Home
The SSAT
About the SSAT
Learn All About the Test
Testing Accommodations
Requirements and Eligibility
Test Scores
Interpret Your Scores
Register Now
Sign up or Sign In to Take The SSAT
SSAT中文服务
SSAT China
Get Started
Start your educational journey
Fee Waiver Program
You may be eligible for a fee waiver.
Webinars
On-Demand Videos
SSAT at Home
At-Home Administration of The SSAT
Resources
Getting Started Materials
Paper Test Day Essentials
Tips and What to Expect on Test Day
Help Center
Get Support
SSAT Testing Options
Now you can take the gold-standard test for independent school admission at a test center, on paper, or at home.
Test Options
SSAT at Home
At-Home Computer-Based SSAT Testing
Prometric Test Center
Computer-Based SSAT Testing
Paper-Based SSAT
Offered with Limited Availability
The SSAT Flex Test
Flexible Schedule Testing Options
Get Started
Start your educational journey
SSAT at Home Checklist
Prepare for a successful test day.
Elementary Level Testing
Paper-based SSAT Testing
SSAT at Home
At-Home Administration of The SSAT
Find a Prometric Test Center
Search on The Prometric Website
Find a Test Center
Paper-based & Educational Consultants
SSAT Testing Options
Now you can take the gold-standard test for independent school admission at a test center, on paper, or at home.
Practice
Test Prep Overview
Which Preparation Option Fits You?
Official SSAT Practice Materials
Order the Guide or Practice Online
Test Taking Strategies
Tips for Doing Your Best
What's on the Test?
Content by Grade Level
Practice taking The SSAT online
Get started today by taking a free test!
Character Snapshot
The Snapshot
The Character Skills Snapshot
Join our association today
Enrollment Toolkit
Jump into the EMA enrollment tools
Professional Development
Path to learning
Events & Webinars
See our upcoming events
Members Access Portal
Login to the MAP
Community
Learn from others in your network
Learning Center
Tools for your success
Blog
Thought leadership articles
Check out the latest issue of The Yield
Meet the EMA trustees
Apply
The Standard Application Online (SAO)
Easily Apply to Hundreds of Schools
The Application Process
Deadlines, Requirements & More
Virtual School Fairs
Find Your Best-Fit School
Learn about Admission Academy
Live Webinar Series
Choosing a School
The Best Way to Choose a School
Find a School
Filter and Search for Schools that Accept the SAO
COVID-19
News
SSAT News & Alerts
Easily apply to hundreds of schools
Test Center Closures
Deadlines, requirements, and more
COVID-19 Resources
On-demand webinar series
Something else
Filter and search for schools that accept the SAO
Login
Alerts
Register/Login
Support
SSAT中文服务
Home
Contact
Login
Menu
The SSAT
About the SSATTesting AccommodationsSSAT at HomeTest ScoresRegister NowSSAT中文服务
WebinarsResourcesTest Day EssentialsFAQs
Test Options
SSAT at HomePrometric Test CenterPaper-Based SSATThe SSAT Flex Test
SSAT at Home ChecklistElementary Level TestingFind a Prometric Test CenterFind a Test Center
Practice
Official SSAT Practice MaterialsTest Taking Strategies
What's on the Test
The Character Skills Snapshot
The Snapshot Overview
Find & Apply to Schools
The Standard Application Online (SAO)The Application ProcessFind a School
Learn about Admission AcademyChoosing a SchoolAdvice
Contact
Register/Login
Support
Parent Support
No items found.
Test Taking Strategies
Tips
Tips
Guessing Strategy
Guessing Strategy
Parent Support
Parent Support

Parent Support

Work together

Parents can help by going over test-taking strategies with children and helping them practice. Buy The Official Guide to the SSAT a few months before your child takes the test, and consider also signing up for the new diagnostic Online Practice Program. After giving your child a timed practice test, go over the wrong answers to help you both determine how best to apporach test preparation so that your child can do his/her best when taking the actual SSAT.

Some tips to give your child:

  • Follow test directions exactly.
  • Read the WHOLE question before looking at the answer choices.
  • For reading comprehension sections: Scan the questions before you read the passage.
  • Answer the easy questions first; don't spend too much time on any one question. When skipping a question, remember to SKIP THAT ANSWER BUBBLE on the answer sheet if you are taking a paper-based SSAT.
  • Anticipate the answer when you read the question.
  • Read all the answer choices.
  • If your answer is one of the choices, select it in and move on.
  • For the Middle and Upper Level SSATs: If your answer is not one of the choices, cross out or make a note of the answers you know are wrong; this will narrow your choices and make it more likely that you will pick the right one. If you cannot eliminate at least one (but preferably two) of the answer choices, leave the question blank (omit it).. Each wrong answer deducts ¼ point from the score, so you're better leaving questions blank if you really have no idea. There are no penalties for unanswered questions.
  • For the Elementary Level SSAT: Encourage your child to try to answer every question, making his/her best guesses about the questions of which he/she is unsure. There are no penalties for wrong answers on the Elementary Level SSAT.
  • For paper-based SSAT's, be sure to mark your answers properly. The SSAT is graded by a computer, so stray marks on the answer sheet may count against you. Fill in the circle for your choice completely and try to stay within the circle outline.

Practicing Skills at Home

Working hard in school and on homework is a child's best preparation for the SSAT. There are also a number of skills that you can easily incorporate into your home routine:

Reading

Be sure your child reads – a lot! When reading a book or watching a television show or a movie, ask your child to repeat the plot, the story's characters (including the main character), and the setting. Ask him/her to retell what happens in the beginning, middle, and end. After you read a book together, ask him/her questions about what happened.

Language Arts

Work on increasing your child's vocabulary by using and defining more difficult words in everyday speech. Use a dictionary to check definitions. Practice using antonyms and synonyms: games make it more fun! Encourage your child to learn the meanings of the Latin and Greek word roots; this will help them to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.

Writing Sample

The writing sample portion of the SSAT asks students to respond to a writing "prompt." This prompt is meant to structure their ideas. You may want to review basic punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. For students taking a computer-based SSAT, including either the SSAT at Home or SSAT at a Prometric test center, ensure your student has brushed up on their typing skills as their response will be typed.

Math

Rather than concentrating solely on computation, standardized math tests usually involve spatial skills, patterns, and sequencing. Create graphs based on family activities and practice reading them together. Practice time and money concepts.​ Use a pizza or a cake to demonstrate fractions and geometry.​

Preparing Your Child to Take the Test

  • Acknowledge test-taking anxiety as normal, but stay positive. Make sure your child is aware that although the SSAT is important, it is far from the only factor in the admission decision. Keeping your perspective will help them keep theirs.
  • Encourage your child to think positive thoughts like "I can do this!"
  • Give compliments for effort: "I'm proud of how hard you have studied."
  • Go over test-taking tips with your child.
  • Adequate rest makes a difference! Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable time; being active earlier in the day (not right before bed) can help kids get to sleep.
  • Nutrition also influences how well children do on test; a good breakfast is important, but a large meal right before the test can be distracting.
  • Your child should wear comfortable clothing for long test-taking periods.
  • Help your child learn how to relax. Some find it helps to take a few deep breaths before starting the test; others like to imagine a peaceful place like the beach or park.

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Register/LoginSSAT中文服务

About EMA

About the Makers of The SSATEnrollment ToolkitContactLoginSign Up

The SSAT

About the SSATSSAT at HomePrometric Test CenterPaper-Based SSATPractice
SSAT FAQ
Fee Waiver Program
Support
Blog

Products

Secondary School Admission TestThe Character Skills SnapshotStudent Prospect ListsThe Standard Application Online

The Snapshot

About The Character Skills SnapshotThe Snapshot FAQ

SAO

The Application ProcessChoosing a SchoolFind a SchoolSAO FAQ
Apply With The SAO
© 2021 The Enrollment Management Association
Privacy PolicyTerms of Use

Products

Secondary School Admission TestThe Character Skills SnapshotStudent Prospect ListsThe Standard Application Online