What Do SSAT Scores Mean?

The Secondary School Admission Test, or SSAT, is a standardized aptitude test administered to students from 5th grade through 11th grade. Test sections measure quantitative (math), reading comprehension and verbal skills, and consist of two levels: lower, for students in grades 5 through 7; and upper, for students in grades 8 through 11. Score reports include percentile ranks for each section and national rankings.

The SSAT reports scaled scores for the verbal, quantitative and reading comprehension sections that comprise the exam. The lower-level scaled score for each of the three sections ranges from 440 to 710. For the upper level SSAT, the scaled score for each of the three sections ranges from 500 to 800. This means that a lower-level student who scores a 710 in the verbal, quantitative or reading comprehension section received the highest available score. An upper-level student who scores a 500 in any of the three sections received the lowest available score.

The total scaled score for the SSAT is computed by adding the score for the verbal, quantitative and reading comprehension sections. For the lower level, the total scale score ranges from 1320 to 2130. For the upper level, the total scale score ranges from 1500 to 2400. A lower-level student who scores 500 on verbal, 500 on quantitative and 500 on reading comprehension would receive a total score of 1500, which falls in the middle of the 1320 to 2130 scale.

The SSAT provides percentile ranks for each of three sections on the exam. This figure is calculated by comparing the scores of students who took the test in the past three years. Students are compared by grade and gender. For example, if you are a boy in 9th grade and your percentile is 85 percent, you scored equal to or better than 85 percent of 9th grade boys who took the exam in the past three years.

The SSAT also provides an estimated national percentile rank for students in grade 5 through grade 9. The national percentile rank compares student scores throughout the nation, but includes scores from tests other than the SSAT. For example, an 85 percent national ranking means you scored equal to or better than 85 percent of all students in your grade and gender who took the SSAT or another standardized exam. The predicted SAT score is reported for grade 7 to grade 10 students, and provides an estimated SAT score based on the total SSAT score a student achieved. This is only an estimate and is intended to give students, teachers and parents a tool to gauge subject areas that may need more attention.