In all the hubbub over high-ranking colleges going test-optional and then backtracking, it is easy to have missed that top private K-12 schools have quietly done much of the same. Schools like Dalton and Poly Prep in New York, who temporarily suspended their testing requirements in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, now require the SSAT or the ISEE for middle school admissions processes, and these tests are no joke. If you are looking to apply to a private middle or high school in the coming year, it’s essential to take a look at their testing requirements and get going with prep now. There are limited opportunities to take the tests within an admissions cycle, so it’s important to optimize your chances. We’ll give a little breakdown on each test and its unique features, then give advice on how best to prep.
What’s the SSAT?
The SSAT stands for Secondary School Admissions Test is administered by the EMA, or Enrollment Management Association. *Be careful not to confuse the SSAT with the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), which is administered by CollegeBoard and used for college applications.* The SSAT is used as part of the admissions process for many private K-12 schools.
The SSAT has three levels:
- Elementary (grades 3-4)
- Middle (grades 5-7)
- Upper (grades 8-11)
It is administered in three ways:
- Paper testing at a test-center
- Computer-based testing at home
- Computer-based testing at a ProMetric test-center
There are limits to how many times a student may take a test in an application year, which is considered to be August 1st through the following July 31st. These limits are based on a student’s level and location. More details can be found here, but the short answer is taking the paper-based test gives students the most opportunities (up to 6 for middle/upper students in the USA), while taking the computer-based test gives them the fewest (just 2).
What’s on the SSAT, and how long does it take?
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
| Writing Sample | 1 prompt | 25 minutes |
| Break | 5 minutes | |
| Quantitative (Math) | 25 multiple choice | 30 minutes |
| Reading | 40 multiple choice (7 passages) | 40 minutes |
| Break | 10 minutes | |
| Verbal | 60 multiple choice (30 synonyms and 30 analogies) | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative (Math) | 25 multiple choice | 30 minutes |
| Experimental | 16 multiple choice | 15 minutes |
| Total: | 167 questions | 3 hours 5 minutes |
What’s the ISEE?
The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Exam, and is administered by the ERB (Educational Records Bureau). Like the SSAT, it is used as part of the K-12 admissions process for private schools. Usually, the ISEE and SSAT are offered as equal options, and schools will accept either.
The ISEE is offered at several levels:
- Primary
- Primary 2 for entrance to Grade 2
- Primary 3 for entrance to Grade 3
- Primary 4 for entrance to Grade 4
- Lower Level for entrance to Grades 5-6
- Middle Level for entrance to Grades 7-8
- Upper Level for entrance to Grades 9-12
The ISEE is offered in 3 testing “seasons.”
- Season 1: August-November
- Season 2: December-March
- Season 3: April-July
Each student may take the ISEE once per season.
The ISEE can be taken in several locations:
- At-School testing is available at select ERB-member schools in paper or online format.
- In-Office testing is available at select ISEE offices in paper or online format.
- Test-center testing is available at ProMetric offices in online format only.
- At-home testing is available in the online format only. At-home tests may be administered by ERB-member schools or the ERB directly.
What’s on the ISEE, and how long does it take?
Each level of testing offers a slightly different experience, as it is meant to be age-appropriate. Note that the ISEE is available for a younger age bracket than the SSAT.
SSAT vs ISEE
| SSAT | ISEE | |
| Time | 3 hours 5 minutes | 1hr for Primary, 2hrs 40min for Middle/Upper |
| Number of Questions | 167 | 161 |
| Time per question (Middle/Upper) | 1min 15sec for Math 30sec for Verbal 1min for Reading | Just under 1min for Math 30sec for Verbal Just under 1min for Reading |
| Penalty for Guessing | -1/4 point | None |
| At-Home testing? | yes | yes |
| Paper testing? | yes | yes |
| Computer-based testing? | yes | yes |
| Pricing | $109-269 | $125-$245 |
| Target Grade Range | Grade 3 – Grade 12 | Grade 2 – Grade 12 |
The biggest difference between the SSAT and the ISEE is the way in which the test levels are bracketed by age group. For each test, student results are compared only to students in their own age group, but students may become stressed when facing question types designed for students in the grades above them that they are not familiar with.
Another major difference is the fact that the ISEE does not require an essay for students at the Primary level, and the Primary level tests are significantly shorter than the SSAT.
In our experience, we find that parents of younger students gravitate towards the ISEE while parents of older students prefer the SSAT. The SSAT is a less time-pressured test than the ISEE at the upper levels.
How should you prep?
Aristotle Circle offers a suite of preparation materials for both the SSAT and the ISEE. Our carefully crafted workbooks and practice tests give students the opportunity to work through question types and skills that will be tested on the exams. With thorough answer explanations in the back of each book, students are able to understand why their answers are correct or incorrect and improve. For the parents, each book features an introduction breaking down the exams’ sections, question types, and score reports.
Aristotle Circle also offers expert test-prep tutors to work with your student either one-on-one or in a group. Students working with Aristotle Circle tutors have access to proprietary practice tests, assistance with booking a test date, and a personalized perspective on which test best suits your student. Give us a call (212-360-2301) or visit us online (www.aristotlecircle.com) to book a free consultation.
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