<p>Any other methods of studying or using tutors to prepare for SSAT. My son used several of the prep books but had pretty poor scores. Was wondering if there were tutoring services out there that have helped the child score well on the SSAT.</p>
<p>Go through with him where he’s making mistakes–there are almost always patterns. Then search on line for techniques for those type of questions (i.e. reading comp. inference question was the one for my literal son and we found some tips, did a few each night together using the tips, and poof, he got 100% on those). There is so much on the web that you can use, if you see what type of questions they are getting wrong and try to adapt one of the suggested techniques. If the mistakes are more random and without discernible patterns, then unfortunately it’s a focusing issue (which a tutor and tips cannot help).</p>
<p>I’m a student who recently took the SSAT. I got a very good score, and I think ultimately reading novels helps one expand their vocabulary for the verbal section. Reading newspapers and/or magazines can help as well. I highly suggest TIME magazine if your son has an interest in current events. An excellent website is [WordlyWise3000.com</a> — Vocabulary Reinforcement for All](<a href=“http://www.wordlywise3000.com/]WordlyWise3000.com”>http://www.wordlywise3000.com/) for expanding one’s vocabulary (go to book 8 or above). For the math section, (I know you asked for other methods) I used the official SSAT study guide, which gives you a good sense of what the math on the actual test is like. I assume you have seen this book. Sorry, I do not know of any tutoring services, but these are the best tips I’ve got.</p>
<p>look up Princeton prep or inspirica.</p>
<p>Thanks for comments on SSAT prep. We will explore these options for our 13 year old. He gets 100 in math in school on every test and on the SSAT practice tests. He also did very well on the books with the synonyms/etc. We did 5 different books he did so well but on the real test he did very poorly on all sections. Hopefully him retaking and trying admissions again next year will not hurt him. We decided not to try this year after the SSAT scores.</p>
<p>He could take an SAT course. It’s a similar test just more advanced.</p>
<p>Not so sure I agree with PhotoOp on the SAT - check into that.</p>
<p>Brooks offers SSAT review as part of a summer program - day students only.
Taft and Tabor also offer as part of summer program. Tabor looks like a lot of fun for a 3 week summer session. No personal experience there.</p>
<p>We used the SSAT study guide, and a mix of Princeton and Barrons. Search these threads - somewhere there was a discussion about one being better for math and one better for English. We tore out sections of each based upon what he felt he needed to work more with.</p>
<p>In the end, he said what made the difference between taking it in 8th and then 9th grades - was that he was more relaxed because he knew the procedure and was comfortable in the test.</p>
<p>Pricy suggestion - BUT if you are not going to apply this year - then your student could take the test two or three more times by June 2011. Starting in Sept 2011 you can only send out scores from that academic calendar year. And no schools see those scores unless you send them anyway. The real test situation practice might help alleviate anxiety.</p>
<p>Thanks agains for suggestions. mamakiwi your suggestion about taking it several times is something I am also thinking about, but are you saying that if my son takes it in April, 2011 and thankfully does well, we cannot submit that after September, 2011. He has to take it again then after September??</p>
<p>Yes, you are correct. Scores must be from the school year in which you are applying. The first test that he could take that would be considered as a part of next year’s application would be October 2011.</p>
<p>One school told us they will look at any scores from any year and will consider the highest. That was good news for us since someone my child’s scores dropped this year. </p>
<p>Just got the Barron’s book and it seems good. One suggestion they make is when you are reading and you come across a word you don’t know, you HAVE TO LOOK IT UP in a dictionary. So many times we all (children and adults alike) just infer what it means or ask someone. Looking it up is what really helps. </p>
<p>the other thing I guess is to know that unless you can narrow an answer down to 2, you should not guess - wrong answers hurt your score more than blanks do.</p>