Award-Winning SSAT Courses & Classes in Boston, MA

If you or your student are interested in attending a private or independent school, it may be beneficial for you to sign up for a Boston SSAT class that Varsity Tutors can set you up with. The SSAT is a standardized test that is used by many independent and private schools as a way to test the abilities of students who are interested in attending their schools. The SSAT measures reading, math, and verbal skills, all of which are considered important when it comes to predicting success in an independent or private school.

The SSAT is divided into three different levels based on age group. These include an Elementary Level, Middle Level, and Upper Level. The Elementary Level is designed for students in elementary school and is taken by students in 3rd and 4th grades. The Middle Level test is designed for students in middle school and is taken by students in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. Finally, the Upper Level test is given to high school students and is taken by students in 8th through 11th grades.

There are a few similarities between all of the levels. One similarity is that all three levels include a Writing Sample, Quantitative Section, Reading Section, and Verbal Section. Additionally, students are not allowed to use a calculator on the Quantitative Section for any of the three levels. Finally, the Writing section is never graded, but it is sent to any school that your student applies to.

One major difference between the different levels concerns how the levels are scored. This makes a difference because it influences how students should approach the exam. When taking the Elementary Level test, students should guess if they aren't completely sure about a question because they won't be penalized for guessing incorrectly. However, in the Middle and Upper Level tests, this isn't a sound strategy because your student will lose points if they guess incorrectly. For each question answered incorrectly, students lose one-quarter of a point. As such, it makes more sense for your student to not answer the questions if they're unsure because they won't lose points for leaving it blank.

What can a Boston SSAT class help my student review?

There are many different subject areas that a Boston SSAT class could help your student review. Each of the three SSAT levels contain the same sections. However, there are differences in the content on the test and the number of total questions. The Elementary Level test contains 89 questions while the Middle and Upper Levels contain 167 questions.

The Middle and Upper Levels of the SSAT both contain a Writing Sample section, which involves writing an essay where they have to make a choice between two different prompts. Your student will have 25 minutes to complete this section on either level. One difference between the Writing Sample on the Upper and Middle Levels is that the Middle Level allows you to pick between two creative prompts while the Upper Level allows you to choose between creative and traditional essay prompts.

In terms of the Quantitative Section, both the Middle and Upper Levels cover math-related topics. They specifically look at geometry, algebra, and arithmetic and both levels contain 50 total questions.

The Reading Sections are focused on topics related to English. Both levels are geared towards reading comprehension and your student will have 40 minutes to finish this section.

Finally, the Verbal Section on the Upper and Middle Levels contain 60 questions and your student will have 30 minutes to complete it. Both levels focus on analogies and synonyms, with 30 questions being focused on analogies and the other 30 covering synonyms.

The Elementary Level also contains a Quantitative Section, but it is only 30 questions and your student will have 30 minutes to finish it. This section looks at probability, measurement, and spatial sense.

The Verbal Section of the Elementary Level also contains 30 questions and your student will have 30 minutes to finish this section. This section covers English, and it involves vocabulary, analogies, and synonyms. The Reading Section contains 28 questions and your student will have 30 minutes to finish it. This section is focused on reading comprehension.

Finally, the Writing Sample section asks Elementary Level students to write a story based on a picture.

How can a Boston SSAT course help my student prepare?

There are a wide range of ways in which a Boston SSAT course can help your student prepare for the exam. The SSAT includes a lot of information across a variety of different subject areas. As such, it can be helpful for your student's instructor to narrow down some of the material that may show up on the exam so it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

An online SSAT class is designed to mimic a regular class. Thus, your student will have an instructor who leads the class and will attend with fellow SSAT students. It is useful to have an instructor who can help your student review topics such as math, reading, and social studies. It is possible that your student may be skilled in some areas and not as skilled in others. As such, it can be helpful to work through a class where they can get a refresher on the topics they're more familiar with along with a thorough review of the topics they might be less familiar with.

It can also be useful to work with other students because this allows for the possibility of participating in group activities and group discussions. This can be beneficial for some students because it breaks up the time spent listening to their instructor and keeps them engaged in the material.

Furthermore, one of the major benefits of signing up for an SSAT class through Varsity Tutors is that the class takes place online. This means that you don't have to worry about driving your student so their class because they can simply take the class at your house.

How can I find a Boston SSAT prep course?

Finding a Boston SSAT prep course can be as easy as contacting Varsity Tutors either online or over the phone. When you sign your student up for a Boston SSAT class, you can choose between either a two-week or a four-week session based on your preference. Call today and get your student the SSAT resources they deserve.