<p>Got score from October test. Is this score valid to apply with for all schools?<br>
I found a condition(?) that "Take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) in November, December or January" from the webpage of St. Andrew's in Delaware even though I failed to find that kind of condition from the ones of some of top tier schools located in New England.</p>
<p>The schools will accept the score from the October test. I wouldn’t worry about that. If you’re nervous about it, call the admissions department at St. Andrew’s in Delaware. I don’t think they intended to exclude the October tests, it’s just that most students might do better on a later exam, as they’ve had more time to study, and they’ve had 1-3 more months in school.</p>
<p>I’m Periwinkle: I think Nov, Dec is simply a more popular timeframe for people so they list it that way. We did not see any reason to wait, so also took the October test. Apparently scores were put in the mail today.</p>
<p>I think what they care about is that it was taken in the same school year that you are applying…</p>
<p>^^ That was supposed to say “I’m with Periwinkle”…</p>
<p>Platini - how did you do? Did you do as well as you expected?</p>
<p>When visiting and interviewing the summer before applying, an AO recommended taking the SSAT in Dec, not October. She felt that the score would be better and the 3 months in school would “refresh” the students for the exam.</p>
<p>Unless you are applying for rolling admissions, taking the exam in Dec wont hurt your chances.</p>
<p>@Alexz825Mom: Agreed. </p>
<p>However, my D is scheduled to take the SAT in Dec and we are traveling in Nov. I didn’t want her to have two major tests to worry about in any given month.</p>
<p>My son took it in October and November and did best on the October exam. Can’t comment on the Dec exam.</p>
<p>Thanks for your kind replies.
I called St. Andrew’s admissions office as Periwinkle suggested and they replied that’s fine.</p>
<p>@Dakshina - My D got quite high score(98%) compared to my expectation(around 80%).
The reason why I asked to let my D take October test was to warn her because she did not study at all. Of course, I already registered November test.
I plan to cancel the November test. But, it seemed that I saw the message that “SSAT does not refund” when I register the test. Am I right?</p>
<p>Congratulations to your D and you.</p>
<p>My understanding also is that SSAT does not refund.</p>
<p>Got the email SSAT score report too - how do you know which number to use? The national % norm? Or the % score for each section? I see people post a single score - is that averaging all three sections together?</p>
<p>I meant total score’s SSAT percentile. Estimated national percentile is 99.</p>
<p>Last year my October score was significantly higher than my January score. I don’t think being in school for the extra months help that much. I feel like the verbal section is pretty much luck. You get lucky when you know a good amount of the words that they are testing you on.</p>
<p>The score most people post is the overall score that is underneath the breakdown of all three sections towards the top of the page. Don’t look at the national percentile - they are almost always in the 90s, use the percentiles in the box at the top.</p>
<p>OK, now I have it. DS did very well on reading and verbal, but blew up in math. So very skewed scores. Should he take it again? Total overall a 96%.</p>
<p>What were the individual scores?</p>
<p>I thought the results weren’t supposed to come for another week or two. I haven’t gotten anything yet.</p>
<p>@ifax: I was on the phone with them today, and they are mailing the “normal” delivery scores out right now. So depending how far you are from Skillman, NJ…</p>
<p>Their site says that scores are ready between 10-15 days from their receipt of completed tests. I think the “scores in a month” thing is worst case scenario.</p>
<p>The folks who are reporting receipt probably signed up for the optional email or fedex delivery.</p>
<p>Cloudy-as a parent and a college teacher, I hate the idea of over testing. Your child’s score at 96% is great. But understand that even at the top schools 99% does not ensure your child a spot. Many kids had 85% and above and got in top tier schools. It is only one part of the overall picture of what the schools are looking for. I would focus on the essays now. </p>
<p>I firmly believe, having a kid at an Hades school, that they just want to make sure that they can handle the class work. They also look at what classes your child has had and what situation they are coming from, private, public or homeschooling. A child that has algebra2-trig should do better in the math section than a child who hasnt had geometry.</p>
<p>INHO and expereince.</p>
<p>Cloudy15 - If your son feels okay with testing again, then go for it! If not, then don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>If he does decide to take the test again, the schools will mix-and-match the best scores from both tests, so if his math score goes up, that will count, but if his verbal score goes down a bit, it won’t hurt him.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try on the other sections if he retakes it, but he doesn’t have to worry if those scores go down a bit, rather than up.</p>
<p>You can also hold off on reporting the second set of scores until after you look at it. If everything ends up going down, with no improvement in math, 'cause he had a bad day or whatever, then just don’t report those scores to the schools. SSAT gives you the option of not reporting any scores until after you’ve looked at them. When you sign up for the test, just leave the “report to these schools” section blank. There’s no charge for going back later and adding in the schools, as long as you do it online. Just don’t forget to do it by the school’s deadline!</p>
<p>@SevenDad,
Thanks! Last time I took the SSAT it took a little over a month before I got the score. I’m glad they’re mailing it out promptly.</p>