The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) explores your ability in a few distinct key areas. In fact, the SSAT focuses on only a few subjects, divided into four sections. With the exception of the Writing section, all questions on the test are multiple-choice.
| Section | Questions | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample | One writing prompt | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative | Two sections: 25 questions each, consisting of a mixture of different kinds of questions in each section | 30 minutes for each section |
| Reading Comprehension | One section: 40 questions based on about 7 reading passages | 40 minutes |
| Verbal | One section: 30 synonym questions and 30 analogy questions | 30 minutes |
The SSAT has two different versions: The lower level test and the upper level test. The only difference between the two levels of the SSAT is the difficulty. The lower level test questions are tailored for students currently in grades 5 through 7, and the upper level test is tailored for students currently in grades 8 through 11. Other than that, the tests are exactly the same in terms of the types of sections, number of questions, and time limits.