<p>For those who want to convert their practice test scores into SSAT percentile, I am posting a rough trendline based on SSAT scores/percentiles I could find. You can put this trendline into Excel spreadsheet or use it on a calculator. </p>
<p>y = 3E-05x2.399</p>
<p>y equals 100-percentile
x equals 2400-score</p>
<p>This trendline has an R2 = 0.9551, meaning it s not perfect but very close. Following are some reported scores/percentiles compared with predicted percentiles.</p>
<p>Thanks, pulsar. I am glad you found it useful. It seems to work well between percentiles of 80 and ~96. If I had some more reported scores/percentiles, it could be made more precise, especially for percentiles below 80.</p>
<p>By the way, for clarification, it is “x to the power 2.399”</p>
<p>Do most kids take SSAT practice tests? My kid will be going into it cold. He’s taking the exam in October and has no time between now and then to study.</p>
<p>The book you can order from the SSAT people has two tests in it. That’s pretty much all my daughter is doing to prepare. She is also scheduled for the October sitting. If she isn’t happy with her score, it will give her enough time to retake it. </p>
<p>Some kids do as our do, some study for months with multiple books, some have private tutors and others go to private schools where they drill them for years. Don’t worry about it too much. The test isn’t that hard. Beyond being familiar with the format, and the types of problems, I don’t know that doing a lot of studying is particularly helpful, especially with the verbal.</p>
<p>I didn’t want my D to go I’m cold so bought the Barrons and Princeton Review SSAT/ISEE books just so she’d be able to familiarize herself with types of questions and format of test. She scored in the mid to high 90s on two of the included practice tests, so we didn’t sweat prepping. She’ll be taking the real one in Oct as well…</p>
<p>I know I thought one was better, but I’m traveling on business and will report back when I get home…FYI, don’t be fooled by the covers, they have upper and lower SSAT and ISEE and count all on cover highlight…it might say 6 tests, but only 2 might be the upper SSAT.</p>
<p>As an educator who has taught SAT/ACT science prep courses, the best things the books give you is the entire instructions for the exam, format and practice type questions. I refuse to allow my d to “study for the exam”, but allowed her to be comfortable and the the rules. Would studying have helped her–maybe but life continues and I believe, like most standardized exams, it test long term not short term knowledge.</p>
<p>As we have seen on these boards, getting a 99% but not being well-rounded does not promise entrance to any school/program.</p>
<p>Perusing various posts at CC, I think following are some of the factors which matter </p>
<p>Ability to pay (School funds are limited and go for FA to enrolled students first)
Boarding/day (boarding easier than day)
SSAT score (Higher the better; >80 percentile ideal)
Grades
Teacher recommendations
Interview performance (sociability, pleasant personality, etc.)
Athletic ability or interest (potential varsity level player; or interested in sports recreationally)
Extracurricular activities (leadership skills; organizational ability, writing/editing, debate, science/math olympiad/fair/bowl, etc.)
Extra-ordinary abilities (dance & music recitals, national level junior player, etc.)
Mix of applicants (how many other candidates with similar profiles applied to a particular school)</p>
<p>What did I miss?</p>
<p>I would also like to add a comment about 99 percentile SSAT scores. Not all 99 percentilers are equal. The 99 SSAT percentile ranges from almost 2325 to 2400. 98 percentile cut off is ~2260. Then there is dramatic drop-off to 90 percentile at ~2200. A 99 percentile at 2325 probably is not much different from a 95 percentile at ~2230 (considering the test’s measurement error), while a 99 percentile at 2390 may be someone special. Anybody agree?</p>
<p>The only thing I’d add to your list is the absence of negative factors-no crazy parents, discipline problems or wildly unrealistic expectations. These can kill an application no matter how well qualified a candidate may otherwise be.</p>
<p>Schools are trying to build a community of learners. They’re looking for students who will contribute to that community in positive ways. The kid who will make the biggest impact is not always the one with the highest SSATs.</p>
<p>@Invent: Back at home, I see that we have PR and McGraw Hill (not Barrons). PR is good because it has score charts, but only ONE sample upper level SSAT (plus one lower SSAT and 3 ISEE).</p>
<p>While the McGraw Hill has 3 sample upper level SSAT tests — but no scoring chart, which you may not need given the formula provided by Dakshina above. One nice thing about the McGraw Hill is that it has explanations of the correct sample test answers, the PR book does not.</p>
<p>So…if I had to buy just one, I’d buy the McGraw Hill…even if it looks thinner than the PR. We bought them for the sample tests, not really for any vocab prep — though both books contain helpful test taking strategies (mostly regarding pacing and guessing).</p>
<p>Kaplan’s another one to consider…we liked it for math because it actually explained how to solve problems son got wrong…and offered some great advice for how to approach some of the problems (algebra for example) quickly. I think I’m remembering that it had two uppoer level tests, but I’m not positiive.</p>
<p>Sue, I agree with you completely about absence of negative factors. A single red flag about behavior issues can negate an otherwise excellent application.</p>
<p>Does anybody know how many students take the SSAT exam every year, on average?</p>
<p>I would like a clarification of the formula. I tried it, and could not get the right answer. Can you please clarify what the exact formula is ? I am guessing it is: </p>
<p>y = (0.00003) times (x ^ 2.399) </p>
<p>but this provides an answer that is way off. Appreciate your help.</p>
<p>We still have an issue to evaluate, if this score will be good to place him to the private scchool ? Wwhat’s his %, if high 2400?
Thanks in advance</p>
<p>First calculate x ( x = 2400 - score)
Use the formula to calculate y
Finally, subtract y from 100 to get percentile.</p>
<p>For example, my child had a score of 2305.
x = 2400 - 2305 = 95
x^2.399 = 55534
y = 3E-5 (times) 55534 = 1.67
Percentile = 100 - 1.67 = 98.3
Which is the same as SSAT calculated percentile (98).</p>
<p>If you like, you can PM me the score and I can do the calculation for you.</p>
<p>They should list percentiles on the score report. Percentiles are more meaningful, because students from several grades take the same test. The percentile rankings go by school grade and gender; I believe they use three-year aggregates (feel free to correct me if that’s incorrect, and it’s a five-year aggregate). If the percentiles are at all similar now to what they were several years ago, LDynya, those scores are respectable, but unspectacular. If your son is an excellent student, who can expect strong recommendations, and has either a well-rounded array of extracurriculars, or excels in one particular sport or activity, he can probably get into some very good schools. Just keep an open mind and heart regarding what schools are “good,” and don’t get your heart set on one particular school. If your test report didn’t break down percentiles, try the SSAT website. The curve is pretty high, especially for boys in math. On his second try, my oldest son received his highest score (mid-700s), but lowest percentile (79th, if I remember correctly) in math. His verbal scores were slightly lower, but were both above 90th percentile. One admissions officer said that international students dominate the highest percentiles, so they don’t expect American public school students to score quite as high.</p>