SSAT vs PSAT

printer05201 · 11-04-2008, 01:27 PM

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the major differences might
be between the SSAT and the PSAT.
Is there one that the schools look at closer. More difficult than the other?
I think you get the jist. Any elaboration would be greatly appreciated.

Linda S · 11-04-2008, 01:29 PM

More than one person - including my son - has said the SSAT is harder.
I think for admissions up to 10th grade most schools require the SSAT (not 100% sure though) after that, most require the PSAT or SAT.

italianboarder · 11-04-2008, 06:23 PM

The PSAT is actually harder. Score wise one problem can change your percentile from 70% to 80%... Lets say you have 40 math questions.
12 are 6th grade difficulty.(Addition, subtraction and the like)
6 are geometry(9th).
12 are trig.
3 are calculus.
7 are word problems that are not multiple choice... Trig, Functions and whatever else.

Senay · 11-04-2008, 07:40 PM

ohh. i found the PSAT's definitely easier. all schools expect the SSAT for 9th & 10th grade applicants but after that they want the PSAT's for 11th or 12th grade applicants.

ickleronniekins · 11-11-2008, 09:02 PM

Some kids who took the PSAT on a weekend here at Exeter were just going around telling people about how ridiculously EASY it was. (And these are lowers/uppers, which are sophmores/juniors) The math was apparently so easy that they just felt stupid doing it.

italianboarder · 11-11-2008, 09:15 PM

I took the SSAT this weekend... The math never went beyond what I learned in 8th grade. The PSAT had one calc problem, 5 trig and 3 general solving(Setting up a word problem and figuring it out).

English/Vocab was very similar to the math section... I feel that the PSAT was much more broad and some of the questions were rather difficult compared to SSAT.

SSAT is way easier in comparison with the PSAT. I cannot see how anybody in their right mind can assume differently... I took them about a month apart and it was so apparent.