WHAT ARE THE SSAT AND ISEE TESTS?
The SSAT and ISEE are the two primary tests used to gain admission to independent schools. Though most students will take the SSAT or ISEE in the fall or winter in order to apply for admission to the school the following fall, many private schools will give their students SSAT Benchmark tests in the spring to introduce them to these tests.
Both the SSAT and ISEE feature different versions based on grade level, allowing them to test students for admission to elementary level grades (4th grade for the SSAT, 2nd grade for the ISEE) through admission to high school. Taking a diagnostic test early on is a great idea for students who are considering applying to independent schools, as it will give students and their parents a chance to get familiar with the tests, gauge their current level of knowledge, and set realistic goals for improvement.
SIMILARITIES
Though most parents ask immediately about the differences between the tests, I would like to focus first on their similarities, which are generally more extensive and important. Both of these tests feature very similar content, with each containing two math sections, one reading section, and one vocabulary section. For both of these tests, the scores are calculated on a curve, meaning that each student’s score fluctuates based on the performance of the other students who took the same test.
Though the scale of the scores is different, the key aspect of the score to pay attention to on either test is the student’s percentile rank. When students and parents are first exposed to these tests, these percentile ranks can be jarring. A student who scores in a very high percentile range on similar state-wide or national standardized tests will usually find his or her percentile rank much lower on the SSAT or ISEE.
The reason for this difference lies in the pool of students who take the SSAT and ISEE. Since these exams are generally taken only by students who are already enrolled in competitive private schools or students at the top of their classes, the percentiles for everyone naturally tend to skew downward. As a simple rule of thumb, any score above the 50th percentile is generally viewed as a strong result, and even the most competitive schools are usually looking for scores in the 70th to 80th percentile.
DIFFERENCES
The differences between the SSAT and ISEE lie in the details. The tests are scored differently - the SSAT deducts points for wrong answers while the ISEE does not. The SSAT also features analogies in the vocabulary section, while the ISEE features sentence completion questions.
However, these differences are relatively minor for most students, so I would recommend that families start by checking with the independent schools they are applying to in order to find out the schools’ official preference between these tests. In the case that the school accepts both, I recommend picking one test and sticking with it to build consistency when studying.
Are you considering taking the SSAT or the ISEE? We are happy to help you get started on the test prep process. Schedule a consult or give us a call today to get started!