigating the SSAT can be challenging, especially for first-time test-takers. That’s why we created our free SSAT Guidebook for 2021, an excellent resource for families starting the secondary school admission process.

Work with an expert SSAT tutor in 202 4

In this SSAT Guide, we’ve walked you through the ins and outs of the SSAT, from what the test actually is to how to prepare for it. Now you have a great foundation for beginning your SSAT prep!

To accelerate that prep, we encourage students to turn to the ultimate guide: a PrepMaven SSAT tutor.

The SSAT is a very specific test that is unlike any middle school exam out there. Success on the SSAT often boils down to gaining a deep understanding of the test itself and following through with a methodical preparation plan, which requires time and expert guidance.

Working one-on-one with an SSAT tutor is the fastest and most effective way of preparing for the SSAT–and getting that much closer to a competitive score.

At PrepMaven, we’re here to match students with the very best tutors in the industry, many of whom are Ivy League graduates. Learn more about SSAT private tutoring with PrepMaven today!

Greg & Kevin

Greg and Kevin, Princeton graduates (and brothers) with over 20 years of education experience, are co-founders of PrepMaven and Princeton Tutoring. They apply research-backed problem-solving skills to the test prep and college preparation process. They also place a heavy emphasis on personal development, character, and service for successful college preparation.

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SSAT Writing Practice & Info

The SSAT Writing section is one of the four sections on the SSAT. Each student is required to write one essay, which is not scored. Continue reading to learn more about the SSAT Writing section.

View All SSAT Levels Here

About the SSAT Writing

Ssat writing prompts, elementary level, middle level, upper level, ssat writing tips.

The SSAT Writing section is not scored. On the SSAT Elementary Level, students are provided with one picture prompt and 15 minutes to complete the essay. The SSAT Middle* and Upper** Levels provides students with a choice of two written prompts and 25 minutes to write the essay.  *SSAT Middle Level is provided with a choice of two creative writing prompts **SSAT Upper Level is provided with a choice of one creative writing prompt and one essay prompt The SSAT Writing section provides students with the opportunity to express themselves. Though it is not graded, the SSAT essay is submitted to the admissions departments of the schools to which the students have applied. This allows admissions department to assess students’ writing skills. The essay is not included in the score report, unless it is purchased to be included in the student’s online score report (except for the Elementary SSAT essay, which cannot be purchased).

The SSAT essay prompts are written in a way that allows students to tell admissions departments more about themselves and their way of thinking. Students are provided with two pages to write their essays on.

Elementary SSAT Test takers are provided a prompt in the form of a picture. Students must write an essay based on the picture prompt and make sure that their writing sample is complete, with a beginning, middle, and end.

Both of the two Middle Level SSAT Writing prompts are creative. The response to the prompts must also be creative and make use of animated explanations. Students are expected to use grammar and vocabulary which conform to Standard English.

The Upper Level SSAT Writing section provides students a creative prompt and an essay prompt to choose from. If a student decides to respond to the creative prompt, the response must also be creative and make use of animated explanations. The creative prompt might be ambiguous and require the student for building the entire essay almost by himself or herself. If he or she responds to the essay prompt, the response must be supported by strong examples from the text. Back to top

Though the SSAT essay is not scored, it is still recommended that students write their essays as well as possible, as a copy of each students’ essay will be submitted to the schools selected during the SSAT registration process. Here are some helpful SSAT Writing tips to help your child produce the best work possible:

• Begin the essay with a sentence either similar or identical to the one provided in the prompt
• Write neatly in the space provided
• Use proper grammar and vocabulary, conforming to the rules of Standard English. Pay careful attention to the rules of capitalization and punctuation
• Stay on topic
• Be creative, when suitable
• Provide supportive information (statements, examples, etc.)
• Maintain a standard essay structure, with an introduction, a minimum of two paragraphs in the main body, and a clear conclusion. Make sure your conclusion is tied back to the prompt and that you did not deviate from it too much
• Stick to the expected word count of 350
• Some people find making a list or a draft with their ideas before writing the actual essay useful – try to see whether it facilitates your writing
• If you have enough time left, it is warmly recommended to go over your essay after you have finished writing and read it again to make sure the structure is logical and that you can easily understand the story
• Keep your mind clear and writing-focused. Simple steps that might help are organizing your work environment and eating a healthy snack before you start writing

Click here to find out more about the other sections of the SSAT Test!

Admission to gifted and talented programs as well as independent schools has become increasingly competitive. Even with a high score on the SSAT, acceptance is not guaranteed. The SSAT essay section can give your child an opportunity to stand out against other candidates who may have the same score, and in that sense, be equally qualified. Help your child succeed by making sure he or she is properly prepared for all sections of the test, including this one. TestPrep-Online currently offers a collection of Upper Level SSAT Practice Packs, and will soon release two following packs for the Middle and Lower Levels. All our packs are designed to provide your child with the opportunity to improve and progress. Our goal is the same as yours: To get your child the score s/he deserves.

The SSAT and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with TestPrep-Online or this website.

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Essay prompts to practice for the middle level ssat.

Posted on December 15th, 2021 by Allison . Posted in SSAT TEST PREP , SSAT TUTORING - 0 Comments

Although the SSAT essay is not scored, it is still important to do your very best, as it will be sent to the admissions officer of the schools to which you are applying. Practicing ahead of time with some essay prompts is a good idea.

The SSAT includes a 25-minute Writing Sample of one to two pages in length. Middle Level students will be asked to write a story starting with a phrase or a sentence provided by the test. Upper Level students will be asked to choose between writing a story and writing an essay in response to a question. The essay topics tend to be broad and varied. In some cases, you will be asked to take a side on an issue (in other words, you will be asked to write a persuasive essay). In some cases, you will be asked to offer a description or show cause and effect (in other words, you will be asked to write an informative essay).

Although the Writing Sample will not affect your SSAT score, admissions officers consider your Writing Sample an important component of your application. They will look for a strong writing style free from spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes. They will also try to get a sense of who you are as a person. With this in mind, choose subjects you would be comfortable talking about during an interview with a principal or admissions officer. Avoid overly dark, violent, or inappropriate subject matter.

The SSAT Middle Level Essay requires students to write a short story in twenty-five minutes. Two sentences will be provided, and students are asked to select the sentence they find most interesting and use it as the first sentence of a short story. Here are some tips to think about when working on the essay:

1. Follow the instructions. Make sure the sentence provided by the SSAT is the first sentence of your story.

2. Budget your time! Make sure to save time at the end to edit for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

3. Decide what point of view you will use and stick to it! Sometimes the point of view is established by the sentence provided: – First person uses “I”: “I couldn’t believe my eyes.” – Third person uses “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”: “He couldn’t believe his eyes.”

4. Decide what tense you will use for your story and stick to it! Sometimes the tense is established by the sentence provided: – Past tense: I saw, I went, I did. – Present tense (rarer and more difficult to maintain): I see, I go, I do.

5. In your first paragraph, establish the setting of your story using vivid description involving sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound.

6. In your first paragraph, establish the conflict. – Conflict is the problem, difficulty, or challenge facing the main character.

7. Every story should have a clear structure: beginning, middle, and end (in other words, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion)

Essay Prompts

Here’s a list of essay prompts with which to practice. You have twenty-five minutes to complete each writing sample.

Schools would like to get to know you better through a story you tell using one of the two topics below. Please choose an idea you find most interesting and write a story using the idea as your first sentence. Please select the topic you find most interesting and fill in the circle next to the topic you choose.

Topic: Where had everyone gone? Topic: I knew it was dangerous, but . . . Topic: She opened the door and saw . . . Topic: I realized he needed help. Topic: I could not believe my eyes. Topic: How could I have turned into a . . .

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How to Prepare for the SSAT Test

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Cari Schultz is an Educational Review Board Advisor at Scholarships360, where she reviews content featured on the site. For over 20 years, Cari has worked in college admissions (Baldwin Wallace University, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky) and as a college counselor (Columbus School for Girls).

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The SSAT is one of the factors that helps determine whether a student should be admitted into a private middle or high school. Therefore, we know the pressure that students are under to do well on the SSAT. In this article, we’ve put together a collection of tips for taking the SSAT to help you or your child achieve a score that reflects their academic potential!

Before we start…

While it is important to get a “good” score on the SSAT , it is not the only component that determines admittance to a private school. Private middle and high schools also look at an applicant’s grades in their current school and extra- curricular activities . 

So, do not feel like the SSAT is going to make or break your admission! This will help calm any nerves and allow you to focus on doing your best on the SSAT.  Read more in this guide on how to best prepare for the SSAT test. 

Step-by-step guide to prepare for the SSAT test

1. take a practice ssat test.

The first step for preparing for the SSAT should be taking a full practice SSAT test. This means sticking to the allotted time allowed and not becoming distracted or taking breaks in between sections. This should mimic your “real life” testing situation. Doing so will give you a great baseline to begin your studies! You will be able to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. 

For example, maybe you aced the reading comprehension section, but your math section was weak. Therefore, focusing on the math section should be your priority when you study.

There are plenty of SSAT tests online, including free ones , so everyone can practice and prepare.  

2. Create a study plan for the SSAT 

Now, you should create a study plan to keep yourself accountable. Studying a little bit each day will keep the information fresh in your mind and help you in the long run rather than cramming right before the test!  

At this point, you should already be registered for the SSAT and have a set date for when you are taking the SSAT. Knowing the date of the exam, you should split up the remaining days, weeks, or months into specific “study days.” The earlier you start studying, the better your SSAT score will be! 

The SSAT is split up into three sections: quantitative math, reading, and verbal. Therefore, depending on how long you have until your exam, you should spend somewhere between 15-60 minutes a day focusing on one section at a time. It is smart to focus on your weaker subjects for the best outcome. 

An example of a study plan for someone who is taking the SSAT in a month would be: 

Monday – 30 minutes of reading comprehension practice

Tuesday – 30 minutes of quantitative math practice

Wednesday – 30 minutes of verbal practice

Thursday – 15 minutes of quantitative math practice

Friday – 1 practice writing essay question response

Saturday – SSAT practice test in full

Sunday – Day off!

This study plan helps students practice while still giving them time to do other things. You do not want to burn yourself out before taking the SSAT. Rather, a little practice each day will go a long way for your SSAT score.

In addition, it is still important to practice the writing essay question portion of the SSAT despite it being unscored. This is because staff at the schools you are applying to can read these responses. It can even give you an edge over another applicant, so it is important to get some practice with writing before the real SSAT! 

3. Continue to take practice SSAT tests

It is important to constantly take practice SSAT tests leading up to the actual test. This will help you determine what areas need improvement compared to others. In addition, it will allow you to get used to the timing and general format of the SSAT. Being comfortable with taking the test before the real SSAT will give you an advantage and allow you to feel more confident. This can help eliminate any test day jitters, and allow you to truly focus on the SSAT and feel confident in the time allotted. 

Also see: SSAT vs ISEE: What you need to know

4. Use the SSAT scoring to your advantage

For the middle and upper level SSAT, there is a unique scoring system. Each correct answer receives 1 point, each skipped question receives 0 points, and each wrong answer receives a ¼ point deduction. Therefore, skipping a question does not provide a deduction of points for the SSAT, but answering the question incorrectly does. 

Knowing this, it makes sense in situations where you are completely unsure about an answer to skip the question altogether to avoid a penalty. However, in situations where you are between 2 answers it may be wise to take the gamble. 

Knowing the SSATs scoring system and taking practice tests can help you learn when it is best to skip a question or to guess. This can allow you to gain confidence in your responses and use the SSAT scoring system to your advantage. 

Also see: What is the ISEE?

Additional tips for taking the SSAT

• Study in quiet places 
• Be continuously freshening up your vocabulary
• Monitor your time closely when taking practice SSAT tests to mimic the real thing
• Think positively about the SSAT 
• Start studying early! 
• Stick to your study plan and hold yourself accountable
• Use online resources to aid your studying
• Get a good night’s sleep before the SSAT 

Final thoughts on preparing for the SSAT

We hope that these tips for taking the SSAT have made you feel more confident than ever in your ability to take the test! Your preparation will allow you to be comfortable with the formatting and types of questions found on the SSAT which will help you be confident in yourself on test day.

You will do well on the SSAT as long as you have studied and prepared. If you are getting nervous about taking the SSAT just remember the following: 

• The SSAT is not the only thing that private schools look at to admit applicants
• You can retake the SSAT
• You got this! 

Key Takeaways

• The SSAT is a test used for private K-12 school admissions 
• In order to prepare for the SSAT you should take a practice SSAT test, create a study plan for the SSAT and use the SSAT scoring to your advantage
• Becoming familiar with the SSAT format and timing will help you master the SSAT 

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Frequently asked questions about preparing for the SSAT

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How to Showcase Your Writing Skills on The SSAT Creative Essay Prompt

SSAT and ISEE Tutor Terri K. of Prepped & Polished, LLC in South Natick, Massachusetts teaches you six strategies and one bonus tip for the SSAT Creative Prompt in the SSAT Essay Section .

• Prewrite your response.
• Use a clear structure.
• Decide what point of view and tense you will use.
• Use effective imagery and vocabulary.
• Use effective grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

BONUS TIP: Do NOT underestimate the power of your writing sample.

Today, I’m going to share some tips with you on how to showcase your writing skills by crafting a superior response to the  SSAT  creative prompt. Starting last testing year, a new structure was introduced for the middle and upper-level  SSAT writing prompts . For the middle level, a student has a choice of two creative prompts from which he’ll select one and answer one.

Here are two samples: ‘I looked into its eyes and suddenly . . .’ or, ‘The classroom was empty.’ The upper level has a choice of two prompts, one creative and one essay. Here’s a sample creative prompt: He couldn’t believe they wanted his help. Using these sentences as your first line, your task is to write a story, real or imagined, using these sentences as your first line in 25 minutes. Students now have the ability to write two pages rather than just one.

Tip Number 1: Pre-write your response.

 Practice writing a creative essay in advance that could be adapted to a variety of prompts. A lot of students ask me, “Can I prepare for a creative prompt?” and you can. Think of a story that you’ve been itching to write or an accomplishment that you’d like an admissions officer to know about you. Research a favorite subject.

For example, ‘. . . and then she came in the door.’ That prompt could

enable you to write a variety of stories about almost anything you choose. It could be about a teacher, a friend, a sibling, a principal, a detective, a mother, or a father. Here are some other examples of creative prompts: ‘He was sure there was an exit somewhere.’ ‘I knew it was dangerous, but . . .’ ‘It all started off Friday.’ ‘The silence was deafening.’ ‘He was hanging by a thread.’ The possibilities are endless.

Tip Number 2: Use a clear structure. 

Plots of stories can be divided into 5 basic parts. First, you have the exposition; this is the background and the setting and situation of the story. Then there’s the rising action, where characters try to solve a problem or conflict. That leads to the climax; that’s the critical point where the tension of the story reaches a peak. Then there’s the falling action, where the tension decreases and the conflict begins to be settled. Finally, the resolution, where the conflict is resolved, and there’s a solution to the problem. In 25 minutes, it might be difficult to wrap up the story in a neat package and have a final, complete resolution. You can show that the characters are beginning to change, that they’re beginning to see things differently.

Tip Number 3: Decide what point of view and tense that you will use. 

The first person uses ‘I’. The third person uses ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘it,’ or ‘they.’ Decide what tense, past, present, or future, you will use for your story, and be consistent. Writing in the present, ‘I see,’ ‘I do,’ and ‘I go’ can be a bit awkward, but sometimes, it’s an effective way of presenting the story.

Tip Number 4: Your story should use effective vocabulary and good imagery.

Your goal is clear, lively writing that uses imagery, which is the 5 senses; figurative language like similes, metaphors, and personification; and well-chosen vocabulary that shows rather than tells. Use exciting verbs to empower your writing. 

For example, ‘The pitiful defendant got on her knees and asked for mercy.’ Substitute ‘asked’ for ‘pleaded for mercy.’ Instead of ‘Linda was scared’, you could write her, ‘Hands were clammy,’ or ‘Her body was quivering like a bowl of Jell-O’. Avoid ‘he said, she said’. Reveal a character’s tone. ‘He asked contemptuously’, or you could say ‘She snorted in amusement’. Check for overused words like ‘things’ and ‘stuff’.

Tip Number 5: Use effective grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

When you proofread, look for the two most common pitfalls, which are sentence fragments and run-on sentences. A sentence fragment is part of a sentence that is punctuated as if it were a complete sentence. For example, ‘On that morning, I sat in my usual spot on the old wooden stool in the corner of my mother’s kitchen.’ That fragment lacks a subject or verb. We can correct that by saying, ‘On that morning, I sat in my usual spot, on the old wooden stool in the corner of my mother’s kitchen.’ Run-on sentences are two complete sentences that run together as if they are one.

If there are two independent clauses in one sentence, you must make them into two sentences separated with a period, joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction: And, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet, or connected with a semicolon.

For example, here’s a run-on sentence: ‘Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls; he was the team’s star player’; definitely a run-on sentence. Here are 3 ways you could correct that: You could add a period and a capital letter. You could put a comma and a coordinating conjunction, ‘and,’ or a semicolon and have a lowercase ‘H.’ Then, you would eliminate the problem of a run-on sentence. 

The best way to excel on the creative prompt is to read a wide selection of materials to increase your vocabulary; this will enable you to select just the right word whenever you need it. Reading your favorite authors empowers you to improve your writing skills and develop your own writing style and language.

Do not underestimate the power of your writing sample. Schools use the writing sample as an indication of how well you write under controlled conditions, to estimate your academic capability to perform in an independent setting, and to compare your performance with other applicants for admission or with your current academic record. The bottom line is that the essay is often used as the final judgment.

I hope these tips today will help you to write your best creative response on the SSAT. 

Are you getting ready for the SSAT? Which of Terri’s creative prompt tips did you find most helpful?

Post your tips/comments below.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, where to find free ssat practice tests: complete collection.

Early Achievers (7th/8th Grade)

If you (or your child) are applying to a private or independent elementary, middle, or high school, you may have heard of the SSAT. Often used as an entrance exam, the SSAT is a series of standardized tests that can be administered to students in grades 3-11.

The SSAT , or Secondary School Admissions Test, is a standardized exam often given to students hoping to enter a private or independent elementary, middle, or high school. If you want to boost your chances of getting into one of these schools, working on SSAT practice tests is a great way to do it. Here, I’ll discuss where you can find these practice tests (both official and unofficial), and how you should use them. I’ll wrap up with important SSAT test-taking tips.

What’s on the SSAT?

There are three different levels of SSAT tests. The number and type of questions on the test will depend on students’ grade level:

• Elementary Level - For students applying to grades 4-5
• Middle Level - For students applying to grades 6-8
• High School Level - For students applying to grades 9-12

Although the content will vary based on level, you’ll find these sections on each of the tests:

• An unscored writing sample
• A quantitative/mathematics section
• A reading comprehension section
• A verbal section

Official SSAT Practice Tests

When it comes to preparing for any standardized test, official practice tests or sample questions are the gold standard for study material. Using real SSAT questions will help you better understand exactly what you should expect on test day.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of official practice materials out there - not as many students prep for the SSAT as for other standardized tests (like the SAT or ACT). Here’s where you can find these official materials:

Sample Questions

The SSAT publishes official sample questions for each level of the exam. These are free, but the amount of material available is extremely limited:

• Elementary-level sample questions
• Middle-level sample questions
• Upper-level sample questions

The SSAT Official Guides

The makers of the SSAT publish official test prep guides that include sample questions and full-length practice tests. These are the best available sources for practice materials, as the other official resources don’t give students many problems to work with.  

To get your hands on the most recent Middle and Upper-Level Official Guides (2015-2016), you’ll have to purchase them through the SSAT website . These guides include two full-length practice tests, scoring instructions and explanations, descriptions of question types, and information about registering for the SSAT. Both the Upper and Middle-Level guides cost $37 through the site.

The most recent Elementary-Level Guides (2015-2016) are free to download through the SSAT site, although they include less information and less practice material than the guides available for purchase. They each include one half-length practice test, info on test format and question types, sample testing schedule, test day info, and preparation advice. There are separate guides available for students in Grade 3 and Grade 4.

How to Use Official SSAT Practice Tests and Questions

Because official practice problems are hard to come by, you’ll want to be careful with how you use them . Like I mentioned, using official SSAT tests is really important when it comes to getting a feel for different question types and overall test format.

I encourage you to save any full-length tests for mimicking real testing conditions. This means following through with all test policies and timing instructions in a controlled setting - it’s best if you can sit through an entire practice test all at once. This will give you the best idea of what your performance will be like on the actual exam.

As for the sampling of official SSAT questions provided on the website? These are great for question analysis. As part of your study plan, spend some time looking closely at these questions and thinking about what they’re asking and how they’re written (spend extra time on questions you get wrong). Official SSAT questions have their own style and logic (unofficial sources usually aren’t great at imitating these sorts of questions). If you notice you’re having difficulty with a certain question type, these sample questions will serve as great practice and review.

You don’t need to replicate exact testing conditions, but you’ll get the best practice experience if you treat full-length tests like the real thing.

Unofficial SSAT Practice Tests

Since there isn’t that much practice material for the SSAT, you may end up turning to unofficial sources for practice tests.

Ivy Global has free questions organized by level and section. They may be helpful for reviewing test content, but they shouldn’t be used to get a feel for actual SSAT questions and format - the style in which the questions are presented are pretty different from the actual test.  

The materials available for download are best used if you print them out and work on them by hand since the actual SSAT is done on paper, not on the computer.

Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors offers free Upper-level and Middle-level practice, with questions organized by skill type. These might serve well as supplemental material, but don’t expect them to look like official SSAT practice problems.

The questions on 4test.com aren’t particularly similar to what you’d see on the SSAT. You can only see one question at a time, and you can only work on them online.

Key SSAT Test Taking Tips

Now that you have access to all of this prep material, you may be wondering what to do with it. Follow these tips and strategies to get the most out of your SSAT prep .

Start With a Real Baseline

Start with a full SSAT test to get a baseline score. It’s important to use an official test for this, as unofficial diagnostic tests won’t give you a good sense of what the SSAT is like or what your strengths and weaknesses are.

You can’t get a valid baseline score without using one of those official SSAT practice tests.

Practice Skills and Review Content With Unofficial Materials Supplements

Once you have your baseline, analyze your mistakes and errors (link out) and focus on your weaknesses. Most serious weaknesses will be in content comprehension - use study materials like textbooks and notes to raise your scores.

Use Official SSATs as Full Practice Tests

After you’ve spent some time improving on your weaknesses, use official practice tests to test your knowledge and gain familiarity with test formatting. Take these exams under real testing conditions - time them properly and work in a quiet room with no distractions.

What’s Next?

The SSATs aren’t the only standardized tests out there for younger students. Read more about ACT Aspire and get your hands on official practice tests .  

Thinking about the future? Read about whether you should start prepping for the SAT/ACT in 7th or 8th grade.

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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9 Essential SSAT Test-Taking Tips

It’s SSAT test day. You’ve followed our preparation advice and tips for reducing anxiety , utilized the official SSAT practice materials , slept well, ate a healthy breakfast, and dressed in comfy clothes. You’ve got this.

As you check in to take the Middle or Upper Level SSAT, be mindful of the following tips.

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Go to the restroom before testing.</span>

If I sound like your parents, it’s because they are right. (It’s okay, it’ll be our little secret.) And yes, the first section is only 25 minutes before the break, but you’ll be seated in the testing room longer than that, waiting for the SSAT to begin. 

After the first break, there’s an hour and ten minutes until the second break, and it’s another hour and fifteen minutes after the second break until the exam concludes. Again, plan accordingly. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable and distracted while testing.

You can ask to be excused during testing to use the restroom; however, you can’t make up the lost time.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Relax. Don’t worry about the timer.</span>

There’s adequate time for most students to complete each SSAT section. Students with disabilities can request an accommodation for additional time before registering.

So, take a deep breath, relax, and concentrate on the questions. Read the directions and questions carefully, and review each option before selecting your answer. Rushing through the test can result in needless mistakes. That being said, don’t spend too much time on the most challenging questions per our next piece of advice.

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Skip and come back to the toughest questions.</span>

The SSAT features questions that range in difficulty and are intended to challenge students of all abilities. You will encounter questions you can answer confidently and others you’ll feel unsure about. While you should have adequate time, it’s still a good idea to complete the questions you are comfortable answering first to ensure you don’t miss out on points. You can go back to the most challenging questions afterward. 

When taking a paper test, you can make a notation in the test booklet (not the answer sheet!) and dog-ear the page so you can easily find the skipped question later. If you test on a computer, you can easily see and navigate back to the skipped questions.

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Make sure to enter answers in the right answer-sheet location.</span> 

The most common paper-testing mistake on SSAT score sheets is accidentally marking an answer in the wrong spot. This error typically happens when students skip a question and inadvertently put the answer to the subsequent question in the previous question’s answer location. Avoid this mistake by making a mental note that you’ve skipped a question and double-checking that you’re aligning the next answer to the correct location.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Pay attention to units of measurement.</span>

In the quantitative sections, pay close attention to the units of measurement used in each question. Be sure your answer aligns with the units asked for in the question. 

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Read with purpose.</span>

In the reading comprehension section, make notations or take notes on the key topics, facts, and the author’s tone and purpose, making it easier to refer back when answering questions. Paper testers can add notes in the test book, at-home testers can use scrap paper, and those at a Prometric center are provided a white board. Also, pay close attention to definitive language such as “always,” “never,” “every,” and “none,” as these may factor into the answer. 

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Make educated guesses where appropriate.</span>

On the Middle and Upper Level SSAT, a quarter of a point is deducted for each incorrect answer. There are no points awarded or penalties given if a question is left unanswered. With this scoring system, it’s better to make educated guesses when you can confidently remove at least two and preferably three incorrect answers to improve your odds of guessing correctly. 

If you can eliminate three incorrect answers, you have a 50% chance of answering correctly, whereas you only have a 20% chance if you guess without eliminating any incorrect answers.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Maintain proper essay structure on the writing sample.</span>

Because there’s no editorial process for the SSAT writing sample, it can feel like a free-flowing writing exercise. To stay focused, organize your thoughts on scrap paper (or the white board at Prometric centers) and follow the writing prompt directions carefully. If writing a personal or general essay, be sure to follow proper essay structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. 

The writing sample is unscored by EMA, but many admission teams see it as a better representation of your authentic writing voice than the application essay, so you want to take this section seriously.

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Review your answers.</span>

If you finish early, go back through and review your work. Just be careful about second-guessing yourself. Correct any obvious mistakes, but also trust your initial instincts. 

If you take a paper test, recheck that answers have been entered in the correct locations. When changing an answer, make sure the initial response is fully erased. Also, remove any errant pencil marks on the answer sheet that could potentially interfere with scoring. 

And remember, you’ve got this!

Guessing on the SSAT: Good or Bad?

How to get your best score on the ssat, the importance of the ssat writing sample, when is the best time to study for and take the ssat, let’s talk about fairness in standardized testing.

Let’s get going!

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The Official SSAT Practice

The path to bright SSAT results starts with studying. Only EMA's official  Online Practice  and  Guide Books  feature  four full-length tests with 600 questions  created by the same people who develop the SSAT. Compared to the competition, it's no competition—you get more and pay less with our official study guides! Get started today with the  free online Mini-Practice Test  to identify focus areas.

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Whatever type of private school you're looking for, we've got it. Day schools. Boarding schools. Schools that dance. Schools that play. Schools that pray. Use our Private School Search to discover the schools that will help your child hone their strengths and discover hidden talents. Where will they blossom?

Admission Concierge at Your Service

Grow your understanding of the private school application process with Admission Concierge, a free newsletter delivering timely reminders and advice throughout the application process. It's everything you need to know—precisely when you need to know it.

Stand Out With the Snapshot

The Character Skills Snapshot is an innovative measure of student preferences, attitudes, and beliefs, helping schools get to know who an applicant is rather than just what they know from grades and standardized tests—letting their uniqueness shine. Add the Snapshot to your student's application today to help them stand out.