Tests / SSAT
The SSAT: what it is and how it works
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is an admissions test for independent and private schools. A student in 8th grade applying to 9th takes the Upper Level: a writing sample and five multiple-choice sections in 3 hours 10 minutes, breaks included. It is provided by E3n, the nonprofit formed in 2026 when ERB and EMA merged.
Facts checked October 11, 2026 against the official pages listed at the bottom. Dates and rules change every year. Prepwick is not affiliated with the test's publisher.
SSAT at a glance
| Provided by | E3n, formed on March 1, 2026 from the merger of ERB and EMA |
|---|---|
| Level for 8th graders | Upper Level, for students now in grades 8 to 11 |
| Sections | A writing sample, two Quantitative sections, Reading, Verbal and an experimental section |
| Questions | 150 scored questions and 16 experimental ones, by our count from E3n's section list |
| Time | 3 hours 10 minutes, including two 10-minute breaks |
| Where | On paper at a test site, on a computer at home, or on a computer at a Prometric test center |
| Fee, Upper Level | $177 for a Standard or school Flex test. $250 at Prometric. $263 at home. $272 for Flex with a consultant |
| Wrong answers | A quarter of a point is taken off for each one |
| Calculator | Not allowed |
| Attempts in a testing year | Up to 6 Standard paper tests, 1 Flex test and 1 at-home test. Prometric is 1, moving to 2 later this fall |
| Combining scores | Not allowed. E3n does not combine the best sections from different test days |
SSAT scores. The 1500 to 2400 scale, percentiles, the wrong-answer penalty and when scores come out.
What is on the Upper Level SSAT?
The Upper Level SSAT opens with a writing sample, then five multiple-choice sections with two 10-minute breaks. Question counts and times are E3n's. Seconds per question is our arithmetic from those two numbers.
Writing Sample
Questions: 1 promptTime: 25 minutes
An essay on a choice of two prompts, one personal and one general. It is not scored, and it goes to every school that receives the scores.
Quantitative
Questions: 50, in two sections of 25Time: 30 minutes per section, about 72 seconds each
Problems in arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry and other concepts.
Reading
Questions: 40Time: 40 minutes, 60 seconds each
Passages of 250 to 350 words from literary fiction, the humanities, science and social studies.
Verbal
Questions: 60Time: 30 minutes, 30 seconds each
30 synonym questions and 30 analogy questions.
Experimental
Questions: 16Time: 15 minutes
Six verbal, five reading and five quantitative questions that do not count toward the score. Some sittings leave this section out.
How does the SSAT work?
- The order on test day is: writing sample, break, Quantitative, Reading, break, Verbal, Quantitative again, then the experimental section.
- On the Upper Level a right answer earns one point and a wrong answer loses a quarter of a point. Total scores run from 1500 to 2400.
- A parent needs an SSAT account to register a student. The at-home test is only for students who are in the US, a US territory or Canada on test day.
- Scores are released to families and schools on the same day.
When is the SSAT?
The Standard paper SSAT is given on fixed Saturdays. These are the dates still listed for the 2026 to 2027 testing year, which runs from Aug 3, 2026 to July 20, 2027. Flex, at-home and Prometric tests are scheduled more freely.
| Standard paper test | Saturday, Nov 14, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Standard paper test | Saturday, Dec 12, 2026 |
| Standard paper test | Saturday, Jan 9, 2027 |
| Standard paper test | Saturday, Jan 30, 2027 |
| Standard paper test | Saturday, March 13, 2027 |
| At-home test | Tuesday to Saturday on select weeks |
What the publisher says about test prep
E3n sells its own Official SSAT Practice: online practice for $80 a year, guide books for $70, or both for $130, each with four full-length tests, plus a free 30-question mini test. It also says most students have enough time to consider each question. Prepwick does not offer SSAT prep yet.
SSAT questions parents ask
How many questions are on the Upper Level SSAT?
150 scored multiple-choice questions: 50 Quantitative, 40 Reading and 60 Verbal. Most sittings add a 16-question experimental section that does not count, and every sitting has an unscored writing sample.
How long is the SSAT?
The Upper Level runs 3 hours 10 minutes in total, including two 10-minute breaks.
Which SSAT level does an 8th grader take?
The Upper Level. It is for students currently in grades 8 to 11.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the SSAT?
Yes, on the Upper Level. A right answer earns one point and a wrong answer takes off a quarter of a point.
How many times can you take the SSAT?
In one testing year an Upper Level student can take up to 6 Standard paper tests, 1 Flex test and 1 at-home test. The Prometric limit is 1, and E3n says it will move to 2 later this fall.
How much does the SSAT cost?
For the Upper Level in the US and Canada: $177 for a Standard or school Flex test, $250 at a Prometric center, $263 for the at-home test and $272 for a Flex test with an educational consultant. E3n does not give refunds.
Can you take the SSAT at home?
Yes. The at-home SSAT is taken on a computer at set times on select weeks. A student can take it once per testing year, and must be in the US, a US territory or Canada.
Can you use a calculator on the SSAT?
No. Calculators are not permitted.
How is the SSAT scored?
The total score falls between 1500 and 2400. The report also gives percentiles from 1 to 99, which compare a student with first-time test takers in the same grade over the last three years.
Can you combine your best SSAT sections from different test days?
No. E3n does not allow superscoring.
What is the difference between the SSAT and the ISEE?
Both come from E3n and both are used by independent schools. The Upper Level SSAT takes off a quarter of a point for a wrong answer and offers more test dates in a year. The ISEE has no penalty for wrong answers and allows one test per season.
Sources
- E3n, SSAT Candidate Handbook, 2026 to 2027
- E3n, What's on the Upper Level SSAT?
- E3n (Admission.org), who we are
- E3n, SSAT at Prometric test centers
- E3n, SSAT at Home
- E3n, SSAT for families
- E3n, SSAT score reports
- E3n, sample Upper Level SSAT score report
- E3n, SSAT paper testing and dates
- E3n, official SSAT practice
- E3n, how to interpret the SSAT score report
- E3n, ISEE Quick Facts Guide, 2026 to 2027
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