6 Preparation Tips for the SSAT

SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a requirement for joining most independent schools worldwide. It's used to ascertain whether a student qualifies for admittance schools. SSAT tests students' quantitative, reading, and verbal skills while stressing problem-solving and critical thinking. The quantitative test focuses on ordering numbers, basic fractions, and basic operations for elementary-level students and algebra, data analysis, and geometry for upper-level students.

The SSAT verbal section involves responding to analogy and synonym questions at a suitable level for the learner’s age. The test’s reading section focuses on responding to analysis and comprehension questions relating to short passages from various genres. This article gives you preparation tips for the SSAT.

1. Hire a tutor

Preparing for the SSAT can be a big challenge for most students as it's usually their first experience with standardized and highly competitive tests. Test-taking isn't a skill taught in school. Consider opting for an SSAT tutor to prepare you for the test. The right tutor should have expertise in the subjects a student needs to improve the most. A tutor will begin by assessing your current weaknesses and strengths to determine where you need to improve, then create a study plan for them to follow until the test day.

2. Prepare to take the practice tests more than once

Taking the SSAT practice exam more than once is an excellent idea because it gives you a feel of the test's experience. It also lets you assess your performance to determine your strengths and weaknesses and the improvement you'll need across all areas to ace the final test. Plan when to take the practice trials and at what intervals before taking the real one.

3. Stick to a regular study schedule

A regular study timetable is crucial to improving your SSAT score. Depending on how much effort and time you need to improve, you can set aside a few hours a week to study a specific subject or topic. Regardless of how many points you need to improve your score, a regular study schedule enhances your scores and helps you keep them stable until the test date.

4. Concentrate on your weaknesses

After taking the trial test, you can quickly identify the challenging areas. However, you shouldn't neglect the topics you've mastered. For the quantitative part, focus on your math class, mainly practice or review the areas slated for the test as per the official guide. In the verbal section, consider preparing a game to play with analogies and synonyms in your daily life. Read daily to improve on the reading section. Consider completing practice problems for all the areas as often as possible to prepare yourself for the SSAT.

5. Buy the SSAT official guide

Buying the official SSAT study guide enables you to familiarize yourself with the kind of queries asked, their wording, and what the examiners are looking for in your responses. It also helps you concentrate on the topics to study.

6. Work on your timings

While knowing the correct answers is excellent, it isn't enough because there's a time limit to look at. Failure to work on your time limits may leave some questions unanswered, getting you a lesser score than you could have earned. Find ways to manage your SSAT timings via the practice trials.

Endnote

Preparing for the SSAT can be challenging for students. Use these tips to prepare for your SSAT.