Award-Winning SSAT Courses & Classes in New York City, NY

If you're looking for a great New York City SSAT prep course, Varsity Tutors can find you one of the most comprehensive courses around. The SSAT is a high-stakes assessment that provides private and independent schools with objective information that allows them to objectively compare applicants from different backgrounds. It is divided into three levels based on a test-taker's age: students in grades 3-4 take the Elementary Level SSAT, grades 5-7 take the Middle Level SSAT, and grades 8-11 take an Upper Level SSAT. Students typically take the test in anticipation of entering their new private or independent school for the next school year. For example, a seventh grader would be planning to enroll in a new school starting with grade 8.

Each school has its own target score and considers other factors in making admission decisions, but doing well on the SSAT could help you or your student reach for your academic potential. That's where we come into the picture. Enrolling in one of our New York City SSAT class offerings allows you to study in a collaborative learning environment with a knowledgeable teacher as you study for all facets of the test. Continue reading to learn more about how we may be able to help you.

What topics are reviewed in a New York City SSAT course?

The Elementary Level SSAT lasts one hour and 50 minutes, while students taking the Middle or Upper Level exams spend two hours and 50 minutes testing. As such, the Elementary Level test has a different format with fewer exam items than its counterparts for older students. That said, all levels of the SSAT have four multiple-choice sections (Experimental, Quantitative, Reading, and Verbal) plus a Writing component. The Experimental section is always unscored, so there is no reason to devote any valuable test time to it. Here is a closer look at the remaining sections of the test:

The SSAT Quantitative section is simply called "Math" on the Elementary Level exam. Students are tested on the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), place value, shapes, fractions, and other introductory concepts. They have 30 questions to answer in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Quantitative section is divided into two subsections of 25 questions each on the Middle and Upper Level SSAT. Each subsection lasts 30 minutes (one hour total), and topics covered include grade-appropriate algebra, geometry, probability, and data analysis. Calculators are not allowed on any level of the SSAT.

The assessment's Reading section contains 28 questions in 30 minutes at the Elementary Level and 40 questions over 40 minutes on the Middle and Upper Level exams. All test-takers are presented with reading passages and asked to identify key information such as the main idea, separate literal language from words with a more figurative meaning, and use context to define potentially unfamiliar terms and phrases. Older students are also asked to critically evaluate arguments and draw conclusions based on what they've read.

The test's Verbal section contains 30 questions over 20 minutes at the Elementary Level and 60 questions in 30 minutes on the Middle and Upper Levels. It primarily measures a test-taker's vocabulary skills through the use of synonyms and analogies. Older students may want to study prefixes, suffixes, and word roots to make it easier to determine what a word might mean.

The SSAT's Writing section is the only one with structural differences on all three exams. Elementary Level children have 15 minutes to write a short story based on a picture. The directions remind them to include a beginning, middle, and end. Middle Level test-takers have 25 minutes to write a response to their choice of two creative writing prompts. Upper Level test-takers also have 25 minutes, but they choose between a creative writing prompt and a traditional essay. The Writing section is not scored on any level of the SSAT, but is submitted as a writing sample to allow private and independent schools to evaluate a candidate's written communication skills for themselves.

What are some benefits of taking a New York City SSAT course provided by Varsity Tutors?

Every New York City SSAT class we can find you takes place on a convenient live virtual platform, allowing you or the student in your life to study anywhere with a good internet connection. Our platform supports real-time interaction, so asking for help is just as easy as it would be in a physical classroom. You can also communicate with your fellow students, allowing all of you to work together to establish a collaborative learning environment where everybody can pursue their academic goals.

For example, a student who excels in reading comprehension may share their best active reading tips with their classmates. If your student is one of the recipients, they can improve their study skills for the test. If your student is the one providing the tips, they can gain self-confidence from helping somebody else while also reviewing the information to explain it to others. In short, it's a win-win. Similarly, reading over another student's essay outline can steer your student toward approaching a problem in a more insightful manner.

Having multiple students share a classroom also allows you to split the cost, making a professional New York City SSAT class more affordable than you might think. If you feel that your student needs personalized instruction to grasp a particularly challenging topic, you can also arrange private study time with the teacher on an as-needed basis.

We also try to make all of these classes as convenient to attend as possible. There are two and four-week sessions, making it easier for busy students to find something they can commit to attending regularly. We also start new classes every week, so it's always a great time to start preparing for the SSAT.

Can I sign up for a New York City SSAT course today?

Reach out to an expert educational consultant using the information below for more information on how to sign up today. Varsity Tutors can connect you with an industry-leading New York City SSAT course, and we look forward to sharing it with you!