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Independent School Admissions and Standardized Testing
I-fan Quirk Advantage Testing
www.advantagetesting.com
Independent School Admissions and Standardized Testing
I-fan Quirk Advantage Testing
www.advantagetesting.com
Overview
• Testing and Admissions Policies • The SSAT or the ISEE? • How to Prepare
Testing and Admissions Policies
Why Use Tests?
• External metric • Grade inflation • Additional data point
What Matters To Schools? Academics
Standardized test scores
School
GPA
SSAT or ISEE
Class rank
Rigor of curriculum
What Matters To Schools?
Extracurricular activities
Special talent/ability
Athletics
Social service
What Matters To Schools?
Personal statement
School recommendation
Teacher recommendations
Personal interview
What Matters To Schools?
• Character/personal qualities • Diversity • Alumni relation/legacy • Level of applicant interest
The SSAT or the ISEE?
SSAT and ISEE Levels
SSAT
ISEE
Upper Level
Students in grades 8–11
Students in grades 8–11
Middle Level
Students in grades 5–7
Students in grades 6–7
Elementary/Lower Level Students in grades 3–4
Students in grades 4–5
Note: Grades shown above indicate the grade in which the student will be taking the official test and submitting an application.
The SSAT
Number of Questions
Minutes per Section
Section
Content
Writing Sample
1 Prompt
25 Minutes
Student-produced response to a topic
Quantitative 1
25 Questions
30 Minutes
Arithmetic, algebra, and geometry
Reading Comprehension
40 Questions
40 Minutes
Passage-based critical reading
Verbal
60 Questions
30 Minutes
Synonyms and analogies
Quantitative 2
25 Questions
30 Minutes
Arithmetic, algebra, and geometry Six verbal, five reading, and five quantitative questions
Experimental (unscored)
16 Questions
15 Minutes
The ISEE
Number of Questions
Minutes Per Section
Section
Content
ML/UL: 40 Questions LL: 34 Questions ML/UL: 37 Questions LL: 38 Questions ML/UL: 36 Questions LL: 25 Questions
Verbal Reasoning
20 Minutes
Synonyms and sentence completions
Arithmetic, basic algebra, and basic geometry
Quantitative Reasoning
35 Minutes
ML/UL: 35 Minutes LL: 30 Minutes ML/UL: 40 Minutes LL: 30 Minutes
Reading Comprehension
Passage-based critical reading
Mathematics Achievement ML/UL: 47 Questions LL: 30 Questions
Arithmetic, basic algebra, and basic geometry
Essay
1 Prompt
30 Minutes
Student-produced response to a topic
SSAT/ ISEE Comparison
SSAT (ML/UL)
ISEE (ML/UL)
Writing Sample Reading Comprehension Verbal Quantitative
Reading Comprehension Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Mathematics Achievement Essay
Sections
Length
3 hours, 5 minutes
2 hours, 40 minutes
5 choices; multiple choice for all Deductions for incorrect answers
4 choices; multiple choice for all No penalty for incorrect answers
Answer choices
UL: 1500–2400 total ML: 1320–2130 total
Scoring
760–940 per section
SSAT Scores
• Upper Level : Section scores range from 500 to 800 • Middle Level: Section scores range from 440 to 710 • Elementary Level: Section scores range from 300 to 600 • Every question on the SSAT is worth one point – No points are given for skipped questions • Incorrect answers lead to a quarter-point penalty • The Writing Sample is not scored but is sent to schools
SSAT Score Reports
• SSAT scores are broken down by section: – Verbal, Quantitative, Reading • A total score (a sum of the three sections) is also reported • Reports also include a personal score range and percentile to compare students to the norm group
ISEE Scores
• ISEE scaled scores for each section range from 760 to 940 – The scaled score is derived from the number of questions the student answered correctly – Incorrect answers are not penalized • The Essay is not scored but is sent to schools
ISEE Score Reports
• Reports also include a percentile rank (based on scores from all students in a given grade who have taken the test over the past three years) and a stanine – Stanines range from 1 to 9, with 5 as a midpoint – 1–3 roughly represent below average – 4–6 roughly represent average – 7–9 roughly represent above average • Families can choose which score reports to send to schools, but only complete score reports can be sent
SSAT Official Testing
• Beginning August of 2020, the SSAT will be offered (1) as a remotely proctored at-home test, (2) as a computer-based test at Prometric Test Centers, and (3) in paper format as a Flex Test or at select international test centers where safe testing can be made available. • Students can take five SSAT at Home administrations per testing season (August 1–July 31), two computer-based SSATs at Prometric Test Centers per testing season, and one SSAT Flex Test administration per testing season.
SSAT Flex Testing
• The SSAT Flex is offered on any date other than the eight Standard dates; it can be taken only once per testing year – Open Flex Test : hosted by a school on a non-Standard date; available to all registrants – Closed Flex Test : requires an access code obtained directly from a school or educational consultant
SSAT At-Home Testing
• Beginning August 2020, the at-home SSAT will be offered every Saturday and one Sunday per month • Families already registered for a 2020 test date that have not been able to take the exam due to COVID-19 cancellations receive priority scheduling this summer • The test is the same length as the standard test and must be taken on a desktop or laptop computer (Windows or Mac)
ISEE Official Testing • ERB recently added a remotely proctored at-home ISEE option for students in the U.S. and Canada entering grades 5–12. Where possible, ISEE tests are also being administered at Prometric Test Centers and at scheduled paper test centers. • Students may take the ISEE up to three times per year but only once each testing season: Spring/Summer (April–July), Fall (August–November), and Winter (December–March). – Schools typically consider the fall and winter administrations • The ISEE Online At Home is the same length as the standard test and must be taken on a desktop or laptop computer (Windows or Mac).
Other Entrance Exams • SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test) : an exam required by certain New York City high schools; can be taken in 8 th or 9 th grade • HCHS (Hunter College High School) Entrance Exam : for 7 th graders seeking admission to HCHS • HSPT (High School Placement Test) : for 8 th grade students seeking admission to parochial high schools • COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination Program) : taken by 8 th grade students seeking admission into New York/New Jersey Catholic schools • TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) : taken by 8 th grade students seeking admission to New York City Catholic high schools
How to Prepare
Working With Tutors
• Effectiveness of one-on-one • Rigorous standards • Sensitivity to individual needs
• Nowhere to hide • Learning to learn • Remote online learning
Excellent Tutor Qualities
• Motivators • Well-evaluated • Energetic • Approachable • Top performers • Dedicated instructors
Study Independently
Practice. Practice. Practice.
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