Hi there! My DD received her SSAT benchmark test results and I was floored! She is a current fourth grader and took the middle level test. She attends a gifted and talented school that works above grade level, so I was surprised by her results. She told me it was challenging, but I didn’t think it was going to be THAT difficult. I know that admissions is not based solely on the test, but I wonder if any of you can chime in on what your kid got to be granted admission into the program. Anyone else here waiting for results?
I can only speak to the high school test that my 8th grader took this past application year. I was also floored by her results. (and not pleasantly). It was way harder than I imagined, as she is a fantastic student in a high-performing public school.
I can’t speak to the ABC program, or to the lower level tests specifically. But I did want to tell you that you are in good company.
(Spoiler alert: she ended up taking the test a few times and ended up doing OK, not amazing, and she still ended up getting into a number of very competitive schools and is headed off to her first choice school in September. So do not fret early on.)
Well, as to what admits one into ABC, I can’t speak to that. But I do know that if your DD happens to have, say, some great sport/other interest on her side or wrote some marvelous application essays, you’ll find it’s easier than you think to get in and up that score. I believe at ABC it shouldn’t be horribly difficult if your DD’s SSAT was above the 60th percentile in most areas.
My daughter is in 5th grade and also got benchmark test back last week. It was very hard and I have no idea what is considered acceptable score for cohort. I am in north east area.
Hi, all! I was in the co 2024 high school cohort, so I can speak to this a bit. Personally, my scores started (and remained) at the mid-80% range, and I was admitted. I’m not sure what scores floor you all, but most of the kids I knew started out around 60-70% and were able to up their scores quite a bit as time passed. (it’s a long process, after all)
I know that there are even some admitted in the 20s and 30s! Testing, as they say, is a benchmark, and there is no minimum score for admission.
I don’t know if admissions become more competitive by region-- I’m on the west coast.
Also, I’ve heard that there have been recent changes to the program and that they are either getting rid of some regional programs / making it a national thing? Don’t quote me on that-- but I know that the regional directors for my region are no longer with the program and that there have been some financial struggles for the program.
My DD took the Benchmark test last year as a 4th grader and scored well since I started having her prepare for the test 1 month before. Her initial mock score from SSAT was quite low…
It seems to me that they look at the whole child, not just the Benchmark score based on the conversation with other parents.
Once the kid gets admitted to the program, there was an option for online test-prep from Testinnovators which helped a lot for my DD to achieve a high 90th percentile. Many students devote their time to study for SSAT and ISEE during summer regardless of their affiliation with access programs. Good luck!
Don’t worry about the initial scores and think of it as the starting point. Think of all of the other aspects that can enhance your D’s application. Also, start with interview prep, but ABC will help with all of this as well. Plan to prep for the test this summer. If admitted to the cohort then ABC should provide details for Test Innovators and that will be a great prep system. Until that time, look here on CC for other SSAT and ISEE resources to get started. My D likes Quizlets which are available for verbal and math for the SSAT and ISEE so Google for those too.
We are returning to the cohort for high school as my D applied in 4th grade for 6th grade. Although accepted the FA was less than the one offered at her non-ABC private day school. My advice is to also apply to non-ABC schools if possible because it allows you to compare FA. This is especially the case for middle schools where I think there are fewer slots when compared to boarding schools which may have larger endowments. D wants to board for HS so that is why we are returning to ABC.
Thanks for the suggestions! I will do my research and look into non ABC schools and apply in the fall. Good luck!
Thanks! Any specific programs I should be looking at fro SSAT and ISEE prep?
My daughter is in 4th and we are also in north east area (nyc) which I believe is very competitive. She scored in the 30’s for math, 40’s for verbal and 90’s for reading. The math surprised me because she does well consistently and is working above grade level. Hoping her essay, extracurricular activities and other things they look at will help her! Good luck!
Crossing fingers! I hope her essay and extracurricular activities help her out!
Congrats! Glad she got into her first choice. I’m hoping my DD essay and outside interests help her out. Other than reading (90’s), her scores were dismal (30’s math, 40’s verbal)
nice we are in NYC as well. your daughter has reasonable chance being already in the G&T program in NYC. I hope both our daughters can get into the program.my daughter is in the 60s percentile, she did better in Quan and verbal than reading (opposite from your daughter). I am not sure though how the pandemic will impact the whole private school financial aid going forward. My guess is there will be less money available.
We find out at the end of the month right? I have a daughter in 7th as well so admission season is going to be crazy. She is in another program and I’m not sure what to think about placement with good financial aid.
Yeah My take with ABC is They seem to be quite efficient and on time for a non profit. So I think their timeline of late June for decision will not be delayed.
Good Luck everyone! ABC is an amazing program. My child actually had his virtual cohort to scholar induction today. He is in the class of 2024. He will be attending his BS of choice in September 2020 if everything goes well. He will be in the 9th grade. My advice to everyone is to be organized and ready for a journey that will have twists and turns, keep in mind our process wasn’t in the time of COVID, so just imagine the journey being different from previous years. Reading through the threads, I see so many changes already. We got our notice of his admittance (via email 9 AM) into ABC on 6/15/2019.
Then on 6/22/19, we had our Cohort welcome in Manhattan if you’re in the Northeast. They will explain what is expected from your student and parent(s). We met the then-current alumni and some families. The benchmark was taken a month later. ABC sent the breakdown of the scores. Next was to sign up with Testinovators. Around August the kids had a week of school with ABC. In September 2019 they took the SSAT/ISEE. Scores were released in October if your child did great scores were used if not plan to test again for better scores, during that time the second phase begins with ABC to submit current grades and current school recommendations essays and our 10 school choices. Meanwhile, we attended webinars, school fairs, and boarding school events. So around Nov/Dec ABC comes back to the families with the school choices they recommend, (give that a chance) most of these schools are based on student scores, keep that in mind! In December the financial aid process begins and that’s the most stressful part. If everything goes well ABC will give you back your list of approved schools then we began making appointments with the schools for tours and interviews, and skype interviews. this part is tricky, be organized you can get a lot of schools on your list. If all goes well the two important months are Feb for Independent Day School notices and March for Boarding School notice. So this was our process in 2019, now with COVID, I’m sure a lot of zoom interviews and webinars will ensue. Good luck all and don’t give up. it’s worth every stressful moment to see your child happy to begin a new journey!
Thank you so much for sharing .
As of now, ABB aim to send the results near end of the month.
You mentioned after the June 22 welcome meeting , “ The benchmark was taken a month later. ABC sent the breakdown of the scores. Next was to sign up with Testinovators. ”
So you did bench mark in July again with ABC? So one time in April/May for admission consideration to cohort and one time in July?
What kind of things do they teach to kids in the last week of August?
@parentken, after we submitted our application and received notice in June of admittance and then going to the welcome orientation two weeks later, the kids took the benchmark only once in July, we received the breakdown to see their strengths and weaknesses, once that was known to us parent(s), it’s then up to the parent(s) and child to be proactive in obtaining any ‘extra help’ they might need outside of ABC, ie any books such as the SSAT study guide ( upper level for middle school). Testinovators was the next step in the ABC process of practice SSAT/ISEE online courses. Preparing the kids to take the actual test in September and if needed beyond( again with COVID it could be different this year)
In August, the kids had some mock interview practice and ABC had the kids work on writing their personal statements. It also gives ABC a chance to get to know the cohorts better. Now with COVID they might do the courses via a zoom classroom.
(But don’t “quote” me) LOL
@parentken my understanding is that they offer benchmark testing in April/May, and following acceptance to the program there is intense SSAT/ISEE training via Test Innovators and Zoom for the duration of the summer and into the fall, at which point there is an early SSAT/ISEE offered
@“NYCMOML&L” and @RedLioness Thanks for the helpful info!
@parentken I guess we find out any day now! I bought SSAT practice books. If DD isn’t accepted into the program we’ll still prep and apply to schools on our own.