Demystifying
the SSAT
Presented
by: Gruber, SSATB
Aimee
Aimee Gruber, Senior Director of
Outreach & Business Development
Testing Best Practices
• What is the purpose of the
test you are using?
• Are you applying the same
standard to all applicants?
• Are you tracking data and
analyzing results over time?
• What is the relationship
between test scores and
student success at your
school?
The AERA, APA, and NCME produce Standards for Educational and
Psychological Testing, which outlines best practice and proper use of
assessments in admission
The SSAT is a
Standardized Test
• Developed
• Administered
• Scored
Learning Objectives
1. Admission tests differ from other types of
tests
2. Know what the SSAT measures (and
doesn’t)
3. Understand SSAT reports
4. Realize that admission testing is complex
5. Become the “office expert” on SSAT
scores and resources
Types of Tests
• Intelligence/Aptitude
• Achievement
• Admission
• Classroom
• English Proficiency
• Placement
• Certification
Tests are created for specific purposes and
should not be used interchangeably!!!
Admission Tests
• Category of tests all by themselves
• Measure a specific set of knowledge and skills
relevant/necessary for success to whatever
program you are applying to
• Examples:
• Vocational program (specific academic
competencies)
• Performing arts schools (audition)
• Lifeguard Training (swim test, FirstAid)
About the SSAT
• Created by test experts
• We train and pay independent school
teachers to write test questions (aka
“items”)
• Extensive psychometric research –pre
and post test—guarantees quality results
and fairness
SSAT Item Cycle
Development
Assembly
• Item Writing by
Content Experts
• Form Assembly
• Form Review
• Committee Review
• Vendor Review
• Test Administration
• Item Pretesting
• PIA/DIF/Equating
• Score Reporting
• Item Analysis
• Post-Administration
Revise
Pass
Purpose of SSAT
• Predict first-year academic success in a
college/university-preparatory independent school
program
• Measure broad academic skills necessary for success in a
college/university-preparatory program
• Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics
• Differentiate between and among applicants
• Provides a common performance measure across
disparate academic programs
• Consistent long-term use of scores enables schools to
track admission data over time
The SSAT is “hard”
• A “good” SSAT test question is answered
correctly 50-60% of the time (bell curve)
• This differentiation is important – if all
students performed well on the SSAT it would
fail to be useful in the admission process
Normal Distribution of Scores
SSAT Family of Tests
• Elementary Level (EL SSAT)
for students applying to Grades 4 and 5
• Middle Level (ML SSAT)
for students applying to Grades 6 to 8
• Upper Level (UL SSAT)
for students applying to Grades 9 to 12
Standard administration
Elementary: 1 hour, 50 min. w/1 break
Middle & Upper: 3 hours, 5 min. w/ 2 breaks
Middle & Upper Level SSAT
• 8 Standard Tests / Year
• Scheduled Saturdays + Sunday Sabbath Testing
• 1 Flex Test / Year
• Can be administered together – sections and timing same
• Students can take the SSAT as many times as they wish
• Score Choice Policy
• No charge to send scores & no limit
• Test Fee:
$127 domestic
$247 international
SSAT Flex Testing
• Flex = flexible
• A “real” version of the SSAT
• On-demand testing
• Administered by member schools &
authorized consultants
• Test individual or groups of students
Middle & Upper
Level SSAT
Writing Sample
25 minutes
Break
5 minutes
Quantitative
25 questions
30 minutes
Reading
Comprehension
40 questions
40 minutes
Break
10 minutes
Verbal
60 questions
30 minutes
Quantitative
25 questions
30 minutes
Experimental
Questions
16 question
15 minutes
Total Testing Time,
including breaks
150 Questions
(scored)
3 hours and
5 minutes
Writing Prompts
The 2 pages following the score
report show the student’s writing
sample.
Students have a choice of two
writing prompts; they only answer
ONE
• Middle Level: 2 creative prompts
• Upper Level: 1 creative & 1 more
traditional essay
Parents can purchase for $20
The Writing Sample
25 Minutes, Not Scored
Choose ONE of two prompts:
• 2 Creative (Middle Level)
• 1 Creative, 1 Essay (Upper Level)
Middle Level Examples
Upper Level Examples
All Creative
Essay
• I decided to call home
because…
• What book has had a
significant impact on you and
why?
• I had never seen a bigger
mess.
• I was walking down the
street when I saw a…
• If you could go anywhere in
the world, where would you
go and why?
Creative
• It all started in the kitchen.
• His hands shook as he tried to
untie it.
Two Sections
of Math
Each: 30 Minutes,
25 Questions
Topics include:
Basic addition,
subtraction,
multiplication,
and division
Frequency
Percentages,
fractions, and
decimals
Elementary
concepts of
Algebra
Ratio and
Proportion
Elementary
concepts of
Geometry and
Measurement
Ordering of
Numbers (<,>)
Basic Concepts of
Angle
Measurement
Concepts of
Positive and
Negative
numbers
Concepts of Odd
and Even numbers
Sequences
Interpretation of
graphs
Reading Comprehension
40 Minutes, 40 Questions
7-9 passages questions (total 40)
Measures test taker’s ability to understand
what they read.
• Questions are on:
•
•
•
•
Content
Author’s style
Intent
Point of view
Verbal - Synonyms
30 Min., 60 Questions (30 Synonym & 30 Analogy)
Synonyms: Test the strength of your vocabulary.
Verbal - Analogies
30 Min., 60 Questions (30 Synonym & 30 Analogy)
Analogies: Measure your ability to relate ideas to
each other logically.
SSAT Score Report
SSAT Score Report
Formula Scoring
 1 point for every correct answer
 0 points for omitted questions
 Minus ¼ point for each incorrect answer
What are Scaled Scores?
Upper Level SSAT
• Scaled Score Range of 500-800 / section
• Midpoint of the Scale (V,Q,R) is 650
Middle Level SSAT
• Scaled Score Range of 440-710 / section
• Midpoint of the Scale (V,Q,R) is 575
Elementary Level SSAT
• Scaled Score Range of 300-600 / section
• Midpoint of the Scale (V,Q,R) is 450
Scaled Scores
Scaled Score Range=Lowest to Highest Possible Scores per Section:
440-710 Middle Level (Midpoint: 575)
500-800 Upper Level (Midpoint: 650)
Total Score = All Sections Combined
Middle Level: 1320 – 2130 (Midpoint 1725)
Upper Level: 1500-2400 (Midpoint 1950)
The SSAT is a Norm
Referenced Test
Interprets a test taker’s score relative to the
distribution of scores for a comparison group,
referred to as the norm group
Testers in
U.S. &
Canada
Same
grade AND
grade/
gender
SSAT
Norm
Group
Testers from
previous 3
years
(2014-2016)
First Time
Standard
Date
Testers
The Truth About Percentiles
• Only compares test
taker’s performance to
other students who have
taken the SSAT (that’s a
tough group!)
• The SSAT percentile is
the percent of
questions answered
correctly
• SSAT test takers represent
an educationally
aspirational group of
students (100%
college/university bound)
• “My scores are
compared to other
students scores who
tested that same day.”
SSAT Percentiles
Remember the Norm Group! Compare to:
• Other SSAT Takers (first time, Standard date)
• U.S. & Canada
• Same Grade/Gender
• Last 3 Years
Understanding
Guessing Strategy
The SSAT Score Report
SUPER SCORING?
Insist on Official Score
Reports!
• Help prevent fraud & cheating
• Instantaneous score delivery
• Valuable data available when processed
through our system- you want official score
reports.
• No additional fees to send scores
• It is SIMPLE for families and placement offices
to send electronic scores
2016-2017
SSAT Standard Test Dates
October 15, 2016
November 12, 2016
December 10, 2016
January 7, 2017
February 11, 2017
March 4, 2017
April 22, 2017
June 10, 2017
Basic Test Registration Fees
$80 USD
$127 USD
FREE
EL SSAT
ML & UL SSAT ($247 USD International)
Online Score Report & Reporting
Registration is
open until the
Wednesday
before the test.
Additional fees
apply for late &
rush registration.
Official SSAT Test
Prep Resources
The Official Guide to the
ML/UL SSAT
- $37 USD + Shipping
- Contains 2 full-length
practice tests
- Scoring instructions and
explanations
- Descriptions and exercises
for each question type
- Test-taking strategies
- Order online
NEW!
Online Practice Program
What’s Included
www.SSAT.org
Explaining Scores to
Parents
• Information about selectivity
• Standards for admission
• How are SSAT scores weighted
and evaluated
• Academic performance of
students with similar scores
• Admission tests are different 90% on an achievement test
does not necessarily predict
SSAT scores
The Family Score Report
• Narrative explanation
of scores
• Writing sample
available
• Score reports
available online only
Thank you!
Aimee Gruber
[email protected]
Member Hotline: 609-683-5558
Email: [email protected]
Online:
www.ssat.org (for families)
www.enrollment.org (for schools)