Nov 10 SSAT--What did you think?

Prep School Admissions
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<p>I have now heard several more kids had dismal results on the November 10 SSAT. This includes a few that took it in 7th grade and did very well (high 80’s or better). </p>

<p>How much emphasis is REALLY put on the SSAT scores by the Admissions Committees? If the biggest negative is an awful SSAT score, how does that affect acceptance? Conversely, if ALL you have is a terrific SSAT score (and good grades) but not much else, how does that affect things?</p>

<p>Guess I am just trying to understand if it is worth retaking the SSAT if you do poorly. I also wonder how you can do any better by re-taking something you did not do well on, a month later. How much could you expect to improve in one month?</p>

<p>All of this is for general info purposes… our scores are not in yet.</p>

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<p>@london,
I don’t think scores were “supposed” to change significantly in just one month of efforts. I qualified my statement with “supposed” because there were some complaints on this thread of the November test being unusual or erratic(?). Reading my D’s score report, it appears that your scores might change by +/-21 points per section if you just retake them.</p>

<p>More important question would be whether you feel that your SSAT scores significantly deviate from your math class performance. If yes, you might benefit from simply re-taking the test. If not, your scores are likely to fluctuate within the above-mentioned range.</p>

<p>If you want to understand how SSAT might be used in admission decision, I suggest you to take a look at: [SSATB</a> Member Services Training.](<a href=“http://www.ssat.org/membersite.nsf/AllDocs/Form-AM08-G-4/$File/SSATBServicesTraining.pdf"]SSATB”>http://www.ssat.org/membersite.nsf/AllDocs/Form-AM08-G-4/$File/SSATBServicesTraining.pdf) It’s not necessarily how individual schools practice (after all, they are “independent schools”;)), but merely guidelines from SSAT. But then again, I’d be surprised if many schools just take the scores and completely ignore the guidelines.</p>

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<p>Question: My daughter is currently in a junior boarding school. She is a straight A student, a proctor, head ambassador, diversity leader, color officer, involved in community service, athletic co captain and had great interviews. Her SSAT was not fantastic but she is retaking it this weekend. We are also not from the East Coast which I think is a plus. Am I correct in assuming that the BS will heavily consider other things besides her SSAT scores? She is applying to Choate, Loomis, St. Georges, Brooks, Groton and Williston Northampton. A couple of the schools have come straight out and told us that she would be a great fit and she has stood out among the other people they have interviewed. Are SSAT scores really so important when she is top notch in every other category?</p>

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<p>Ok. Thank you. I was just panicking I guess. Sorry…</p>

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<p>Hello, My daughter is in grade 6 and she took the SSAT Middle Level on Nov 17. We did not get the results after three weeks!!! Did anybody else get them? The SSAT has no reasonable excuse beyond “about two weeks after we RECEIVE the results”.</p>

<p>The other question I have relates to the difficulty level of the Middle Level test. My daughter had two poems and three historic texts. And she found the math section challenging although she tested very well in all the prep tests.
Thank you,</p>

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<p>@london. My daughter (gr 6) took the test also on Nov 17 and we did not get the results yet (Dec 7). Also I just found out from my daughter’s colleague that he got his results from Nov 24.
Since you last posted here, did you receive your daughter’s results?</p>