I haven’t yet taken my SSAT, and I want to do really well, but what is really well for Choate, Hotchkiss, or Deerfield? I took a practice test and got 79%, which I know is not good enough. I plan to study repeatedly, but I still want an idea of the scores I should be shooting. If any of you got into these schools (or wait-listed), what was your SSAT??
You really want to aim for the school’s average unless you have something super special (i.e. $$ to give for a building or a very big impact athlete). I believe all the schools you mention are in the mid- to high-80s. My student was about a 90% and was accepted to two of those schools (didn’t apply to the third). Based on my kid’s feedback and scores the verbal section is one you should spend a lot of time on. Plus, if you don’t have geometry as an eighth grader you should study that as well. If you can’t buy the entire assortment of study books available you can find them at your local library and through inter-library loan. There is an online one as well if you search Ivy Global SSAT. Good luck!
I would also add that if this was your first practice test and you didn’t have a lot of familiarity with the test structure prior, 79% is a very good starting point. With some focus on vocabulary, test familiarity, etc., you’ll very likely improve that score well into the 80s or even 90s. If this 79% came after months of study and tutoring (in other words, about your best), it’s not exclusionary. You would be under greater scrutiny by these schools to ensure that you could survive and thrive especially if they are less familiar with your current school and program.
You’ll need scores in the mid 80s to low 90s to be competitive for the schools above.
The application is considered as a whole. Obviously if your score is significantly below the average you are at a disadvantage but I have two children at one of the above referenced schools whose scores were more or less the same as yours. If your SSAT is on the low side, you’ll need to stand out elsewhere in the application.