meaning of SSAT scores

My son is in 7th grade and just took the upper level as an 8th grader. When I look at his scores and the median scores posted in boarding school reviews how should I consider that they were a bit uneven. (I know that overall they were great and I am very relieved for him). Also what is more important, Grad 8 total or Grade 8 male percentiles? He had for Grade 8 total Verbal 99, Quantitative 71, Reading 97, Total 95. I wish he could just use these and not have to bother taking them again but they are in the wrong cycle. (I know he can do better on quantitative but I imagine it might be tricky to do as well on the other sections). I wonder if he should take them in August (Flex) and be over it before school starts. .

It appears that even if he were to slip a bit on the verbal and reading his scores are not likely to fall enough to be the deciding factor on his application. The consensus here seems to be that any score above the 85 percentile demonstrates that the applicant can do the work pretty much everywhere. Then it is a matter of other aspects of his application. You’ve got time and the quant scores are probably the easiest to bring up with a bit of studying.

So–Temperantia when you refer to the 85% you are suggesting that ideally if possible the score on each section should be that high if possible?

A total composite score of 95% is amazing.

@sadieshadow, that would be nice but I don’t think that it is required even of the most competitive schools if your overall is in the 95 percentile. I have two kids who got into one of the HADES schools and neither were close to that score overall. In fact, one scored around the 70th percentile in verbal and both were at least 10% below the school’s average reported SSAT. It really is more about the school’s confidence that your child can do the work and other aspects of the application. DS2’s SSAT scores may have been in the bottom 1/3 of the class but his grades are in the top 1/3 so I’m not sure there’s much of a correlation there. Grades and recommendations are important as are athletics, arts and other extra curricular achievements. At some schools, tippy-top SSAT scores are the norm so the other elements are what make the applicant stand out. We are FP but otherwise unhooked.

I totally agree that an overall percentile of 95% is fabulous and should stand him in very good stead. The only caveat I’d add is that the math score being that much lower could be a bit of an issue IF (and only if) your son self-identifies as a “math/science” kid. If he were to present himself to schools as loving math and science, then a score in that range on the quantitative portion could raise eyebrows. But if he’s more of a humanities kid, then not an issue at all. My daughter had scores very similar to your son’s, and had great admissions results. We had been concerned ahead of time about where her quantitative score would be (she dislikes math, and had done much worse on practice tests). An educational consultant that we talked to said that as long as her math score wasn’t eye-poppingly low as compared to her other scores, it would be fine, as she’s into literature/history/drama/languages. The consultant’s view was that anything above the mid-60th percentile for quantitative (if accompanied by high 80s/90th percentile on the other sections) would make it a non-issue in the admissions process.

Thanks so much to everyone. On other “practice” tests he did almost perfect on Quan sections so I am not sure what went on. Just from a practical standpoint, would anyone advise trying to just take an official one very early (like august) and so he could hit the school year not having to worry about this? (OF note, we are exclusively applying to fabulous hidden gem schools). Thank you!

I’d check with each school but my recollection is that the June test is the earliest that most schools will accept in an application season followed by October, November, December, January and sometimes February although that’s late in the cycle. While registration is open in August, I do not believe that there is a July, August or September test.

@sadieshadow I wouldn’t bother taking it in August. A score of a little more than half that amount could get you into most hidden gems, it won’t be the reason you are rejected. Just take it in the fall, and don’t stress. You’ve got time to retake in Nov or Dec if your child is not feeling well for the first (October, I think?) sitting. I wouldn’t worry about it with a score that high.

Thanks. This is all very reassuring. He will sign up for October.

The four schools my daughter applied to this Fall had no problem taking her June SSAT results. I believe most used them to super score (when they take the best scores from each test and add them up). Definitely ask the schools you are interested in what there policy is, especially if you can save your son the stress of retaking the test. A 95% is an excellent score!

@sadieshadow My child’s scores were also unbalanced, although in the opposite way. She had a high math/quantitative score (95) and lower verbal/reading score (in the 70s). It was fine, considering that she is a math/science kid. Her scores on the practice tests were higher, though (all in the high 90s), than on the real test. An overall score of 95 is fantastic, so you have nothing to worry about as far as the SSAT is concerned.