SSAT Preparation Information

September 11, 2008

Dear Parents,

In the very near future, you and your 8th grade student will be making some decisions about where he or she will attend high school. Application deadlines approach quickly and High School Open Houses are coming up, so the following information may be helpful to you.  Open House dates & times are as follows:

It is an admission requirement that students applying to these and other Catholic or private high schools take the SSAT (Secondary Schools Admissions Test).  The SSAT consists of two parts: a brief essay, and a multiple-choice aptitude test which measures students’ ability to solve mathematics problems, to use language, and to comprehend what they read.  The test is timed and divided into five sections. Students are given 25 minutes for the writing sample, 40 minutes for the reading section, and 30 minutes each for the remaining multiple-choice sections.  All questions on the SSAT are equal in value, and scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly minus one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly. Only one response may be given to each question.  Although no points are awarded or deducted for questions left unanswered, students will be penalized for questions answered incorrectly or with more than one response.

Each day the SSAT website, www.ssat.org, posts a “Word of the Day” as well as a “Question of the Day.”  These are helpful in preparing for the test.  Additionally, a book of full length practice tests is available for $28.00 through the SSAT website. 

To register for the SSAT:

1. Select a test date and location.
2. Select score recipients. A score report will automatically be mailed to your home.  (You may send scores to up to 2 schools free of charge at this time.  If you wait until after the test has been taken, you will be required to pay for additional score reports.)  If you would like Our Lady of Mercy to receive your scores, enter 5585, for St. Pius X, enter 6913, and for Blessed Trinity, enter 1730.  If you would like a school other than these to receive your scores, you can locate their recipient code at the SSAT website or I can assist you in locating it.
3. Complete the registration form. (Either online or the attached paper registration form)
4. Pay the $105 testing fee and submit the registration form.  They can either email or send the admission ticket which you will need to bring to the test location on the day of the test.

The test is offered 8 times between October and June; however, please be mindful of the application deadlines of some schools.  (I recommend the December test date.)  The test dates and registration deadlines are as follows:

I have attached a registration form, although you may also register online at the SSAT website. The following are some of the local schools that will be offering the SSAT exam, their school codes, and the exam dates available for each location.  A complete list is available at www.ssat.org.

If you have any additional questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to call me at (770) 306-9026 ext. 305 or email me at jbigham@olvpatriots.org.  It is my pleasure to help you through the exciting experience of applying to high schools.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Bigham

Assistant Principal/School Counselor