<p>can you do it? (then you can work on whatever area was weak) do they average your scores? practice tests just aren't as reliable than the real thing.</p>
<p>Yeah, a lot of people take it more than twice. They do not average your score.</p>
<p>Several good sources have told us that (in general) students will not change their scores very much on the SSAT, unless of course there is considerable preparation done in between testings. In that case .. you would have to take one very early and one very late in the testing season (i.e. October and January). With applications, interviews, school visits, etc. not to mention regular schoolwork (very important to keep the grades up for First Term Fall 8th Grade) ... sports and ECs ... there's not a lot of time to devote to SSAT preparation. YRMV</p>
<p>My advice is to take the Lower SSAT as a 7th Grader, to gain experience and a feel for the test. See where your weaknesses are .. and spend the Summer and Fall of 8th Grade working on those areas. 8th Grade Math in school will help prepare you for the basic sections ... but you will need an advanced guide (such as Princeton) to "learn" the HS level math. A tutor is also a great investment, especially in helping "solve" some of the trick questions. </p>
<p>In the final analysis .. SSAT scores are considered by most schools to be an "indicator" of your potential and are designed to have questions that you have NEVER SEEN BEFORE! They are not the most important aspect of your application, but will most likely be used as a tie-breaker between students.</p>
<p>I suggest when taking the SSAT take it atleast 2 or 3 times and then send in your best score. Although the SSAT test isnt supposed to vary much in difficulty, sometimes it will. When I applied to private schools last year on my first try I got a 92 percentile. I decided to do it again, and got an 84 percentile. This of course was much lower then my original score. Many friends that had taken the same test on the same day received low scores, and when they re took it a few weeks later, without any additional studying or preparation, scored about 5-15 percent higher.</p>
<p>One thing I don't understand...if you designate schools to send your scores to, and you take them more than once, which score will they count? Or do you not specify any school to receive scores until AFTER you receive your results? But is it too late then?</p>