Testing Overview
Remember that this is only one piece of the application!
Each student has his/her/their own way of studying for a test. Preparation styles include solo practice, working with a tutor 1:1, taking a class with a group, or any combination thereof.
*Find Test Prep suggestions at the bottom of this page
The Upper Level SSAT
Test dates and registration
Details about the SSAT during COVID-19 are still up in the air to some degree. Check www.ssat.org on an ongoing basis for updated information about testing options and dates. Typically, registration for fall test dates opens on August 1st.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE (during a “typical year”)
There is a bit of a demand for space at test centers, and space is limited for students with testing accommodations.
The timing of receiving score reports doesn't allow you to wait to see the results before signing up for the next test due to limited space at test centers compared to the number of testers.
If you receive test accommodations, you will need to request these specifically for the SSAT Please find more information about requesting accommodations on the SSAT homepage.
Schools only see the score reports you submit. If you decide to take the test more than once, you can also decide which score report you want to share and/or share multiple score reports.
Test format and sample questions
Character Skills Snapshot
You may have noticed that some schools have made the Character Skills Snapshot an optional part of their application. The CSS is a new, online tool through SSAT that measures a child’s character skills in eight different categories: intellectual curiosity, teamwork, initiative, responsibility, resilience, self-control, open-mindedness, and social awareness. The CSS takes 20-30 minutes and is taken digitally, at home. There is no cost for a student who is already registered for the SSAT. The outcomes are conveyed in a spectrum of positive feedback and will complement your child’s overall admission profile.
This is an optional evaluation. If you choose to participate and to share the results of your child’s Snapshot, it cannot jeopardize their candidacy at a school. Rather, admission teams see this tool as an informational window into what they really care about when building their school communities, character and growth potential.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
Most test-accepting high schools accept either the ISEE or the SSAT.
Information about score reports
High School Placement Test (HSPT)
This is the entrance exam that many faith-based schools require for their application process.
"The HSPT is published by the Scholastic Testing Service (STS). The exam consists of individual tests covering verbal ability, quantitative ability, reading comprehension, vocabulary, language arts, and mathematics.
Applicants applying to more than one Catholic high school in the S.F. Archdiocese can only take the exam once. Scores will be sent to each high school the student specifies on the exam day. The entrance exam may be taken at any Catholic Secondary School in the San Francisco Archdiocese that administers the exam where the student has filed an application. The exam is offered by other Catholic High Schools on Saturday, January 11, 2020 . It is the applicant's responsibility to check with individual schools for testing dates and school specific details. The exam site chosen by the applicant has no bearing on the admissions decision.
Applicants with documented learning differences may be eligible for extended time testing or Other modifications.
Test Preparation
Tutoring Companies
Below please find the names of organizations that our families have worked with in the past, noting that this is by no means a complete list of resources.
Test Innovators - Online Test Prep
Nomad families have the option of paying for an account through Test Innovators, a program that provides practice tests and suggested skills to focus on while preparing for the SSAT. From Test Innovators: "We are now working with the creators of the official SSAT, the Enrollment Management Association (EMA) as a certified SSAT content partner, and we are very excited to announce that we are now releasing official SSAT practice content on our platform! This new content includes three additional full-length tests as well as thousands of additional practice exercises. You can use these in conjunction with our tools and features, including paper tests, timing data, and detailed analysis."
The Test Innovators platform helps students through every step of the preparation process with the following tools:
6 Full-length practice tests in both online and printable formats
Normative score reports with highly accurate percentiles and scores
Diagnostic tools that quickly identify areas for improvement
Detailed solutions including answer explanations for each question
Targeted practice through online question banks
Timing tracker to help students effectively manage their time
Personalized Prep Plan recommending the best next steps as students prepare