Hello,
So the SSAT scores for my testing date come out tomorrow and I feel terrible about my score. If I get below a certain score, is it worth sending it in? What would this score be? And will I be at a disadvantage if I don’t submit?
If you are applying to a test optional school, submitting a test score is optional! If you don’t feel your score makes your application stronger, leave it off.
Clearly, for some applicants, a good score helps convey that they have a certain set of skills that will be useful in BS. That may be one useful data point for the AO. But AOs are also pretty savvy in their evaluation of applicants, even those without scores. So no, you aren’t disadvantaged.
Depends on what the score and percentage actually turns out to be! Also might depend on how you scored on the different sections. Though I am simply a parent of a prospective applicant, I would guess that a composite percentage in the high 80s or above would be OK to submit to virtually all schools.
Here is one concern I will share if you have a low SSAT score overall and/or a significantly lower score on one scale of the test. This is based on the SSAT from several years ago, so not sure if the framework has changed. Our kiddo had a relatively high Math SSAT score (>94%), but a relatively low score on Reading (<80%) but high Vocabulary (>85%). That one stinker score on Reading was due in large part to timing and not managing time well.
I mentioned this situation in another post, but here it goes. To our dismay, Kiddo’s SSAT scores are kept on the student profile throughout their career at this BS…which IMHO is (wait for it) BS. So, all the teachers and counselors at school can see the SSAT score from 8th grade. When Kiddo was recommended to take (lets just say) a certain AP course in 11th grade, the academic admin people nixed it because of kiddo’s “low SSAT score on Reading”. EVEN THOUGH kiddo has had consistently high grades in English/History >90’s Or all A’s since Freshman year in Honors level classes. So, they used the old SSAT score to winnow out Kiddo from the AP class. We fought it and kiddo got into the class, but it was a fight and a ridiculous one at that.
So proceed with caution if you have a low SSAT score - especially now since most schools are test optional.
Ok, so you said to preceded with caution if I have a low score. I got in the 76th percentile because of my reading composition. I can’t do online English for my life. Should I submit it? English was in the 64th percentile but the rest are above 85. There aren’t any more open slots for me to retake the test either.
edit: I could take it on January 4, should I retake and see if I do better?
OP hasn’t said what schools they are applying to (at least not in this thread). Without context, the 76th percentile could be high, average, or low relative to the school’s population. I would just send in SSAT scores to schools where your scores are above average. And you could also broaden your search to include more schools where that criteria is met.
Just as a thought - I think it’s preferable to be at a school where you are above average vs below average.
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Hi there @jackb192 - This is a strange year. If you have one low score and the rest ok > 83 you should be ok. Remember, a lot of kids will not even be submitting scores. Just be aware that a low Reading score could be used in the future. By contrast, your placement test for Math (done in the Spring before you arrive) is generally used to determine which math test you will be in.
If you have the means to retake, you should do it because Jan 4 is still pretty fresh in your mind. You may get something better. A 76 across the across the board is better than 83, 67 etc
As a parent, I think taking several tests is always a good choice. Some kids are really consistent scorers. Some kids vary a lot. Tests vary. I would book it for my kid because it would reveal a lot. My kid usually has a big jump on the second real test because they feel more comfortable.
I totally forgot to list that. The best schools I’m applying to are Andover, Exeter, Choate, Blair, Deerfield, as well as some lesser-known boarding schools in VA, NC, and SC.
I definitely feel this; my practice tests would range a lot in the section depending on which platform I took them on. I’d usually get about a 37-38 raw score on paper and about a 30-33 on the computer.
Can you elaborate? Are you saying that a low Reading score can change my English class placement in a boarding school? I understand what you said about math, but not so much for this.
It did not make sense to us, but the school used it against kiddo 3 years AFTER the SSAT was taken. The reading score was used not only for sifting out kiddo for English (did not work BTW) and for an AP science class. We fought it and got the courses we needed. But, still…did not make sense especially because kiddo’s actual performance in Honors courses were all A’s.
Was this for BS? If so, what school? That would drive me away from a school if they used your scores against you three years later. They really shouldn’t do that for testers this year because of the online platform. So many students are used to annotating, and honestly just reading on paper. I get super distracted when reading online.
@Golfgr8 If I am not mistaken, your kid attends Deerfield that my kid and we have huge respect and applying to the school. However, your post, I must confess, lowered DA’s prestige in our eyes. It has no pedagogical reasoning to act based on a test taken a few years ago. Awkwardly, it puts the school in a position that they do not trust/value their own education that a student could improve his reading, etc during his/her years at high school. Specific to your case, the student has perfect grades in high school, yet the school doesn’t trust its own grading/assessment and goes with SSAT. I mean, really?
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That doesn’t make a lick of sense. Don’t they realize kids grow and also people can have a bad day. Basing future decisions on a baseline score makes no sense at all. It should be based on the class performance in the related subject, teacher recommendations and the kids’ propensity to work hard.
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Totally agree my friends @Happytimes2001 and @chemsider. It was especially disappointing that my kiddo had been recommended for this AP course by her current Honors teacher and counselor. I feel like the school needed to make room in the class for fac-kids - we actually knew that kids who had not been in the pre-req were placed because they were fac-kids. We had to fight this and kiddo ended up getting an A in the course. This just seemed totally bogus to us. This situation also seemed like cherry-picking kids who they thought were not going to put up a fight. I am telling you this because you should a) be aware that these are maneuvers schools can use and b) yep - very disappointed that our school tried to play this game with us while disregarding that their student had made Honor roll each term since first year Spring. Favoritism is shown toward legacy students and fac-kids.
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Hopefully this information will prepare you for certain “games” that schools may play.
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Wow, @Golfgr8 we haven’t ever seen that Fac kids or legacies are given preference ( beyond acceptance where it’s obvious). That would definitely not fly.
Have noticed that both (fac and leg) are much lower (on average)academically than the other kids. We have also noticed that many ( though by no means all) athletes are also lower academically. We’ve also seen that in sports where the school has won the league championship or is well known the students tend to be more closely aligned with the norm. Perhaps they have a bigger and better group of kids to pick from.
I was surprised at this during my oldests Freshman year but then realized that they pick a well rounded class of kids who are academic, into sports, into music etc. Many kids fill multiple buckets but some are firmly planted in one. So if you/your kid is really strong in one area don’t be surprised if the entire school has pockets of other strengths and abilities. All good. I just was expecting every kid to be a stellar student.
BTW, in case you are wondering if grades were a factor…kiddo had earned a strong A in the previous/pre-prerequisite science course and a strong A throughout English classes. Honor Roll student. So, to our point, this was a cheap and hurtful way to sift out students. This has also now added fuel to the fire of distrust of faculty as well as added to test anxiety. Kiddo ended up earning an A in the most recent AP science class. BTW, Kiddo scored very high in the pre-testing or placement testing prior to arriving at school in 9th grade. Placed in highest math group for entering 9th graders. So, something else must have been going on. It was interesting that our kid was the one chosen to be blocked out of the class. You can PM me for more information. There are some kids (like mine) who just have “bad luck” at their school. I am sharing this with you all with the hope you will learn from our experiences.
- Many schools will keep your kid’s SSAT score on their platform or profile so that the teachers can see this. Same with PSAT scores from test taken at school and SAT scores reported to your school. ALso, a test prep organization was about to report Kiddo’s practice SAT to the school before we stopped them. So, before you sign up for a practice test with a school endorsed company or any company, make sure you indicate in writing that you do NOT want your kid’s scores reported to your prep school.
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