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The SSAT, ISEE, and CTP 5 are standardized tests that measure academic performance and are required for admission to most independent schools. Scores are used to supplement a student’s entire application. The content for both tests is similar, and many students tend to perform similarly on these tests. However, the tests differ in scoring and logistics, so those details will help determine which test will be a better fit for each student.

SSAT

The SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) consists of five sections: writing (not scored), reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, and two quantitative reasoning sections. There is also a brief, unscored experimental section at the end of each test.

Levels:

  • Elementary Level- students currently in grades 3-4
  • Middle Level- students currently in grades 5-7
  • Upper Level- students currently in grades 8-11

Test Format & Timing:

Section Total Test Time/Breakdown Number of Questions/Types Content/Skills Covered
Verbal 30 minutes (one section) 30 synonym questions; 30 analogy questions Vocabulary and Verbal reasoning skills
Quantitative 60 minutes (two 30-minute sections) 50 multiple-choice questions Math computation and reasoning
Reading 40 minutes (one section) 7 reading passages and 40 questions Reading comprehension
Writing Section 25 minutes (one section) 1 essay prompt Writing skills
Experimental Section 15 minutes (one section) 16 Questions Sample questions: 6 verbal, 5 reading, 5 quantitative

Scoring:

The SSAT gives scores as percentiles (1st through 99th). This type of scoring is called “norm-referencing” because it compares each student to the performances of other test-takers over the past three years.

For example, students who receive a score of in the 80th percentile on the Reading Comprehension section have performed better than 80% of the similar population who took the test in those years.

Students earn one point for every correct answer, lose ¼ of a point for every wrong answer, and get zero points for questions that are left blank.

Test Dates:

Students have a few testing options for the SSAT:

    • Computer-Based testing at-home: Live remote proctoring. The same test delivered on a computer, in the student’s own home. Please see below for the national test dates:
      March 20, 2024 May 22, 2024
      March 23, 2024 May 25, 2024
      April 10, 2024 June 12, 2024
      April 24, 2024 June 15, 2024
      April 27, 2024 June 26, 2024
      May 8, 2024 July 10, 2024
      June 13, 2024
    • Computer-Based testing at Prometric Test Center: Live remote proctoring. Delivered on a computer, but students register through Prometric.
    • Paper-Based at a Testing Center: Students can take the paper-based test at a local test center on select test dates. Please see below for the national test dates:
      • Saturday, April 20, 2024
    • Paper-Based Flex Test: A Flex test is a paper-based SSAT given to an individual or group on any date other than the scheduled paper-based dates. Students can take the Flex test with member schools or approved local Educational Consultants, on mutually agreed upon dates, times, and locations. Students at all testing levels can take a Flex test once per calendar year – between August 1 and July 21. If you are interested in taking a “flex test”, we are happy to connect you with flex test providers in your local area.

Many students take this test more than once, and there is no limit on the number of tests a student may take. However, submitted scores must be from the same school year as the application. Students can choose which set of scores to send to schools and do not have to send all scores.

Accommodations Request Deadlines: A list of testing accommodations and deadlines can be found here.

Accommodations:

For a complete list of SSAT testing accommodations, please click here. Common accommodations include extended time, use of assistive technology, and distraction-free rooms.

To request accommodations for the SSAT, create a student account on the official SSAT website. Families will also need to provide the contact information of a psychologist or medical doctor who can provide documentation. The SSAT will approve/deny the request once they receive and process all the required documentation.

Note: This process takes up to two weeks after receipt of the completed file. Students should not register for a test date before receiving the accommodations decision. Registration deadlines for registering SSAT with accommodations are earlier than regular testing deadlines. For more information on SSAT accommodations, click here.

Registration:

To register for the SSAT, click here.

ISEE

Administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) consists of five sections: writing sample (not scored), verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement. There is also a brief, unscored experimental section. The length and difficulty of these sections depend on which grade the student is applying to.

Levels:

  • Primary Level-students applying to grades 2, 3, or 4 (online only)
  • Lower Level-students applying to 5th or 6th grade (offered online and on paper)
  • Middle Level-students applying to 7th or 8th (offered online and on paper)
  • Upper Level-students applying to 9th through 12th (offered online and on paper)

Test Format & Timing:

Test Format and Timing for the ISEE is dependent on level.

  • Primary level – Entering Grade 2: 53 minutes + untimed writing
  • Primary level – Entering Grade 3: 54 minutes + untimed writing
  • Primary level – Entering Grade 4: 60 minutes + untimed writing
Section Timing Question Types Content
Grade 2 ONLY: Auditory Comprehension Grade 2: 7 minutes 1 passage (audio only)

6 multiple-choice (text & audio)

Listening
Reading Grade 2: 20 minutes

Grade 3: 28 minutes

Grade 4: 30 minutes

Grade 2: 18 questions / 3 passages

Grade 3: 24 questions / 4 passages

Grade 4: 28 questions / 4 passages

Main Idea

Supporting Ideas

Inference

Vocabulary

Organization/Logic

Figurative Language

Math Grades 2-3: 26 minutes

Grade 4: 30 minutes

Grades 2-3: 24 multiple choice

Grade 4:

28 multiple choice

Several picture problems

Number sense and operations

Algebraic concepts

Geometric concepts

Measurement

Data analysis and probability

Writing Untimed Grades 2-3: Picture prompt

Grade 4: Written prompt

Basic writing skills

 

  • Lower level – Entering Grades 5-6: 2hr 20min
Section Timing Question Types Content
Verbal 20 minutes 40 multiple-choice, Synonym/sentence completion (w/ one blank) Verbal reasoning

Vocabulary in context

Quantitative Reasoning 35 minutes 37 multiple choice and quantitative comparison word problems Math calculation and reasoning
Reading Comprehension 35 minutes 36 multiple-choice, Passage-based questions Main idea

Supporting ideas

Inference

Vocabulary

Organization/logic

Tone/style/language

Math Achievement 40 minutes 47 multiple-choice questions (incl. word problems) Whole numbers

Decimals, percentages, fractions

Algebraic concepts

Geometry

Measurement

Data Analysis and Probability

Essay 30 minutes 1 Essay in response to a prompt Personal essay

 

  • Middle level – Entering grades 7-8: 2hr 40min

 

Section Timing Question Types Content
Verbal 20 minutes 34 multiple choice, Synonym/sentence completion Verbal Reasoning

Vocabulary in Context

Quantitative Reasoning 35 minutes 38 multiple choice, Word problems Math calculation and reasoning
Reading Comprehension 25 minutes 25 multiple choice, Passage-based reading questions Main idea

Supporting ideas

Inference

Vocabulary

Organization/logic

Tone/style/language

Math Achievement 30 minutes 30 multiple choice questions Whole numbers

Decimals, percentages, fractions

Algebraic concepts

Geometry

Measurement

Data Analysis and Probability

Essay 30 minutes 1 Essay in response to a prompt Personal essay

 

  • Upper level – Entering Grades 9-12: 2 hr 40 min
Section Timing Question Types Content
Verbal 20 minutes 40 multiple-choice, synonym/sentence completion (w/ one and two blanks) Verbal reasoning

Vocabulary in context

Quantitative Reasoning 35 minutes 37 multiple choice and quantitative comparison word problems Math calculation and reasoning
Reading Comprehension 35 minutes 36 Multiple-choice, Passage-based reading comprehension questions Main idea

Supporting ideas

Inference

Vocabulary

Organization/logic

Tone/style/language

Math 40 minutes 47 multiple-choice questions (includes word problems) Number sense

Algebraic concepts

Geometry

Measurement

Data Analysis and Probability

Essay 30 minutes 1 Essay in response to a prompt Personal essay

Scoring:

The ISEE gives scores as stanines, which are derived from percentiles.
Percentile Rank Stanine
1-3 1
4-10 2
11-22 3
23-39 4
40-59 5
60-76 6
77-88 7
89-95 8
96-99 9

 

This type of scoring is called “norm-referencing” because it compares each student to the performances of other test-takers.

For example, students who receive a score of 75th percentile (stanine of 6) on the Verbal Reasoning section have performed better than 75% of the similar population who took the test.

There is no wrong penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE.

Test Dates:

Students have a few testing options for the ISEE:

Test dates can be viewed upon registration.

Many students take this test more than once. Crucially, students may only take the ISEE once in each “testing season.” These seasons are: Fall (August-November), Winter (December-March), and Spring/Summer (April-July). Due to this logistical restriction, students need to plan ahead.

Accommodations:

Common accommodations for the ISEE include extended time (1.5x or 2x) and taking the test in a private room. For a full list of accommodations, please click here.

To request accommodations for the ISEE, create a parent account online at the official ISEE site. Formal documentation is required, and once the request is processed, students will automatically receive the ISEE Accommodations Request Form via email.

Note: This process takes up to two weeks after the ERB has received the completed file. Students should not register for a test date before receiving a decision about the accommodations decision. For more information on ISEE accommodations, click here.

Registration:

To register for the ISEE click here.

CTP 5

The Comprehensive Testing Program is an exam used by many private and public schools in order to measure student levels of academic achievement, and used in some states (such as Connecticut) as an entrance examination. It is administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). The CTP 5 is the paper-based test and the CTP Online is the computer-based test.  Students take different levels of the test that correspond to their grade levels.

Schools in the Connecticut area largely use the CTP 5, the paper-based test.

Levels:

There are 10 levels of the CTP. Each level is composed of multiple-choice and open-ended questions including the following topics:

  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Vocabulary
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing Mechanics
  • Writing Concepts and Skills
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Mathematics

The online version of the CTP also includes Science.

Scoring:

Scoring for both the CTP 5 and the CTP Online tests provide both percentile and stanine comparisons directly to schools.  Similar to as you will see on the ISEE, this type of scoring is called “norm-referencing” because it compares each student to the performances of other test-takers.

For example, students who receive a score of 75th percentile (stanine of 6) on the Verbal Reasoning section have performed better than 75% of the similar population who took the test.

It is up to each school as to whether parents receive a copy of their student’s test scores.

There is no wrong answer penalty on the CTP 5 and CTP online. Students are encouraged to answer every question.

Test Dates:

The CTP 5 is administered at several participating independent schools in the Greenwich area. Families may register to test at any school serving as a test site and request that scores be sent to any of the participating schools. CTP 5 testing should be completed by January 15. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited at all test sites. These dates are generally in November, and are to be announced by the schools.

The CTP Online test dates operate by season, and are listed below. Black out dates indicate periods where the CTP portal is down for maintenance.

Fall: August 1, 2023 – February 23, 2024

Black-Out Dates:  February 24, 2024 – March 3, 2024

Spring: March 4, 2024 – July 19, 2024

Black-Out Dates: July 20, 2024 – August 4, 2024

Accommodations:

Discretion for accommodations is largely left up to the school.  Schools are typically advised to follow existing accommodation protocols that a student may receive for other in-class assignments or tests.  Where applicable, schools should also follow a student’s 504 or IEP plan for guidance on what accommodation to provide.

Registration:

To register for the CTP 5, please check with the school of interest.  In Greenwich, many independent schools collaborate to provide testing options, and will announce them in the beginning of the academic year.

To register for the CTP Online, click here.

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