The SSAT is an admissions test for entrance into private schools and is very similar to the ISEE. The Lower-Level test is 1 hour and 50 minutes long. The Middle- and Upper-Level test are both 3 hours and 5 minutes long.
Levels & Format of the SSAT
The SSAT covers the same concepts, but at two different levels depending on the current grade of the student:
- The Middle Level is for current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders and
- The Upper Level is for current 8th graders and above.
The SSAT is broken into five equally-timed and randomly administered sections:
Math, synonyms and analogies, reading comprehension, and an experimental section that is not counted in the final score. The test also includes an unscored written essay portion that is provided to prospective schools as a writing sample. Unlike most standardized tests, the SSAT does penalize students ¼ of a point for incorrect answers.