# SSAT Preparation

We've customized our program to the needs of first time test-takers to develop the skills necessary for success on this test day and all test days to come.

Interested in learning more? Get in touch

## Process

First time navigating a standardized test?

While this may be your child’s first experience with standardized testing, it won’t be their last. We can help you start off on the right foot.

1

### Determine when your child needs to take the test

The SSAT is typically administered eight times annually. Since it takes around two weeks for the SSAT to report scores, make sure you account for that timeline alongside application deadlines before scheduling a test date. We recommend getting started early so that your child has plenty of time to prepare for the test and to retest if necessary.
2

### Familiarize yourself with the format of the exam

The SSAT features the following sections: Quantitative (Math), Verbal, Reading, Writing, and Experimental. The Middle Level SSAT exam (for students in grades 5-7) is 2 hours and 5 minutes, while the Upper Level SSAT exam (for students in grade 8-11) is 3 hours and 10 minutes. On both exams, neither the Writing nor the Experimental section count toward your child’s reported score. The writing sample is simply used to assess your child’s present writing skills, while the Experimental section is used as data for the test makers.
3

### Have your child establish a baseline on a practice test

Establishing a baseline score is an important first step in the process of studying for the exam, as it helps reveal your child’s natural strengths and weaknesses. We recommend that your child take a full-length diagnostic exam under timed conditions and in one sitting.

4

### Create a preparation plan

The SSAT is highly coachable, patterned, and predictable. We have found that a systematic tutoring program leads to dramatically superior outcomes, and we recommend a minimum of 12 sessions to cover the entirety of the test. Most of our students space these sessions out over the course of three months with a Comprehensive Package.

5

### Start tutoring, and later practice testing

Once we’ve matched your child with a tutor, the real work begins! Your child will meet with their tutor regularly (ideally, once or twice per week), complete homework in between sessions, and take practice tests. Practice tests are the best way for your tutor to understand your child’s performance, and to gauge progress during the course of tutoring. Based on the results of your child’s practice tests, your tutor will adjust their approach, and make sure your child is getting as much out of the process as possible.

## Tutor spotlight

We are a cooperative of writers, historians, and mathematicians who provide exceptional one-on-one tutoring and standardized testing support to our students.

## Testimonials

“We absolutely loved working with Tess. Our 10-year-old was struggling while preparing for her first SSAT and Tess made the process of preparation enjoyable and effective. While firm and organized, Tess gave our child personalized, clear, innovative methods of solving challenging problems. She ensured that our child felt supported, engaged, and motivated, all while pushing her to become a stronger student. ”

Parent of SSAT StudentSSAT

“Andrew was very thorough and detailed. He coached me well and gave me a lot of confidence in test taking. Andrew also helped me with individual school application preparation, including essay writing and interview preparation. Each session was well defined and we went over material that was structured to my needs.”

Krishna SanthanaScored 99% SSAT, 96% HSPT

“Cambridge Coaching is fantastic! I've recommended Cambridge Coaching to several other parents. Troy has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He has great knowledge of the tests and helped our kids prepare without making them feeling more stressed. He is a treasure! Our daughter improved in Verbal, Reading, and Quantitative on the SSAT! We are thrilled. ”

RajaniSSAT

“Mac is friendly, incredibly smart, excited about teaching and able to adapt his style to fit Rachel's needs and personality. He suggested new books to read and some great vocab boosters. He observed how she was approaching the exam and suggested alternatives that made sense. Rachel was so well prepared and felt so confident going in to the test after Mac's tutoring sessions that we knew she was able to do her best. Thank you! ”

SusannaSSAT

## Testimonials

“We absolutely loved working with Tess. Our 10-year-old was struggling while preparing for her first SSAT and Tess made the process of preparation enjoyable and effective. While firm and organized, Tess gave our child personalized, clear, innovative methods of solving challenging problems. She ensured that our child felt supported, engaged, and motivated, all while pushing her to become a stronger student. ”

Parent of SSAT StudentSSAT

“Andrew was very thorough and detailed. He coached me well and gave me a lot of confidence in test taking. Andrew also helped me with individual school application preparation, including essay writing and interview preparation. Each session was well defined and we went over material that was structured to my needs.”

Krishna SanthanaScored 99% SSAT, 96% HSPT

“Cambridge Coaching is fantastic! I've recommended Cambridge Coaching to several other parents. Troy has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He has great knowledge of the tests and helped our kids prepare without making them feeling more stressed. He is a treasure! Our daughter improved in Verbal, Reading, and Quantitative on the SSAT! We are thrilled. ”

RajaniSSAT

“Mac is friendly, incredibly smart, excited about teaching and able to adapt his style to fit Rachel's needs and personality. He suggested new books to read and some great vocab boosters. He observed how she was approaching the exam and suggested alternatives that made sense. Rachel was so well prepared and felt so confident going in to the test after Mac's tutoring sessions that we knew she was able to do her best. Thank you! ”

SusannaSSAT

“Tess is an amazing tutor. She approached SSAT preparation with the right balance of challenge and achievement, planned out the test practices and essays, created goals/milestones, and worked with our daughter on interview techniques and applications. Our daughter has a special confidence having worked with Tess that we have seen carry through to her classes and other interactions. In addition to the diligence and care with which she approaches her role as a tutor, she is a fantastic role model for a young person. ”

“My daughter loved Max. He eased her anxiety and gave her a plan she could follow, which helped her reach the scores she needed for admission to her target schools. Based on how happy she was with Max, all of her friends ended up signing up with Cambridge Coaching. ”

MicheleSSAT

## FAQs

• ### What’s on the SSAT?

There are two versions of the SSAT: the lower level test, administered to students in grades 5–7, and the upper level test, administered to students in grades 8–11. Both versions of the SSAT contain a verbal section, a reading comprehension section, a quantitative section, and a writing sample.

• ### How is the SSAT different from my child’s tests at school?

These standardized tests are designed to be more difficult than the exams your child is currently encountering in school. Consequently, your child’s score on the SSAT may not reflect their current scores on school exams or grades.

• ### I’ve heard of the ISEE as well - which test should my child take?

While there is considerable overlap in content between the SSAT and ISEE, some schools will state an explicit preference for one over the other. Check the “Admissions” section of your target schools’ websites to get an idea of which test your schools prefer. If a given school requires one of the two exams, then you don’t have a choice, take that one! If you do have a choice, have your child take a practice SSAT and a practice ISEE exam. You can find practice tests at the back of most standard SSAT/ISEE prep books. Compare your child's scores and think about which exam they felt played more to their strengths, or simply, which felt more accessible to them. Most students perform similarly on the two exams, but if they are scoring much higher on one of them, it is better to focus on preparing for that one.

• ### How is the SSAT scored?

On the SSAT, each question is worth one “raw” point; each incorrect answer deducts ¼ point. Your child will receive both a scaled score and a percentile rank. The percentile rank represents the percent of students who have scored at or below your child’s scaled score. For the Middle Level SSAT, the total scaled score ranges from 1320 to 2130. For the Upper Level SSAT, the total scaled score ranges from 1500 to 2400.

• ### When should my child take the SSAT?

Most private school application deadlines are in January, though it varies from school to school. While the date you choose to test should ultimately be guided by how much time needed to prepare, we often recommend setting November or December as targets. Why? A September test date would only offer two months over the summer to prepare, which might not be enough, especially bearing in mind summer travel plans and extracurricular activities. October is usually busy with midterms or schoolwork (i.e., important grade determinants), and early January is often busy with prepping application materials and traveling for interviews. So, November or December it is! And, since it takes two weeks for the SSAT to report scores to schools, be sure to schedule your child’s final test date to meet application deadlines appropriately.

• ### How long should my child study for the SSAT?

As the SSAT is most likely the first time your child will encounter a standardized exam of this nature, it's recommended they start preparing as early as possible to get comfortable with the content, timing, and format of the test. The summer prior to a fall sitting of the exam tends to be the best time to begin prep, as your child will likely have more downtime outside of school.

• ### Can my child take the SSAT more than once?

The SSAT has no limits on retesting. Still, be aware that the SSAT is only administered eight times a year.

## Plans

We’ve created a structured yet flexible pricing plan that offers everything you need to succeed on test day.

### Hourly Rate

1 Hour

All of our tutoring is available on an hourly basis. If you're not sure how much tutoring you'll need or when you plan to test, you can enroll in our "pay as you go" option.

$120$ 160

$240$ 290

### First Time Package

3 Hours

The three session package is a good way to get a student's feet wet, evaluate the amount of tutoring they’ll ultimately need, and see if they feel comfortable with a tutor. Most students use this package to gauge their preliminary strengths and weaknesses so that the tutor can chart a longer term plan.

$360$ 480

$720$ 870

### Comprehensive Package

12 Hours 5% OFF

Our preferred approach to the SSAT offers complete coverage of the test. Our students learn all three sections of the test - quantitative (math), verbal, and reading comprehension - in detail. We review general test strategy and time management extensively.

$1368 You save$72

$1824 You save$96

$2736 You save$144

$3306 You save$174

16 Hours 10% OFF

Because the SSAT heavily rewards repetition and coverage, we offer this package to students who would prefer to space their preparation out over a longer duration. Some students find this package useful if they need to spend more time preparing for particular sections of the test or getting acclimated to the pressures of standardized testing.

$1728 You save$192

$2304 You save$256

$3456 You save$384

$4176 You save$464

### Tutor Tiers

We have 4 tiers of coaches. The coach’s tier is based on the experience level of the coach with our team. All coaches begin working with Cambridge Coaching at the Standard tier.

0-150 hours

• #### Guru

250-300 hours