SharingGift

Glanbia, if you're not comfortable, it's probably not a good idea to take another test because your state of mind could affect your test performance negatively. By all means, as others have advised as well, 97% is a very good score. Average percentile for entering Andover student is 93-94%:-) Also, SSAT is just one component of your whole application package. If you have good GPA, good math recommendation, and math-related EC (e.g., math olympiad?), I believe they will more than make up one-time lapse in test performance.

On the other hand, if you believe you made simple dumb mistakes, your chance of getting higher score should be great. I feel SSAT math tests do not have a sufficient power to differentiate test takers and test scores swing sharply by a few correct or incorrect answers. If you can answer a few more questions correctly, you could could get your percentile much higher than 90. Furthermore, you can select schools to receive scores after reviewing your December test.

Whether you re-test or not, please consider opportunity cost and exercise common sense.

smiley66

Is it okay if I re-take the test in January? Will the AOs consider the test score even if they receive a couple days after the application deadline?

Glanbia

Thanks SharingGift. It's very helpful. December is tough for me because of my exam schedule. I'll just move on and forget about SSATs. Putting my faith in AOs to see through the scores :-)
PrepQWill - for some reason I can't answer your inbox. You need to look on SSAT - Online Guide and log in with your ID

SharingGift

@Glanbia
Glad to hear it was helpful. Instead of "putting...faith in AOs to see through the scores," Perhaps you could write a letter or email explaining your SSAT math scores so it becomes part of your application. You could simply state that you had a lower score than you had expected but since you had aced math classes with, hopefully, good recommendation from your math teacher, you decided to move on and spend your time more productively. You could also bluntly ask if your current SSAT math score will reduce your chance of admission, despite outstanding school report and recommendation.

My point is that AOs will have a daunting task of sifting through hundreds of applications with a limited time, so don't leave anything to chance. Advocating on your own behalf is should be viewed positively--signs of maturity and independence.

Glanbia

@SharingGift. I'm heading for my interviews soon. Do you think it's ok to raise what you said in the interview in person? The schools have the scores already.

london203

My DD took a flex test on 17 November and thought it was VERY hard. She came away convinced she didn't do well. I reminded her that some of the questions were designed to challenge kids 3 grades higher....

I asked if there were any she just knew straight away and she said yes, but that the test was extremely hard in general.

Guess we will know in a week or so. Finger crossed! :-)

PrepQWill

Everyone, the scores are on the website for you to look at. You are allowed to download them in a .PDF file or even look at them as a separate link.

girlgeekmom

@Glanbia, you can't reply to PMs until you have 15 posts. So give it a bit and a few more (hopefully relevant) posts, and then you should be able to reply to PMs

famtree

@london 203
You need to contact SSAT as soon as possible. My child also took the flex test and scored terribly. It was a 25 point drop from when the test was taken last June before entering 8th grade. This made no sense. Yesterday, we received an email from SSAT stating their had been some inconsistencies in the flex test only, and my child could retake the SSAT free of charge. A voucher number was also included in the email. Of course, my child will retake the test in December but will also take the ISEE. It was such a shock when I got the results that I immediately registered for both test. SSAT has refunded the cost of my 2nd registration.

Below is the content of the email I received. Of course, I have removed our name. Please don’t hesitate to contact SSAT to see if your child falls in the same category. Good luck!


Dear Family of

I am writing with important information about the SSAT your child took on
November 11, 2012. The form of the test your child took is referred to as
the "Flex Test". Each year, there are nine forms of the SSAT, eight of
which are administered on scheduled Saturdays/Sundays throughout the year
(October - June). The ninth form (the Flex) may be taken at any time
during the testing year.

Our Testing and Research team has conducted and concluded a thorough review
of all our 2012-13 testing data. We have discovered that for some of our
testers, the Quantitative section of the Upper Level Flex test has a
"guessing" rate which appears to be twice our normal rate for other
examination forms. This is evidenced by significantly fewer omitted
questions.

Given this inconsistency in the way in which some students are taking this
test's Quantitative section, we are offering to re-test for free students
who took the Upper Level Flex test beginning August 1, 2012. Please note
that this issue is isolated to the Upper Level Flex test; tests taken by
your child on any other dates are not affected.

As the parent of a child who recently took the SSAT, I deeply regret the
added stress and anxiety that re-testing may cause you and your child
during the independent school application process. Please note that many
students performed well on the Upper Level Flex Test and, therefore, do not
need to re-test. (In other words, students who are satisfied with their
scores are free to report them to schools; SSATB has communicated with
schools to treat these scores exactly as they would any other set of
scores.)

Please click the link provided below to access your SSAT student account,
from which you can register for a free test on any of the remaining
Standard test dates using the Fee Waiver code provided; no late
registration fees will apply. If your family is working with an outside
organization, educational consultant, or with a placement counselor at an
independent school, you may hear from them with additional information
regarding re-registering for SSAT. If it is a hardship for you to test on
one of the upcoming standard dates, please contact us at info@ssat.org, and
we will do our best to work with you.

I sincerely apologize for any added burdens created by this situation,
particularly at this time of year. Please know that we are dedicated to
offering the best admission test to families and students in the
independent school admission process, and the best tool to admission
directors at independent schools, so that great decisions can be made to
enrich your child's future education. Thank you in advance for your
understanding.

Sincerely,
Heather Hoerle, SSATB Executive Director

SharingGift

@Glanbia
I think it's a good idea.

london203

@famtree: thanks for the info. I will keep an eye on it. Wouldn't it also be a good idea to forward that email to the schools you care about? Just to give them a heads up as to the situation? Just thinking out loud here.....

Anyway: I will check it out if necessary!

Thanks.

famtree

@lon203
We did not submit SSAT scores to any schools because I wanted to check the scores first. Smart move on my part. However, a new revelation from my child came this morning about the whole BS situation. I will start a new post so not to deviate from the subject of this one. Again, good luck to your child!

puddingpants

I took the Nov. 10 test and i got a 94%

i was wondering if schools like Andover or Exeter would take me... If anyone knows, write it, thanks!

bsroxmysox

@puddingpants If you bothered reading it says that 93+ on SSAT is great for HADES schools. But it's still only one factor among many to get you accepted to any of the schools you applied to.

Spiritual

Do schools care about individual (section) or overall SSAT scores only? 98 percentile overall with high 90s in two sections and low 90s in one.