<p>Admissions dont only look at SSAT scores, although it would not harm you to raise them, they really want to know how you will contribute to their school and how you are a good fit. Personality is a big factor, but if you are only applying to some of the more prestigious BS then you may need to raise those SSAT scores. Hopefully they will realize some people just aren’t good test takers.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Oh, c’mon . . . get real. No, schools don’t look only at SSAT scores, but they do look at them, and an applicant with scores significantly outside a school’s mid-range will NOT be considered. Period. He or she may have an absolutely delightful personality . . . won’t make a difference.</p>
<p>The school’s objective is to identify students, first and foremost, who will succeed if admitted to that school. Once the applicant pool has been culled down to those potentially successful students, then other factors such as personality, extracurriculars, etc. come into play. A candidate with an SSAT score of 30 - 40% is NOT going to make the cut at a school where the average admittee’s SSAT score is 94%. That’s just a fact. </p>
<p>If a candidate isn’t performing well on the SSAT, there are three options:</p>
<p>(1) Try the ISEE. For some candidates, it’s a better test. (But be aware that not all schools accept it.)</p>
<p>(2) Get tested by an educational psychologist to find out if there’s a specific reason the candidate isn’t performing well on the test. If there’s an identifiable issue that interferes with the candidate’s performance, appropriate accommodations could make all the difference in the world . . . and could make a significant difference in the candidate’s high school performance as well! Testing is sometimes covered by insurance.</p>
<p>(3) Apply to schools that routinely accept candidates with scores in that range. So, you’re a good student with low scores? Well, you’re not alone . . . and there are plenty of excellent schools that would probably be thrilled to have you as a student.</p>
<p>But, no matter how much you want it, an SSAT score of 34 is not going to get you into Andover. Apply, save the rejection letter, and 20 years from now when you’re the CEO of Big Important Corporation and your picture is on the cover of Newsweek, you can make a photocopy of that letter, send it back to the Andover admissions office, and tell them what a huge mistake they made! But, in the meantime, you’ll have to find yourself a different school.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Can your parents afford to donate a new dorm building? I’m being dead serious.</p>
<p>If you’re scoring in the 80s on the practice tests, but in the 30s on the actual SSAT, perhaps you have a problem taking tests. Did you take the practice tests under (simulated) similar time constraints? Do you have test-taking habits which might decrease your score? </p>
<p>Do you use #2 pencils? Do you color in the blanks darkly enough? Do you skip around the answer sheet? → skipping problems could lead to mis-bubbling, which would explain the drop in scores.</p>
<p>I have known families who have learned of a child’s learning disabilities through the private school application process. It is more common than you’d think.</p>
<p>You can probably have one low score if you do well on the others. My daughter scored very high on Math and not so high on Verbal and still got into 3 top schools.</p>
<p>I over think a majority of what I do. I’ve looked at the way i have taken these tests I am always nervous and I have idea how to calm myself down.
I don’t have a disability… I may score low but I think my nervousness worsens my score</p>
<p>What schools did you get into???</p>