Most of Chicago's competitive independent schools—including those in the Loop, North Shore, and suburbs—use SSAT Elementary Level scores as part of their admissions process for grades 5-6 entry. Since Chicago has 12 school districts serving over 325,000 students, many families in the area pursue selective independent school placement. Varsity Tutors can connect you with tutors familiar with Chicago's specific school landscape who understand which schools weight scores most heavily and what score ranges are competitive. It's worth confirming specific score requirements with your target schools, as they vary.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the test format, time pressure, or worry about "getting it wrong." Tutors help by repeatedly exposing your child to realistic practice tests in a low-pressure environment, building familiarity and confidence. They also teach concrete test-taking strategies—like managing pacing, skipping hard questions and returning to them, and checking work—that give students a sense of control. Additionally, tutors can help your child understand that the SSAT is designed to have challenging questions; missing some is completely normal. Over time, this combination of strategy and exposure significantly reduces anxiety.

Elementary SSAT students typically struggle with three areas:

• Reading Comprehension: longer passages and inference questions require active reading strategies. Tutors teach annotation, main idea identification, and reading for purpose.
• Verbal/Vocabulary: word analogy and synonym questions trip up students unfamiliar with advanced vocabulary. Tutors use spaced repetition and context-based learning to build word knowledge naturally.
• Math: word problems and multi-step reasoning challenge students more than straightforward computation. Tutors break down problem-solving into manageable steps.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of preparation, meeting 1-2 times per week with a tutor, plus independent practice between sessions. This timeline allows time to learn test strategies, build confidence with practice tests, and address weak areas without cramming. If your child is starting further behind or has significant test anxiety, 12-16 weeks may be more realistic. Shorter timelines (4-6 weeks) work if your child is already a strong reader and test-taker; they mainly need strategy coaching and familiarization. Varsity Tutors can help you create a personalized study plan based on your child's current level and your target test date.

Practice tests serve three critical purposes:

• They familiarize your child with the exact format, pacing, and question types so test day feels less intimidating.
• They help identify specific weak areas—does your child struggle with reading speed, math word problems, or staying focused?—so tutoring can be targeted.
• They build confidence through repetition and success; students see their own improvement over time.

The best SSAT tutors combine test expertise with experience working with elementary-age learners—they understand both the content and how to keep younger students engaged and motivated. Look for tutors who have experience with Chicago's competitive independent schools and understand the admissions landscape. They should use real SSAT practice materials, explain concepts clearly rather than just drilling, and adjust their teaching style to your child's personality. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in SSAT Elementary Level prep and have a track record of helping students in the Chicago area improve scores and gain admission to their target schools.