<p>Upper level score (8th grade)</p>
<p>Verbal 716 (SSAT Percentile 84%), Math 689 (64%), Reading 701 (83%)</p>
<p>Estimated National Percentile: 95%, 96%, and 96%</p>
<p>How does this score viewed?</p>
<p>"How does this score viewed?" - What does that mean</p>
<p>Overall that is an OK at best score. If you expect to get into the "top" or most selective schools you better have something extra special about you because those scores WILL NOT get you in. For example andover's average SSAT score was 93% overall. You should be looking more in the mid-range and schools such as brooks or governors.</p>
<p>those scores aren't terrible and I think that your EC's should definitely support that to show the admission officers that you are not just that.</p>
<p>these scores will be only a part of your application. you can get into top schools with these scores. the key is having something else besides test scores.</p>
<p>Pepe, those scores are a good start and well within the range of accepted students at schools that are not the most competitive. Just so you know, the "national percentages" are meaningless. It is the "SSAT percentages" that people go by. Also, it is helpful to list your overall % and the sorts of schools you are thinking of. For the most competitive schools, those scores are fine if you are an under-represented minority or very strong athlete, but a bit low otherwise. You have to take the test again in the fall anyway and remember that SSAT scores are only one part of your application. They do count, but so does everything else.</p>
<p>A great start, but some preparation this summer (any one of the regular prep books are good) will help you boost the scores. The national percentiles are not used by prep schools - only the SSAT percentiles although more and more schools are using the raw scores which are normed out of 800 just like the SATs. Generally, most competitive schools like the total score to be over 85% while the most competitive like a score over 90%. That said, you are more than your score - your other contributions, activities, grades at current school, and teacher recommendations are all extraordinarily important.</p>
<p>In terms of the SSAT - remember that you can take it more than once so you may wish to sign up for a November test date to see how it goes and then do any additional prep if you want to raise you score for a January test. January is not too late for the schools.</p>
<p>Where are you thinking of applying?? Best of luck!</p>
<p>I'm guessing the overall percentile is low-mid 80's (even with the math). That is high enough to get into any school as it "puts you in the game" so to speak. It shows you can do the work. Now you need the grades, the recommendations, and the rest of the application to back it up.</p>
<p>pepe,
Man's note was that the average of andover was 93%. That means that some were better and some were worse. So do not NOT apply to your choice. You have time, perhaps get a study guide and then retake.</p>
<p>Pepe,</p>
<p>If it makes you feel better, take the test again.</p>
<p>Still ...
There are plenty of students at the top schools mentioned here with similar scores you have. </p>
<p>There are soooo many other reasons students are selected, not only SSATs test scores.</p>
<p>Interviews, recommendations, essays, ec's, sports, arts, ranks, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>lol, I got a 64% in math too! :)</p>
<p>im not saying you cant get in, im saying you need to be well above average in everything else or have something extra-special about you.</p>
<p>SSAT is only one part of the application, it's as important as recommendation, essay, school grade and interview.
If you have time, do more practice during the summer and take another test.
Good luck !</p>
<p>it's a good start. keep trying and pick up a workbook or two</p>
<p>Everyone says that the SSAT isn't a big deal (or at least compared to other things), but it's still pretty difficult to get 99 in anything (at least for me). So I would try and aim for a high score, one that kind of puts you in a different category from most other people (97+?) but don't spend too much time on it since it's just an indicator of your academic level.</p>
<p>As I was told by an admissions officer from a school very often mentioned around here, another reason they interview students is to look for a “personality that will fit into the school’s spirit”. </p>
<p>This person told me that sometimes they reject students (in some cases students in the overall 99% percentiles) because they come up in the interview as cocky, arrogant, full-of-themselves … and they think these students certainly will be difficult to deal with in the boarding environment.</p>
<p>Just to put this in perspective ….</p>
<p>I've heard that weakness is Math is not held against applicants as much as weakness in Reading and Verbal because those skills apply to all courses whereas Math is Math. So my take is that these two mid-80th percentiles make you a contender at some top schools provided you have stellar grades. Your chances improve if one or more of the following is true: you possess a standout talent, you are an athlete, you live in an obscure zip code, etc. </p>
<p>That said, it would not hurt to study up and try to improve these scores.</p>
<p>If you are an amazing musician or athlete, your scores are probably good enough for a school that appreciates your talents and you fit. This was the case for my son at 3 schools this year and he was accepted at his top choice.</p>
<p>The other thing to remember about math is that you need to be near perfect to score a high percentile. AND, there is geometry on it, not everyone has had that and of course that effects the score. </p>
<p>Truly, a score in the 80's overall puts you in the game AT ANY SCHOOL. You do not have to be the best ever at anything else to get in (it certainly helps), but you have to have a solid application in all other areas. </p>
<p>Just as, and as NewD said and others will say a million times before next March 10 when we'll see it happen again - plenty of students with 99's are not accepted. AESD could FILL the schools with 99's - that's not what they are looking for.</p>
<p>A score of 60's in math is not a bad score at all.
The reason: There are so many kids who get perfect scores in the math section thus skewing the percentiles.
You can get 8 out 10 right in that test, you think you get an 80, you will get a 60.
8 out of 10 -average is a great score anywhere.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The reason: There are so many kids who get perfect scores in the math section thus skewing the percentiles.
[/quote]
exactly. my son got very few wrong on the math and had a 72 percentile. His reading was 94 and he got a 92% overall.</p>