I’m in 7th grade, age 13, currently attending a public school. I would LOVE to go to a boarding school for 9th grade (preferably Groton) and have already researched lots of schools. I have an A to A+ average in all classes and have never had a B average in my life. I stand out in all classes and almost always score above 90 on tests and quizzes. I want to attend Groton to bring my education to the next level. If I’m suppsoed to take the SSAT at the beginning of 8th grade, and from what I’ve heard I would take the upper level test, how would I do well? Wouldn’t I get low scores taking the upper level test if it’s curriculum from grades 9-12? Someone please help me it would mean the world if I could attend Groton for my high school years!
Your score will be calculated only against (in comparison to) other 8th graders who took the SSAT over the prior three years.
An advantage in applying to Groton for the 9th grade is that if you are not quite as strong an applicant as others, you can request to be considered for repeating the 8th grade. No shame in this as Groton is one of the most academically demanding schools in the United States.
Most boarding schools start in the 9th grade, but, as you probably already know, Groton starts in the 8th grade. This gives you a bit of flexibility if Groton is clearly your first choice school.
Since you are in the 7th grade, why not take the lower version of the SSAT as if you were applying to 8th grade ? This will give you a practice run at the SSAT (even though it is the lower version, the structure of the test is similar to the upper level test).
I considered taking the middle level test but but my parents didn’t want to pay for it twice