The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is used by private schools to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective students. The Middle Level SSAT is specifically designed for students in grades 5-7.
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Test Outline Review
The Middle Level SSAT contains 166 questions and one essay, and you will be given 3 hours and 10 minutes (including breaks). There are 16 experimental questions dispersed throughout the exam, which do not count toward your final score.
The test covers four main subjects and is split into seven parts.
1. Writing Sample
In this part, you will be given 25 minutes to write a short essay. Your essay will be based on either a personal question or a creative story starter.
This essay will not be scored, but the schools that receive your SSAT scores will receive your essay to help evaluate your writing abilities.
2. Break (10 minutes)
3. Quantitative (Math)
In this part, you will be given 30 minutes to answer 25 math-related questions, and you will not be able to use a calculator at any time.
The questions in this part assess your knowledge of geometry, arithmetic, elementary algebra, and data analysis.
4. Reading Comprehension
In this part, which is timed at 40 minutes, you will be given multiple reading passages that are 250-350 words each. You will then be asked to answer questions about each passage. These questions assess your ability to make inferences, locate details, make predictions, determine the author’s purpose and point of view, and recognize the main idea.
5. Break (10 minutes)6. Verbal
In this part, you will have 30 minutes to identify synonyms and interpret analogies. There are 30 synonyms to identify and 30 analogies to interpret.
These questions assess your ability to logically relate ideas to each other and your vocabulary strength.
7. Quantitative (Math)
This part is a continuation of part 3. You will have 30 minutes to answer 25 more questions related to math, and you will not have access to a calculator.
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Registration
To register for the test, you will need to make an account online via the SSAT website. From there, you can select which testing method works best for you and pay the applicable testing fee.
| Type of Testing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard or school Flex | $165 |
| SSAT at home | $225 |
| Prometric SSAT | $235 |
| Flex with educational consultant | $240 |
Test Day
There are three main testing methods to choose from:
Paper-and-pencil
This traditional version of the test is available to take in two different ways: standard and flex.
The standard paper-and-pencil test is available on six predetermined dates and is usually taken at schools.
Flex SSAT
The flex paper-and-pencil test is available on special testing dates.
Prometric
A computer-based version of the test is available to take at Prometric testing centers across the US and Canada. Prometric testing requirements will apply, including what you are allowed to bring to the testing center.
At-home
An online version of the test is available if testing at home is best for you. It is important to note that there are many strict guidelines that apply to at-home testing, so you should ensure you can meet those guidelines before committing to this version of the test.
How the Test is Scored
On the Middle Level SSAT, you earn one point for every question you answer correctly, and only one-quarter of a point is deducted for each question you answer incorrectly. There is no penalty for skipping questions.
The total scaled score range is 1320 to 2310. On your score report, you will see your final overall score, your percentile, and your individual scores for each subject on the test.
Retaking the Test
You are welcome to take the test as many times as you wish. You will need to pay the testing fee for each retake.
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FAQs
How many questions are on the SSAT Middle Level test?
There are 166 questions and one unscored essay on the test.
How long is the SSAT Middle Level test?
The time limit for the test is 3 hours and 10 minutes.
What is a good score for the SSAT Middle Level test?
Any score higher than 1740 is considered to be a good score.
How much does the SSAT Middle Level test cost?
The testing fee varies depending on your testing method of choice.
