Gigismum

Hi Erin, I just wanted to thank you again for your support and guidance. My son took the SSAT last month as a Grade 6 student and scored 2088 out of 2130 (98%). I'm so relieved and he's so happy!

Kaplan does a better job with Math. Princeton has a chapter explaining essay writing strategies AND 2 sample essays that exemplify a below average vs. above average essay.

Hi Erin! What was I thinking (banging head on wall right now...)?? I read this thread months ago and yet, it only dawned on me today that this is a very useful list you are generating! And I didn't sign us up ;-( Is there anyway I can get an accelerated version, ie more than 1 word a day? My son's test date is Nov. 23. Thanks.

We're getting ready for the lower-level SSAT in November. Although my son did well on his previous "experiences" with the SSAT (took it in Gr. 5 and scored (99% and 97% respectively)), I'm still nervous for him. I'm afraid he'll be sitting on his laurels, so to speak. Anyway, just for the record... We use both the Princeton and Kaplan books and a list of the daily analogies/synonyms from the ssat.org website. Kaplan is very good for math but Princeton has a MUCH better chapter on essay writing.

Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement, Erin. Are you in the Bay Area? I went to UC Berkeley and Golden Gate and I'm originally from SF. The school we are targeting in Canada is the Canadian equivalent of Lowell HS. It's a former educational 'experiment' by a big Canadian university and kids get in by merit only. So far, DS seems well-adjusted and happy (he's in gifted public education). No signs of stress. Loves to play b-ball, hang out with friends, swim competitively, play computer games, travel. He never seems to have any homework to bring home so I put him in an enrichment math program, work with him on writing skills and take him traveling Maybe this is how he managed to get such a good score! I don't mean by traveling.

Hi Erin, yes it was a Lower Level SSAT. We live in Canada so he'll be applying to a school that starts in Grade 7. I keep telling him that he can't just sit back and expect to get the same score (both numeric and %) in Grade 6. A score of 2040 in Grade 5 may equivalent to 99% but 2040 won't buy him that percentile in Grade 6. Do you have any idea what 2040 is equivalent to for Grade 6? Thanks.

Thanks very much, asquare. I think I get it. If he had been in Grade 6 this year, taking the same test, he would have scored the same numeric score of 2040 BUT the percentage (99%) would've been different (most likely lower) since he would have been compared to other Grade 6 kids. Thanks.

Hi, my son took the April 2010 SSAT and scored 2040 (99%). He's in Grade 5. Of course, he'll have to take it again when he's in Grade 6 in order to apply for the school of his choice. Does the SSAT score calculation take into account his actual grade at the time of testing? In other words, if he had been in Grade 6 this year and if he had taken the same April 2010 test, would his score have been different? Thanks very much.