<p>I think the SSAT essay is very important, but not in the way you might think. They use it to see if your essays were your own. If you have a kid who writes on a 5th grade level in his SSAT test, but then hands in a wonderful, thought provoking essay, it makes you wonder. I had a student who was in 8th grade but who wrote compelling, top essays, that you could hardly beleive she wrote. An admissions dean told me that they loved her writing, and were so happy when they pulled out her SSAT essay and it was more of the same!</p>
<p>I think it is important for international students too. Many agents in China, for example, write the essays for the student, so schools are careful to compare the SSAT essay.</p>