This course prepares students in grades 5–7 for the Middle Level SSAT with structured instruction in Quantitative, Verbal, Reading Comprehension, and the Writing Sample. It is designed for independent-school applicants who need clear explanations, steady skill-building, and practical test practice rather than shortcuts alone.
Students begin with a diagnostic assessment and a readiness profile, then move through the tested curriculum step by step. Each section teaches the underlying academic content, shows how that content appears in SSAT-style questions, and gives repeated practice with review and correction.
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
- solve SSAT quantitative problems involving arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, pre-algebra, geometry, data, and multistep word problems
- improve vocabulary using roots, prefixes, suffixes, context clues, and word relationships
- answer synonym and analogy questions with better precision and reasoning
- read passages actively and answer questions about main idea, details, inference, tone, purpose, point of view, and evidence
- plan and write organized creative or persuasive responses for the Writing Sample
- manage time across sections, use process of elimination, make educated guesses, and recover after difficult questions
- review mistakes systematically and turn errors into a focused improvement plan
The course includes concrete practice features throughout:
- worked examples that show how to solve or analyze each question type
- guided practice followed by independent practice
- common mistake review so students learn to catch predictable errors
- original SSAT-style questions with full answer explanations
- short quizzes and cumulative review to strengthen retention
- timed drills for Quantitative, Verbal, Reading, and Writing
- mistake-log activities that help students track repeated weaknesses
- full mock tests and post-test review to build endurance and readiness
Content coverage is comprehensive. Quantitative instruction starts with number sense and operations, then builds through fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, proportions, pre-algebra, patterns, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and reasoning strategies. Verbal instruction covers vocabulary development, shades of meaning, multiple-meaning words, synonyms, analogies, and the major relationships tested on the SSAT. Reading instruction develops annotation, evidence use, inference, passage structure, author's purpose, tone, figurative language, and answer-choice analysis. Writing instruction focuses on planning quickly, organizing clearly, using specific details, and revising under time pressure.
This is a practical, level-appropriate SSAT course for students who need both academic skill growth and test execution skills. It helps learners build confidence because they know what the test asks, why answers are right or wrong, and how to improve from one practice set to the next.