<p>So I just got my SSAT scores about an hour ago, and they're so much worse than I need them to be :( . I'm applying to Exeter, Andover, Hotchkiss, Taft, and Lawrenceville... I know they expect really high scores, but my scores:</p>
<p>Verbal 710 74%
Math 755 73%
Reading 722 87%</p>
<p>Total 2187 85% </p>
<p>The numbers aren't too low are they? Why is the percentages so low, then? They scared me so much, are my chances ruined?
I didn't get a chance to study for the test at all, but still, these scores are horrible :(. Also, my grades are pretty low also, I'm taking high level classes, but I've got one B-, and two A-s.. Is that bad too?
I'm so scared now :(
Thanks</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but I don’t think Exeter would like a 73% for maths. I’m not saying you’ve got zero chances, but they’re pretty slim. I know a girl who got into Exeter with 83% :)</p>
<p>It’s a competitive enough score for Taft, Lawrenceville and Hotchkiss though.</p>
<p>I’m taking maths 3 years ahead of my grade… Do they factor in that stuff? I hear that they just disregard all applications with too low of a SSAT score, is that true?</p>
<p>The SSAT math is easy. You should not mess it up if you take math 3 years ahead. However, this is your strong point. You should highlight it in your essay. You may have a chance at Exeter. Many top schools pride themselves for taking low SSAT and rejecting high SSATs.</p>
<p>Of course your scores aren’t “horrible”. 84% of the kids who took the same test would love to be in your shoes.</p>
<p>Re: Your percentiles.
Since your raw scores are all above 700, I’m going to guess that the test form you took was one of the relatively easier versions (each SSAT has its own level of difficulty within a allowable range). More kids got more questions correct, hence the sub 90% percentiles. You don’t state your grade or gender either (don’t, btw), and those variables also affect percentiles.</p>
<p>I never intend to dissuade anyone from applying to any school, but I will use this thread to ask a broader question: Just how/when do some kids pick their “apply to” schools?</p>
<p>Here’s why I ask…if it were me, I’d feel a whole lot better about my chances if I was on the high side of the average. So I’m assuming that the OP here determined what schools he/she should apply to BEFORE getting his/her SSAT scores.</p>
<p>Again, if it were me, and it was important that I go to boarding school because of a paucity of local opportunities, I would definitely expand my range of “apply to” schools beyond a handful of the most selective in the country. </p>
<p>I’m constantly surprised that more people don’t take a similar approach.</p>
<p>Really? I know plenty of strong math students who don’t find it “easy.” A student three years ahead of his or her grade level in math is likely to be very strong in advanced concepts. That doesn’t mean that he or she won’t make silly mistakes when flustered and under stress. It also doesn’t mean that he or she will readily be able to find the solution to a problem designed to misdirect.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom; I am going to have to agree with f2000sa on this one - the SSAT math truly is easy and should not be difficult at all for someone who is three years ahead in math (Alg 2/Trig or Pre-Calculus, perhaps?). Also, to be that good at math, typically students are also good at solving problems quickly, so I don’t see how they would be flustered. Me and everyone I know that took the test finished in a bit over half the time and had more than enough time to check our answers. This being said, I do not mean to be attacking the OP in any way - your scores are not bad at all, and it shouldn’t put off your application too much, IMO. Just make sure you did your best on all other parts of the app - interviews, essays, etc. and hope for the best. Good luck!</p>
<p>@SevenDad; I am also interested in the answer to your question of how people choose their apply-to schools… I am not thinking of anyone in particular when I say this, but so many applicants choose some of the most selective schools in the country to apply to, then come on this board to complain about oddly low SSAT scores… Yes, SSATs are a small part of the application, but they DO count, and they DO say SOMETHING about your intellectual ability, IMO. Still, everyone has their strong points, and low SSAT scores are disregarded in some cases. It still doesn’t make sense though, from a logic point of view. </p>
<p>Sorry if my post offended anyone, it really wasn’t meant to, just stating my opinion. :)</p>
<p>I don’t get this =(. For maths, it said I missed 2 questions… i thought it was really easy, while for verbal, i missed… 17. How can my verbal percentage be higher than maths?
I’m in BC Calc, btw, those skills didn’t help :(</p>
<p>Do schools only look at percentages, don’t they look at the points or scores also?</p>
<p>The percentile shows how you fared compared to other candidates in the past 3 years on each section. I believe I got 9 wrong and omitted 3 for the verbal and still got a 93% - so clearly it’s not a percentage. Plus, the percentile curve for math is very skewed compared to the other two sections. That means if you get one wrong your percentile will drop considerably compared to Verbal and RC.</p>
<p>@Spldaisy; Wow, BC Calculus? Good job! Anyway, back to the SSAT thing. For the most part, I’ve heard that schools only look at the percentiles, but on the other hand they also do know that the math score is super skewed, like EnemyOfTheSun said. Because there are so many Asians taking the test (I am not being racist - I am one of these Asians) and all get perfect scores (literally; 800 out of 800), that means that the percentiles will be that much lower for everyone else, no matter your raw score. I estimate that a 785-800 will get you something in the 90th percentile, a 770-785 will get in something in the 80s, and a 755-560 something in the 70s, but those are just my guesses.</p>
<p>Aaralyn - I stand by what I said before . . . what’s easy for you isn’t necessarily easy for someone else. And the SSAT math test is designed to trip people up. It’s almost as much a reading test as a math test. Sure, the skills involved are basic, but when the test writers do everything possible to point the test taker in the wrong direction, that’s not a simple, straightforward test. For the person who’s not a good test taker in the first place, because of nerves or whatever, this is a recipe for disaster.</p>
<p>And, yes, I agree that someone in advanced math should be past the point of making careless mistakes, but there’s a difference between concepts and skills. In other words, you can be a genius . . . and still have trouble learning to tie your shoes. :)</p>
<p>@dodgersmom; Well, let’s agree to disagree, since I see where you’re coming from. The questions were designed to be tricky, you just get used to seeing those tricks after you take enough standardized tests. Interesting example you used there too - everyone has their strengths! :D</p>
<p>I completed the equivalent of precalc at the time I took my ssat (9th grade). In my opinion I found that though the skills involved in solving the problems were basic enough (highest level was using the Pythagoras theorem), but there were indeed tricky and were worded in ways to trip the student :)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I’m just pretty worried, people here seem to be getting scores in the high 90s and getting disappointed… seems like I don’t have much of a chance. :/</p>
<p>I do recall the SSAT math last year on the December test…I thought it was really easy but in reality the questions were designed to be tricky. There was one problem dealing with the distance from a tree, and while the answer to me was obvious, upon looking back on it I realized that it would depend which side of the tree you were on. I think the SSAT math is designed to trip you up…while it requires very basic math skills you need to think carefully about each one.</p>
<p>I don’t if it’s only this year, but SSAT math was the hardest section for me, the questions were easy, but I didn’t have enough time to do them all! I was really upset about it, I think I omitted 5 or 7</p>
<p>SSAT scores improve with practice and preparation. It is a quircky test. Any chance you could take it again, and use an SSAT prep book like Princeton review/Barrons/Kaplan etc?</p>
Good luck!</p>