SSAT Prep

Guide
By Brenna O'Neill

Tips and strategies for every

section of the test
Ownership of Trademarks
The Secondary School Admissions Test and SSAT are registered trademarks of the
Enrollment Management Association. The Enrollment Management Association
does not sponsor or endorse this product.

Test Innovators is the owner of the trademarks "Test Innovators," the Test
Innovators logo, SSATpracticetest.com, as well as other marks that the Company
may seek to use and protect from time to time in the ordinary course of business.

All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright Statement
Copyright 2019 Test Innovators, Inc.

All rights reserved. The text of this publication, or any part thereof, may not be
reproduced, distributed, published, or licensed in any manner whatsoever without
written permission from the publisher.

Test Innovators reserves the right to refuse to sell materials to any individual,
school, district, or organization that fails to comply with our copyright policies.
Dedication
N

O
I
OD

LE
This book is dedicated to the dogs of the Test Innovators office, who
consistently inspire us with their perseverance, their ability to learn
new things, and their unparalleled enthusiasm.
CY

KY
ER

C
BE
M
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................2

CHAPTER 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE SSAT.................................3

CHAPTER 2: THE SECTIONS OF THE SSAT..............................18

CHAPTER 3: PREPARING FOR THE SSAT.................................25

CHAPTER 4: STRATEGIES FOR THE SSAT................................31

VERBAL.....................................................................................................35

MATH..........................................................................................................42

READING...................................................................................................46

ESSAY.........................................................................................................48

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION.................................................................59

1
 Acknowledgments
This book contains the collective knowledge of the Test Innovators team, a group
of educators and technology experts dedicated to helping students succeed on
standardized tests.

Special thanks to Edan Shahar, Erin Lynch, Geoff Dennis, Kimi Rosadini, and Marina
Flider, PhD for their editorial wisdom, and to Rebecca Caldera for beautiful design
elements.

About Us
We at Test Innovators believe that standardized test taking is a
skill you can learn, and mastering this skill can open doors to new
opportunities throughout your life.

Our decades of experience with test writing and teaching, combined

with our dedication to finding the best technological solutions, provide
students with an unparalleled test preparation experience.

We believe that with the right tools, a personalized learning path, plenty
of practice, and support throughout the process, every student can
reach their fullest potential and find the test preparation process fulfilling
rather than stressful.

2
 Chapter 1:

An Overview of
the SSAT

3
 What is the SSAT?
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is an admission test administered
by the EMA (Enrollment Management Association). Many private schools in North
America, and a handful of international schools, use the SSAT as a crucial part of
the admissions process for grades 4 through 12.

The SSAT serves as a standardized metric by which admissions departments can

compare students from different schools. There are many parts to an application,
and the manner in which SSAT scores impact admissions is very school-dependent.

Regardless of the school, an excellent score on the SSAT sets you apart in the
admissions process, especially at highly competitive schools. Based on our years
of test prep experience, we believe that standardized test taking is a skill that you
can master, and̶like all skills̶you need to learn and practice in order to improve.

This book will serve as your guide in the preparation process, giving you insights
into the test as well as strategies that will allow you to tackle the SSAT with
confidence.

Is the SSAT related to the SAT?

The SSAT and SAT are commonly confused since their acronyms
are so similar, but the two tests are unaffiliated. The SSAT is a
test administered by the Enrollment Management Association for
admission to independent elementary, middle, and high schools,
while the SAT is administered by the College Board for admission to
colleges.

4
Levels of the SSAT
The SSAT has three test levels, each of which is taken by students in a range of
grades. The level that you take depends on your grade level at the time that you
take the test.

Elementary Level
Elementary Level 3 Elementary Level 4
For students testing in grade 3 For students testing in grade 4
(applying to grade 4) (applying to grade 5)

Middle Level
For students in grades 5 - 7
(applying to grades 6 - 8)

Upper Level
For students in grades 8 - 11
(applying to grades 9 - 12)

It might seem like a disadvantage for a younger student to be taking the same
test as older students, but it s a little more complicated.

SSAT scores are based on a student's current grade level, so students are only
compared to others in the same grade level.

So, a student in grade 8 will not be competing against a student who is two years
older, in grade 10.

However, an 8th grader will be taking a test with questions designed to identify
the top 10th graders. Knowing not to dwell on these difficult questions is critical
to success on the SSAT.

5
 SSAT Timing and Structure
The number of questions and timing varies for each level of the SSAT.

Elementary Level 3 & 4 SSAT:

For students in grades 3 and 4 (applying to grades 4 and 5)

SECTION QUESTIONS TIME

Quantitative Section 30 questions 30 minutes
Verbal Section 30 questions 20 minutes
Break ‒ 15 minutes
Reading Section 28 questions 30 minutes
Writing Sample 1 prompt 15 minutes
Experimental Section 15-17 questions 15 minutes
TOTAL 89 questions 2 hours, 5 minutes

Middle and Upper Level SSAT:

For students in grades 5 - 11 (applying to grades 6 - 12)

SECTION QUESTIONS TIME

Writing Sample 2 prompts 25 minutes
Break ‒ 5 minutes
Quantitative Section #1 25 questions 30 minutes
Reading Section 40 questions 40 minutes
Break ‒ 10 minutes
Verbal Section 60 questions 30 minutes
Quantitative Section #2 25 questions 30 minutes
Experimental Section 16 questions 15 minutes
TOTAL 167 questions 3 hours, 5 minutes

6
Test Format
For many years, the SSAT has been administered only on paper. In 2019, there will
be a pilot digital version of the SSAT on specific test dates in select cities. Check
online at https://ssat.org to see if this option is available near you.

Paper test Computer test

(Pilot year 2019)

Students taking the SSAT on paper will write their writing sample in pencil. Students
taking the SSAT on a computer will type the essay.

Should I take the test on a computer or on paper?

If you have the choice, here are some things to consider:

The environment: Students taking the test at a Prometric center

may be sitting next to a whole range of students all taking different
tests (say, a 22-year-old college student taking the GRE). At a school
testing site, every student will be roughly the same age and there to
take the SSAT. Consider how these two different environments might
impact you.

The essay: Students taking the SSAT on a computer will type the
essay. For slow typists, this might be difficult. Students taking the
test on paper will write the essay out by hand. For students who have
trouble writing legibly, this might present a challenge. Consider which
format will be more advantageous for you.

The answer sheet: Many students have trouble correctly bubbling

their answers into an answer sheet. They may skip a question but
forget to skip that line on their bubble sheet. On the computer test,
this is not an issue: students enter each answer on the same screen
as the question.

7
 SSAT Question Types
The SSAT consists of four multiple-choice sections and one writing section.
Multiple-choice questions on the SSAT look like this:

How many answer choices do SSAT questions have?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

Students indicate the answer (hopefully E in this case) on their answer sheets,
bubbling in their choice.

Note: On the Elementary Level SSAT, students mark their answers directly in the
test book rather than using a separate answer sheet. They do this by coloring the
circle next to their chosen answer choice.

The writing sample section requires students to write a response to the given
prompt. The type(s) of prompts provided depend on the level of the test. For
both the Middle and Upper Levels of the SSAT, students choose between the two
prompts given, and write in response to their chosen prompt. Elementary Level
students do not get a choice of prompt.

LEVEL PROMPT(S)
Elementary Level 1 picture prompt
Middle Level 2 creative prompts
Upper Level 1 creative prompt, 1 personal essay prompt

Sample personal essay prompt:

Who is one of your favorite characters from a book,

and why?

8
SSAT Scoring
Scoring Basics
The first step in scoring is calculating a raw score. How this is done depends on
the level of the test. Elementary Level students do not lose points for incorrect
answers, while Middle and Upper Level students do.

This chart shows how many points are awarded for each level:

Elementary Middle and Upper

Correct Answer 1 point 1 point
Incorrect Answer 0 points -1/4 point
Unanswered 0 points 0 points

Once a raw score has been calculated for each section, it is converted into a scaled
score. This conversion adjusts for the variation in difficulty between different tests.
Thus, a lower raw score on a harder test could give you the same scaled score as
a higher raw score on an easier test.

Students receive one scaled score for each of the three subjects (Quantitative,
Reading, and Verbal) as well as a total scaled score which is the sum of the section
scaled scores. The scaled score range is different for each level of the SSAT:

Section Scaled Total Scaled

Level Score Range Score Range
Elementary 300 - 600 900 - 1800
Middle 440 - 710 1320 - 2130
Upper 500 - 800 1500 - 2400

The final (and most important) score calculated is the percentile. Percentiles
compare a student's performance to all other same-grade students. For example,
a 20th percentile indicates that a student received a higher scaled score than
20% of students in the same grade.

The SSAT score report shows two percentiles: one comparing you to students in
the same grade, and one comparing you to students in the same grade and of the
same gender.

9
 The SSAT Score Report
Here s an example of what an SSAT score report looks like. At the top of the
report, you ll see overall scores for each section of the test:

Underneath the overall scores on the score report, you will see a more detailed
breakdown. Each section is broken into question types, and you can see how
many questions were answered correctly, incorrectly, or left unanswered.

Score Report Insights

Don't focus on the scaled score or the right/wrong/unanswered numbers:
The scaled score allows you to compare scores on different test dates, but does
not differentiate between students in different grades. Eleventh graders taking
the Upper Level SSAT will generally do better than ninth graders, but the scaled
score does not capture this information. (You could see this by looking at average
scores for each grade̶older students at the same level will have a higher average
score.)

The number of right, wrong, or unanswered questions is not very meaningful,

because, unlike on in-school tests where students are always aiming for a high
percent of correct answers, on the SSAT, performance is all relative. Additionally,
test difficulty varies. Thus on a hard test, answering half the questions correctly
could be fantastic, while on an easier test, this could lead to a low score.

Focus on the grade-level percentile instead. This is the best number to

understand student performance. (Note: the gender norm is rarely used for school
admissions.)

10
Schools and SSAT Scores
The purpose of the SSAT is to provide school admissions panels with a standardized
metric they can use to compare applicants from different schools. Because of
this, it is a central part of the application. However, it is important to remember
that it is just one part of the application. The transcript, interview, letters of
recommendation, essays, and other components of the application are all critical
for successful applicants. That said, we have seen that low scores can be an
obstacle to admissions, especially for competitive schools that receive a large
number of applications.

The Test Innovators website displays data on score ranges that have historically
made students competitive applicants at different schools. These are designed to
provide directional information but are by no means absolute.

Here's what this school data looks like:

View this information for all of the schools you are interested in here:

https://SSATpracticetest.com/content/schools

As you look through the information on your target schools, remember that there
are many parts to an application. Scores in the green range do not guarantee
admission, nor do scores in the red range preclude it.

11
 Common Score Questions
How soon will I receive my score report?

You will be able to see your score report within two weeks of your
test date. Log in at https://ssat.org to access your scores. You can
also sign up to receive a score alert notification when your scores
are available through your parent SSAT account.

Can I see the score report before sending it to schools?

Yes! Especially if you test (or may test) more than once, we strongly
recommend that you wait until you see the score report(s) before
determining the schools to which you would like to send them.

If I test more than once, can I send only the best score for
each section (otherwise known as superscoring)?

No. Though some schools may choose to do this as they review

student score reports, the admissions offices will be able to see the
complete score report for each test you choose to send.

Why are my SSAT scores lower than my usual standardized

test scores?

SSAT test takers tend to be high performers, and a 50th percentile

score means that you re testing right in the middle of this talented
pack. The competitive nature of the test is, however, a very good
reason to practice before sitting down for the official exam.

12
Registration Dates
There are eight standard SSAT test dates offered on Saturdays throughout the
testing year (August 1 - July 31). Note that most schools will require students to
complete the testing portion of their applications well before the final standard
test date has passed, so be sure to sign up for a test that will ensure your scores
are ready before the deadline.

Students can also take a flex test on a date other than the standard test dates.
Students may only take one flex test per testing year. For more information about
taking a flex test, visit https://ssat.org

The chart below shows the 2019-20 SSAT Test Dates and registration deadlines.

Standard Regular Registration Late Registration Rush Registration

Test Date: Deadline: (+$45) Deadline: (+$85) Deadline:

Oct 19, 2019 Sept 28, 2019 Oct 5, 2019 Oct 16, 2019

Nov 16, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Nov 13, 2019

Dec 14, 2019* Nov 23, 2019 Nov 30, 2019 Dec 11, 2019

Jan 4, 2020* Dec 14, 2019 Dec 21, 2019 Jan 1, 2020

Feb 8, 2020* Jan 18, 2020 Jan 25, 2020 Feb 5, 2020

Mar 7, 2020* Feb 15, 2020 Feb 22, 2020 Mar 4, 2020

Apr 25, 2020* Apr 4, 2020 Apr 11, 2020 Apr 22, 2020

Jun 13, 2020 May 23, 2020 May 30, 2020 Jun 10, 2020

* indicates an Elementary Level standard test date

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers are available directly from schools. Contact the

admissions offices of the schools to which you are applying to ask
about availability.

13
 Registration Tips
Whenever possible, we recommend that you plan to take the test twice. This helps
alleviate the pressure of a single testing date, and if the first test goes well, you
don't have to take it again.

Check the application and testing deadlines for the schools to which you are
applying. Note the last test date which fits within these deadlines, and then be
sure to register for a test date at least one prior to this final testing option.

For instance, most schools require that you test by January, though there are
occasional exceptions. If your final testing option is January 4th, 2020, you should
register for the December 14th, 2019 test date at the latest.

Another thing to bear in mind as you consider test dates is that you will have
covered considerably more academic curriculum by the time you reach the later
test dates. If your initial scores from an earlier fall test date aren't what you hoped
for, especially for the quantitative sections, the additional time in the classroom
will most likely be beneficial.

Register for the test here: https://ssat.org/registration

Tip

When you register for the test, you will have the opportunity to enter
the schools to which you would like to send your scores. Do not enter
schools yet! There is no reason to send the scores BEFORE you have
the opportunity to review the score report.

If you have a secondary school placement advisor, they may ask you
to enter your current school so that they can best counsel you.

14
Accommodations
Some students are eligible for accommodations on the SSAT. Accommodations
will not be visible on the SSAT score report sent to schools, so admissions offices
will not know if a student took the test with accommodations.

To be eligible, students must have a documented learning difference or disability

that requires accommodations and must currently be receiving accommodations
at their school for that need.

The most common accommodation on the SSAT is fifty percent additional time
for each section, but there are many others, including:

• Permission to mark answers directly in test booklet

• Large print test booklet and materials
• Use of laptop computer with spelling aid for the writing sample
• Small group setting
• Reader or scribe (provided by family)

It may take up to two weeks for an accommodations request to be processed,

and the request must be approved before you can register for an SSAT test date
with accommodations. Additionally, test sites offering accommodations often fill
up before test registration deadlines. Be sure to send in your documentation as
soon as possible!

Find more information and register at https://ssat.org/ta

15
 Test Day Information
The day before the test, relax, read a book, get some exercise, and get plenty of
sleep. (In fact, you should prioritize sleep the entire week before the test as those
earlier nights sleep will be critical.)

On the morning of the test, wake up with ample time to eat a good breakfast and
head to the test center so that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start
of testing.

Do not attempt to study or cram last-minute information on the night before or

day of the test! This will only cause undue stress and anxiety. Now is the time to
feel confident in everything you've already done to prepare.

What to bring to the test:

Admission ticket A snack Water

Put your snack and water in a clear ziplock bag with your name on it.

For paper/pencil testing:

Four #2 pencils

16
 Prohibited items:
Everything not listed on the previous page! This includes:

Calculators Pens Backpacks

Watches
Cell phones Scratch paper
(a clock will be visible
(must be off and cannot be (provided at computer
in the testing room)
accessed during testing) testing locations)

17
 Chapter 2:

The Sections of
the SSAT

18
S ECTION 1

Writing Sample
The essay section is the only unscored portion of the SSAT. A copy is sent to
schools along with the score report.

Students will be given two prompts and asked to complete a writing sample in
response to one of them.

Middle Level SSAT Prompts:

On the Middle Level SSAT, you will choose between two creative prompts, and then
use the chosen prompt as the first sentence of a story. Middle Level prompts will
look like this:

Ⓐ I tried...

Ⓑ She could hardly wait to get home.

Upper Level SSAT Prompts:

On the Upper Level SSAT, you will choose between a creative prompt and an essay
prompt. The creative prompt is a good choice if you have experience writing short
stories and enjoy description and storytelling. The essay prompt is a good choice
if you have experience writing 4- or 5-paragraph essays and know how to defend
an argument. Upper Level prompts will look like this:

Ⓐ If you could take a class to learn anything, what would you

choose to learn about, and why?

Ⓑ She could hardly wait to get home.

19
 Upper Level Writing Tip

Before your official test date, try writing in response to both

types of prompts to determine which one is a better fit.

How schools use the SSAT writing sample:

The way in which each admissions department uses the writing sample varies from
school to school, but the following are the main elements that will be evaluated:

1. Topic choice
2. Organization and structure
3. Use of examples and details
4. Writing mechanics (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Tip

Some schools will compare student application essays with

the SSAT writing sample. If the application essays are written
very differently from the SSAT writing sample, schools
may disregard the application essays entirely based on an
assumption that these may have been written by someone
else (a parent, tutor, etc.)

Make sure that you write your own application essays! Parents,
guardians, and others can help with the editing process, but
the writing should be your own!

20
S ECTIONS 2 AND 5

Quantitative Sections
There are two quantitative sections on the SSAT. These sections cover a broad
range of subject matter, which often includes concepts students may not have
seen for a while as well as some concepts that they may not have learned yet.

Students cannot use a calculator for either of the quantitative sections.

On the Middle and Upper Levels of the SSAT, the general subjects covered on
these sections are the following:

QUANTITATIVE SUBJECTS:
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
ALGEBRA
GEOMETRY
MEASUREMENT
DATA ANALYSIS AND PROBABILITY
PROBLEM SOLVING

On the Elementary Level SSAT, students are asked questions related to numbers
and operations, shapes, measurement, and interpretation of graphs.

Questions on the quantitative sections will look like this:

Which of the following is equivalent to the

expression shown below?

(A) -90x
(B) 1 - 90x
(C) 1 - 18x
(D) 5 - 2x
(E) 5 - 18x

21
 S ECTION 3

Reading Section
In the reading section, students will be asked to read passages dealing with a
variety of subjects.

READING PASSAGE SUBJECTS:

FICTION
HUMANITIES
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES

The questions associated with each passage are designed to test students'
understanding of what they read. The Middle and Upper Level reading sections
have 8 passages with an average of 5 questions each, and the Elementary Level
reading section has 7 passages with 4 questions each. Students can expect to
see a variety of different question types on this section.

READING QUESTION TYPES:

MAIN IDEA
SUPPORTING IDEA
INFERENCE
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
TONE/STYLE/FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
ORGANIZATION/LOGIC

Below is an example of a tone question:

Which best describes the tone of the passage?

(A) logical and factual

(B) philosophical and inquisitive
(C) dynamic and surprising
(D) informative and inspirational
(E) methodical and objective

22
S ECTION 4

Verbal Section
The verbal section of the SSAT is composed of two types of questions.

VERBAL QUESTION TYPES:

SYNONYMS
ANALOGIES

The first half of the section is synonym questions, which look like this:

DECEPTIVE:

(A) steadfast
(B) misleading
(C) predictable
(D) cautious
(E) spontaneous

Students are given a word and then asked to find its closest synonym in the
answer choices.

The second half of the verbal section is analogies. These follow two different
formats. They can look like this:

Reporter is to notepad as

(A) kangaroo is to jump

(B) conductor is to music
(C) player is to ball
(D) secretary is to director
(E) painter is to canvas

23
 Or like this:

Courage is to trial as patience is to

(A) pleasure
(B) sturdiness
(C) weakness
(D) annoyance
(E) fulfillment

In either case, students choose the answer choice that completes the sentence
logically, such that the relationship between the first pair of words is the same as
the relationship between the second pair of words.

24
 Chapter 3:

Preparing for
the SSAT

25
 Preparation Basics
Practice Timeline:

In general, the earlier you start, the better. If you can give yourself at least six
months, that is ideal̶having more time relieves the anxiety of trying to rush
any learning. However, it is never too late to start practicing. The more you know
about the test structure and questions, the better you will do. We ve seen students
massively improve in just a week by understanding how the test is structured and
what s expected of them.

It is difficult to make a broad recommendation about the frequency and duration

of study sessions̶as with most learning, this is very student-dependent! Our
advice to all students is to focus on consistency and quality. For consistency,
practice regularly even if not for a long period of time. One hour once a week is
much more effective than four hours once a month. In terms of quality, make sure
you are focused for the duration of each of your study sessions. If you can no
longer learn new material because you've been sitting for so long, it's a good idea
to take a break. (Though also see the tip below about full-length practice tests.)

Practice Format:

We recommend that you practice both online and on paper.

Paper practice is important if you are taking the official test on paper. In particular,
it is crucial to practice using the answer sheet to bubble in answers. It is better
for you to have a bubbling snafu on the practice test than to make that mistake
on the official test.

Computer practice is important if you are taking the official test on a computer. If
you are taking the official test on paper, online practice is still important for timing

Tip

Every level of the SSAT requires stamina and focus. Sit for a full-
length practice test before the official one so that you know how
it feels! Use a virtual proctor to simulate the official test:

https://testinnovators.com/proctor-videos

26
How to Prepare
Step 1: Take a full-length practice test.

This initial practice test serves as a benchmark, or diagnostic test, and is the
jumping-off point of the preparation process. We generally recommend taking
this test as early as possible, but it is never too late.

No matter how close it is to your official test date, taking a practice test will ensure
that you know what to expect on test day, giving you familiarity with:

SSAT question types The difficulty of the test The content on the test
Section instructions SSAT scoring Section timing

Additional benefits to taking a full-length practice test include:

Timing practice Answer sheet practice Content review

Learn how to use your Become adept at See which concepts
time well and which accurately bubbling you should review
questions to skip. your answers. before the official test.

The most important thing about a practice test is its accuracy̶if the practice test
does not reflect the content of the official test, the benefits of taking that practice
test are limited. There are many sample tests and practice resources available,
and we encourage you to research them. We at Test Innovators have spent a
great deal of time making our practice as accurate as possible, and we continually
ask for feedback every year to make sure our content is up to date. You can find
our practice materials at https://SSATpracticetest.com

Tip

Make sure that you have access to normative scores for your
practice tests! Remember that answering 75% of the questions
correctly on a given section may be a great score or an average
score depending on the grade level and difficulty of the section.

27
 Step 2: Identify strengths and weaknesses based on results.

Look at overall trends first. Which sections went well, and which sections would
you like to improve?

For instance, if these were your practice test scores:

Verbal: 88th percentile

Quantitative: 15th percentile
Reading: 46th percentile

You would clearly need to focus on the quantitative sections the most, then work
on the reading section, and worry about the verbal section last.

After getting this general picture, dig deeper. What specific question types or
subject areas went well, and which ones could use improvement? Let's say these
were your results by subject area for one of the quantitative sections:

Algebraic Concepts: 2/9 correct

Data Analysis and Probability: 2/4 correct
Geometry: 4/5 correct
Measurement: 2/4 correct
Number Sense: 2/3 correct

Based on these results, you're doing well with the geometry questions, but you
might need to brush up on some algebra fundamentals before heading into the
next practice test.

Finally, consider time management as well. Did you manage your time effectively
on each section? Did you run out of time to answer all of the questions on any of
the sections?

If you were unable to reach all of the questions in every section, study and practice
time management techniques. See page 39 for more information.

28
Step 3: Focus on any weak areas identified in Step 2.

This is the step at which all of the learning takes place! Review every question
that you answered incorrectly or skipped. Make sure that you would know how to
answer them correctly if you saw them again. This means that you should not only
know why the correct answer is correct, but also why the answer you chose (and
the other incorrect answers) is wrong. Here's an example of how to annotate this:

An SSAT question you answered incorrectly or skipped.

(A) Answer you chose

Reason this choice is incorrect
(B) Possible answer
(C) Possible answer
(D) Possible answer
(E) Correct answer
Reason this choice is correct

Verbal recommendations: Add words you don t know to your vocabulary list. This
includes words from the answer choices. See pages 40-46 for more strategies.

Quantitative/math recommendations: Identify the concepts and skills being tested

in the questions you missed. Study those concepts, starting with the topics and
question types you have seen before but may need review. After mastering those,
delve into the unfamiliar content. See pages 47-50 for more strategies.

Reading recommendations: Practice finding textual evidence: find line numbers

to support every correct answer, and determine what information in the passage
made each incorrect answer wrong. See pages 51-52 for more strategies.

Tip

Make sure that your practice materials include targeted practice of the
specific question types you are missing. This approach will be much
more effective than simply taking full-length practice test sections.

At SSATpracticetest.com, additional practice exercises are linked to

each practice test question so that students can easily follow up with
relevant work to practice specific skills.

29
 Step 4: Take another full-length practice test, and repeat.

The preparation process is an iterative one. Each practice test should serve as
a benchmark of progress, and as a roadmap for what to work on next. Studying
between practice tests promotes growth and improvement between tests.

After you have reviewed and reflected on your test results, learn everything about
the questions you missed, and then take another practice to gauge your progress
and determine what you need to work on next.

OFFICIAL TEST
SUCCESS!
SCORES

Practice Practice Practice ... and

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 so on
{
{
{
Review results and Review results and Review results and
practice specific skills practice specific skills practice specific skills

30
 Chapter 4:

Strategies for
the SSAT

31
 Overall SSAT
Test-Taking Strategies
Process of Elimination
The beauty of a multiple-choice test like the SSAT is that you can be sure the
correct answer is there! On every question, even if you aren't sure how to find the
correct answer, see if there are answer choices you know are wrong. Eliminate
these and then make an educated guess.

Each answer choice you eliminate increases your chances that your guess is
correct. In the example below, after elimination, you have a 1/3 chance of answering
correctly, rather than the 1/5 chance you would have had with a random guess.
Sometimes, elimination is all you need to find the right answer!

Read the specific strategies for each section to learn ways to eliminate answer
choices for different question types.

This is a sample SSAT question. Don't forget to think about which

answer choices you can eliminate as you solve this problem!

(A) Definitely wrong answer

(B) Possible answer
(C) Possible answer
(D) Definitely wrong answer
(E) Possible answer

32
Guessing
For the Elementary Level SSAT:

Always answer every question!

Correct answers are awarded 1 point, and incorrect or blank answers receive 0
points. Thus, you have a 20% chance of earning a point by guessing randomly,
with no penalty if you're wrong. Whenever possible, eliminate as many answer
choices as you can before guessing to increase your chances of earning points.
That said, if you encounter a question where you cannot eliminate any answer
choices, or if you are running out of time in the section, you should still select an
answer choice for every question!

For the Middle and Upper Level SSAT:

On these levels of the test, incorrect answers lead to a quarter point deduction.
(See scoring basics on page 11.)

The wrong-answer penalty is simply designed to negate the benefit of guessing. On

tests without a wrong-answer penalty, students earn points by guessing randomly.
The wrong-answer penalty deducts points for incorrect answers, balancing the 1
point received for each correct answer with deductions for each incorrect answer.
Statistically, you will receive the same number of points on average if you guess
randomly on every question as if you leave every question blank.

Here's an example to illustrate this. Let's say you have a 5-question test.

The guessing scenario:

On average, you'll answer 1 question correctly (earning 1 point),

and 4 questions incorrectly (losing 1/4 point each). Thus your
score will be 1 + 4 (-1/4) = 0 points overall.

The non-guessing scenario:

If you don't guess on any of the questions and leave everything

blank, you'll receive 0 points for each question, and 0 points overall.

The strategy:

You should guess! Simplifying your test strategy will improve confidence, not
skipping questions will help you avoid answer sheet mis-bubbling, and with any
eliminated answer choices, you increase your chances of earning points.

33
 Time Management
Using your time effectively on the SSAT is critical. Every correct answer gives you
the same number of points, so your goal is to answer as many questions correctly
as possible. Don t waste valuable time on a hard question when you could instead
answer three easy questions correctly in the same amount of time.

Here are three steps to manage your time well:

1. Group questions by difficulty: easy and hard. What does that mean? Every time
you read a question, ask yourself do I know how to do this? If the answer is Yes,
absolutely ‒ solve the question. If the answer is Maybe or I m really not sure
about this, or as you start the problem, you realize that it s taking you a long time,
skip it.

2. When you skip a question, mark an answer on your answer sheet and circle the
question in your test booklet. Filling in an answer on your answer sheet will ensure
that you don't mis-bubble your answers!

3. After going through the whole section, return to the hard questions you marked
and see if you can make any progress.

This is an example of what timing feedback looks like in the Test Innovators
practice platform:

Key:
correct
incorrect
blank

You can see that this student spent far too long on question 20, and therefore
didn't have time to answer all of the questions. Insights like these are critical to
building effective time management skills.

34
 Verbal Strategies
Study Vocabulary
If you have more than two weeks to prepare for the SSAT, studying vocabulary is
a very good idea! The verbal section largely relies on knowledge of words, so the
more words you know, the better.

Study vocabulary for 10-15 minutes every day̶short, consistent study sessions
are the best way to effectively build vocabulary.

You can find good word lists for each SSAT level here:

https://quizlet.com/testinnovators/folders

There are many great ways to study vocabulary. Find the ones that are most
successful for you! Here are a few ideas:

Use flashcards Write sentences

Ine She packed many superfluous items

pt
for her first camping trip; though she
Imprudent
knew she wouldn't need them, she
preferred to be prepared for anything!

Say the words aloud Draw pictures

Nocturnal
Say your vocab words aloud as you
study, and ideally use them in your
day-to-day conversations as well.

35
 Unknown Words: Break Them Apart
If you encounter a word that is unfamiliar to you, see if you can break the word apart.
Roots contain the core meaning of a word, and prefixes and suffixes supplement
that meaning. Do you recognize part of the word? Do you know another word that
has that part? If so, use it to help you predict the meaning of the given word, or
to eliminate answer choices that are not in line with that meaning.

Here s an example of how to apply this strategy:

CULPABLE:

(A) attuned
(B) famous
(C) guilty
(D) soft
(E) gullible

Try breaking the word apart:

CULPABLE

CULPRIT: the person responsible for a crime

Although you may not have known the word culpable, you might know the word
culprit. Using that, you can choose the answer choice closest to this meaning,
which is C: guilty.

36
Unknown Words: Use Connotation
Connotation is the mood or feeling associated with a word. Sometimes, you might
not know what a word means, and you might not recognize parts of it, but you
can still figure out if it is a good thing or a bad thing. To use this strategy, assign
words a sign: positive, negative, or neutral.

For synonym questions, the sign of the given word should match the sign of the
correct answer. For analogies, the signs of the first pair of words should generally
match the signs of the second pair of words.

Here s an example of how you might apply this strategy to a synonym question:

SINISTER: → −

(A) grand → ＋
(B) menacing → −
(C) perky → ＋
(D) unseen → neutral
(E) vigorous → ＋

Here s an example of how you might apply this strategy to an analogy question:

Enlightened is to foolish as → (+ is to ­)

(A) peaceful is to serene → (+ is to +)

(B) frightened is to fearful → (­ is to ­)
(C) dreadful is to unfortunate → (­ is to ­)
(D) many is to numerous → (neutral is to neutral)
(E) courageous is to cowardly → (+ is to ­)

37
 Synonyms: Think of Your Own Answer
For the synonym questions of the verbal section, always think of your own answer
before looking at the answer choices.

Coming up with your own answer first is the best way to avoid tempting wrong
answers that are related to the given word, but do not have the correct meaning.

Don't worry about coming up with a perfect synonym. It's fine to think of a phrase
or feeling that fits. Perhaps you can only think of a context, phrase, or sentence
in which you ve heard the word before. Anything helps!

Then find the answer choice that is closest to your prediction.

Here's an example of how you might apply this strategy:

WANE:

Notice that you're not looking at the answer choices yet, because you always start
by thinking of your own answer. As you take the test, it can be a good habit to
simply cover the answer chocies with your hand until you've come up with your
own answer.

Maybe you're not sure exactly what the word "wane" means, but you may have
heard this word used in the context of the moon. So you'll mentally note that you
think the word "wane" has something to do with the moon getting smaller. Then
look at the answer choices:

most similar to
(A) diminish
your prediction
(B) mend
(C) wander
(D) allot
(E) dither

38
 Analogies: General Strategy
Step 1: Find the relationship between the first pair of words. Do this by forming a
sentence (or bridge) that connects the two words.

Step 2: Apply the relationship to each pair of words in the answer choices. Do this
by substituting the answer choice words into the sentence you created in Step 1,
in place of the original pair of words.

Step 3: Eliminate answer choices that do not fit the relationship, and select the
answer choice for which the relationship holds.

Here's an example of how to apply this strategy:

Star is to constellation as

(A) turquoise is to opaque

(B) supernova is to explosion
(C) spectator is to audience
(D) revision is to finale
(E) essay is to article

Step 1: A star is part of a constellation.

Step 2:
(A) Turquoise is part of opaque.
(B) A supernova is part of an explosion.
(C) A spectator is part of an audience.
(D) A revision is part of a finale.
(E) An essay is part of an article.

Step 3: Answer choices A, B, D, and E do not fit the relationship we found in Step

1, so we can eliminate them and choose answer choice C, the only choice where
our sentence made sense.

39
 Types of Analogies
Synonyms Part to Whole
Words with the same meaning: One word is a part of the other:

Kind is to compassionate Chapter is to book

Dote is to adore Goose is to flock

Essential is to intrinsic Snowflake is to blizzard

Antonyms Cause and Effect

Words with opposite meanings: One word is the cause of the other:

Loud is to quiet Rain is to flood

Gentle is to harsh Spark is to fire

Stinginess is to generosity Idea is to innovation

Degree Type or Kind

Words that are greater and lesser One word is a category into which the
forms of the same thing: other word falls, or both words fall into
the same category:

Stomp is to tiptoe Ape is to primate

Drizzle is to downpour Sonnet is to poem

Whisper is to shout Swallow is to robin

Characteristic Definition or Purpose

One word is a standard characteristic The purpose of one word is to do the
of the other word: action of the second word:

Soda is to bubbly Mop is to clean

Rose is to fragrant Blanket is to warmth

Water is to wet Pencil is to write

40
Analogies: Pay Attention to Order
Order matters! "Puppy is to dog" has a different relationship than "Dog is to
puppy." The correct answer should match the order of the original pair of words.
Here's an example:

Foal is to horse as: (baby is to adult)

(A) chicken is to chick (adult is to baby)

(B) caterpillar is to butterfly (baby is to adult)
(C) ostrich is to egg (adult is to origin)
(D) donkey is to colt (weak relationship!)
(E) brother is to sister (sibling is to sibling)

Analogies: Use Parts of Speech

For analogy questions (and synonym questions!), the parts of speech for the
words in the question should be the same as the parts of speech for the correct
answer.

If the words in an answer choice have different parts of speech than the words
in the question, OR the parts of speech are in the wrong order, you can eliminate
that answer choice.

Here's an example:

Importance is to insignificant as (noun is to adjective)

(A) courage is to tenacity (noun is to noun)

(B) honor is to disrespect (noun is to noun)
(C) rhythm is to spoken (noun is to adjective)
(D) novelty is to familiar (noun is to adjective)
(E) visible is to inaudible (adjective is to adjective)

41
 Math Strategies
Read Carefully
One of the most common mistakes on the SSAT is misreading a question, usually
due to reading too quickly. Be sure to take a few extra seconds on every question
to avoid careless errors.

Underline important information.

This includes words and numbers indicating the quantities, relationships, and
calculations (less than, twice, product, etc.) that you'll need to answer the question.
Words like not can be easily missed and completely change what you re supposed
to find in the question!

Here's an example of underlining:

Whitney has taken three quizzes in her French class so far, earning
scores of 84, 92, and 88. Her next test score will be counted three
times in her overall mean. If she takes only these three quizzes and
one test, what is the lowest score she can earn on the test to have
a mean score of at least 90?

Check that you answered the given question.

For every problem, after you finish solving, look back at what the question was
asking you to find. Make sure that this matches your answer.

Here's an example of this check:

Carla and Teresa are each taking turns driving a car. Carla drives
4 times as much as Teresa. If Carla and Teresa drive a total of 220
miles, how many miles did Teresa drive?

It would be easy to accidentally solve for the number of miles Carla drove, which
will almost certainly be one of the answer choices as a common error. Take the
extra second to verify that the question is asking for Teresa's miles, and answer
accordingly.

42
Work Backwards
Take advantage of the fact that the SSAT gives you more information than just
a question: it also gives you answer choices, one of which you know must be the
correct answer!

For questions with an unknown quantity, you can substitute the answer choices
for the unknown quantity to see which is correct. Always start with the middle
answer choice to minimize the number of answers you have to substitute.

Here is an example of how to do this:

A farmyard has 17 chickens and pigs in it, and 52 total feet.

Assuming that all of the chickens have two feet, and all of the pigs
have four, how many chickens are in the yard?

(A) 7
(B) 8
(C) 9
(D) 10
(E) 11

This is a tricky question to solve directly, but substituting answer choices is very
manageable. Remember to start with the middle answer choice, C, which is 9.

If there are 9 chickens, then there must be 8 pigs. The total number of feet will be
9･2 + 8･4 = 18 + 32 = 50. This is too few feet, so C is incorrect. To increase the
number of feet, we must have fewer chickens and more pigs, so D must also be
incorrect and we should try B: 8 next.

If there are 8 chickens, then there must be 9 pigs. The total number of feet will be
8･2 + 9･4 = 16 + 36 = 52.

B is the correct answer.

43
 Estimate
Estimation is a powerful tool for eliminating wrong answers. For every question,
before beginning to solve, ballpark what you think the right answer should be.
Think about things like: should it be positive or negative, an integer or a fraction,
bigger or smaller than any of the other numbers in the question, and so on.
Sometimes the question will even include clues that you should estimate, such as
approximately or about, but even without these words, always estimate first.

Here is an example of how to use estimation:

If 5/6 of a chapter can be read in one hour, how many hours will it
take to read the rest of the chapter at the same rate?

(A) 0.14
(B) 0.20
(C) 1.20
(D) 1.83
(E) 10

Notice that the question is asking how many hours it will take to read the REST
of the chapter. Since almost the entire chapter has been read already, it cannot
possibly take more than an hour to read the remainder, so you can immediately
eliminate answer choices C, D, and E.

Thus, even with very little time spent on this question, you have a 50% chance of
answering correctly.

44
Pick Values
Sometimes, the math questions you see on the quantitative sections may seem
very challenging to solve abstractly. The question may ask how an unknown
quantity will change if it undergoes a couple of percent changes, or to solve for
one variable in terms of others. In cases like these, it can be helpful to use actual
numbers to determine the answer, rather than trying to solve algebraically.

Here is an example of how to use this strategy:

If the length of the base of a triangle is decreased by 40% and the

height is increased by 60%, what is the percent decrease in the
area of the triangle?

(A) 4%
(B) 14%
(C) 20%
(D) 24%
(E) 36%

Pick easy values for the base and height of the triangle, say 10 and 20. Thus the
initial area of the triangle is 0.5･10･20=100. (We chose these numbers strategically
so that the area would be 100.)

Now the base decreases 40%, so the new base is 6, and the height increases 60%,
so the new height is 32. Thus the new area of the triangle is 0.5･6･32=96.

Therefore, the area of the triangle has decreased 4%.

Note: For percent questions, use 10% as your guide. 10% of any number is that
number divided by 10, which is the same as moving the decimal point one unit to
the left. Thus 10% of 60 is 6, 10% of 72 is 7.2, and so on.

45
 Reading Strategies
Find Evidence
The most important rule of reading comprehension is that the passage will always
provide all of the information needed to answer the question. This means that
reading comprehension is really like a scavenger hunt, and your objective is to
get as good as possible at sleuthing, finding the lines that give the answer to the
question as quickly as possible.

If any part of an answer choice doesn t match the information given in the passage,
it is incorrect. Even one word can make an answer choice wrong!

Note that there cannot be more than one valid interpretation of the information
in the passage.

The correct answer should always have the same meaning as the information in
the passage, though it may not use the exact same words.

Think of Your Own Answer First

Whenever possible, after you read a question, come up with an answer in your
head before you look at the answer choices. This will help you to eliminate wrong
answer choices, and find the best answer.

Eliminate Extreme Answers

In general, avoid answer choices that are too extreme. SSAT passages are usually
moderate in their claims. If you see answer choices with words like only, always,
never, best, every, or other extreme words, these are unlikely to be the correct
answer. You should only choose them if you are absolutely sure that this sentiment
is in the passage as well.

46
Main Idea Strategy
After reading the passage, come up with the main idea in your own words. What
was the passage all about? Start by eliminating answer choices that are not in line
with your main idea. If you re torn between a couple of answer choices, determine
how many lines of the passage talk about each answer choice. The one that
covers more of the passage is a better answer.

Tone Strategy
Tone questions ask how an author feels about the information in the passage.
Start by determining if the tone is positive, negative, or neutral. To help decide,
pay attention to adjectives and other charged/feeling words in the passage. Find
the answer that best matches the way the author is talking about the subject.

Note: Neutral tone answer choices may be "informative" or "factual." A persuasive

tone is indicated by words like should ought to must and need.

Vocabulary in Context Strategy

Treat these questions like sentence completions. Don t look at the answer choices
at first. Instead go to the line in question, read the sentence (covering up the
word), and come up with your own word to go in the blank. Then find the closest
answer choice. Afterwards, plug your answer into the sentence and make sure
that it fits.

47
 General Writing Strategies
(for both creative and essay writing)

Time Management
With only 25 minutes to write, managing your limited time effectively is incredibly
important. Start by spending the first 2-5 minutes outlining your ideas to clarify
and structure your thoughts. After you have a plan, go ahead and get writing! This
is where you will spend the bulk of your time. You ll need to watch the clock, and
save yourself 2-5 minutes at the end for review.

2-5 minutes Plan

15-20 minutes Write
2-5 minutes Revise

Revision
Editing and reviewing at the end is a crucial step in creating a polished writing
sample.

Try to catch any grammar, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation mistakes, and

change "weak" words to "strong" ones.

Here's an example of writing stronger, more visual sentences:

I strolled leisurely to the beach.

I walked to the beach.

I dashed down the path to the beach.

Neatness and organization matter! You want your writing to be as smooth and
polished as possible. Make sure you write slowly enough that your handwriting is
legible.

48
 Creative Writing Strategies
Topic Choice
Make sure that you write about something that you know about and choose a
problem that is relevant to your life. This will help your writing to come alive for
your reader and make sure that you have plenty to talk about!

For example, let s say you are given the following prompt:

He had never seen such an incredible sight.

Pick a setting and problem that is familiar to you. Perhaps your main character
is traveling out of the country for the first time, just as you did, or perhaps he is
visiting a natural landmark that you have seen yourself.

Story Planning
Before you begin writing, plan or outline your story. Make sure that you identify
your main character, the setting of the story (where it takes place), the problem
your main character faces, and how the problem is solved. Having a game plan for
your writing will help to keep your story focused.

Story Structure
For the creative sample, your goal is to tell an entire short story from beginning
to end. There are three parts to most stories: setup, confrontation, and resolution.

In the setup, introduce your reader to the main characters, setting, and conflict
of the story. The confrontation, or conflict, is necessary to maintain tension in the
story. In the resolution, the conflict resolves, the characters grow, and the story

49
 Story Components
The Setup
The beginning of the story, the setup, is where you introduce your characters,
setting, and conflict. Since this is such a short story, make sure to include no more
than 1-2 characters and one setting. Include a sentence or two of description to
make the scene come alive for the reader.

Then introduce the problem or conflict that your character is facing. This can be
a challenge, difficulty, or disagreement̶there are many types of conflicts!

Here's a guide for the elements you should introduce in your setup:

1-2 characters
1 setting
The problem/conflict

Here's a sample setup:

He had never seen such an incredible sight. Anthony gazed,

awestruck, at the huge auditorium full of kids his age, excitedly chatting
over tables of glittering metal parts. It was the first day of the international
robotics competition, and Anthony, alongside his teammates, Rory and
Ellen, was competing for the first time. Well, it was Anthony s first time.
Rory and Ellen had competed together last year; Anthony was new to
the school, and to the robotics team. He had a lot to prove.
For this competition, each team had to assemble a robot that could
complete an obstacle course set up on the stage. That part, Anthony
thought, was easy. However, their robot also had to remove a series of
small, brightly-colored balls scattered across the course. The team had
never built something like that before, and he felt worried. Were they
up to the challenge?

50
The Confrontation
The confrontation is the main action of the story, where the problem or conflict
escalates. Here, make sure that your character confronts an obstacle! Do they
get in an argument? Does something go wrong as they try to solve a problem?
Do they have to overcome a challenge or face a fear? This should be the most
exciting part of your story.

To make it come alive, the confrontation should include dialogue. Note how this is
formatted in the sample confrontation below.

Alright contestants, a voice came over the loudspeaker. The

competition begins now!
Okay guys, said Ellen. How are we going to make our robot pick
up the balls? How about an arm that picks them up?
No way, said Rory. You know how long it takes to build an entire
moving arm. What about a sensor that blows a gust of air to move them
away, off the course?
Too risky, Ellen replied confidently. What if it doesn t blow hard
enough or moves them in the wrong direction?
As Ellen and Rory volleyed ideas back and forth, Anthony stood,
frozen, his hands sweating and his mind blank. The voices and the
sounds of power tools echoing throughout the auditorium swirled in his
brain. Why couldn t he come up with an idea? Think!
Wait a minute, he said. What if we added a shovel on the front,
like a snow plow? The shovel could be shaped like a bucket to scoop
the balls up one by one!
Ellen and Rory stopped chattering and just stared at him.
I think that could work, Ellen said slowly.
Rory agreed. Let s start building!
Together, the three began to assemble their pre-designed robot,
then added the snow plow on the front. Anthony added a sensor so
that the robot knew when there was a ball that needed to be picked up,
and he finished just as the buzzer rang!
Their team was the last to try the obstacle course, so Anthony had
plenty of time to be nervous watching the other teams robots. None
of them were able to complete the obstacle course or successfully
remove all of the balls. Finally, it was their turn.
Here goes nothing, he said, setting their robot at the edge of the
obstacle course.

51
 The Resolution
The resolution, or end of the story, is where the conflict resolves and you show
how the characters have changed. Often, the main character will demonstrate
growth, make a decision, or come to an important realization.

It is important, also, that the conflict be fully resolved. Cliffhangers are fun when
you re reading an entire chapter book, but in this context, you should write a
complete story.

Here's a sample resolution:

When he turned around, Anthony noticed that Ellen and Rory were
both smiling at him.
Whatever happens, Rory said, We just want you to know that
we re glad you re part of the team.
Together, they watched as their robot began the course. As it
encountered the first ball, the robot quickly scooped it up with the
shovel and moved to the next one. It completed the whole course with
ease, then deposited the balls in a neat pile in the corner.
Anthony cheered and high-fived his teammates. Together, he
thought, they could tackle any challenge.

52
 Creative Writing Checklist
Content
□ Setting: do you have one setting that you are familiar with and
can describe?
□ Characters: have you chosen 1-2 characters? What are their
names?
□ Conflict: what problem is your main character facing?
□ Resolution: how does this problem get solved at the end?

Organization and Structure

□ Do you have a setup?
□ Do you have a confrontation?
□ Do you have a resolution?

Style
□ Is your writing clear?
□ Is your word choice varied?
□ Did you include one or two strong vocabulary words?

Mechanics
□ Did you indent your paragraphs?
□ Is your handwriting neat and legible?
□ Did you check your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation?

53
 Essay Strategies
Topic Choice
Try to choose a topic that showcases something you care about and are familiar
with. Remember to write in a way that shows you in a positive light, and that
highlights part of your personality. This is your chance to show the school who
you are outside of school!

For example, imagine that you are given this prompt:

If you were granted the power to move anywhere in

the world, where would you decide to live and why?

Make sure to pick a topic that is personally important to you! Is there a place you
have visited that has meant a lot to you, or a place where people that you care
about live? Make sure to choose something you know about, care about, and can
tell stories about.

Essay Structure
For the personal essay, you should have a clear, focused topic that directly answers
the given question. It should be structured much like essays you may have written
in school, with an introduction, two or three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

In the introduction, state your topic and then introduce your two to three reasons̶
these will be the topics of your body paragraphs. In the body paragraphs, include
specific examples from your experiences to support each reason. Then, in the
conclusion, rephrase your main points and offer something new to the reader,
such as describing how this topic will affect your actions in the future.

54
 Essay Components
The Introduction
The purpose of the introduction is to clearly communicate to the reader what
you are going to talk about in the rest of the essay. Your introduction should
generally be four to five sentences long. The first sentence is a hook, which is
a question, description, or anecdote that captures the reader s attention. The
second sentence should restate the question and answer it. The last two to three
sentences should provide an overview of your reasons.

Use this as your guide to the sentences in your introduction:

Hook

Answer to the prompt

Reason #1

Reason #2

(Reason #3)

Here's a sample introduction:

As I gazed up at the clear skies and the majesty of Mount

Tongariro, I knew that New Zealand was the most amazing place I
had ever been. My visit there taught me that, if I had the power to
move anywhere in the world, I would want to move to New Zealand.
Moving to New Zealand would allow me to spend more quality
time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins, who live there. If I moved to
New Zealand, I would also be able to hike and explore the amazing,
beautiful outdoors.

55
 The Body
The body paragraphs of an essay explain how your reasons support your topic,
and they provide specific details and examples to make your reasons concrete.
As much as possible, these reasons should come from your own life and interests.

If you are writing about a place you d want to move, for example, tell about an
important visit you had there. Describe the scenery and the sights and sounds!
Use words that appeal to the reader s senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Make sure that your details and examples stay on topic and don t become too
longwinded. Your body paragraphs should be about 5-7 sentences long, so make
sure to include only relevant information.

Here are sample body paragraphs:

Although my parents and I live in New York City, much of my

extended family lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Last summer, we
traveled there to visit them. I got to spend time with my cousins,
Grace and Alex, who I hadn t seen in years. While we all felt a little
shy at first, we soon discovered how much we have in common. My
cousin Grace and I both love to skateboard, and Alex and I both were
teaching ourselves Japanese! We had a great summer exploring the
city together as well as hiking with our parents. If I moved to New
Zealand, I would be able to enjoy their company the whole year, not
just for a summer.
Because I have spent most of my life in a large city, I am always
grateful for opportunities to spend time outdoors. In New Zealand, I
was awestruck by the incredible natural beauty that the islands had
to offer. One of my favorite trips that we took was to the Tongariro
National Park. In the National Park, we rented mountain bikes and
biked through the forest, under the watchful eye of Mount Tongariro.
It was a truly spectacular experience. If I moved to New Zealand, I
would take trips to so many more amazing locations.

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The Conclusion
Your last paragraph, the conclusion, wraps up everything you ve written about in
your essay. In the conclusion, make sure to take 2-3 sentences to restate your
topic and reasons. It is very important to use new words and phrases here, so that
you don t repeat yourself.

Lastly, give the reader a positive closing statement. This can be a description
of your growth, something you have learned related to the topic, or your future
plans.

My visit to New Zealand last summer truly solidified that it would

be my dream place to live. I valued the time I spent with my family there,
and I would love to be able to spend more time learning and growing
with my cousins. I also discovered my passion for the outdoors and
would be excited to spend time exploring new places. Of course, my
family is not moving away from New York any time soon, but that
doesn t mean I can t start planning my next New Zealand trip!

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 Essay Writing Checklist
Topic Choice
□ Is this topic something you know a lot about?
□ Is this topic something you care about?

Specific Details and Examples

□ Do you provide specific details for each of your reasons?
□ Do you have enough examples to fill your body paragraphs?

Organization and Structure

□ Do you have a 4-5 sentence introduction?
□ Do you have 2-3 body paragraphs that are 5-7 sentences long?
□ Do you have a 2-3 sentence conclusion?

Style
□ Is your writing clear?
□ Is your word choice varied?
□ Did you include one or two strong vocabulary words?

Mechanics
□ Did you indent your paragraphs?
□ Is your handwriting neat and legible?
□ Did you check your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation?

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Chapter 5:

Conclusion

59
 How to Prepare from Here
This book should serve as a guide and introduction to the SSAT and best preparation
practices. Remember that practice is the cornerstone of the preparation process!

The next thing to do is to take practice tests and do practice questions. Apply the
strategies covered in Chapter 4 until they are second nature.

There are many SSAT practice resources available. We at Test Innovators have
spent a great deal of time developing quality practice materials, which you can
access at SSATpracticetest.com.

You can use the coupon code GUIDEBOOK for $25 off any Valedictorian package.

If you have any questions about the preparation process, don't hesitate to reach
out to us! From September through January, we answer the phone and respond
to emails 7 days a week. Outside of the core testing season, we are available
Monday through Friday to answer your questions. Our contact information is:

PHONE: 1-800-280-1857
EMAIL: [email protected]

We wish you the best of luck in the preparation process!

Be

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Good Luck!
61