Hi everyone - our daughter will be taking the SSAT at a Prometric center overseas next month. We are not guaranteed there will be an English-speaking proctor, so we had a few questions to make sure she is prepared for how the test works and doesn’t get flustered by not being able to ask a question.
Can you move forward and back in the current section, like skipping around in the paper booklet? For example, in the math section, she likes to jump around to the questions she knows best and answer those first and then go back and answer other questions later. Does anyone know if you can move forward and backward in the computer version?
In a similar vein - can you go back and change an answer?
How can you do work on the math section (scratch paper, a computer-based scratch pad, etc)?
How are you notified of breaks? Does it say something on the screen? Are you allowed to leave the test room or do you need to take your break there?
Can you bring a bottle of water and some light snacks for during break time?
Is there anything else we should know ahead of time that we haven’t thought of, but that would be useful for a kid in an unfamiliar place that doesn’t speak the language to just be aware of before going?
Darn! I wish I could remember more. My daughter took her SSAT at Prometric but it was 2019 and now I cannot remember all the details. I want to say she could poke around in the same section but once she went to another section, no going back. As long as she was in the same section, I believe she could change an answer. I’m pretty sure of that, but I think all this info might be available on the SSAT website because I remember reading about this before going. Breaks – pretty sure they were communicated on the screen because everyone had their own tests going on different schedules so a proctor was NOT part of the time management piece for any test taker. We definitely had snacks and water for breaks, but I held them in the waiting room with me. I do not think she was allowed to have anything in the test room with her. If I recall, they gave her 3 sheets of scratch paper and there was a process for getting more (like raising a hand or something and a proctor would bring you some, but I don’t recall her needing to get more.) My daughter preferred her computer-based test and did better than she did on the paper test.
I agree with @Calliemomofgirls – contact SSAT directly (and scour their site for info.). It’s entirely possible that there have been changes since those with experience have used prometric. (DS took other tests there ages ago!) Covid gave the testing companies a lot of experience with on-line testing which may have impacted the way the test is administered at an on-line test center.
From my kiddos experiences in 2019 and 2021, you could go back and forth within a section and change answers, but once that section is over, you lose access to it.
They were given blank pieces of paper and a pencil for mathwork.
Have your child bring a sweatshirt because it’s often cold in the testing center.
They will have your child empty their pockets, roll up their sleeves etc every time before entering the testing room, so be prepared for that, especially if you don’t have an English speaking proctor. Also let your child know that the majority of people taking tests will be adults. That was a little intimidating at first!
I believe the screen tells them to take a break, and then he/she leaves the testing room for up to as long as the break is. They can return early if they want, or not take a break at all. For both centers we have used, there is a main room that is separate from the testing room, with chairs, lockers and a bathroom. So during the break, test takers can access food / snacks that they brought (or more likely the parent holds on to these things) and go to the bathroom. Once the test taker leaves the testing room, the proctor gives him/her the current time, to keep track of how long the break is. And then the test taker needs to check in before the time is up, and go back through the emptying pockets drill etc.
Make sure you bring snacks and drinks for yourself too and a good book to read. There was no cell service in either testing center we used, and its a long wait. Some testing centers will allow the parent to leave, but in your situation especially, its probably best to wait there.
Yes. This. My kid took a 2020 test at Prometric and was by far the youngest person there. The other test takers seemed to be taking medical and other professional exams. Definitely no other SSAT testers.
My kid was allocated a locker to put clothes, snacks and water. The main test room (I could see it through a window) had cubicle type desks with barriers between test takers. I wasn’t allowed to talk to my kid between sections, in fact, I’m not even sure that my kid came out between every sections, just plowed through.
The administrators checked paperwork VERY carefully before they would admit anyone for a test. It felt more way more thorough than an airline checkin/TSA, so make sure you double check the paperwork that you need to bring with you. I brought backup documentation since the passport photo was quite old.
Test taker will get a locker to put everything in, snacks, phone etc. She shouldn’t bother wearing ANY jewelry including watches or earrings as she will be made to remove it all and leave it in the locker. It may get chilly, but honestly, it’s not a fashion show, wear the simplest outfit with the most basic shoes bc they will examine her to make sure she has nothing on her or in pockets. Hair is another thing. Don’t bother with doing your hair up all cute with a clip etc because she will be made to remove it for examination. These people are serious. Use the KISS method in dressing that day “keep it simple stup…” because it isn’t worth the hassle to get stressed about your outfit, jewelry, or hair!
I believe you can go back through the same section to check answers as it isn’t a scaled test in the sense that whether you are right or wrong means the next question is harder or easier. He told me he was able to mark questions in a way that he could go and double check them, too, if he did put in an answer. But you can’t jump between sections. You are only allowed to skip break times if you choose, but if you finish a section early, you have to sit there until the time is up for that section. Pretty lame honestly and was a HUGE time waste for my son. Prepare for the full 2.5-3 hrs depending if she skips the breaks or not.
For math, our test center had wipe off boards to work on. It’s just a card stock paper covered in plastic coating with a dry erase marker. No pencil and paper like when I took my Boards there years ago. It could be a COVID thing or they just changed up due to waste. They will get tissues to wipe off the board so they don’t need their hands to get messy but if they need more tissues or want another board instead, like anything, they raise their hand an a proctor comes to them to see what they need.
My kids have taken lots of tests at Prometric which they find less stressful than whatever the distance proctored home version of tests will be. The weekends are usually packed with kids, often taking JHU- CTY. She said the test was “fine” last year which means there wasn’t terrible about the experience. She didn’t mention she couldn’t skip sections and wished she could.
My kids always have big jumps between the two tests so I always recommend two sittings.
We loved prometric for the SSAT - we have never taken it on paper so don’t know much about that
1,2 . Yes, you can move around/skip within the section as well as change answers within the section but once a section is over, cant go back
3. whiteboards or sometimes scratch paper
4. there is a timer on screen the whole time (good for managing time) and kids can leave during break. If they finish a section early and have a break after they were also allowed to leave early.
5. yes you get a locker
Almost little to no interaction with proctor unless you need to ask something or when they are checking you in