Award-Winning SSAT Courses & Classes in Chicago, IL

For many families in and around northeastern Illinois, Chicago private schools are as good as you'll find anywhere. If you're ready to start your student working toward acceptance in a prestigious private school program, Varsity Tutors can help set him or her up with a Chicago SSAT course that can encourage them to perform at the best of their abilities.

Most Chicagoland parents know that with such a large student body, it's going to be difficult for a student's profile to stand out from the pack, and a high score on the SSAT can be the difference between getting into a student's top choice or failing to earn acceptance at all. If you have your heart set on admission to institutions like Mount Carmel High School or Brother Rice High School, a high score on the SSAT could be your ticket there, and Varsity Tutors is happy to set you up in a class to help you prepare.

What should a student expect from a Chicago SSAT prep course?

When preparing for the SSAT, your student will take either the Elementary Level, Middle Level or Upper Level test, depending on their grade level. Third and fourth graders test at the Elementary Level, fifth through seventh graders test at the Middle Level, and eighth to 11th graders test at the Upper Level. Regardless of level, all students will face a Reading and Verbal section and an unscored Writing prompt. All students will also face a Quantitative section, with elementary students getting one such section and older students getting two. Experimental questions will also be part of the test at any age level, although they will be unscored. Let's look deeper into each section.

In the Verbal section, students will display their knowledge and understanding of the English language. Elementary students will be expected to show their knowledge of how word relationships work, and they'll have 30 minutes to answer 30 questions in this section. Middle and upper students will also have 30 minutes to tackle this section, but they will face 60 questions, equally divided into synonyms and analogies.

The Reading section focuses on reading and comprehending passages and getting information out of it. As you might expect and will definitely discover if you choose to take a Chicago SSAT course, elementary students will have an easier task than middle and upper students. They'll face 28 questions in all, based around seven different passages with four questions per passage. Like the Verbal section, elementary students will have 30 minutes to handle this section. Middle and upper students will also receive passages and must show more advanced concepts of comprehension in a small amount of time. Each will have 40 minutes in this section, and they'll answer 40 questions based on their understanding of passages.

The tests diverge based on grade level at the Quantitative section, as the elementary students will face just one Quantitative section, while older students have two. Elementary students will be asked to show the most basic concepts of math and their understanding of them, and they'll have 30 minutes to answer 30 questions in this section. Conversely, middle and upper students will be tested on those more advanced mathematical concepts, and they'll be answering questions in two different 25-question sections. Each section of questions will last 30 minutes, meaning middle and upper students will answer quantitative questions for 60 minutes over the course of the test. One important thing to remember about this section is that no matter what level you're at, no calculators are permitted in the Quantitative section.

Finally, a student will face the Writing prompt, which will be unscored but will be part of the student's portfolio when applying to private schools. In fact, every school that you apply to will receive a copy of a student's essay, allowing administrators to make quicker decisions on whether to offer admission. Here, elementary schools will have 15 minutes to respond to a prompt and write a simple story, while middle and upper students will receive 25 minutes to craft a reaction or argument in regards to their prompt.

You'll also face 16 unscored experimental questions designed to see how test takers react to different questions. At the elementary level, there is no penalty for guessing on a question, so it's a great idea to answer something even if you're not sure if you're right. This is not true at the middle and high school levels, which dock test takers a fraction of a point when they miss a question. If you're taking the upper or middle versions, you'll need to make sure you can eliminate a choice or two and make your guess an educated one.

Whether you're struggling with your test-taking skills or hoping to get the right preparation to make it into your top priority, Varsity Tutors can help. Our team can enroll you in a class that can allow you to maximize your strengths on test day and minimize your distractions and feeling of nerves.

How can a Chicago SSAT course get me ready for the test?

When you opt for an SSAT course, your student will be able to learn from the comfort of his or her own home on a schedule that works well for the entire family. One of the biggest challenges of test preparation is finding time to actually prepare for the test, but with courses offered online and starting every week, that's not a worry here. You'll be able to find a time that works for you, led by an instructor who enjoys instructing young students and knows how to make success on the exam more attainable. Classes are offered in two-week and four-week sessions, allowing students to find time for studying more easily.

How can I find a Chicago SSAT class?

If you're ready to get your student started with preparation for the SSAT, Varsity Tutors can help! All you have to do is contact us, and we'll help you find a time and class that works for your student's needs. Contact us to enroll your student and help him or her earn the confidence they need to perform at their best!