Updated: August 2025. Based on the currently available schedule, paper-based SSAT exams are no longer listed for Taiwan. Students can now take the digital SSAT at authorized Prometric test centers. For those who still prefer a paper-based format, you will need to consider test center options in neighboring countries (check our blog article for the destination options ) . Contact us for more info about our exam services, including hassle-free registration and preparation/ tutoring.
All you need to know about SSAT
What is SSAT?
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized test used by admission officers to assess the abilities of students seeking to enroll in independent schools. The SSAT measures the basic verbal, math, and reading skills needed for successful performance in independent schools. It provides admission professionals with an equitable means to assess and compare applicants, regardless of their background or experience.
Which schools accepts the SSAT?
The SSAT is accepted by many independent schools in the U.S. and Canada, and by international schools using the U.S./Canada system, such as Taipei American School. You can find a list of member schools on the SSAT website.
Where to take SSAT?
In Taiwan, the only SSAT test center is in Taipei at Soochow (Donwu) University. For a complete list of test centers, visit the SSAT website: ssat.org/test-center-search.
When is SSAT?
The Standard SSAT is administered on eight Saturdays worldwide each year. In Taiwan, these test dates are typically in December, January, February, March, April, and June.
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized test used by admission officers to assess the abilities of students seeking to enroll in independent schools. The SSAT measures the basic verbal, math, and reading skills needed for successful performance in independent schools. It provides admission professionals with an equitable means to assess and compare applicants, regardless of their background or experience.
Which schools accepts the SSAT?
The SSAT is accepted by many independent schools in the U.S. and Canada, and by international schools using the U.S./Canada system, such as Taipei American School. You can find a list of member schools on the SSAT website.
Where to take SSAT?
In Taiwan, the only SSAT test center is in Taipei at Soochow (Donwu) University. For a complete list of test centers, visit the SSAT website: ssat.org/test-center-search.
When is SSAT?
The Standard SSAT is administered on eight Saturdays worldwide each year. In Taiwan, these test dates are typically in December, January, February, March, April, and June.
What does TrinityScholar offer for SSAT?
Study SSAT with Trinity Scholar:
- 1-on-1 Tutoring: Materials and hours of your choice, completely customized (time, location, focus) tutor program with veteran instructors.
- Customized Groups: Completely customized tutoring for 3 or more students.
Why Choose Trinity Scholar SSAT Prep?
- Interactive and small classes provide a personalized teaching environment with a focus on key concepts and exam strategies.
- Exclusive US course materials are given to students where they will be able to access test-taking strategies, practice questions, and more.
- Trinity Scholar practice tests help students become familiar with the test and identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Invaluable strategies are taught to improve students' scores in the verbal, reading comprehension, and math sections.
- Designed to help you with your overall academic ability to form a solid foundation for your boarding school years.
Different Levels of Tests
- SSAT Elementary Level Test: Currently in Grades 3-4.
- SSAT Middle Level Test: Currently in Grades 5-7.
- SSAT Upper Level Test: Currently in Grades 8-11.
Download 2019-20 Elementary Level SSAT At A Glance brochure & 2019-20 Middle & Upper Level SSATs At A Glance brochure
What's on the Test?
Each level covers verbal, reading, and math/quantitative skills, with one writing sample. The Middle and Upper Level tests consist of 167 questions in 3 hours and 5 minutes, while the Elementary Level test covers 89 questions in 2 hours and 5 minutes.
- Middle and Upper Levels:
- Reading passages generally range from 250 to 350 words and may be taken from literary fiction, humanities (biography, art, poetry), science (anthropology, astronomy, medicine), and social studies (history, sociology, economics).
- Writing includes a choice between two prompts - one creative and one traditional essay.
- The Experimental Section (16 questions) includes verbal, reading, and quantitative/math questions that are being tested for future SSAT forms and are not scored.
- Elementary Levels:
- The Reading section consists of seven short passages, each with four multiple-choice questions. These passages may include prose, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction from diverse cultures.
|
Section |
Middle and Upper Level Number of Questions |
Duration |
|
Writing Sample |
1 |
25 minutes |
|
Break |
|
5 minutes |
|
Quantitative 1 |
25 |
30 minutes |
|
Reading |
40 |
40 minutes |
|
Break |
|
10 minutes |
|
Verbal |
60 |
30 minutes |
|
Quantitative 2 |
25 |
30 minutes |
|
Experimental |
16 |
15 minutes |
|
Totals |
167 |
3 hours and 5 minutes |
|
Section |
Elementary Level Number of Questions |
Duration |
|
Quantitative/Math |
30 |
30 minutes |
|
Verbal |
30 |
20 minutes |
|
Break |
|
15 minutes |
|
Reading |
28 |
30 minutes |
|
Writing Sample |
1 Prompt |
15 minutes |
|
Experimental |
15-17 |
15 minutes |
|
Totals |
89 |
2 hours and 5 minutes |
How to Register?
For international students, we recommend taking the test at Prometric Test Centers, which offer more options for time and locations.
SSAT does not allow walk-in registrations. The latest possible date to register for the test is the Wednesday prior to the test date, with a late fee charged. The registration deadline for Standard Test dates is three weeks before the test date. The late registration deadline is two weeks before the test date, with an additional fee; late registration is only available online.
- Create an account.
- Log in to the account, click "My Testing," then "Register for a Test."
- Follow the step-by-step prompts to complete the registration.
- You can register for more than one test after completing one test by clicking "Register for a Test".
SSAT does not allow walk-in registrations. The latest possible date to register for the test is the Wednesday prior to the test date, with a late fee charged. The registration deadline for Standard Test dates is three weeks before the test date. The late registration deadline is two weeks before the test date, with an additional fee; late registration is only available online.
About the Fee
- Middle/Upper Level Test Fee: $172 for students in the US ($59 late fee, $35 change fee). The international fee is $329.
- Elementary Level Test Fee: $112, and $229 for international students.
There are no refunds for canceled products or services unless the test is canceled by SSAT.org due to weather or other force majeure.
More about the fee: ssat.org/registration
How to Interpret Scores?
SSAT scores are broken down by section (verbal, quantitative/math, reading). A total score (a sum of the three sections) is also reported.
Raw scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly minus one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly. For the Elementary Level, there are no penalties for wrong answers.
The SSAT score report includes multiple sets of scores and percentiles:
While the Essay section is not graded, a copy of the essay accompanies each SSAT score report that is sent to a school or consultant.
Raw scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly minus one-quarter point for each question answered incorrectly. For the Elementary Level, there are no penalties for wrong answers.
The SSAT score report includes multiple sets of scores and percentiles:
- Scaled Scores: Scaled scores for each section (Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, and Total).
- Elementary Level: 300-600 (V/Q/R), 900-1800 (Total).
- Middle Level: 440-710 (V/Q/R), 1320-2130 (Total).
- Upper Level: 500-800 (V/Q/R), 1500-2400 (Total).
- SSAT Percentile Ranks: (1-99%)
- The SSAT Percentile (1 to 99) compares your performance on the SSAT with that of other students of the same grade/gender who have taken the SSAT in the U.S. and Canada on a Standard test date in the previous three years (the norm group).
- For example, if your Verbal SSAT Percentile is 65%, you scored equal to or better in the Verbal section than 65% of students of your gender and grade who took the SSAT in the past three years.
- For students who have taken the SSAT more than once, only their first set of scores is included in this process.
While the Essay section is not graded, a copy of the essay accompanies each SSAT score report that is sent to a school or consultant.