SSAT · Middle and Upper Level
SSAT practice test
built around what your child gets wrong
SSAT-style practice for students applying to grades 6 through 12. Every test ends with a review that names the concept behind each miss, and the AI Tutor teaches it. Try three questions now.
- Who it is for
- Students in grades 5–11 applying to independent middle and high schools
- When it happens
- Standard test dates run roughly October through June, and most admission deadlines fall in January, so the busiest testing months are October to December.
No account needed for the sample · Original questions · Not affiliated with any testing organization
Concept:
Written in advance. Nothing is saved.
On a real test, the review would put these on your child's focus list, in this order, and the AI Tutor would teach each one:
- Needs work
All three right. On a real test the review would move on to harder material and show which concepts are already mastered, so no time is wasted re-practicing them.
What is on the test
The SSAT at a glance
The facts a parent needs before choosing a prep plan. Details are as published by the test maker; always confirm dates and formats with the school your child is applying to.
- Levels
- Elementary (grades 3–4), Middle (grades 5–7) and Upper (grades 8–11), named for the grade the student is in when testing.
- Format
- Multiple choice with five answer choices, plus an unscored writing sample. Paper at test centers, or online at home for some dates.
- Length
- About 3 hours including breaks for the Middle and Upper Level.
- Scoring
- Upper Level sections are scaled 500–800 (total 1500–2400); Middle Level 440–710 (total 1320–2130). Percentiles compare students of the same grade and gender.
- Guessing penalty
- One point for each correct answer, a quarter point off for each wrong one, nothing for a blank. Guess when you can rule out at least one choice.
- Retakes
- Students may take standard dates more than once; schools see the scores you choose to send.
| Section | What it tests | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Writing sample | One prompt, unscored, sent to schools | 25 min |
| Quantitative (part 1) | Arithmetic, algebra and geometry word problems | 25 questions · 30 min |
| Reading | Passages with questions on main idea, inference and vocabulary | 40 questions · 40 min |
| Verbal | 30 synonyms and 30 analogies | 60 questions · 30 min |
| Quantitative (part 2) | Second math section, same content mix | 25 questions · 30 min |
| Experimental | Unscored questions used to build future tests | 16 questions · 15 min |
The Middle and Upper Level share this structure; the Elementary Level is shorter and has no analogies.
On UnofficialPrep
Middle School SSAT prep
150 questions · 120 min full length, plus short and mini versions and adaptive mode.
How it works
Every wrong answer becomes a named concept, then a lesson
Most prep hands a student a score and a bigger pile of questions. This is the loop instead.
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Step 1
Practice test
Full-length, short or mini versions of the SSAT, timed by section, with an adaptive mode that finds the student's level fast.
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Step 2
Test Review
Each miss is tied to a specific concept. The review ranks the concepts by how much they are costing and says what to do first.
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Step 3
AI Tutor and Readiness Report
A short lesson on the concept, a fresh round of questions to prove it stuck, and a report you can read in a minute to see where your child stands.
Preparing for the SSAT
Three things that move the score
Practice analogies as a skill
Thirty of the sixty Verbal questions are analogies, a format most students never see in school. Learning the common relationship types is worth more than memorizing word lists.
Use the guessing penalty, do not fear it
Skipping every hard question costs more than guessing does. The rule of thumb: if one choice can be eliminated, answer.
Do both math sections in one sitting
Fifty quantitative questions across two sections rewards stamina. Time at least one full-length practice before the real date.
Also on UnofficialPrep
Related practice tests
Questions parents ask
SSAT practice test FAQ
No. UnofficialPrep is not affiliated with the Enrollment Management Association, which makes the SSAT. Our questions are original and written in the style of the test.
Only when no answer choice can be eliminated. Losing a quarter point on a wrong guess is small next to the full point gained when an educated guess is right. Our reviews show how many blanks were left, so you can see whether pacing or caution is the problem.
It depends on the schools. Percentiles compare your child to other applicants of the same grade, and selective schools often look for the 70th percentile or above. The Readiness Report shows how your child is tracking section by section.
Every wrong answer here maps to a named concept, the review ranks the concepts to work on first, and the AI Tutor teaches each one with a lesson and new questions. A book leaves that work to you.
The sample test is free and needs no account. Full practice tests and Test Reviews start at $10 a month, and plans with the AI Tutor start at $20 a month. Cancel anytime.
See exactly what your child needs to work on for the SSAT
Try the free sample test now, no account needed. Full practice tests and reviews from $10 a month, the AI Tutor from $20 a month. Cancel anytime.
UnofficialPrep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any testing organization. Test names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to describe what our practice prepares students for.