Applying to Schools: Admission Tests

Admission Testing
Independent schools are by their nature concerned with the development of each student; and everyone benefits when an applicant enrolls and succeeds. Therefore, most schools invest a great deal of time in the admission process.

Admission test scores, along with grades, teacher recommendations and interviews, are considered by most schools when making the admission decision. Reliable test scores are especially important when making distinctions between students. The variety of academic programs and standards in a student’s previous school make comparisons of academic ability extremely difficult - an “A” from one school may be the equivalent of a “B” from another school.

Admission tests provide a common measure of student ability and a basis of comparison by which students with diverse experiences may be evaluated. Controversy will always exist regarding exactly what admission tests measure and even whether these tests are fair; however, it is appropriate to consider them as a fact of school life. In preparation for an admission test, it is especially important that students familiarize themselves with the test format.

As you pursue your school selection, be sure to note which tests are required for admission and the relevant deadlines for test date registrations. While some schools use their own or less demanding admission tests, selective schools use the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). The SSAT provides knowledgeable admission officers and parents with the best possible insight into the strengths of individual applicants as they pertain to the selective school curriculum and programs. The SSAT provides a common measure of student ability and a basis of comparison by which students with diverse experiences may be evaluated.

Test results can be affected positively or negatively by pressure to perform well. Some students respond positively in pressure situations while others may not. Schools are sensitive to this but vary considerably in terms of how and to what extent they take pressure into account in the admission process.

Links to Test Organizations:
SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) - www.ssat.org
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - www.ets.org/toefl

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