My test is coming up really soon, and I feel somewhat confident about the math and reading sections. But the verbal section, that’s what I struggle in most. Is there any good way to ‘study’ for the verbal section?
For me, the most helpful way to study was flashcards. Quizlet is an amazing resource because you can study pre-made vocab sets, or make your own. It’s helpful to have a special way of memorizing words (mnemonics worked for me).
In the days leading up to your test, you shouldn’t cram your head with words, but focus on test strategies instead. One particular book that really helped me was Success on the Upper Level SSATs. Here are some valuable things I learned from it:
SYNONYMS: Before looking at the answer choices, read the word and see what pops into your head. Then, see if it appears in the answer choices. SSAT writers try to throw in words that SEEM like they would be right, but reallly are different. This strategy helps block out the trick words. But you have no idea what the word means, look at the answer choices. You’d be surprised to see how many choices you could eliminate.
ANALOGIES: Look for answer choices that aren’t related. Eliminate those. Form relationship sentences from the remaining choices, and compare them with the given relationship.
Good luck, hope this helped!!
use quizlet, as lilypad123 said, and go on test mode, then change the options to ‘multiple choice’. you get questions that basically mirror the synonym questions on the actual ssat.
with analogies, one thing that really helped was figuring out relationships (E.g. cause and effect, antonyms, variance of degree, actor and object). also, if four have the same relationship, i picked the one that’s different.
1 Like
Are there any particular lists on Quizlet you used? If so, can you provide links? Thanks in advance.
@ArdenNJ search up SSAT verbal on quizlet, there are a ton
SAT vocab books/lists work well, though. They are essentially the same thing.
PlantKid recommended this in one of the threads: https://quizlet.com/8062978/ssat-500-words-flash-cards/
I use it, but dang, it takes so much time. I use Quizlet’s “learn” feature by the way.
From my own experience, skills such as word roots, calculated guesses, and the like will only get you so far. The most simple and straightforward way to excel in Verbal is to just learn tons and tons of vocab.
PS. From a personal view, I thought that looking at vocab in a book and trying to remember it was more effective than using Quizlet. But I understand that we’re all different.
For those people who have taken (or who have kids that’s taken) this year’s SSAT’s, what are your thoughts on it?
We don’t have much experience with standardized tests. Only one brief “state” test per year. Some students have more testing experience. The math is straight forward. The Verbal is a bit tricky I hear. It seems that the items for synonyms and analogies are often using the least obvious definitions - if you study, also study the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th definition for the word. For example, know multiple ways to use the word “adamant”. Also, how many 13 year old would actually use the word “adroit” or even know it, unless they were studying for the SSAT? There are some parents that will write on this thread that a student should know that word — but there is such a disconnect these days between the language in the real world versus the SSAT language. If there were tests on text language or text abbreviations, most of us parents would fail!! From what we are hearing from CC folks, there seems to be limited consistency with the vocabulary on the tests and the content of materials now pervasive in the Common Core curriculum and/or the IB curriculum. Those kids who have studied basic Latin seem to have an edge. :-t