SAT vs. SSAT: What’s the Difference and Which Should I Take?
With the sheer amount of exams and unique acronyms out there, it’s no surprise if you’ve mixed up the SAT and SSAT at least once. While they have their similarities, they differ in their content and target demographic. The tutors at Aegis Advisors are well-versed in both types of exams, and are here to offer some clarification as well as some advice to help you determine which one(s) will be most appropriate for you to take.
Understanding the SAT
The SAT, or the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test used for college admissions. While it is primarily used by U.S. institutions, some international schools also use it to evaluate prospective students. When we refer to the SAT, we are generally speaking about the test made for students in grade 11 and 12. However, the College Board – the administrators of the SAT – have designed a whole suite of preparatory assessments including the PSAT for grades 8 through 10 so that students can get a head start in their college preparations.
Students taking the SAT are evaluated in two areas: English and Math. The English section is composed of two modules of Reading and Writing questions that target comprehension of a diverse range of passages. The Math section is composed of two modules targeting proficiency in areas like Algebra, Geometry/Trigonometry, and Data Analysis.
Understanding the SSAT
The SSAT, or Secondary School Admissions Test, is a standardized test used for admissions into private and independent secondary schools. Not all secondary schools use this exam as a means of evaluation, so it is a good idea to check with the specific institution. The SSAT is further broken down into three categories: Elementary (grades 3 and 4), Middle (grades 5 through 7), and Upper (grades 8 through 11). Students should plan to take the test most suitable for their grade level to ensure that the difficulty of the content is reflected.
There are five sections on the SSAT: Quantitative (Math), Verbal, Reading, Writing, and Experimental. The specific content is dependent on the grade level of the student and not every section is ultimately scored; check out our article about how to prepare for the SSAT for a more detailed breakdown of each section.
Differences and Similarities
Aside from the target age range, we have identified a few other key areas that have major differences and similarities between the SAT and SSAT and illustrated them for your understanding:
- Test Format
The current SAT is fully digital. Students must travel to a test center where proctors from the College Board will administer the exam through the Bluebook online platform. There is currently no option for at-home SAT testing, though accommodations can be offered when properly documented and requested.
There are more testing options available for the SSAT; however, this heavily depends on the region in which you wish to test. The three options are paper, at-home, and prometric. Below is a brief description of each:
- Paper: the most traditional method, which is taken at authorized test centers.
- At-Home: a proctored exam that is taken on the computer at home.
- Prometric: a proctored exam that is taken on the computer at an authorized test center.
The options available to you depend on your location. For students testing outside of the US, paper is typically the only option. There are positives to this – according to the official SSAT website, the paper format offers the most retake opportunities, and it has been shown that scores typically improve on retakes.
- Question Format
Questions on the SAT are a mix of multiple choice and self-produced solutions. The Reading and Writing section is entirely multiple choice, while some questions in the Math section require the student to type in the answer themselves.
Similarly, the SSAT is almost entirely multiple choice, with the exception of the Writing section which requires students to produce a handwritten essay in response to a prompt.
- Time Restrictions
There are clear time limitations for both exams, though the pacing is slightly different. For the SAT, students are allotted 64 minutes to complete 54 Reading and Writing questions and 70 minutes to complete 44 Math questions. Each section is broken into two equal-length modules and there is a 10 minute break in between the sections. In total, students can expect to spend about two and a half hours testing.
On the other hand, the SSAT has more components. Students are allotted 25 minutes for the Writing sample, 60 minutes to do 50 Math questions, 40 minutes to do 40 math questions, 30 minutes for 60 Verbal questions, and 15 minutes for the Experimental section. There are two 10-minute breaks amidst the testing sections. Thus, the SSAT is slightly longer than the SAT, taking just over three hours to complete.
Though the time restrictions may seem daunting, knowing them is actually a boon for your preparations. When taking practice tests, you can set timers to ensure that you can complete the real exam well within the time constraints.
Which One to Take?
Now that you know the differences between the SAT and SSAT, which one should you take? It ultimately depends on what your academic goals are. If you want to apply to a US university, chances are you are required to submit an SAT score. If you (or your child, for parents of younger students) are thinking about transferring to a private school, you may be required to submit an SSAT score. Again, it is good practice to check for school-specific requirements to determine if your target institution has any testing obligations.
In general, it is not advisable to take one of the tests if it is not required. Scoring well requires intensive preparation and planning, so you will want to dedicate much of your time and effort. The tests do also incur registration fees, which can be found on College Board and the SSAT official website.
Next Steps
If you are feeling overwhelmed with the new information, we completely understand. Once you have determined which exam will be the most appropriate for your purposes, there’s a long journey of preparations ahead. Reach out to us today at Aegis Advisors to get ahead!