 |
|
|
|
The SSAT consists of two parts: a brief essay, and a
multiple-choice aptitude test, which consists of four separately-timed
sections: two Quantitative, one Verbal, and one Reading. Following are
sample questions which might appear on both Upper and Lower Level
tests. We suggest that you review these questions in order to
familiarize yourself with the SSAT format and types of questions you
will find on the actual test.
|
|
|
Questions: 1 (essay response)
Time: 25 minutes
What is measured? Your essay will be used by admission officers
to assess your writing skills. The exercise is not scored by SSAT, but
a copy of your essay is forwarded to each school you request as a
score recipient.
Directions: Read the following topic carefully. Take a few
minutes to think about the topic and organize your thoughts before you
begin writing. Use the scratch paper and pen provided. Be sure that
your handwriting is legible and that you stay within the lines and
margins.
Sample Topic: It is better to be safe than sorry.
Assignment: Do you agree or disagree with the topic statement?
Support your position with one or two specific examples from personal
experience, the experience of others, current events, history, or
literature. |
|
|
Each question is followed by five answer choices.
After you have selected your answer, find the row on the answer sheet
numbered the same as the question,
and fill in the circle with the same letter as your answer. Each
question has only one correct answer. |
|
|
Questions: 40 (multiple-choice), based on 6-7
reading passages
Time: 40 minutes
What is measured? Your ability to read quickly and to
understand what you read.
Directions: Read the passage carefully and then answer the
questions (1-3) about it. For each question, decide on the basis of
the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.
We had had a consuming desire to see a pony rider, but somehow
or other all that passed us streaked by in the night, and so we heard
only a whiz and a hail, and the swift phantom was gone.
But now the driver exclaims, "Here he comes!" Every neck is stretched
and every eye strained.
Away across the endless dead level of the prairie a black speck
appears against the sky. Soon it becomes a horse and rider, rising and
falling, sweeping nearer and nearer, and the flutter of hoofs comes
faintly to the ear. Another instant a whoop and hurrah from our upper
deck, a wave of the rider's hand, but no reply, and man and horse
burst past our excited faces and go winging away like a belated
fragment of a storm!
|
|
|
Questions: 50 (multiple-choice), in two sections
Time: 30 minutes per section (60 minutes total)
What is measured? Your knowledge of algebra and quantitative
concepts.
Directions: Following each problem in this section, there are
five suggested answers. Work each problem in your head or in the space
provided (there will be space for scratchwork in your test booklet). Then
look at the five suggested answers and decide which is best.
4. According to the graph, who owns the most CD's?
5. If 5 + 9 + __ = 6 + 8 + 1, then __ =
6. If 3/4 of a number is 48, then 1/4 of the same number is
7. What is the perimeter of an equilateral triangle if one side of
the triangle has the same length as the side of a square with an area of
25?
8. It costs n dollars to manufacture 1 dozen stuffed
animals. At the same rate, how many dollars will it cost to manufacture 30
stuffed animals?
9. 2 1/4 % =
10. Which of the following is NOT equal to a whole number?
11. 8 x 3 x 7 x 2 is equal to the product of 24 and
12. The number of people now employed by a certain company is
240, which is 3/5 the number employed five years ago. How many more
employees did it have then than it has now?
13. A recipe for salad dressing calls for a ratio of 3
tablespoons of olive oil for 1 tablespoon of vinegar, but Melanie used 3
tablespoons of vinegar and 1 of olive oil. How many more tablespoons must
she add in order to have the correct proportion?
14. In the figure, if x/2 = 30, then y =
15. If Kristina sees y movies, Elliott sees five times as many
movies as Kristina, and Cheryl sees 2 fewer movies than Kristina, how many
movies did the three children see altogether?
|
|
Questions: 60 (30 Synonym, 30 Analogy)
Time: 30 minutes
What is measured? The synonym questions test your vocabulary, and
the analogy questions measure your ability to relate ideas to each other
logically.
Directions: Each of the following questions (16-20) consists of
one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the one word
or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
16. FLING:
17. ROUTINE:
18. PROLOGUE:
19. MANIPULATE:
20. ADROIT:
Directions: The following questions (21-25) ask you to find
relationships between words. For each question, select the answer choice
that best completes the meaning of the sentence.
21. Sapling is to tree as cub is to
22. Frame is to building as
23. Meandering is to river as
24. Clear is to printing as articulate is to
25. Tactful is to diplomat as
|
The correct answers are:
Back to Top
|
