<p>I was wondering, do the schools see only the scores from the test date that you sent?</p>
<p>For example, if you took the test in Nov. but did not send it to any schools; then you take the Dec. test and you do send it to schools---will they see the Nov test on the score report too?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>They will only see the December test, they won't see the November one.</p>
<p>you sure about that?</p>
<p>it was my understanding they got both</p>
<p>I had the same question and called the SSAT organization directly. A representative told me that while the school will only receive the test scores from the test date you request submitted, you will be identified as a multiple test taker.</p>
<p>The SSAT organization phone# is: 609-683-4440 (EST).</p>
<p>I don't know what type of school you attend, but at my kid's school - a Jr. Prep - they have their SSAT scores listed on their transcripts. At least the ones that they took through the school (they are a testing site). The schools wont' get the essays of course, but in our case, they will see my son's 7th and 8th grade scores. Keep in mind, this is NOT from the SSAT org, but from the school</p>
<p>I wondered -- and still wonder -- whether there's anything to be gained by selecting the schools that receive the scores before you know the results.</p>
<p>For example, my S took the SSAT last November. I signed up for a bulk package that allowed for up to 10 schools to receive the scores. I had until the Thursday after the test (I think) to withdraw the name of a school that I had predesignated as a recipient of the scores. I had virtually no time limit to select the schools that would receive the scores.</p>
<p>Considering that schools don't need the scores until January, is there any reason to designate the schools that will receive the scores until then? (The scores are sent out weekly, so you can argue that there's a small timing consideration for those who hold off deep into January; so let's say we plan to select the schools right after the New Year.)</p>
<p>The only thing that I can think of is that a school might be more impressed with a student that was certain of both performance and the school as his/her choice that the student's scores were sent in the initial wave of scores forwarded by SSAT for that test administration. It's also a sort of convoluted, if not paranoid, rationale for selecting the recipient schools up front. But is it true or is there some other reason/advantage to designating recipient schools before you know the result (and, possibly, before you're in a position to know which schools will be the ones you finally apply to)?</p>
<p>Off Topic a little - I'm going to have to check with our school as they sign the kids up for the test so I'm not sure how we get the scores/essays sent to the schools we want and/or if we can sign up for the bulk package. Every other year, we just got the scores fowarded to us from OUR school - they got them first since for all the kids since they signed them up. You have to sign up for the bulk package in advance right?</p>
<p>When my son took the test 2 years ago, we signed up for the bulk package of up to 10 schools, and we did not designate any schools prior to taking the test (an Oct. test). In fact, we did not send any scores until we had an idea of the schools to which he would apply. I'm assuming the system is still the same. You could even manage the schools on line, and I was able to add schools after the first mailing because we had not exceeded 10. </p>
<p>We received the scores by email much faster than we thought we would. I don't know if this is standard practice, or just because the Oct. administration is much smaller. </p>
<p>We signed up in advance for this service. I don't know if you can sign up for it later.</p>
<p>I believe that's correct. The bulk package option is marketed before you know the results. They're trying to sell you these products -- the forwarding of scores -- before any hopes or dreams are dashed. Or maybe it's before you see a score that makes you think you can apply to just one or two schools instead of 8.</p>
<p>It's the same philosophy that should inform us that they're not about to send more than one set of scores with each forwarding request. If you want those earlier scores to go, you need to pay for them separately!</p>
<p>My S's school -- which served as his test center -- had no clue about his score. Only one other student from his school took the test during that administration of it. The rest came from other public and private schools in the region. I suppose that a school where the SSAT is the usual and customary path might register students and pay for the test scores to be reported to the school itself as part of what you, the parent, pays for.</p>
<p>I think the premise of the original question - Does a school know that you are retaking the test? - is that the OP is worried about looking like she is gaming the system by taking the test twice or that a bad test score on one test would negatively affect admissions chances.</p>
<p>To that thought, I'd say that every school understands that a kid can have a bad day. Either they got a poor night's sleep (mine did), or they were sick (very common). When asked the same question about the SAT for college, everyone accepts that you should take the SAT twice (or even 3 times, but no more - switch to the ACT if you are not satisfied at that point) unless you get a 1500+/2250+ - once you get to that level retaking can be seen as a bit of unnecessary perfectionism/paranoia.</p>
<p>So go ahead and sign up twice - especially if you are taking the test in back-to-back months because you won't be able to see the results of the first test before the second test sign-up deadline.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>That would also mean that you'd want to but the 10-school reporting bundle for both tests, right? Or, at least do that for the SECOND try and then suck it up and pay a la carte if you need to report the first set of scores if there was no improvement.</p>
<p>I have a question about what part of the score the schools are looking at -- what do they look at when evaluating a student -- the scaled score, the estimated national percentile rank or the ssat percentile ranks?? When a school lists a certain range they are looking for or that the average applicant has, what score are they looking for?</p>
<p>I would assume (ASSUME) that it's any or all of the above. I cannot imagine how a school would look at one set of numbers and say, "This student has the aptitude to succeed at Flugenphifer Academy" and then look at the other numbers and say, "Oh, gee, well now that's a horse of a different color." </p>
<p>If you're in the fairly large statistical band (for even the most selective schools) where the scores indicate an aptitude to succeed at a particular school, there's really not much more analysis beyond that that they're giving your SSAT score report. Not when they've got transcripts and teacher recommendations and essays, and personal interview notes and other, better information to animate an application.</p>
<p>They're not looking at these numbers with a fine tooth comb, so that a raw score of 45 in November beats a 46 in October even though they're both the same %ile.</p>
<p>What each school lists is largely marketing and a coarse aid to enable students to engage in some (but not too much) self-selection when choosing where to apply. The schools are asked to report data, so that sometimes dictates which numbers you see. They also like to market these numbers, to show that they are selective, which (in theory) means they could list numbers that put their best foot forward. </p>
<p>As for "what score are they looking for?" I think the score they look for is 99%ile...because that's good for their averages and bragging rights. But it's just not something they value so highly that that score will leap past an otherwise more qualified, better fitting applicant. All things being equal (and they never are), a 99%ile score will beat a 98%ile score. In the real world, however, a 82%ile score beats a 99%ile score where that 82%ile score is backed by other indicia of that candidate being able to succeed and contribute to the school.</p>
<p>thanks D'yer -- that makes sense.</p>
<p>I guess what I wondered (and I think I will have to directly ask the school) is that several schools have indicated that they prefer that students have at least an 85% ssat score -- so I wondered which scale that was on. </p>
<p>We were told this by at least three schools -- in different language, but all three used the 85%. At one school, this is what they look for when awarding their scholarship, at another that is the minimum score they are looking for in FA candidates and at another school that is the minimum score that they prefer incoming freshman to have. that's why I was wondering -- my son is really starting to do some prep work for the SSAT he will take in December and I just wasn't sure what he should be aiming for.</p>
<p>I realize that the other factors play a large role in determining admittance, but since all three did mention a specific SSAT %, it seemed like they would want students to be in that ballpark to be competitive, especially for FA funds.</p>
<p>for hsmomstef</p>
<p>When people mention an SSAT score like 85%, they mean the actual overall combined ranking provided on the score report by SSAT based on the 3 different areas. It is not an average of the 3 %s. You can be below 85 in each of the 3 individual areas or have an average of them below 85 and still score 85 overall. 85% does seem to come up as the cut off for a "top score."</p>
<p>I think the estimated national ranks are there to make people remember that this is a tough test and not to feel bad if they score a 65% or something, to remind them that's pretty good considering. THe 85% does not refer to national rankings I don't really know what the estimated SSAT ranges are for, probably the same thing.</p>
<p>Why is your son waiting until Dec to take the test the first time? If he takes it in Nov he will have that useful test result info much sooner and can re-take it if needed. It is extremely hard to predict your score from practice tests. For SSAT best practice is a real test.</p>
<p>Inquiring mind -- thanks so much for the information!</p>
<p>we are going to try and schedule in a test in November -- but the date of the test he has three other commitments, so we are trying to figure it out. Right now, he is planning on taking the December test and maybe the January test -- we just haven't figured it out yet.</p>