ssat middle level essay samples

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources

The SSAT Writing Sample: What You Need to Know

The ssat writing sample  .

Bonus Material:  30 Free SSAT Writing Sample Prompts

The first section of the SSAT is the writing sample. While this 25-minute section is unscored, admissions officers do review student responses!

In this post, we discuss how to approach the SSAT writing sample and offer 16 easy tips for producing a high-quality response .

You’ll also get access to 30 free SSAT writing sample prompts , which you can grab below right now.

Download 30 SSAT Writing Sample Prompts

Here’s what we cover:

The SSAT Writing Sample in a Nutshell

• 16 Tips for Writing an Impressive Response
• Bonus : 30 SSAT Writing Sample Prompts  

There are a few essential things to keep in mind with the SSAT writing sample:

• The writing sample is unscored but is sent to admissions departments with your SSAT scores
• The writing sample is a 25-minute free response
• Students have two pages to write their answer

SSAT writing sample prompts vary depending on whether you’re taking the Upper-Level SSAT or Middle-Level SSAT:

• Upper Level: you have the choice to write a persuasive essay or a creative story. 
• Middle Level: both prompt choices are creative essays.

The test will begin the SSAT Writing Sample section by offering you a choice:

Please choose the idea you find most interesting and write a story using the idea as your first sentence. Please fill in the circle next to the one you choose.

Students do not need any outside content knowledge to respond to an SSAT writing prompt. In fact, the prompts are intentionally broad to enable a wide variety of responses.

The SSAT actually states that the writing sample gives admissions departments a chance to learn more about applicants:

Schools would like to get to know you better through a story you tell using one of the ideas below. 

Keep this in mind as you generate your response!

16 Tips for Writing an Impressive SSAT Writing Sample Response

Which prompt should i choose.

Students taking the Upper-Level SSAT will have to choose between a persuasive and a creative writing prompt. Middle-Level SSAT test-takers must choose between 2 different creative essay prompts.

Some students agonize over which prompt to choose on the Upper-Level or Middle-Level SSAT. Will one look “better” to admissions officers over another, for example?

It’s important to note that admissions officers will not give preference to students who choose one prompt over another ! 

Officers only review your writing sample response for its individual merits and writing proficiency. They might also review samples through the lens of what we like to call “institutional priorities”–standards that are specific to that private school itself.

Tips For Prompt Selection

We do encourage students to select the prompt that adheres to one or more of the following qualities. 

We suggest students choose the Writing Sample prompt that

• is most relevant given a student’s life experiences and perspectives
• inspires the most ideas during the brainstorming process
• excites, intrigues, or compels them
• and/or showcases a student’s specific abilities.

For example, let’s say that MacKenzie excels in debate; she loves crafting an argument and supporting her points with specific, concrete evidence. As a debater, MacKenzie might be uniquely suited to respond to the persuasive Writing Sample prompt on the Upper-Level SSAT, especially if she is talented in developing a complex, high-level argument.

On the other hand, Akshay may find that as he’s considering the two prompts on the Middle-Level SSAT, the second creative prompt reminds him about his relationship with his grandmother and the time they’ve spent playing pickleball together. In the brainstorming process, he feels that he has more to say about this personal experience, and feels excited by the prospect.

Some students like to plan the prompt they’ll choose on Test Day: i.e., they know they’ll always stick with the creative prompt over the persuasive one.

However, many of our SSAT students find that the prompts can be very distinct, and one will often “stick out” over the other one.

That’s why we recommend practicing with sample SSAT writing prompts, so that you can be prepared to craft a stellar response for whichever prompt you select. You can do this right now by downloading 30 free sample prompts below.

5 General Tips for the SSAT Writing Sample

Whether you choose a creative or persuasive essay prompt, it’s important to follow these general tips.

Doing so won’t result in a high SSAT score (because this section is unscored!). But it will guarantee a response likely to impress admissions departments.

• Write legibly : If admissions departments can’t read your response, they’ll never know how amazing your essay is!
• Budget your time: This includes a few minutes for planning/outlining at the beginning, and another few minutes for a proof-read for grammar, spelling, and punctuation at the end.
• Fill your booklet: We’re not advocating quantity over quality. But, in general, aim for more rather than less . If you only write one paragraph, it won’t give admissions committees much to assess.
• Keep tense and point of view consistent : Don’t switch from past to present verb tense or “I” to “he/she/it” halfway through your essay.
• Stick to a clear structure : This refers quite simply to a framework of beginning, middle, and end . This can mean slightly different things for persuasive and creative essays.

3 Tips for Responding to Persuasive SSAT Writing Sample Prompts (Upper-Level)

For the Upper-Level SSAT persuasive writing sample, students should focus on logically and convincingly building an argument . A logical, persuasive argument generally includes a cohesive structure, clear line of reasoning, and solid evidence. 

There are a couple of tools we can use to accomplish this goal.

1. Include an introduction, thesis, and conclusion. 

Essay reviewers will like to see several distinct argument building blocks in your essay, especially an introduction, a thesis statement, and a conclusion. Most SSAT test-takers will have worked on these components of the 5-paragraph essay in class.

Given the Writing Sample’s time limit (25 minutes), the introduction and conclusion of your response can be fairly brief; feel free to write just a sentence or two for both.

The thesis statement typically comes at the end of the introduction, and concisely states the core argument that you are about to prove. 

Here’s an example thesis statement:

While there are many qualities that make a good leader, the three most important ones are integrity, commitment to a cause, and ability to inspire others.

2. Choose and maintain a clear thesis statement. 

It’s easier to pick one side of an argument and commit to it than to try to argue both sides of the fence. In fact, your thesis statement should be as clear as possible in its perspective.

That doesn’t mean your essay can’t include an evaluation of a counterargument , in which you bring up an opposing argument and show why your own is stronger. In fact, the counterargument can be a powerful device in persuasive essays! 

Here’s an example of a counterargument:

It is true that success can help show you what you are doing right, but you will always be limited by what you believe you can achieve; whereas if you are not afraid to fail, you may realize you are capable of more than you had imagined.

Be sure to maintain your thesis statement throughout your essay, referencing it in every topic sentence of individual paragraphs.

Note: It is all right to use the first-person point of view in these responses, even though most English teachers discourage this in the classroom.

3. Use specific examples to support your argument. 

Strong, specific examples demonstrate that you can point to relevant evidence correlating your argument. History, current events, and experiences from your own life are some great sources from which to draw.

Here’s an example of a statement supported by specific evidence:

Abraham Lincoln was only president for four years, but his commitment to his cause of American union makes him consistently one of the most popular presidents in history. Similarly, in my personal life, my favorite teachers and coaches have always been the ones who were passionate about their subjects or the act of teaching itself.

3 Tips for Responding to Creative SSAT Writing Sample Prompts

Students taking the Middle-Level SSAT will have to choose between 2 creative essay prompts. Upper-Level SSAT test-takers must choose between a creative prompt and a persuasive one.

If you select the creative SSAT writing sample prompt on either test, your primary goal is to show that you can tell an engaging, well-structured story . 

It may be a true story from your own life or one completely based on imagination. All that matters is that you tell it in a compelling fashion and demonstrate proficiency in basic creative writing techniques, such as dialogue, setting, plot development, description, and narrative arc.

Below are some tips to help with this.

1. In the opening of your essay, establish the setting. 

Setting or place is a foundational element of basic creative writing. Establishing your response’s setting at the start will demonstrate your attention to this.

A great tool here is vivid descriptive detail that utilizes the senses. Think about what the characters are seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, or smelling as they move around their specific environment.

The same goes for imagery. Fill your prose with rich images to set the scene for the reader and guide them through the narrative. Here’s an example of compelling imagery in action that establishes setting:

Pebbles crunched all around her as she pushed herself faster downhill, and her eyes watered from the red dust that was turning her throat dry.

2. Establish the main character(s) and conflict. 

What does the main character want, and what is stopping them from reaching this goal? Identify this before writing your essay, and be sure to establish it early on in your response.

The classic examples of conflict are character against nature, character against character, and character against self. Here is an example of narrative conflict:

She had to get to the bottom of the trail before the gulch flooded and took her horse downstream with it.

3. Follow the general principles of story structure.

You probably already know these general principles from all the books, movies, and TV shows you have watched in your life: most stories have a beginning, middle, and end. As the character deals with the conflict, the action rises to a climax. As the character overcomes the conflict, action falls toward a conclusion.

We strongly recommend outlining and brainstorming the story structure of your creative response before plunging in, as in the following example:

In the beginning, the main character is racing down the rocky trail to save her horse from an approaching flood. Conflict arises when a boulder is blocking the trail, which she overcomes by taking a shortcut. In the end, she reaches the bottom of the trail and saves her horse just in time. 

4 Additional Tips

Now that you have more of a sense of what the SSAT writing sample entails, here’s what you can do to prepare: 

• Take a practice timed SSAT writing sample . Make sure to budget a couple of minutes at the beginning for planning and a couple of minutes at the end for proofreading!
• Show your practice essay to trusted readers . Ask them to note any errors and provide feedback. Do they feel convinced by your argument or engaged by your story?
• Reflect on the comments on your writing sample. What worked in your initial attempt, and what didn’t? Should you organize your time differently?
• Repeat! Notice how the comments evolve as you keep practicing. Are there words you are consistently misspelling? Elements you keep forgetting to include?

Over time, you will feel yourself becoming more comfortable with the SSAT writing sample. Practice can also help you understand how the writing response can be a space for showcasing your unique ideas and personality!

Download 30 SSAT Writing Sample Prompts for Practice

You can put these 16 tips to practice right now by downloading PrepMaven’s 30 free SSAT writing sample prompts!

With this worksheet, you’ll get:

• 15 Creative SSAT Writing Sample prompts
• 15 Persuasive SSAT Writing Sample prompts
• A valuable long-term resource for your continued SSAT prep

Jess is a Princeton graduate who majored in English and minored in Visual Arts (Film). She has worked as an SAT/ACT/AP/SSAT/ISEE/HSPT tutor as well as a college counselor and loves getting to know students through her work. When not tutoring, she enjoys reading, writing, running, adding to her classic rock music collection, and exploring the West!

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED POSTS

Scoring on the SSAT: Your 2024 Guide

May 2, 2024

Understanding your SSAT score report can be challenging. With this detailed breakdown of SSAT scores, you'll have a firm grasp on what to expect in no time!

12 Free Official SAT Practice Tests (Including Digital SATs)

August 2, 2022

Find everything you need to self-administer a full-length SAT test - 8 Official SAT Practice Tests, blank answer sheets, and proctoring instructions.

How to Proctor Your Own SAT Practice Test

July 2, 2022

Taking official practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the SAT. Here you will find detailed instructions for how to take your own practice SAT test.

What’s on the SSAT?

October 30, 2020

What's on the SSAT? Begin your SSAT test prep journey by understanding what exactly is on this private school admissions test!

How to Proctor Your Own ACT Practice Test

May 21, 2018

Taking official practice tests is one of the best ways to prepare for the ACT. Here you will find detailed instructions for how to take your own practice ACT test.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

SSAT Middle Level Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is used by private schools to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective students. The Middle Level SSAT is specifically designed for students in grades 5-7.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free Middle Level SSAT practice test, and check out our premium-quality Middle Level SSAT test prep resources by clicking the links below!

SSAT Middle Level Test Outline

The Middle Level SSAT contains 166 questions and one essay, and you will be given 3 hours and 10 minutes (including breaks). There are 16 experimental questions dispersed throughout the exam, which do not count toward your final score.

The test covers four main subjects and is split into seven parts.

1. Writing Sample

In this part, you will be given 25 minutes to write a short essay. Your essay will be based on either a personal question or a creative story starter.

This essay will not be scored, but the schools that receive your SSAT scores will receive your essay to help evaluate your writing abilities.

2. Break (10 minutes)

3. quantitative (math).

In this part, you will be given 30 minutes to answer 25 math-related questions, and you will not be able to use a calculator at any time.

The questions in this part assess your knowledge of geometry, arithmetic, elementary algebra, and data analysis.

4. Reading Comprehension

In this part, which is timed at 40 minutes, you will be given multiple reading passages that are 250-350 words each. You will then be asked to answer questions about each passage. These questions assess your ability to make inferences, locate details, make predictions, determine the author’s purpose and point of view, and recognize the main idea.

5. Break (10 minutes) 6. Verbal

In this part, you will have 30 minutes to identify synonyms and interpret analogies. There are 30 synonyms to identify and 30 analogies to interpret.

These questions assess your ability to logically relate ideas to each other and your vocabulary strength.

7. Quantitative (Math)

This part is a continuation of part 3. You will have 30 minutes to answer 25 more questions related to math, and you will not have access to a calculator.

Check out Mometrix's Middle Level SSAT Study Guide

Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons

SSAT Middle Level Test Registration

To register for the test, you will need to make an account online via the SSAT website. From there, you can select which testing method works best for you and pay the applicable testing fee.

There are three main testing methods to choose from:

Paper-and-pencil

This traditional version of the test is available to take in two different ways: standard and flex.

A computer-based version of the test is available to take at Prometric testing centers across the US and Canada. Prometric testing requirements will apply, including what you are allowed to bring to the testing center.

An online version of the test is available if testing at home is best for you. It is important to note that there are many strict guidelines that apply to at-home testing, so you should ensure you can meet those guidelines before committing to this version of the test.

How the SSAT Middle Level Test is Scored

On the Middle Level SSAT, you earn one point for every question you answer correctly, and only one-quarter of a point is deducted for each question you answer incorrectly. There is no penalty for skipping questions.

The total scaled score range is 1320 to 2310. On your score report, you will see your final overall score, your percentile, and your individual scores for each subject on the test.

Retaking the SSAT Middle Level Test

You are welcome to take the test as many times as you wish. You will need to pay the testing fee for each retake.

Check out Mometrix's Middle Level SSAT Flashcards

Get complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts

How many questions are on the SSAT Middle Level test?

There are 166 questions and one unscored essay on the test.

How long is the SSAT Middle Level test?

The time limit for the test is 3 hours and 10 minutes.

What is a good score for the SSAT Middle Level test?

Any score higher than 1740 is considered to be a good score.

How much does the SSAT Middle Level test cost?

The testing fee varies depending on your testing method of choice.

By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

SSAT Test – Home

by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: December 28, 2023

On this page:

• SSAT&ISEE Books

SSAT Writing: Essay Prompts and Samples

Home > SSAT Test > SSAT Writing >

The SSAT Essay

The SSAT essay is the first part of the SSAT exam. You will be given a choice of two topics, one creative writing topic, and one topic that asks for your opinion about an issue. You have 25 minutes to read the topics, choose the topic you wish to write about, organize your essay, and write.

Six Steps For Essay Writing: Getting It Right

1. Read the question to find out exactly what it asks you to do.

2. Choose a point of view or decide how to answer the question.

3. Outline your essay. For creative writing topics, use the topic given as the first sentence of your essay. Then write a descriptive story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. For all other essays, you will probably want four paragraphs: an introduction, two paragraphs for two supporting ideas or illustrations, and a conclusion.

4. Write the essay.

5. Proofread. Correct errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, and word choice.

6. If needed, make phrasing changes as neatly as possible.

Now let's try these steps on a couple of sample topics:

Topic: Every student should be required to complete 60 hours of community service during his or her high school years. Do you agree or disagree?

1. This question is asking you to choose sides, then support your position.

2. You must now decide whether you want to write in favor or in opposition. Choose the side that you will find easier to defend with strong examples; which side you choose does not matter. The question is not really seeking your opinion. For this exercise, let's disagree.

3. Introduction: Community service should not be compulsory.

Point 1: Involuntary activities are never performed well.

A. Beneficiaries suffer from half-hearted service.

B. Student is resentful and gains no satisfaction.

Point 2: Teenagers must learn to arrange priorities and manage their time for their own benefit.

A. Some poor students cannot afford to give up so much study time.

B. Many beneficial extracurricular activities compete for precious time.

C. Some students must hold part-time jobs to help their families.

Conclusion: Community service should be encouraged, not be compulsory.

5. Proofread. Ask yourself these questions:

- Does each paragraph have a topic sentence? Is the topic sentence well developed within the paragraph?

- Is my language colorful and descriptive? Have I varied my sentence

- Do I make a convincing argument for my position?

- How is my spelling? Is my punctuation correct? What about my grammar?

6. Refine the essay if necessary. Remember: Neatness counts.

Tips for Writing Excellent Essays for the SSAT and ISEE exams

SSAT Essay Samples

• What Is the SSAT Writing Sample?
• SSAT Essay Writing Sample 1
• SSAT Essay Writing Sample 2
• A Well-written SSAT Essay Example
• SSAT Writing: Example of A Well-written Essay

SSAT Essay Prompts

• SSAT Essay Prompt 1
• SSAT Essay Prompt 2
• SSAT Essay Prompt 3
• Test Structure
• SSAT Verbal
• SSAT Synonyms
• SSAT Analogies
• SSAT Reading
• SSAT Writing
• Essay Samples
• Essay Prompts
• ISEE Verbal
• ISEE Synonyms
• ISEE Sentence Completion
• ISEE Reading
• ISEE Quantitative Comparisons
• ISEE Mathematics Achievement
• ISEE Word Problems
• ISEE Writing
• SSAT&ISEE Downloads

* SSAT/ISEE is a registered trademark, which is not affiliated with this website or its practice material.

All content of site and practice tests copyright © 2016 Max. sitemap

home privacy copyright

contact link to us

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, where to find free ssat practice tests: complete collection.

Early Achievers (7th/8th Grade)

If you (or your child) are applying to a private or independent elementary, middle, or high school, you may have heard of the SSAT. Often used as an entrance exam, the SSAT is a series of standardized tests that can be administered to students in grades 3-11.

The SSAT , or Secondary School Admissions Test, is a standardized exam often given to students hoping to enter a private or independent elementary, middle, or high school. If you want to boost your chances of getting into one of these schools, working on SSAT practice tests is a great way to do it. Here, I’ll discuss where you can find these practice tests (both official and unofficial), and how you should use them. I’ll wrap up with important SSAT test-taking tips.

What’s on the SSAT?

There are three different levels of SSAT tests. The number and type of questions on the test will depend on students’ grade level:

• Elementary Level - For students applying to grades 4-5
• Middle Level - For students applying to grades 6-8
• High School Level - For students applying to grades 9-12

Although the content will vary based on level, you’ll find these sections on each of the tests:

• An unscored writing sample
• A quantitative/mathematics section
• A reading comprehension section
• A verbal section

Official SSAT Practice Tests

When it comes to preparing for any standardized test, official practice tests or sample questions are the gold standard for study material. Using real SSAT questions will help you better understand exactly what you should expect on test day.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of official practice materials out there - not as many students prep for the SSAT as for other standardized tests (like the SAT or ACT). Here’s where you can find these official materials:

Sample Questions

The SSAT publishes official sample questions for each level of the exam. These are free, but the amount of material available is extremely limited:

• Elementary-level sample questions
• Middle-level sample questions
• Upper-level sample questions

The SSAT Official Guides

The makers of the SSAT publish official test prep guides that include sample questions and full-length practice tests. These are the best available sources for practice materials, as the other official resources don’t give students many problems to work with.  

To get your hands on the most recent Middle and Upper-Level Official Guides (2015-2016), you’ll have to purchase them through the SSAT website . These guides include two full-length practice tests, scoring instructions and explanations, descriptions of question types, and information about registering for the SSAT. Both the Upper and Middle-Level guides cost $37 through the site.

The most recent Elementary-Level Guides (2015-2016) are free to download through the SSAT site, although they include less information and less practice material than the guides available for purchase. They each include one half-length practice test, info on test format and question types, sample testing schedule, test day info, and preparation advice. There are separate guides available for students in Grade 3 and Grade 4.

How to Use Official SSAT Practice Tests and Questions

Because official practice problems are hard to come by, you’ll want to be careful with how you use them . Like I mentioned, using official SSAT tests is really important when it comes to getting a feel for different question types and overall test format.

I encourage you to save any full-length tests for mimicking real testing conditions. This means following through with all test policies and timing instructions in a controlled setting - it’s best if you can sit through an entire practice test all at once. This will give you the best idea of what your performance will be like on the actual exam.

As for the sampling of official SSAT questions provided on the website? These are great for question analysis. As part of your study plan, spend some time looking closely at these questions and thinking about what they’re asking and how they’re written (spend extra time on questions you get wrong). Official SSAT questions have their own style and logic (unofficial sources usually aren’t great at imitating these sorts of questions). If you notice you’re having difficulty with a certain question type, these sample questions will serve as great practice and review.

You don’t need to replicate exact testing conditions, but you’ll get the best practice experience if you treat full-length tests like the real thing.

Unofficial SSAT Practice Tests

Since there isn’t that much practice material for the SSAT, you may end up turning to unofficial sources for practice tests.

Ivy Global has free questions organized by level and section. They may be helpful for reviewing test content, but they shouldn’t be used to get a feel for actual SSAT questions and format - the style in which the questions are presented are pretty different from the actual test.  

The materials available for download are best used if you print them out and work on them by hand since the actual SSAT is done on paper, not on the computer.

Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors offers free Upper-level and Middle-level practice, with questions organized by skill type. These might serve well as supplemental material, but don’t expect them to look like official SSAT practice problems.

The questions on 4test.com aren’t particularly similar to what you’d see on the SSAT. You can only see one question at a time, and you can only work on them online.

Key SSAT Test Taking Tips

Now that you have access to all of this prep material, you may be wondering what to do with it. Follow these tips and strategies to get the most out of your SSAT prep .

Start With a Real Baseline

Start with a full SSAT test to get a baseline score. It’s important to use an official test for this, as unofficial diagnostic tests won’t give you a good sense of what the SSAT is like or what your strengths and weaknesses are.

You can’t get a valid baseline score without using one of those official SSAT practice tests.

Practice Skills and Review Content With Unofficial Materials Supplements

Once you have your baseline, analyze your mistakes and errors (link out) and focus on your weaknesses. Most serious weaknesses will be in content comprehension - use study materials like textbooks and notes to raise your scores.

Use Official SSATs as Full Practice Tests

After you’ve spent some time improving on your weaknesses, use official practice tests to test your knowledge and gain familiarity with test formatting. Take these exams under real testing conditions - time them properly and work in a quiet room with no distractions.

What’s Next?

The SSATs aren’t the only standardized tests out there for younger students. Read more about ACT Aspire and get your hands on official practice tests .  

Thinking about the future? Read about whether you should start prepping for the SAT/ACT in 7th or 8th grade.

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• Try it Free
• How It Works
• Testimonials
• Elementary Level
• Middle Level
• Upper Level
• Pricing for Schools
• Admissions Assist
• 1-on-1 Tutoring
• Admissions Coaching
• Admissions Classes
• Free Webinars

Middle Level Strategies

Techniques and tricks for mastering the ssat, #1 fend off discouragement.

The SSAT is not similar to a test you take in school. On an in-class exam, you are expected to know most or all of the information on the test because it has been taught. The SSAT is different. It is not a test of taught information in the same way. The Middle Level SSAT is made for students in grades 5 – 7 applying to private schools. So, if you are a 5th or 6th grader taking this test, please understand it is made to also challenge students older than you. So please adjust your expectations. Do not think of the SSAT as similar to a test in school where you can work to get an ‘A.’ On the SSAT, you can get many questions wrong and still do well; you are compared to other students at your grade level. So tip #2 is: do not get discouraged because the SSAT is “too hard.” It is “too hard” for all students! Learn the strategies, apply them as well as you can, practice, practice, practice, and relax on test day knowing you have done what you can to succeed.

#2 THINK of the answer before READING answer choices.

On the verbal sections of the SSAT, when possible, it is important that you do not read answer choices before coming up with your own answer to each question. There are certainly exceptions; for example, there are questions in Reading Comprehension that say, “Which of the following…,” which require you to read answer choices first. But whenever possible, predict the answer before reading choices A, B, C, D, or E. There is more advice under each section type for how best to do this for synonyms, analogies, etc. Note: many wrong answer choices on the SSAT represent common mistakes and misconceptions, so many wrong answer choices may look tempting. Even if you misunderstand a question, you may find the answer choice you are thinking of among the answer choices. This is an important reason to avoid reading answer choices until absolutely necessary; they can mislead you!

#3 Learn test-taking strategies!

Whether it is with a tutor, with a family member, or with fellow students, learn test-taking strategies. Whether from this website or a test prep book, learn the tips for how best to do each section of this test.

#4 Learn when to guess.

There is a penalty for wrong answers on the Middle (and Upper) Level SSAT. You earn 1 point for every correct answer, you lose ¼ of a point for every wrong answer, and no points are gained or lost for questions you don’t answer. Despite this wrong answer penalty, there is no mathematical benefit to skipping questions — you should feel free to guess on any question that you get to. But, if you’re running out of time and haven’t gotten to questions at that end of the section, there is no reason to hurry up and bubble answers for those unreached questions. If you’d like to see the full logic behind this, check out our article about the SSAT’s wrong answer penalty.

#5 Practice!

In addition to learning test-taking strategies, the best thing you can do is PRACTICE by completing timed practice test sections that reflect the structure and content of the official exam you will take. This is why we created SSATpracticetest.com! In addition to the practice tests we provide, we recommend purchasing the guide, Preparing and Applying, sold by the SSAT board. This guide has 2 Middle Level and 2 Upper Level exams. These practice tests are your most accurate representations of the real SSAT.

#6 Don’t cram!

Make sure you sleep well; not only the night before the exam but the night before that as well (so if the SSAT is on Saturday, go to bed early both Thursday and Friday nights).

Eat a good breakfast that includes some protein.

Do not drink caffeine the day of the test (unless you usually practiced for the SSAT on caffeine). We do not recommend that young people drink caffeine at all; however, the point is that you don’t want to be in a different state of mind on test day than you were while you were preparing for the SSAT. So don’t over-stimulate yourself with caffeine, sugar, or anything else to be alert on test day.

Do not practice for the SSAT the day before the exam. The SSAT is a long test and requires a lot of stamina! Do not overwork your mind the day before the test so that you are as fresh and energetic as possible. Don’t do too much homework that day; consider doing a reasonable (but not exhausting) amount of exercise or just relaxing.

Synonym Section Strategy:

There will be words you know well, words you sort of know, and words you don’t know at all. Your strategy is to first answer questions with words you know. Then come back to the words you sort of know. Even if you find there are no words you know well, focus your time on making best guesses for words you sort of know. Make sure you spend the last few minutes of the section entering an answer on every question for which you can eliminate at least one answer choice. Note: you will also complete the Analogies within the Verbal section time.

Synonym Question Strategy:

Cover the answer choices and read the capitalized word. Can you think of a synonym (a word that means the same thing) for that word? If you can, then compare the word you came up with to the answer choices. Eliminate worst matches and pick the answer that best matches your synonym. If you are not able to come up with specific word or synonym for the capitalized word, can you come up with a feeling or phrase to describe it? Is it positive or negative? Are any of its roots familiar to you? Can you think of a context in which you have heard the word? You will use anything you can come up with to help you pick the best answer choice.

For most analogy questions with two words such as, “puppy is to dog as,” you will make a sentence describing the relationship between the two main words, such as, “a puppy is a baby dog.” You then want to find this same relationship between two words in the answer choices, such as, “kitten is to cat;” “a kitten is a baby cat.”

Note: Order is important here. If an answer choice for “puppy is to dog as” were “pig is to piglet,” you should cross it off because the word order is wrong. Apply your relationship sentence: “a pig is a baby piglet.” That is false. Be careful of word order!

Some analogy questions have three main words, for example, “Broccoli is to vegetable as banana is to.” Here you again make a sentence expressing the relationship between the first two words: Broccoli is a kind of vegetable. So, banana is a kind of what?  Find “fruit” in the answer choices!

The other type of analogy question to know about use relationships between sounds, spelling, or the rhyming of words (rather than the meaning of the words). Here are some examples written by Test Innovators (which are likely trickier than what you will see on the Elementary SSAT):

1. Sound is to round (A) circle is to square (B) hat is to sombrero (C) pound is to kilogram (D) noise is to poise (E) pen is to pencil

2. Board is to bored as (A) coarse is to course (B) ocean is to sea (C) melt is to malt (D) disk is to desk (E) wand is to wound

3. Snooze is to ooze as (A) bold is to mold (B) stork is to bird (C) own is to clone (D) dark is to arc (E) smirk is to irk

Look at the correct answers to these questions (in bold). In question 1, in both the question and correct answer, the words are spelled the same except for one letter difference (and both sets rhyme, though not with each other). In question 2, board and bored are spelled differently but pronounced the same, just as coarse and course are spelled differently but pronounced the same. In question 3, snooze is spelled like the word ooze but with 2 more letters on the front, just as smirk is spelled like irk but with 2 extra letters on the front. You can see and practice easier versions of this type of analogy on our Middle Level practice tests.

The Middle-Level Reading Comprehension section has seven passages with four questions each. This may be more than many students will have time to complete. While you do not want to spend too much time on any one passage or question, you also do not want to move too quickly. While a tutor or parent may be the best person to help you determine your best pace, keep in mind that you don’t want to hurry so quickly that you make lots of careless errors. While some students may need to quicken their pace, many students will actually perform better by spending more time on fewer questions.

Questions Strategy:

Read each question; whenever possible, predict what you think the answer will be BEFORE reading answer choices. Then compare your guess to the answer choices; eliminate worst answers.

When you are asked what a word means in the context of the passage, go back to that place in the passage, reread, cover the word if necessary, and decide what it means in context. Use direction words and context clues to guide you.

When a question asks you to “infer,” it is asking you to make a guess or conclusion about something that may not have been stated clearly. If questions include the capitalized word EXCEPT, solve by determining whether each answer choice is true or false. Four choices should be T; the one F is your correct answer.

Calculators are not allowed; students may (and should!) write in the test booklet or on scratch paper.

Know that there may be math on this exam that you have not yet learned in school (after all, the Middle Level SSAT is taken by 5th, 6th, and 7th graders). And remember, you’ll lose one quarter point for wrong answers. Don’t let that scare you; if you do not understand a question, skip it and move on. If you sort of understand a question, don’t get stuck—make a note and come back to it if you have time. If you can eliminate at least one answer, you should make an educated guess. If you can’t eliminate any answers, it’s better to leave the question blank.

Word Problems Strategy:

Read the question and paraphrase to yourself what it is you need to find: what is the question asking? Underline the information most relevant (and/or cross out irrelevant information). Ask yourself, “can I solve this problem with estimation?” Very often in this section, you will not need to actually calculate and can eliminate wrong answers with good estimations. Make your best estimation of the correct answer, see if it is one of the answer choices, and cross off unreasonable answer choices. 

The above strategy is for quantitative word problems that you can understand. There may be many questions you do not understand well. For these, remember, DO NOT get stuck and waste too much time on questions you do not understand.

Beware:  as in other sections of the SSAT, many wrong answer choices represent common mistakes. Be sure to read each question carefully, more than once. Even if you make a mistake in reading the question, know that you may find the (wrong) answer that you miscalculated among the answer choices.

Middle Level SSAT test-takers are given 25 minutes to respond to one of two prompts: a creative story starter or a personal essay prompt. Your official SSAT writing sample will not be graded but is sent to the admissions offices of the schools to which you apply. Read each prompt carefully and decide which you prefer and think will be easier to answer. You can then organize what you plan to say before you begin writing. Paper for outlining your writing sample will be provided at the official exam.

Remember to make sure your penmanship is readable. Stay within the margins of the answer sheets. If you wish to change something you have written, you may neatly strike through the words you want to “delete.” You are given two lined pages; however, you do not need to fill both pages.

If you have time, we recommend that you read over what you have written. Often when students write quickly, they make careless mistakes. Here are some helpful Test Innovators reminders:

• Check to make sure you have not left out any words.
• Look over your spelling. Are there any words that don’t look right to you?
• Have you capitalized words in odd places or forgot to capitalize proper nouns?
• Does your comma use look okay?
• Have you used complete sentences? Remember not to connect two full sentences with a comma.
• If you include dialogue, have you used quotation marks properly?
• Did you use the correct spelling of homophones such as there/their/they’re, your/you’re, and two/to/too?

Be your own editor, and good luck!

Looking for additional help on your essay? Receive guidance on your essay from an SSAT writing expert!

• School Entrance Exams

SSAT Practice Test

• SSAT Writing

SSAT Writing Practice & Info

The SSAT Writing section is one of the four sections on the SSAT. Each student is required to write one essay, which is not scored. Continue reading to learn more about the SSAT Writing section.

View All SSAT Levels Here

About the SSAT Writing

Ssat writing prompts, elementary level, middle level, upper level, ssat writing tips.

The SSAT Writing section is not scored. On the SSAT Elementary Level, students are provided with one picture prompt and 15 minutes to complete the essay. The SSAT Middle* and Upper** Levels provides students with a choice of two written prompts and 25 minutes to write the essay.  *SSAT Middle Level is provided with a choice of two creative writing prompts **SSAT Upper Level is provided with a choice of one creative writing prompt and one essay prompt The SSAT Writing section provides students with the opportunity to express themselves. Though it is not graded, the SSAT essay is submitted to the admissions departments of the schools to which the students have applied. This allows admissions department to assess students’ writing skills. The essay is not included in the score report, unless it is purchased to be included in the student’s online score report (except for the Elementary SSAT essay, which cannot be purchased).

The SSAT essay prompts are written in a way that allows students to tell admissions departments more about themselves and their way of thinking. Students are provided with two pages to write their essays on.

Elementary SSAT Test takers are provided a prompt in the form of a picture. Students must write an essay based on the picture prompt and make sure that their writing sample is complete, with a beginning, middle, and end.

Both of the two Middle Level SSAT Writing prompts are creative. The response to the prompts must also be creative and make use of animated explanations. Students are expected to use grammar and vocabulary which conform to Standard English.

The Upper Level SSAT Writing section provides students a creative prompt and an essay prompt to choose from. If a student decides to respond to the creative prompt, the response must also be creative and make use of animated explanations. The creative prompt might be ambiguous and require the student for building the entire essay almost by himself or herself. If he or she responds to the essay prompt, the response must be supported by strong examples from the text. Back to top

Though the SSAT essay is not scored, it is still recommended that students write their essays as well as possible, as a copy of each students’ essay will be submitted to the schools selected during the SSAT registration process. Here are some helpful SSAT Writing tips to help your child produce the best work possible:

• Begin the essay with a sentence either similar or identical to the one provided in the prompt
• Write neatly in the space provided
• Use proper grammar and vocabulary, conforming to the rules of Standard English. Pay careful attention to the rules of capitalization and punctuation
• Stay on topic
• Be creative, when suitable
• Provide supportive information (statements, examples, etc.)
• Maintain a standard essay structure, with an introduction, a minimum of two paragraphs in the main body, and a clear conclusion. Make sure your conclusion is tied back to the prompt and that you did not deviate from it too much
• Stick to the expected word count of 350
• Some people find making a list or a draft with their ideas before writing the actual essay useful – try to see whether it facilitates your writing
• If you have enough time left, it is warmly recommended to go over your essay after you have finished writing and read it again to make sure the structure is logical and that you can easily understand the story
• Keep your mind clear and writing-focused. Simple steps that might help are organizing your work environment and eating a healthy snack before you start writing

Click here to find out more about the other sections of the SSAT Test!

Admission to gifted and talented programs as well as independent schools has become increasingly competitive. Even with a high score on the SSAT, acceptance is not guaranteed. The SSAT essay section can give your child an opportunity to stand out against other candidates who may have the same score, and in that sense, be equally qualified. Help your child succeed by making sure he or she is properly prepared for all sections of the test, including this one. TestPrep-Online currently offers a collection of Upper Level SSAT Practice Packs, and will soon release two following packs for the Middle and Lower Levels. All our packs are designed to provide your child with the opportunity to improve and progress. Our goal is the same as yours: To get your child the score s/he deserves.

The SSAT and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with TestPrep-Online or this website.

Back to top

Related Links

Contact Us Today at (781) 248-4558

Practice for the middle level ssat with these prompts.

Posted on January 18th, 2023 by Allison . Posted in SSAT TEST PREP , SSAT TUTORING - 0 Comments

Although the SSAT essay is not scored, it is still important to do your very best, as it will be sent to the admissions officer of the schools to which you are applying. Practicing ahead of time with some essay prompts is a good idea.

Although the Writing Sample will not affect your SSAT score, admissions officers consider your Writing Sample an important component of your application. They will look for a strong writing style free from spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes. They will also try to get a sense of who you are as a person. With this in mind, choose subjects you would be comfortable talking about during an interview with a principal or admissions officer. Avoid overly dark, violent, or inappropriate subject matter.

The SSAT includes a 25-minute Writing Sample of one to two pages in length. Middle Level students will be asked to write a story starting with a phrase or a sentence provided by the test. Upper Level students will be asked to choose between writing a story and writing an essay in response to a question. The essay topics tend to be broad and varied. In some cases, you will be asked to take a side on an issue (in other words, you will be asked to write a persuasive essay). In some cases, you will be asked to offer a description or show cause and effect (in other words, you will be asked to write an informative essay).

The SSAT Middle Level Essay requires students to write a short story in twenty-five minutes. Two sentences will be provided, and students are asked to select the sentence they find most interesting and use it as the first sentence of a short story. Here are some tips to think about when working on the essay:

1. Follow the instructions. Make sure the sentence provided by the SSAT is the first sentence of your story.

2. Budget your time! Make sure to save time at the end to edit for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

3. Decide what point of view you will use and stick to it! Sometimes the point of view is established by the sentence provided: – First person uses “I”: “I couldn’t believe my eyes.” – Third person uses “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”: “He couldn’t believe his eyes.”

4. Decide what tense you will use for your story and stick to it! Sometimes the tense is established by the sentence provided: – Past tense: I saw, I went, I did. – Present tense (rarer and more difficult to maintain): I see, I go, I do.

5. In your first paragraph, establish the setting of your story using vivid description involving sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound.

6. In your first paragraph, establish the conflict. – Conflict is the problem, difficulty, or challenge facing the main character.

7. Every story should have a clear structure: beginning, middle, and end (in other words, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion)

Essay Prompts

Here’s a list of essay prompts with which to practice. You have twenty-five minutes to complete each writing sample.

Schools would like to get to know you better through a story you tell using one of the two topics below. Please choose an idea you find most interesting and write a story using the idea as your first sentence. Please select the topic you find most interesting and fill in the circle next to the topic you choose.

Topic: I could not believe my eyes. Topic: Where had everyone gone? Topic: She opened the door and saw . . . Topic: I knew it was dangerous, but . . . Topic: I realized he needed help. Topic: How could I have turned into a . . .

Allison Green Boston Tutoring Services

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Join our email list.

We'll keep you in the loop on what's new in education!

Mastering the SSAT Fiction Story Essay

Posted on October 1st, 2019 by btsadmin . Posted in Essay writing , SSAT , SSAT test prep , Standardized Tests , Test Taking Strategies - 1 Comment

Here’s what you need to know about mastering the SSAT fiction story essay, which requires creative writing and using your imagination. If you are taking the middle level SSAT , you will be required to write a fiction story essay based on a prompt; if you are taking the upper level SSAT, you have the option of writing a standard essay or writing the fiction story essay. Either way, you won’t have much time, just 25 minutes on the middle and upper levels. 

Example Prompts:

SSAT Middle Level Schools would like to get to know you better through a story you tell using one of the ideas below. Please choose the idea you find most interesting and write a story using the idea as your first sentence. Sample Topics: I looked into its eyes and suddenly… The classroom was empty.

SSAT Upper Level Schools would like to get to know you better through an essay or story using one of the two topics below. Sample Topics: If you could do something over again, what would it be and why? (essay) He couldn’t believe they wanted his help. (story)

For these types of essays, you are told to write a story using the prompt as your first sentence. This gives you very little to go on, but you still have to try to come up with a story with a  beginning, middle, and end. Three paragraphs is enough, one for the beginning (the first sentence is the prompt), one for the middle, and one for the end. Every story should theoretically have a set-up, a climax, and a resolution. This means the characters are presented with a challenge, they experience difficulty, and have to solve it in the end. 

For example, you’ve probably seen the common plot on TV where someone is supposed to watch someone’s hamster (the set-up), then the hamster dies and the character has to solve the problem (the climax). He tries to buy another hamster, the hamster’s owner figures out what happened, but they all forgive each other in the end (the resolution). 

So for the prompt I looked into its eyes and suddenly… , you have to create some kind of set-up which can then lead to a climax and then a resolution. The set-up can be anything you want, but it has to be interesting enough that some conflict can happen that needs to be resolved. 

This is how you can structure a fictional story in the short amount of time you are given. 

Ways to Improve Fiction Story-Writing

• In addition to your story having a set-up, a climax, and a resolution, you want to think about how to make the writing as strong as possible without wasting too much time on perfecting it. You only have time for a first draft, and the person reading your essay knows that, but you still want to try to be careful with spelling, punctuation, capitalization , etc. This will not be a polished story, but you also want to show that you know basic writing skills. 
• Try to vary your sentence structure as you go. This means not starting every sentence with the or he . 
• Try to make the sentences interesting and complex when possible. Use different types of vocabulary that show the range of the words that you know (and all the words you have been studying over the course of your test preparation!). Don’t use big words just to show off if you’re not sure what they mean, but try to use descriptive words where you can. 
• Stories are more engaging when you add sensory details . This means descriptions of what the characters feel, smell, taste, see, and hear. In some stories it won’t make sense to use certain types of sensory details, but if you could describe how the hamster’s fur felt when the narrator bought it, or what his dog’s breath smelled like when he got right up close, you’re bringing the reader in and making the story more interesting. 

Our SSAT test prep program is customized to address each child’s individual strengths and weaknesses, and we will develop a customized preparation plan to arm your child with powerful and up-to-date strategies for all sections of the test.

Click here to learn more about our SSAT test prep programs .

One Response to Mastering the SSAT Fiction Story Essay

It’s useful! Hope to know more about middle level tips. Thanks.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

The OFFICIAL Online SSAT Practice Tests

Prepare your child to do their best with the only online SSAT practice tests and quizzes from the team that created the SSAT.

Study With the Best Online SSAT Test Prep

Four full-length practice tests, 15 practice section tests, over 50 subject quizzes, and detailed reporting delivering instant feedback make the official Online Practice the best SSAT preparation for all test modes. SSAT at Home testers have the added advantage of practicing in and gaining familiarity with the same interface as the actual test.

Start with our free online Mini-Practice Test to identify where your student should focus studying, then advance to the complete online SSAT practice materials.

Only $80 for a one-year subscription!

4 full-length practice tests.

• 150 questions
• 3+ hours each

15 Practice Section Tests

• 5 Quantitative (25 questions each)
• 5 Reading (40 questions each)
• 5 Verbal (60 questions each)

50+ Quiz Subjects

• 5 questions per quiz
• Check answers live
• Quiz questions simulate test questions
• New questions when retaking quizzes

*Middle and Upper Level subscriptions are sold separately. Online practice subscriptions last for a year from the date of purchase. The full-length practice tests are the same in Online Practice as in the Guide Books. If you accidentally purchase the wrong level, you can contact Support to correct it as long as you haven't used it. A surcharge fee is applied to credit card purchases (some exclusions apply).

Start Practicing Now With the Free SSAT Mini-Test

theoutne.com

HIGH SCHOOL

• ACT Tutoring
• SAT Tutoring
• PSAT Tutoring
• ASPIRE Tutoring
• SHSAT Tutoring
• STAAR Tutoring

GRADUATE SCHOOL

• MCAT Tutoring
• GRE Tutoring
• LSAT Tutoring
• GMAT Tutoring
• AIMS Tutoring
• HSPT Tutoring
• ISAT Tutoring
• SSAT Tutoring

Search 50+ Tests

Loading Page

math tutoring

• Elementary Math
• Pre-Calculus
• Trigonometry

science tutoring

Foreign languages.

• Mandarin Chinese

elementary tutoring

• Computer Science

Search 350+ Subjects

• Video Overview
• Tutor Selection Process
• Online Tutoring
• Mobile Tutoring
• Instant Tutoring
• How We Operate
• Our Guarantee
• Impact of Tutoring
• Reviews & Testimonials
• About Varsity Tutors

FREE SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Tests

All ssat middle level reading resources, free ssat middle level reading diagnostic tests, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 1, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 2, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 3, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 4, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 5, ssat middle level reading diagnostic test 6.

If you plan on taking the Middle Level SSAT, you may be particularly worried about the Reading section, especially if English courses aren’t your favorite, or you don’t do a lot of reading in your spare time. Even if this is the case, you can adequately prepare yourself to do well on the Middle Level SSAT’s Reading section by familiarizing yourself with the way in which the section is organized, the content that it tests, and some great free resources. This guide will help you accomplish each of these things so that you will have everything you need to study effectively and feel confident when taking the Middle Level SSAT’s Reading Comprehension section. The Middle Level SSAT’s Reading section tests your ability to understand what you read. It is the third section on the Middle Level SSAT, being given after the Writing Sample and the first Quantitative section. The Reading section contains 40 multiple-choice questions, which students are given 40 minutes to answer. Reading passages are between 250 and 350 words apiece; that’s a little more than the number of words on a single page in a paperback book of average size. Middle Level SSAT Reading passages consist of one of two types of writing: narrative writing, which is writing that is part of a story, and argumentative writing, which conveys the writer’s point of view about a particular subject and attempts to convince the reader that it is the correct point of view. Middle Level SSAT Reading passages can be drawn from sources from a variety of subjects, including Social Studies, Science, and the Humanities, as well as Literary Fiction. Poetry passages may also appear on the SSAT. All of the questions asked on the Middle Level SSAT’s Reading section are multiple-choice, and they may ask you to identify the main idea of a passage, locate details, make inferences, figure out the meaning of a specified word based on its “context,” or the way in which it is used in the passage. SSAT Reading questions may also ask you about the author’s purpose, tone, or attitude towards his or her subject matter. They may ask you to analyze the opinions or arguments presented in a passage in particular ways, or make predictions based on the information presented in a passage. Many students find the most difficult part of the Middle Level SSAT to be time management, even though getting forty minutes to answer forty questions sounds pretty reasonable, that calculation doesn’t take into account the time it takes you to read the passage. If you need to figure out whether you need to read more quickly or have plenty of time to spare, you should check out Varsity Tutors’ free Middle Level SSAT resources, especially the free Middle Level SSAT Reading Practice Tests. Each Middle Level SSAT Reading Practice Test is made up of ten to twelve questions about a given passage or passages. You can choose to answer questions drawn from a comprehensive selection of possible question types, or choose to concentrate on one particular question type, like “analyzing the author’s tone or style”—it’s up to you. After you complete an SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test, you get to see detailed results, including analysis of how you did in comparison to other test takers and data about how long you took to answer each question. You may also want to complete a Full-Length Middle Level SSAT Reading Practice Test to get a better idea of your overall understanding of the subject. The extended format can help you as you work on increasing your test-taking pace and comprehension of essential concepts. The results pages for the comprehensive tests offer all of the useful review materials provided by the concept-specific practice tests, including your scoring percentile, detailed explanations, and additional review materials for vital concepts. These complete practice tests can help you formulate a custom SSAT study plan by showing you the topics you should spend more time reviewing. After you’ve had the opportunity to brush up on your skills, you can gauge your progress by taking another Full-Length Middle Level SSAT Reading Practice Test to track your development. So, if you’re worried about battling the clock on the Middle Level SSAT’s Reading section, use Varsity Tutors’ free SSAT resources to develop your time management skills while you study. This way, you can feel completely prepared to take on the Middle Level SSAT’s Reading section on test day!

Free SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Tests

Practice tests by concept, humanities passages practice test, argumentative humanities passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in argumentative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in argumentative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in argumentative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial tone in argumentative humanities passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in argumentative humanities passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in argumentative humanities passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in argumentative humanities passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in argumentative humanities passages practice test, locating details in argumentative humanities passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in argumentative humanities passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in argumentative humanities passages practice test, narrative humanities passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in narrative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in narrative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in narrative humanities passages practice test, determining authorial tone in narrative humanities passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in narrative humanities passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in narrative humanities passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in narrative humanities passages practice test, inferences and predictions in narrative humanities passages practice test, making inferences in narrative humanities passages practice test, making predictions based on narrative humanities passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in narrative humanities passages practice test, locating details in narrative humanities passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in narrative humanities passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in narrative humanities passages practice test, literary fiction passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in literary fiction passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in literary fiction passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in literary fiction passages practice test, determining authorial tone in literary fiction passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in literary fiction passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in literary fiction passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in literary fiction passages practice test, inferences and predictions in literary fiction passages practice test, making inferences in literary fiction passages practice test, making predictions based on literary fiction passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in literary fiction passages practice test, locating details in literary fiction passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in literary fiction passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in literary fiction passages practice test, poetry passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in poetry passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in poetry passages practice test, determining authorial tone in poetry passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in poetry passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in poetry passages practice test, inferences and predictions in poetry passages practice test, making inferences in poetry passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in poetry passages practice test, locating details in poetry passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in poetry passages practice test, science passages practice test, argumentative science passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in argumentative science passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in argumentative science passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in argumentative science passages practice test, determining authorial tone in argumentative science passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in argumentative science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in argumentative science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in argumentative science passages practice test, inferences and predictions in argumentative science passages practice test, making inferences in argumentative science passages practice test, making predictions based on argumentative science passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in argumentative science passages practice test, locating details in argumentative science passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in argumentative science passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in argumentative science passages practice test, narrative science passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in narrative science passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in narrative science passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in narrative science passages practice test, determining authorial tone in narrative science passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in narrative science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in narrative science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in narrative science passages practice test, inferences and predictions in narrative science passages practice test, making inferences in narrative science passages practice test, making predictions based on narrative science passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in narrative science passages practice test, locating details in narrative science passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in narrative science passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in narrative science passages practice test, social science passages practice test, argumentative social science passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in argumentative social science passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in argumentative social science passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in argumentative social science passages practice test, determining authorial tone in argumentative social science passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in argumentative social science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in argumentative social science passages practice test, inferences and predictions in argumentative social science passages practice test, making inferences in argumentative social science passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in argumentative social science passages practice test, locating details in argumentative social science passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in argumentative social science passages practice test, narrative social science passages practice test, authorial attitude, tone, and purpose in narrative social science passages practice test, determining authorial attitude in narrative social science passages practice test, determining authorial purpose in narrative social science passages practice test, determining authorial tone in narrative social science passages practice test, context-dependent meanings of words and phrases in narrative social science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of phrases in narrative social science passages practice test, finding context-dependent meanings of words in narrative social science passages practice test, inferences and predictions in narrative social science passages practice test, making inferences in narrative social science passages practice test, making predictions based on narrative social science passages practice test, main idea, details, opinions, and arguments in narrative social science passages practice test, locating details in narrative social science passages practice test, recognizing the main idea in narrative social science passages practice test, understanding and evaluating opinions and arguments in narrative social science passages practice test.