<p>To clarify:</p>
<p>Which is easier to take as a sophomore: PSAT or SSAT</p>
<p>Content wise, the SSAT would be easier to take since it is a Secondary School Admissions Test and written in mind for 8th graders. In comparison, the PSAT is meant as a practice for the SAT and is written for high school Juniors (11th graders). However, the margin of error for the SSAT will be a lot smaller, since admission officers would be expecting more from you, as a sophomore. (This is just from my point of view and something I would assume to be true, although I’m not an admissions officer, so I wouldn’t know for sure.)</p>
<p>I would say SSAT is an easier test but your chances of getting a better score lie with the PSAT because for the SSAT, parents prep their kids for a long time and since the ad officers don’t care about the /2400 score just the percentile, so many kids get perfect/ really high score that missing even a few questions in a section can be the difference from a 95 to an 89. This ceiling effect is less prevalent on the PSAT so I would go with that.</p>
<p>I think the SSAT is quite a bit “easier” in terms of content.</p>
<p>To clarify, are you taking it as a sophomore in order to apply for junior/repeat sophomore year or are you going to be taking these tests as a freshman applying for sophomore year?</p>
<p>It also depends on what the school will actually take- a lot of schools require the SSAT for anyone younger than the eleventh grade, so I would double check. Beyond that, the material on the SSAT would be easier, but the percentiles (a popular way of distinguishing scores) would be against a very small and particular group of students (probably bright kids applying to private or boarding school), even more so than the eighth graders. The PSAT, if you scored well, would probably look better, since it is harder material, but it’s designed for a grade level above you, so you never know. </p>
<p>I would first see what the school needs. If you get a choice, great! I’d prep for and take both of them, or prep for just one but still take the two. Afterwards, you can try and figure out which scores might look better and do a retake or send in any combination of the test scores. You might also see whether the ISEE or SAT would be accepted by the school as well to really expand any and all options. </p>