SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)

EMA

Complete guide to passing the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) exam on your first attempt.

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Key Information at a Glance

Cost

$160-$300

Pass Rate

N/A (percentile-based)

Validity

1 year

Region

USA/Global

Provider

EMA

Salary Impact

Private school admission

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Complete Overview

The SSAT, or Secondary School Admission Test, is an admission test taken by students in grades 3 through 11 who are applying to independent and private schools, and it is published by E3n, the organisation previously known as the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). In the United States and Canada the Elementary Level costs 112 dollars and a Standard Middle or Upper Level paper test costs 177 dollars, rising to 250 dollars at a Prometric test centre, 263 dollars for SSAT at Home and 339 dollars for an international Middle or Upper Level sitting. There are three levels. The Elementary Level is taken by students in grade 3 applying to grade 4 and students in grade 4 applying to grade 5, and it is offered only as a paper test. The Middle Level covers students in grades 5 to 7 applying to grades 6 to 8, and the Upper Level covers students in grades 8 to 11 applying to grades 9 through a postgraduate year. Middle and Upper Level share an identical format: a 25-minute unscored writing sample, two 10-minute breaks, two 30-minute quantitative sections of 25 questions each, a 40-minute reading section of 40 questions, a 30-minute verbal section of 60 questions, and a 15-minute unscored experimental section of 16 questions, for a total sitting of 3 hours 10 minutes and 150 scored items. The Elementary Level runs 2 hours 5 minutes and has 88 scored items: 30 quantitative in 30 minutes, 30 verbal in 20 minutes, 28 reading in 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute picture-prompt writing sample and a 15-minute experimental section. Scoring differs by level and this catches families out. On the Middle and Upper Level, a correct answer earns one point, a wrong answer loses a quarter point and an omission is neutral. On the Elementary Level there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so every question should be attempted. Scaled score ranges are 500 to 800 per section and 1500 to 2400 in total at Upper Level, 440 to 710 per section and 1320 to 2130 in total at Middle Level, and 300 to 600 per section with a mean of 450 and 900 to 1800 in total with a mean of 1350 at Elementary Level. Calculators are not permitted in any quantitative section at any level. The writing sample is never scored, but a copy goes to every school listed as a score recipient. There is no passing mark. Schools read the percentile rank, which runs from 1 to 99 and compares a student against others in the same grade, and E3n does not allow superscoring across sittings. Scores from the 2026 to 2027 testing year can be sent to schools until 31 July 2028.

Why Get SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) Certified?

Middle and Upper Level students may take up to six Standard paper tests, one Flex test, one SSAT at Home and up to two Prometric tests inside a single testing year, which for 2026 to 2027 runs from 3 August 2026 to 20 July 2027

The Upper Level total scaled score spans 1500 to 2400, so a student sees exactly where a 40-question reading section or a 60-question verbal section moved their number

Three testing modes exist for Middle and Upper Level candidates: paper at a test centre, computer-based at a Prometric centre, and proctored at home in the United States and Canada

Scores from the 2026 to 2027 testing year stay sendable to schools and educational consultants until 31 July 2028, so one sitting can serve two application cycles

The score report breaks accuracy down by topic, showing correct, incorrect and unanswered counts for Synonyms, Analogies, Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, Data Analysis, Numbers and Operations, Reasoning and five reading skills

Fee waivers cover the registration fee and online practice for qualifying families, and are requested from member schools rather than from E3n directly

Registration fees include the score report to the parent or guardian, plus delivery to every E3n member school the family designates, at no extra charge

Exam Format & Structure

Duration

3 hours 10 minutes (190 minutes) for Middle and Upper Level, and 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes) for Elementary Level. Middle and Upper Level students taking a paper test in a room with other testers must sit for the entire time allotted to each section; students in other testing modes, or taking a paper test alone, may end a section early.

Questions

150 scored multiple-choice questions at Middle and Upper Level (60 verbal, 50 quantitative across two sections, 40 reading), plus one unscored writing prompt and 16 unscored experimental questions. Elementary Level has 88 scored questions (30 quantitative, 30 verbal, 28 reading) plus one unscored picture-prompt writing sample and 15 to 17 experimental questions.

Passing Score

There is no passing score and no cut score. Each section returns a scaled score and a percentile rank from 1 to 99 that compares the student against other test takers in the same grade. Individual schools decide what they consider competitive; E3n publishes no benchmark and provides no score interpretation.

Question Types

Synonym questions asking for the closest match to a prompt word
Analogy questions testing relationships such as opposites, part to whole, use, user, category, product to producer, degree and homonyms
Quantitative multiple-choice questions on arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry, coordinate geometry, data analysis and reasoning
Reading comprehension questions on passages of roughly 250 to 350 words drawn from literary fiction, humanities, science and social studies
One unscored writing sample: an essay from a personal or general prompt at Upper Level, a creative story starter or personal prompt at Middle Level, and a picture prompt at Elementary Level

Delivery Method

Paper-based Standard tests at public test centres, paper-based Flex tests arranged by a school or an educational consultant, computer-based tests at Prometric test centres, and computer-based SSAT at Home with a live proctor. SSAT at Home and Prometric are available for Middle and Upper Level only, and SSAT at Home only to students physically located in the United States, its territories, or Canada on test day.

How scoring works

Score scale

Upper Level: 500 to 800 per section, 1500 to 2400 total. Middle Level: 440 to 710 per section, 1320 to 2130 total. Elementary Level: 300 to 600 per section with a mean of 450, and 900 to 1800 total with a mean of 1350. Every scaled score is accompanied by a percentile rank from 1 to 99.

Score needed to pass

None. The SSAT has no passing score and E3n publishes no benchmark or score interpretation. Each school decides independently what it considers competitive, and families are directed to ask schools about their admission requirements.

Roughly what that means raw

E3n's official Upper Level sample score report shows a student with 54 correct, 3 incorrect and 3 unanswered out of 60 verbal items scoring 800 and a 99th percentile, while 36 correct, 8 incorrect and 6 unanswered out of 50 quantitative items produced 755 and a 75th percentile. The same report puts the average 9th grade scores at 675 verbal, 702 quantitative, 665 reading and 2042 total.

When results arrive

There is no unofficial or immediate score at any test mode. Paper scores are typically released within two weeks of the test date; SSAT at Home scores on the Wednesday following the test date; Prometric scores on the Wednesday following the Sunday that ends the scoring period. Release can take up to three weeks in rare circumstances, and no expedited scoring is offered. Nothing is released until the parent or guardian submits the Confirmation of Testing Experience Statement, and families and designated schools receive results the same day.

How the scale is built

On the Middle and Upper Level the raw score is one point per correct answer minus a quarter point per incorrect answer, with omissions neutral; on the Elementary Level there is no penalty for incorrect answers. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores using equating, a statistical adjustment that accounts for difficulty differences between editions so the same scaled score means the same performance on any form. Scoring is compensatory: strength in one section offsets weakness in another within the total. Percentiles are norm-referenced against other test takers in the same grade.

Pacing and time budget

150 questions in 190 minutes gives you 52 seconds across the 130 minutes of scored multiple-choice time; the 190-minute total also covers a 25-minute writing sample, two 10-minute breaks and a 15-minute unscored experimental section per question.

0 of 150. The writing sample comes first and consumes 25 minutes before a single scored question appears.

25 of 150, the first quantitative section, at 72 seconds per question

105

65 of 150, adding all 40 reading questions at 60 seconds each

145

125 of 150, adding all 60 verbal questions at 30 seconds each

175

150 of 150, with only the unscored experimental section left

At this point	You should have answered
25	0 of 150. The writing sample comes first and consumes 25 minutes before a single scored question appears.
65	25 of 150, the first quantitative section, at 72 seconds per question
105	65 of 150, adding all 40 reading questions at 60 seconds each
145	125 of 150, adding all 60 verbal questions at 30 seconds each
175	150 of 150, with only the unscored experimental section left

The 52-second average hides a wide spread. Verbal runs at 30 seconds per question, reading at 60 and quantitative at 72, so a student who paces uniformly will run out of time in exactly the wrong section.
E3n describes the SSAT as virtually unspeeded, meaning most students have adequate time to consider each question. The pressure point is the 60-question verbal section in 30 minutes, where hesitation on a single unknown word costs several later questions.
On a paper test taken in a room with other testers, a student must sit for the entire time allotted to each section and cannot move ahead. Time saved in verbal cannot be carried into quantitative.
The quantitative content is split across two 25-question sections placed at opposite ends of the test, at minutes 35 to 65 and 145 to 175. Endurance matters, because the second quantitative section arrives after two hours of work.
Never leave a scored section entirely blank to save time: E3n will not score a test with an incomplete multiple-choice section and will not issue a refund.

Where the marks are

Reading comprehension

26.7%

40 of 150 scored items in a single 40-minute block. Questions are spread across five reporting skills, so a student weak in inference alone can still lose eight of forty questions in one sitting.

Verbal synonyms

20.0%

30 items answered in roughly 15 minutes, the fastest points available anywhere on the test. Score reports credit determining word meaning from roots, prefixes and suffixes, so morphology work pays back directly.

Verbal analogies

20.0%

30 items testing nine named relationship types, from opposites and part-to-whole through to degree and homonyms. Students who cannot state the bridge relationship in a sentence miss the nuanced pairs.

Quantitative algebra

6.7%

Roughly 10 items on linear and nonlinear relationships, graphs, tables, functions, factoring, exponents, square roots and rational equations, all without a calculator.

Quantitative geometry and measurement

6.7%

Roughly 10 items on angle and shape relationships, coordinate geometry, transformations, the Pythagorean theorem, unit conversions, and area, volume and surface area.

Quantitative numbers and operations

6.7%

Roughly 10 items on estimation, computation and multi-step word problems. Mental arithmetic speed here determines how much clock is left for the harder algebra and geometry items.

Quantitative data analysis

6.6%

Roughly 10 items on graph interpretation, mean, median, mode and range, sets, systematic counting and elementary probability. It was the lowest-scoring topic on E3n's own published sample report.

Quantitative reasoning

6.6%

Roughly 10 items on logical reasoning, visual and spatial reasoning and pattern making. These often resolve faster by eliminating impossible answers than by computing, which matters in a 30-minute section.

Topic	Weight	Why it scores
Reading comprehension	26.7%	40 of 150 scored items in a single 40-minute block. Questions are spread across five reporting skills, so a student weak in inference alone can still lose eight of forty questions in one sitting.
Verbal synonyms	20.0%	30 items answered in roughly 15 minutes, the fastest points available anywhere on the test. Score reports credit determining word meaning from roots, prefixes and suffixes, so morphology work pays back directly.
Verbal analogies	20.0%	30 items testing nine named relationship types, from opposites and part-to-whole through to degree and homonyms. Students who cannot state the bridge relationship in a sentence miss the nuanced pairs.
Quantitative algebra	6.7%	Roughly 10 items on linear and nonlinear relationships, graphs, tables, functions, factoring, exponents, square roots and rational equations, all without a calculator.
Quantitative geometry and measurement	6.7%	Roughly 10 items on angle and shape relationships, coordinate geometry, transformations, the Pythagorean theorem, unit conversions, and area, volume and surface area.
Quantitative numbers and operations	6.7%	Roughly 10 items on estimation, computation and multi-step word problems. Mental arithmetic speed here determines how much clock is left for the harder algebra and geometry items.
Quantitative data analysis	6.6%	Roughly 10 items on graph interpretation, mean, median, mode and range, sets, systematic counting and elementary probability. It was the lowest-scoring topic on E3n's own published sample report.
Quantitative reasoning	6.6%	Roughly 10 items on logical reasoning, visual and spatial reasoning and pattern making. These often resolve faster by eliminating impossible answers than by computing, which matters in a 30-minute section.

The numbers

177 dollars

Middle and Upper Level Standard test fee, United States and Canada

Source: E3n, SSAT pricing on admission.org/assessments/ssat/about-the-ssat

339 dollars

Middle and Upper Level international test fee

Source: E3n, SSAT pricing on admission.org/assessments/ssat/about-the-ssat

1500 to 2400, with an average 9th grade score of 2042

Upper Level total scaled score range

Source: E3n, official Upper Level SSAT sample score report

1320 to 2130, with an average 6th grade score of 1870

Middle Level total scaled score range

Source: E3n, official Middle Level SSAT sample score report

900 to 1800, mean 1350, with section scores from 300 to 600 and a section mean of 450

Elementary Level total scaled score range

Source: E3n help centre, How does the SSAT Elementary Level Scoring work?, updated 24 July 2026

Within two weeks of the test date, up to three weeks in rare circumstances

Typical paper score release

Source: E3n, SSAT Score Report and Release Schedule on admission.org/assessments/ssat/score-reports

If you fail

Wait before retaking

E3n publishes no minimum interval between attempts. The practical limit is the per-mode allowance inside the testing year, which for 2026 to 2027 runs from 3 August 2026 to 20 July 2027, and whether a date and location is actually available near the student. All test changes must move to a date before 20 July of the current school year.

Attempt limit

Middle and Upper Level: each of the six paper Standard tests offered, one Flex test, one SSAT at Home, and up to two Prometric tests per testing year, with E3n reserving the right to hold Prometric to one test per student between 3 August 2026 and on or before 31 October 2026. Elementary Level: three tests per season, made up of two Standard tests and one Flex test. E3n may prevent further testing where it suspects item harvesting or a test security compromise.

Retake fee

Full price each time, since there is no discount for repeat sittings and no refunds are issued. A retake therefore costs 177 dollars domestically or 339 dollars internationally at Middle and Upper Level, 250 dollars at Prometric, 263 dollars for SSAT at Home, and 112 dollars domestically or 229 dollars internationally at Elementary Level. Changing an existing registration instead of buying a new one costs 49 dollars for paper plus any price difference, or a 35 dollar Prometric fee within 3 to 28 days of the appointment.

E3n does not superscore, so each administration is reported whole and schools see complete sittings rather than a merged best. Scoring can be cancelled within 24 hours of testing, with no refund and no access to those scores for anyone including the family. Score recipients can be cancelled within one business day after testing. Scores from the 2026 to 2027 testing year remain sendable until 31 July 2028.

Exam Domains & Topics

Reading comprehension

26.7%

40 questions in 40 minutes at Middle and Upper Level. E3n's official Upper Level sample score report splits these into five reporting skills of eight questions each. Passages run roughly 250 to 350 words and come in two writing types, narrative and argument.

Key Topics to Master:

Identifying text details and structure
Comprehending language use, including figurative language and literary devices
Determining the main idea, whether stated or implied
Interpreting and inferring meaning, and supporting inferences with evidence
Understanding authorial intent, purpose, tone and strategy
Passage sources spanning literary fiction, humanities, science and social studies

Verbal: synonyms

20.0%

30 of the 60 verbal questions. Students choose the answer word closest in meaning to a prompt word. At Elementary Level the vocabulary is drawn from third and fourth grade study areas including science, technology and social studies.

Key Topics to Master:

High-frequency academic vocabulary
Determining meaning from roots, prefixes and suffixes
Distinguishing near-synonyms with different connotations
Recognising secondary meanings of common words

Verbal: analogies

20.0%

The other 30 verbal questions. Students identify the relationship in a given word pair and reproduce it. On the official Upper Level sample report this was the weaker of the two verbal blocks for the sample student, at 83 percent accuracy against 97 percent on synonyms.

Key Topics to Master:

Opposites and antonyms
Synonyms and near-identical meanings
Characteristic relationships
Part to whole
Uses and users
Category membership
Product to producer
Degree of intensity
Homonyms

Quantitative: algebra

6.7%

Roughly 10 of the 50 quantitative questions on the official Upper Level sample score report. Calculators are not permitted.

Key Topics to Master:

Linear and nonlinear relationships in abstract and word problems
Representing relationships as graphs, tables and functions
Features of an algebraic graph
Polynomials, factoring, laws of exponents, square roots and rational equations

Quantitative: geometry and measurement

6.7%

Roughly 10 of the 50 quantitative questions on the official Upper Level sample score report.

Key Topics to Master:

Angle and shape relationships
Coordinate geometry and transformations
The Pythagorean theorem
Unit conversion problems
Length, perimeter, circumference, area, volume and surface area

Quantitative: numbers and operations

6.7%

Roughly 10 of the 50 quantitative questions on the official Upper Level sample score report.

Key Topics to Master:

Estimation and mental computation
Multi-step word problems
Number sense and number relationships
Fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios

Quantitative: data analysis

6.6%

Roughly 10 of the 50 quantitative questions on the official Upper Level sample score report, and the weakest topic for the sample student at 60 percent accuracy.

Key Topics to Master:

Reading and interpreting different data graph types
Mean, median, mode and range
Sets and systematic counting
Elementary probability

Quantitative: reasoning

6.6%

Roughly 10 of the 50 quantitative questions on the official Upper Level sample score report, covering the non-computational end of the quantitative section.

Key Topics to Master:

Logical reasoning problems
Visual and spatial reasoning
Pattern recognition and pattern making
Problems that reward elimination over calculation

Recommended Study Plan

1: Pick the level, pick the mode, take a baseline

1Confirm the level from the student's current grade: Elementary for grades 3 and 4, Middle for grades 5 to 7, Upper for grades 8 to 11
2Take the free online Mini-Practice test on admission.org to establish a starting point without spending anything
3Decide between paper Standard, Flex, Prometric and SSAT at Home, remembering that SSAT at Home and Prometric are Middle and Upper Level only and that availability depends on the student's physical location on test day
4Have the parent or legal guardian create the SSAT parent account at portal.ssat.org, since a student account cannot place orders or make changes
5If testing accommodations may be needed, read the Testing Accommodations Guide first, because accommodations must be approved before registration

2: Learn the scoring rules before learning content

1Work out the guessing rule for the level: Middle and Upper lose a quarter point per wrong answer, Elementary loses nothing
2Practise 40 verbal questions marking each answer as certain, two-option guess or blind guess, then compare scored outcomes under both rules
3Adopt the elimination threshold E3n itself states: on Middle and Upper Level, guessing becomes favourable once two of the five choices are ruled out
4Set up an error log with four columns: question type, why it was missed, time taken, and whether it should have been skipped
5Read the SSAT Candidate Handbook sections on prohibited items and on the Confirmation of Testing Experience Statement

3: Vocabulary engine

1Start a 15-word-a-day list pulled from the Official SSAT Guide Books rather than from generic vocabulary apps
2Drill roots, prefixes and suffixes for 15 minutes daily, since the score report explicitly credits determining word meaning from morphology
3Practise 30 synonym questions daily and log which words were unknown versus which were known but misapplied
4Read one nonfiction article a day and mark unfamiliar words in context rather than in isolation
5Review the previous week's list every Sunday and retire only words answered correctly twice

4: Analogy relationships

1Learn the nine relationship categories E3n names: opposites, synonyms, characteristic, part to whole, uses, users, category, product to producer, degree and homonyms
2Write the bridge sentence out loud for 30 analogies before looking at the answer choices
3Drill degree and characteristic analogies specifically, since they are the two categories students most often collapse into simple synonym pairs
4Take a 30-minute timed verbal section of 60 questions and compare synonym accuracy against analogy accuracy
5Add every missed analogy to the error log with the correct bridge sentence written out

5: Reading under a 40-minute clock

1Complete one full 40-question reading section per week under a strict 40-minute timer using the Official SSAT Online Practice
2Classify each passage as narrative or argument before reading, because the question mix differs
3Practise the five reporting skills separately: text details and structure, language use, main idea, inference, and authorial intent
4Track how many questions per passage the student misses; a pattern concentrated in one passage usually means a pacing problem, not a comprehension problem
5Read poetry and biography deliberately, since both appear in the humanities passage pool and are the least familiar formats for most students

6: Quantitative without a calculator

1Ban calculators from all practice immediately, since none are permitted in any quantitative section at any level
2Drill mental arithmetic: fraction to decimal to percentage conversions, squares to 20 and common Pythagorean triples
3Work through algebra: linear and nonlinear relationships, graphs, tables, functions, factoring and laws of exponents
4Work through geometry and measurement: angle relationships, coordinate geometry, transformations, Pythagorean theorem, area, volume and surface area
5Sit one 25-question quantitative section in 30 minutes and record which questions took longer than 90 seconds

7: Data analysis and reasoning repair

1Drill mean, median, mode and range on data sets read from bar graphs, line graphs, tables and pie charts
2Work sets, systematic counting and elementary probability questions, the block that scored lowest on E3n's own sample report
3Practise logical and visual-spatial reasoning and pattern questions where elimination is faster than computation
4Take a second 25-question quantitative section and compare against week 6
5Review every quantitative error and classify it as concept, arithmetic slip, or misread question

8: First full-length simulation

1Sit a complete practice test in the real sequence: 25-minute writing sample, 10-minute break, 30-minute quantitative, 40-minute reading, 10-minute break, 30-minute verbal, 30-minute quantitative
2Start at the same time of day as the real test, since Standard paper tests begin at 9 am with check-in between 8:15 am and 8:30 am
3Do not skip the writing sample; it consumes 25 minutes of attention before a single scored question appears
4Score the test twice, once raw and once with the quarter-point penalty applied, to see how much guessing cost
5Update the error log and pick the two weakest of the eight reporting topics for the next fortnight

9: Writing sample practice

1Write three timed 25-minute responses, one to a personal prompt and two to general or story-starter prompts
2Plan for four minutes, write for eighteen and proofread for three, since the sample is handwritten on paper tests
3Remember that the writing sample is unscored but is sent to every school listed as a score recipient, so legibility and structure matter more than sophistication
4For Elementary Level, practise telling a complete story from a picture prompt with a beginning, middle and end in 15 minutes
5Have an adult read the responses for handwriting legibility, not for content quality alone

10: Targeted weakness work

1Spend the week on only the two weakest reporting topics identified in week 8
2Rework every question in the error log from weeks 3 to 8 without looking at prior working
3Run daily 10-minute vocabulary retrieval drills on retired words to check they stayed retired
4Practise one 40-question reading section and one 25-question quantitative section mid-week
5Confirm the test registration details, including whether the test site has an alternate start time noted on the admission ticket

11: Second full-length simulation and mode rehearsal

1Sit a second full-length test in the exact mode registered for: on paper with a No. 2 pencil, or on screen if testing at Prometric or at home
2For paper testers, practise transferring answers to a separate answer sheet, because answers written in the test book do not count
3For SSAT at Home testers, rehearse the room setup and check that the device meets the published requirements
4Compare section-level scaled score estimates against week 8 and decide whether a second sitting is worth registering
5Confirm what will be brought on the day: two or three sharpened No. 2 wooden pencils with erasers, and the printed or digital admission ticket

12: Taper and logistics

1Stop full-length tests; run 20-minute mixed sets every other day instead
2Review the vocabulary list and the analogy bridge sentences daily
3Check email and admission.org in the days before the test for site changes or weather cancellations
4Plan arrival for between 8:15 am and 8:30 am for a 9 am Standard start, or 30 minutes early for a Prometric appointment
5Agree in advance who will collect the student, since Middle and Upper Level dismissal is normally between 12 noon and 12:30 pm and test supervisors do not stay after the test ends

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying the Elementary Level guessing rule to a Middle or Upper Level test

The Elementary Level has no penalty for wrong answers, so every question should be filled in. Middle and Upper Level deduct a quarter point per wrong answer. Teach the student that the two levels demand opposite instincts, and set the elimination threshold E3n names: guess once two of the five choices are gone.

Leaving an entire multiple-choice section blank

E3n will not score a test where a full multiple-choice section is left incomplete, and no refund is given. The student must record at least one answer in every scored section. On paper tests this means the answer must appear on the answer sheet, not only in the test book.

Writing answers in the test booklet and planning to transfer them later

On paper Middle and Upper Level tests, choices marked in the test book do not count unless the student has documented approval for an answer-in-book accommodation. Practise with a separate answer sheet from the first full-length test onward, and transfer answers question by question rather than in a block at the end.

Bringing a calculator to the quantitative section

Calculators are prohibited in the quantitative sections of every SSAT level, and a calculator is on the prohibited item list. Students approved for a calculator as an accommodation must supply their own. Remove calculators from all practice immediately, or the student will arrive without the mental arithmetic the test assumes.

Registering before requesting testing accommodations

Accommodations have to be approved before the student registers for the SSAT. Families who register first and apply afterwards can find themselves needing a test change, which carries a 49 dollar fee for paper tests plus any price difference.

Forgetting the Confirmation of Testing Experience Statement

Scores are not released to the family or to any school until the parent or legal guardian completes this statement in the SSAT account at portal.ssat.org. It cannot be submitted before testing, and once submitted with no irregularities reported there is no further opportunity to report a problem with the administration.

Adding score recipients before seeing the scores

Recipients added after scores are released receive them immediately and cannot be withdrawn. Families have a right to cancel previously listed recipients only within one business day after testing. If there is any doubt, wait and add schools after the score report appears.

Expecting to combine the best sections from two sittings

E3n does not allow superscoring. Each administration is reported in its entirety, so a strong verbal score from October cannot be paired with a strong quantitative score from December. Plan each sitting as a complete performance.

Bringing a phone into the test room without declaring it

Cell phones are prohibited items. If one is brought for transport or safety reasons it must be switched off on arrival, declared to the administrator or proctor, and handed over for storage in the prohibited items area. Accessing it at any point during testing, including during breaks, is grounds for dismissal.

Assuming a refund is available if plans change

E3n does not refund SSAT registrations, late or rush fees, cancelled tests, or any other product or service fee. What is available instead is a test change: free for SSAT at Home until 11:59 pm Eastern three days before the appointment, free for Prometric at least 29 days out and 35 dollars between 3 and 28 days out, and 49 dollars for paper tests until three days before the original date.

Exam Day Tips

1
For a Standard paper test, arrive between 8:15 am and 8:30 am for the 9 am start, and check the admission ticket in case your site has an alternate start time in its special instructions.
2
For a Prometric test, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start; no admission ticket is generated for Prometric and there are no required items to bring.
3
Bring two or three sharpened No. 2 wooden or graphite pencils with integrated erasers to a paper test; the printed or digital admission ticket is not required but speeds check-in.
4
Empty pockets before entering the room. Students are expected to have a clean desk and empty pockets, and test centres at enhanced security locations and Prometric sites may use magnetometers.
5
Place snacks and drinks in the designated snacks area before testing; accessing them during a scored section, rather than during a break, is grounds for immediate dismissal without refund.
6
Identification rules depend on mode and location: ID is required for a Prometric SSAT taken outside the United States or Canada, and select international centres and countries require ID for paper testing. Check the admission ticket for the requirement that applies to you.
7
A religious head covering that is not a full-face covering needs no approval, though a student may be asked to confirm it is worn for religious reasons and that no earbuds or electronics are underneath. A full-face covering requires contacting E3n before registration.
8
Middle and Upper Level students taking a paper test in a room with other testers must remain seated for the full time allotted to each section, so finishing early does not release the section; use the time to re-check flagged questions in that section only.
9
Plan the pickup: Middle and Upper Level dismissal is normally between 12 noon and 12:30 pm, Elementary Level between 11:30 am and 12 noon, and test supervisors are not responsible for staying after the test ends.
10
If anything goes wrong during the test, such as a power loss, sudden illness or a significant interruption, report it on the Confirmation of Testing Experience Statement and email a detailed description to [email protected]. Once you confirm no irregularities, that window closes.
11
If the student decides the sitting went badly, scoring can be cancelled within 24 hours of finishing, with no refund and no access to the scores afterwards. Cancelling score recipients instead is usually the better option.

Career Paths & Salary Ranges

Admission to a boarding school for grade 9 through a postgraduate year

The most common Upper Level use case. Schools read the section percentiles alongside transcripts and the unscored writing sample, which is forwarded to every designated score recipient. Each school sets its own expectations and E3n provides no score interpretation.

E3n publishes no earnings data for SSAT takers. What it does publish: the Upper Level covers students currently in grades 8 to 11 applying to grades 9 through PG, and Upper Level total scaled scores span 1500 to 2400.

Admission to a day school for grades 6 to 8

Middle Level testing, identical in format and timing to Upper Level but scaled against a younger norm group. A student who tests in grade 5 for grade 6 entry can test again in a later year at the same level if the grade band still applies.

E3n publishes no earnings data. What it does publish: the Middle Level serves students in grades 5 to 7 applying to grades 6 to 8, with a total scaled score range of 1320 to 2130 and section ranges of 440 to 710.

Entry to grade 4 or grade 5 at an independent elementary school

The Elementary Level is offered only as a paper Standard or Flex test, never at Prometric or at home. Elementary tests cannot be rescored to a different grade, and writing samples are not available for purchase at this level.

E3n publishes no earnings data. What it does publish: Elementary Level section scaled scores run 300 to 600 with a mean of 450, and total scaled scores run 900 to 1800 with a mean of 1350.

Application to an E3n member school through the Standard Application Online

The SSAT account also drives the Standard Application Online and the Character Skills Snapshot, so a single parent account manages test registration, score sending and application submission across member schools.

E3n publishes no earnings data. What it does publish: only E3n members may be designated as score recipients, and E3n will not send score reports to any third party except as its privacy policy allows.

Applying with financial assistance through the fee waiver or SSAT code programmes

The SSAT code programme lets member schools prepay for a test so a family experiencing financial disadvantage pays nothing for preparation or testing. Codes expire on 31 July 2027 and are distinct from fee waivers, with separate terms.

E3n publishes no earnings data. What it does publish: fee waivers cover the registration fee and online practice, expire on 20 July 2027 for the current testing year, and are requested from schools rather than from E3n.

Prerequisites & Requirements

There are no academic prerequisites. Eligibility is set by the student's current grade: grade 3 or 4 for the Elementary Level, grades 5 to 7 for the Middle Level, and grades 8 to 11 for the Upper Level.
A parent or legal guardian must create the SSAT parent account before a first registration and must affirm guardianship of every student entered. Student accounts are created automatically but cannot place orders, make payments or change registrations.
Families must maintain no more than one account per parent or guardian and one per student. Duplicate accounts can lead E3n to cancel or restrict testing, merge accounts, or restrict access.
Testing accommodations must be applied for and approved before the student registers, following the 2026 to 2027 Testing Accommodations Guide.
Sunday testing on a paper Standard test requires prior approval; no approval is needed for a Flex, SSAT at Home or Prometric test that falls on a Sunday.
SSAT at Home requires the student to be physically located in the United States, its territories, or Canada on test day, regardless of home address. Candidates outside the United States and Canada are prohibited from taking SSAT at Home.
The candidate and the parent or legal guardian must read and agree to the SSAT Candidate Handbook and the SSAT Candidate Agreement, which E3n may revise up to and after registration with email notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can a student take the SSAT in one year?

It depends on level and mode. Middle and Upper Level students may take each of the six paper Standard tests offered, one Flex test, up to two Prometric computer-based tests and one SSAT at Home, all within the testing year that runs from 3 August 2026 to 20 July 2027. E3n has stated that between 3 August 2026 and on or before 31 October 2026 it may reduce the Prometric allowance to one test per student, with current availability posted on admission.org. Elementary Level students may take up to three tests in a season: two Standard tests and one Flex test.

Is there a waiting period between attempts?

No fixed waiting period is published. The constraint is the per-mode allowance within the testing year and whatever test dates and locations are actually available near the student. E3n also reserves the right to prevent additional testing if it has reason to believe a student is involved in item harvesting or is otherwise compromising test security.

What does the SSAT cost, and does the price change by region?

Yes, and the split is by where the test is physically administered. Domestic pricing covers the United States, Canada, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the US Virgin Islands: 112 dollars for an Elementary Standard or school Flex, 172 dollars for an Elementary Flex with an educational consultant, 177 dollars for a Middle or Upper Level Standard or school Flex, 250 dollars for a Prometric SSAT, 263 dollars for SSAT at Home and 272 dollars for a Flex with an educational consultant. International pricing is 229 dollars for the Elementary Level and 339 dollars for the Middle and Upper Level, covering paper, Flex and Prometric. All SSAT at Home administrations are charged the domestic fee. Late registration adds 59 dollars and rush registration adds 100 dollars, both for paper Standard tests only.

Can I get a refund if my child cannot test?

No. E3n does not offer refunds for SSAT registrations, late or rush fees, cancelled tests, or any other product or service fee. The available alternative is a test change. SSAT at Home reschedules are free until 11:59 pm Eastern three days before the appointment. Prometric reschedules are free at least 29 days before the date, cost a 35 dollar Prometric fee between 3 and 28 days, and are not permitted within two days. Paper Standard and Flex changes cost 49 dollars and must be made by 11:59 pm Eastern three days before the original date.

What happens if my child does badly?

Nothing is failed, because there is no passing score. The practical options are to cancel scoring within 24 hours of finishing the test, which means no one including the family sees the scores and no refund is given; to cancel previously listed score recipients within one business day so those schools never receive the report; or to test again within the per-mode allowance. Because E3n does not superscore, a retake is reported as a complete new administration rather than merged with the earlier one.

How does the SSAT score scale work?

Each scored section returns a scaled score, and the three section scores add to a total. Upper Level sections run 500 to 800 with a total of 1500 to 2400. Middle Level sections run 440 to 710 with a total of 1320 to 2130. Elementary Level sections run 300 to 600 with a mean of 450, and the total runs 900 to 1800 with a mean of 1350. Alongside each scaled score the report prints a percentile rank from 1 to 99 comparing the student against other test takers in the same grade, and a score range showing where the score would likely fall if the student took a different edition of the test.

Do wrong answers hurt the score?

On the Middle and Upper Level, yes. A correct answer earns one point, an incorrect answer loses a quarter of a point, and an omitted question neither gains nor loses. On the Elementary Level there is no penalty for an incorrect answer, so every question should be attempted. E3n's own guidance is to avoid random guessing at Middle and Upper Level but to make an educated guess once two of the five answer choices have been eliminated.

When do results arrive?

Paper SSAT scores are typically released within two weeks of the test date. SSAT at Home scores are typically released on the Wednesday following the test date. Prometric scores are released on the Wednesday following the Sunday that ends the scoring period. In rare circumstances release can take up to three weeks. Expedited scoring is not available. In all cases scores are held until the parent or legal guardian completes the Confirmation of Testing Experience Statement, and families and schools receive scores on the same day.

What identification does my child need on test day?

Requirements vary by grade, mode and location. ID is required for a Prometric SSAT taken outside the United States or Canada. For Standard paper testing outside the United States and Canada, select test centres and countries require ID, and the admission ticket states the specific requirement. Presenting a false identification or otherwise misrepresenting identity is prohibited conduct under the Candidate Agreement.

How does online proctoring work for SSAT at Home?

SSAT at Home is a proctored computer-based test taken in the student's own space, available for Middle and Upper Level only and only to students physically located in the United States, its territories, or Canada on test day. Prohibited items must be out of reach or out of the testing room at the proctor's discretion. A cell phone is otherwise a prohibited item but is permitted specifically when used to meet the second camera requirement. If a technical issue after launch prevents completion, additional test change options appear in the account the following day.

Can my child use a calculator or any reference material?

No. Calculators are not permitted in the quantitative sections at any level, and calculators, books, notes, reference materials, paper, cameras, recording devices and communication devices are all on the prohibited item list. Students approved for additional equipment as an accommodation, such as a laptop, calculator or spelling aid, must provide their own.

What accommodations are available, and when do I apply?

Accommodations for students with disabilities are governed by the 2026 to 2027 Testing Accommodations Guide, whose policies are incorporated into the Candidate Handbook, and they must be approved before the student registers. Section and break timings may be adjusted, and in some administrations the experimental section may not be provided. Students approved for a reader or scribe must supply a non-family member aged at least 18, such as a counsellor or other academic professional, who must sign an agreement covering testing rules and nondisclosure. Students needing a laptop for the writing sample must supply their own USB drive or disc and save the essay as a .txt file. Separate approval is needed to take a paper Standard test on a Sunday for religious reasons.

Is the writing sample scored?

No. E3n does not score the writing sample, but a copy is forwarded to every school listed as a score recipient and cannot be removed or modified after submission. Parents at Middle and Upper Level can buy a copy for their own records for 26 dollars; the writing sample is not available for purchase at Elementary Level. If the sample is blank or cannot be retrieved, the test remains valid and the report notes that the writing portion is unavailable.

Can I have the test re-scored?

Two paid services exist. Hand Scoring costs 100 dollars and provides a manual review of a paper answer sheet where mis-bubbling is suspected; it takes up to a month, is not available for SSAT at Home or Prometric, must be requested by 31 August following the testing year, and rarely changes a score. Rescore Grade costs 59 dollars and is used when the wrong grade level was selected at registration; it takes up to two weeks, only works within the same level band, and is not available for Elementary Level tests. Once a rescore completes, the original report is no longer available.

Does the SSAT expire?

Effectively yes, for reporting purposes. Scores from the 2026 to 2027 testing year can be sent to schools and educational consultants until 31 July 2028. Scores from the 2025 to 2026 year can be sent until 31 July 2027. Scores from before 1 August 2025 can no longer be sent at all. There is no continuing education requirement, since the SSAT is an admission test rather than a professional certification.

Can I combine my child's best section scores from different test dates?

No. E3n explicitly does not allow superscoring or the combining of highest section scores from multiple administrations, so each sitting is reported in its entirety. If a family wants a school to see only one administration, the practical lever is which scores get sent, not which sections.

How does the SSAT compare with the ISEE?

Both are independent school admission tests and E3n now publishes both. The formats differ. The SSAT Middle and Upper Level run 3 hours 10 minutes with 150 scored questions across verbal, quantitative in two sections, and reading, and it applies a quarter-point penalty for wrong answers. The ISEE has four levels and a different section structure with its own timing, and it does not use the same penalty scheme. Many schools accept either, so the practical choice usually comes down to which format suits the student and which test dates fit the application deadlines.

What is the experimental section, and does it count?

It does not count. The experimental section is 15 minutes long and contains 16 questions at Middle and Upper Level, made up of six verbal, five reading and five quantitative items, used to validate future SSAT questions. At Elementary Level it is also 15 minutes with 15 to 17 mixed items. For select groups or administrations it may not be given at all. Students cannot identify it during the test, so it should be attempted with the same effort as any other section.

Success Stories

“We started vocab prep three months before the test. The official practice tests were essential. My daughter improved from 70th to 92nd percentile between October and December.”

Parent of 6th grader

Admitted to Phillips Exeter

Score: 92nd percentile

“Analogies were my weakness. Learning word roots helped me figure out unknown words. Don't guess randomly - I learned that the hard way on my first attempt.”

8th grade student

Admitted to Choate

Score: 88th percentile

“Consistent daily vocabulary study made the biggest difference. We treated it like piano practice - 20 minutes every day for months. The results spoke for themselves.”

Parent of 5th grader

Admitted to Middlesex

Score: 95th percentile

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