When does the SSAT Count?

<p>If my D takes the SSAT in June, to get a feel for it, and we do not forward her scores to any schools and she takes the test again in the Fall, will the schools have access to her June scores.</p>

<p>i think the only ones that get sent are the ones you specify are to be sent to a school
my friend took a 'practice' ssat and then another one and they only got her later ones
plus, they're kind of easy so twice really wouldn't be necessary</p>

<p>I believe that the schools will only get the scores that are sent to them. The school will know that your D has taken the test more than once as that is in the report from the SSAT. But not to worry, the schools don't care about taking the test multiple times. </p>

<p>I am going on memory here so anyone please correct me if I am wrong.</p>

<p>SSAT is different than SAT, schools will not know how many times you took the test, they only have the scores you specify to send.
Most schools only accept scores within 6 months, check with them to make sure.</p>

<p>If I'm wrong, correct me.</p>

<p>I was thinking it was like other exams where the previous scores are reported.</p>

<p>I did a search:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/398959-ssat-score-reporting-schools.html?highlight=ssat+reporting%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/398959-ssat-score-reporting-schools.html?highlight=ssat+reporting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I had a similar question so I called the admissions office. </p>

<p>My son will be applying in the fall and he wanted to take the SSAT in June as a kind of "warm-up". I asked the person at the school if he would have to take it again in the fall, even if he did well. He told us that he would, because - and this is the important part - they wanted him ranked with the grade he would be in when the application was made, or the grade prior to his grade he was applying to. Our school year doesn't close until the end of June.</p>

<p>Whether he could ask to be ranked in a higher grade than he actually is, I don't know. I'd have to ask the SSAT people. I would guess, "no", since it would confound their statistics for the next three years. It's just seems like a shame to spend $$$ for a practise that we couldn't use if it turns out well.</p>

<p>Schools require scores that are less than 6 months old by admission deadline of 1/15 - thus ruling out a June testing date. Many kids take the test as a "practice" in Nov and then schedule another one for Dec or Jan (it is NOT too late to do in January). </p>

<p>Schools will see if a student has taken the test more than once but ONLY THE SCORES YOU CHOOSE are actually submitted. Schools have the right, however, to ask for the other scores - but I have never heard of a school actually doing so. </p>

<p>Students can take a so-called national administration - one of the major testing dates offered by schools all over the country. Dates already available on ssat.org. Students can also take what is called a "flex test" which allows them to take it in a smaller setting and at a different time. Costs more usually (generally scheduled through an educational consultant - and all info avail at ssat.org/flex) but really good for kids who get distracted easily - such as kids with ADHD. I have seen scores go up significantly for kids who take a Flex vs. a national testing.</p>

<p>Neatoburrito,
It's a sound investment, doing it as a practice.
If he scores low, you can ratchet up prep.
If he scores high, he will likely score as high or higher come the fall.</p>

<p>What grade do you list if repeating a grade? My son will be in 9th next year, but will likely repeat 9th grade at boarding school . So if he's applying for 9th grade, should he be compared to 8th graders?</p>

<p>Remember to always follow the money if it is knowledge that you seek!</p>

<p>The SSAT isn't going to send scores around that someone hasn't paid to have distributed. If you take the test in June and don't pay to forward those scores, the SSAT isn't going to give you a freebie. Do you see their price list? They charge for everything. Free additional score forwarding? I don't think so.</p>

<p>Schools can ask for them -- and pay to see them -- but can you see a justification for that expense? Once again...money is the path to wisdom and enlightenment.</p>

<p>You still list your current grade, even if you are repeating.</p>

<p>I do not think it's right that schools can obtain SSAT results without the testtaker's express permission, provided schools are willing to pay for it. That's just odd to me. I understand they rarely if ever do it. But still!</p>

<p>Read the agreement and you'll see that you give your consent to all sorts of things I bet you wouldn't like, but you'd agree to anyway because you figure nobody would bother doing it.</p>

<p>Read ALL the user agreements you enter into for that matter and you'll stay awake at night, bug-eyed, with heart murmurs...</p>

<p>To neatoburrito: One option is to pay for a rescore of the test to show what the score would have been when compared to the higher grade within the level (5-7, 8-11). Alternatively you could register the student as if they were in next year's grade.</p>

<p>My son took the June test (he was in 7th, but we said he was in 8th in order to take the upper test) and it proved to be an invaluable experience. He attends a private school that rarely administers any kind of standardized tests. All his tests had been essay format in a familiar, comfortable environment up until that point. Going to a very large, unfamiliar central middle school to take a crucial test was a culture shock. Though smart, he was totally unprepared to sit at a desk for 3 hours being distracted by the buzz and glare of flourescent lighting and the hordes of other test takers. As a practical life experience, it was invaluable. Since we never had any intention of reporting the scores (he did not know that) it was as 'real' as you can get, with none of the consequences. The result - he totally, utterly bombed the test. Spectacularly bad scores. It provided a real wake up call (hey, maybe I should study?) and when it came time to take it in the fall, there were no surprises. He had studied, knew the room, recognized the kids and the proctors, and could tune out the ambient noise. He got nowhere near a perfect score, but one in the respectable low 90's. He is going to Exeter in the fall as a 9th grader.</p>

<p>I didn't know you could pay for a rescore, or register as a 7th when he's actually still a 6th. Still, I think we'll do the test in November as a follow-up to the home practise tests, see how they turn, then decide whether to retest or send to the school. Also, I'm thinking that once he visits the school in the Fall he'll be more motivated to take it seriously. The practise test from the Princeton Review book scored him in the 99th (V) 82th (Q) and 98th (R) with him not leaving any blank and doing no prep. But I don't know how accurate those charts are or how the practise test compares to the real one. I think he's most concerned about writing an essay without really being able to revise it. His handwriting is terrible and he tends to leave out entire syllables when he's rushed. You know....brain working faster than the hand syndrome. Do they send you a copy of the essay, or just the scores?</p>

<p>You do not get a copy of the essay and they do not score it. The essay is sent to the schools and the scores. You get only the scores.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Schools require scores that are less than 6 months old by admission deadline of 1/15

[/quote]

Perhaps it depends on the school. I looked at a few schools websites (Andover, Exeter, Hotchkiss) and they do not state this requirement. Hotchkiss did say they strongly recommend the applicants take the test in the fall.</p>

<p>Either way, it seems most kids scores go up the 2nd time they take the test, so if you do take the SSAT in June, you will have 3 months to practice the areas you are weak on, and then take it again in September-October.</p>

<p>Neatoburrito-</p>

<p>If he registers as a 7th, he will take the lower test. As far as I understand it, a BS for grades 9-12 requires the upper test scores. That is why we <em>lied</em> for our son: it was his 7th grade spring, he would be taking the upper in the fall, therefore we wanted a testing experience that would be as close as possible to the real one in November. The lower test is geared for 5-7th grades. Taking the practice tests at home really don't provide a great indication of how some kids will do on the actual day, he only used them as a study aid to get familiar with the format.</p>