to the Third Grade Elementary Level SSAT

What to Expect and Sample Questions

The Official Guide

08-13

SSAT Registration Checklist SSAT.org

Create an Online Account Apply for Special Accommodations, if Needed Pre-approval is required before a test registration can be created. Choose a Test Date and Site Use our easy Test Center Search to find a site close to home. Select Score Recipients List the schools to which you are applying during online registration or wait until after you receive the scores. Order Additional Services SSAT offers, for additional fees, the options to receive a copy of your writing sample, printed copies of your scores, and alerts to view your scores the moment they are available. Pay Fees are payable by credit card (Visa and Mastercard). Fee waivers are available from SSAT member schools for those in need. Contact the member school to which you are applying in order to receive a fee waiver. Print the Admission Ticket These tickets list important test information including administration policies, location details, special instructions, and items to bring with you on test day. Prepare Complete the sample tests in this guide and read all the helpful tips, and you are on your way! All this and more can be completed and managed through www.ssat.org!

2013 by Secondary School Admission Test Board. All rights reserved. SSATBs mission is to provide unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment and enrollment needs of schools, students, and families. SSATB is dedicated to the principle of equal opportunity, and its programs, services, and employment policies are guided by that principle. SSAT, Secondary School Admission Test, and the SSAT logo are registered trademarks of the Secondary School Admission Test Board. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without prior written permission of SSATB. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Brief quotations or excerpts of this publication for use in reviews or professional works are permitted as provided under intellectual property law.

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Table of Contents Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A Brief History of SSATB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SSAT Testing Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 What is the SSAT? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 Overview of the Elementary Level SSAT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
The Third Grade Test: The Quantitative Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 The Third Grade Test: The Verbal Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13 The Third Grade Test: The Reading Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 The Third Grade Test: The Writing Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17

Elementary SSAT Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Reporting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Contact SSAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sample Test Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-32

The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

WELCOME!
If you are in the process of having your child apply to one or more of the independent schools around the world that rely on the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) as an admission assessment tool, this guide is for you. This is an exciting time in your childs academic life, and we have designed this guide to help demystify the testing process. As you read through this document, youll find an overview of the individual test sections, sample problems, and answers to frequently asked questions. Please contact us if you have questions or concernslike you, we want your child to feel confident and wellprepared. Sincerely,

Heather Hoerle Executive Director, SSATB

Secondary School Admission Test Board

A Brief History of SSATB

In the 1950s, ten independent school admission officers addressed the need for a common admission test. Because academic programs differed among schools, it was difficult to compare the academic ability of applicants based on grades and other school-specific performance measures. To solve this problem, the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB) was formed. SSATB is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to provide unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment and enrollment needs of schools, students, and families. Over 900 private and independent schools in the United States, Canada, and worldwide rely on SSATB for the delivery of high-quality admission and assessment services.

SSAT Testing Levels

There are currently three testing levels of the SSAT. The Elementary Level tests are for students in grades 3 and 4. Because of the learning and growth that takes place during the 3rd and 4th grades, separate tests are constructed for each grade. The Middle Level is for students in grades 5-7. The Upper Level is for students in grades 8-11.

What is the SSAT?

What is the Purpose of the SSAT?
The SSAT is designed for students who are seeking entrance to independent schools worldwide. The purpose of the SSAT is to measure the basic verbal, quantitative, and reading skills students develop over timeskills that are needed for successful performance in independent schools. The SSAT provides independent school admission professionals with meaningful information about the possible academic success of potential students like you at their institutions, regardless of students background or experience. The SSAT is not an achievement test. Your most recent classroom math test, for example, was probably an achievement test: Your teacher specifically designed it to evaluate how much you know about what has been covered in class. The SSAT, on the other hand, is designed to measure the verbal, quantitative, and reading skills you have acquired, instead of focusing on your mastery of particular course materials. Further, SSAT tests are not designed to measure other characteristics, such as motivation, persistence, or creativity that may contribute to your success in school.

How is the SSAT Designed?

The SSAT measures three constructs: verbal, quantitative, and reading skills that students develop over time, both in and out of school. It emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for academic success. The SSAT is constructed to be of middle difficulty for those who take the test. In other words, about 50% of the examinees will get the average test question correct. The distribution of question difficulties is set so that the test will effectively differentiate among test takers, who vary in their level of skills.
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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT In developing the SSAT, the SSATB convenes review committees, composed of content experts and independent school teachers. The committees reach consensus regarding the appropriateness of the questions. Questions judged to be acceptable after the committee review are then pretested and analyzed. Questions that are statistically sound are ready to be selected and assembled into test forms.

Is the Elementary SSAT Reliable?

The SSAT is highly reliable. The scaled score reliability is higher than or close to .85 for all three measures, which is considered high in the educational field.

The SSAT is a Norm-Referenced Test

The SSAT is a norm-referenced test. A norm-referenced test interprets an individual test-takers score relative to the distribution of scores for a comparison group, referred to as the norm group. The Elementary SSAT norm group consists of all the test takers (same grade), who have taken the test for the first time on one of the Standard Saturday or Sunday SSAT administrations in the USA and Canada. The SSAT reports percentile ranks, which are referenced to the performance of the norm group. For example, if you are a boy in the 3rd grade, and your percentile rank on the March 2012 Verbal section is 90%, it means that 90% of all the other 3rd grade boys (who have taken the test between August 1, 2012 July 31, 2013) scores fall below your scale score. The same scale score on the SSAT may have a different percentile rank from year to year, and the SSAT percentile ranks should not be compared to other tests in the same testing year because each test is taken by a different group of students. Since the elementary level test was just launched in August 2012, the number of test takers was limited. The reported percentile ranks were based on a sample of convenience. This sample may not necessarily be representative of the 3rd grade norm group. The percentiles will be updated when more data are available. In contrast, a criterion-referenced test interprets a test-takers performance without reference to the performance of other test takers. For example, your percent correct from a classroom math test is 90%, because you answered 90% of the questions correctly. Your score is not referenced to the performance of anyone else in your class. It is important to remember that the SSAT norm group is a highly-competitive group. You are being compared to all the other students (same grade/gender) who are taking this test for admission into independent schools some of which can be the most selective schools in the country. Most important to remember is that the SSAT is just one piece of information considered by schools when making admission decisions and, for the vast majority of schools, students with a wide range of SSAT scores are admitted.

The SSAT is a Standardized Test

Although each year several different SSAT forms are administered, the SSAT is administered and scored in a consistent or standard manner. The reported scores or scaled scores are comparable and can be used interchangeably, regardless of which test form students take. A scaled score of 500 on the October 2012 Elementary third grade Level verbal section, for example, has the same meaning as the scaled score of 500 from the January 2013 Elementary third grade Level verbal section, although the forms are different. The score interchangeability is achieved through a statistical procedure, referred to as score equating. Score equating is used to adjust for minor form difficulty differences, so that the resulting scores can be compared directly.
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Secondary School Admission Test Board Standard also refers to the way in which tests are developed and how tests are administered. Regarding test development, a standard process for writing, testing, and analyzing questionsbefore they ever appear on a live test is used. Further, SSAT provides precise instructions to be followed by qualified and experienced test administrators from the moment you are admitted to the test center until the time of dismissal. Any deviations from the uniform testing conditions are reported by the test administrator in writing to SSATB. Of course, a student with a school-documented need may apply for special testing accommodations, but the processes and procedures for the tests administration remain the same.

Overview of The Elementary Level SSAT

The Elementary Level SSATs (separate 3rd and 4th grade tests) are multiple-choice admission tests that consist of four sections, given in this order:

TEST OVERVIEW
Section Section 1 (Quantitative) Section 2 (Verbal) Break Section 3 (Reading) Writing Sample Totals 28 1 prompt 89 Number of Questions 30 30

Time Allotted to Administer Each Section 30 20 15 30 15 110 minutes

Each test booklet will be barcoded with information identifying your childs registration ID, name, grade, gender, and other important identifying information. Your child will mark answers directly in the test book by filling in the circle next to his/her answer choice.

The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

The Third-Grade Test: Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section of the third grade test consists of thirty quantitative items. These items Number of questions: 30 are a mixture of concepts that are considered Scored section: Yes to be the basis of the third grade Mathematics Time allotted: 30 minutes curriculum and a few that will challenge the third grade student. These include questions on number sense, properties, and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and spatial sense, measurement and probability. These questions reflect the following skills:

Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division Place value Ordering of numbers (greater than, less than) Fractions Basic concepts of geometry (shapes and their attributes) Basic concepts of measurement Interpretation of graphs

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How are the Quantitative Questions Presented on the Test?

1. The Smith family drove 300 miles every day for 4 days. How far did they drive on their trip?

EXAMPLE

75 miles 304 miles 600 miles 1200 miles 1500 miles

Option is correct. Option is incorrect because the student divides rather than multiplies. Option is incorrect because the student adds rather than multiplies. Option is incorrect because the student doubles but does not multiply by four. Option is incorrect because the child multiplies by 4 and adds in the 300 again. This question tests basic addition skills, and as it is a word problem, it does not specifically state the mathematical operation necessary to solve it. The students task is also to consider the information in the problem in order to determine what operation is necessary to solve the problem.

2.

Option is correct. Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and ignored the first denominator. Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and ignored the second denominator. Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and then the denominators. Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and multiplied the denominators. This question tests basic addition skills as well as facility with fractions. It is structured in the terms that directly state the mathematical operation necessary to solve it.

EXAMPLE

1+1= 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 4 2 6 2 8

The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

The Third-Grade Test: Verbal Section

Number of questions: 30

The Verbal section of the test has two parts. The first is a vocabulary section and the second is an analogies section. These sections test understanding of language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings by relating them to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).

Scored section: Yes Time allotted: 20 minutes

Synonyms
Synonyms are words with similar meanings in the same language. The words do not need to have the same meaning, and therefore learning synonyms enables students to differentiate between shades of meaning. This allows them to be more precise in their own speech and writing, and also to understand subtleties in the speech and writing of others. There are many examples that are used in everyday speech and writing. For example, large and big are synonyms, as are beautiful and pretty. Synonyms are often used by writers so that the same words are not repeated again and again in order to make their thoughts more interesting to the reader. The test focuses on vocabulary appropriate to the third grade, pulling words from all areas of third grade study, including science, technology and social studies. These questions require the student to demonstrate understanding of words with similar, but not identical meanings.

How are the Synonym Questions Presented on the Test?

1.

Option help is the correct answer. Option is a synonym for a similar word. Option is an antonym. Option is connected to the correct answer, cooperating helps finish, but is not a synonym. Option is also connected to the correct answersomeone who is cooperating might be supportive, but support is not a synonym for cooperate.

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EXAMPLE

join help delay finish support

COOPERATE:

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Option chilly is the correct answer. Option rhymes with cold. Option cool is similar to cold, but to a lesser degree. Option is a synonym of mold. Option is an antonym of cold.

EXAMPLE

2.

mold cool chilly shape hot

COLD:

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

Analogies
Analogies are a comparison between two things that are usually seen as different from each other, but have some similarities. They help us understand things by making connections and seeing relationships between them based on knowledge we already possess. These types of comparisons play an important role in improving problem solving and decision making skills, in perception and memory, communication and reasoning skills as well as reading and building vocabulary. Analogies help students to process information actively, make important decisions and improve understanding and long term memory. Considering the relationships stimulates critical and creative thinking. These questions require the student to demonstrate understanding of both nuances in word meanings and word relationships.

There are Different Categories of Analogies:

Opposites or antonyms: up is to down as short is to tall Synonyms or words with identical or similar meanings: big is to large as little is to small Characteristic: pillow is to soft as blanket is to warm Part to whole: trunk is to tree as stem is to flower Uses: broom is to sweep as pencil is to write Users: hammer is to carpenter as brush is to painter Category: robin is to bird as shark is to fish Product to Producer: poem is to poet as sculptor is to statue Degree: snow is to blizzard as rain is to hurricane Homonyms: four is to for as see is to sea

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

The classic approach to figuring out analogies is the bridge sentence. The student looks at the question pair, below it is minute is to hour, and decides what the connection is between the two words. In the example below, the connection is part to whole so the bridge sentence might be a minute is part of an hour. Then, the student looks at the options and turns them into the same bridge sentence. That sentence, men is part of our doesnt make sense, so it is clearly not the answer. The student keeps going until the sentence works.

How are the Analogy Questions Presented on the Test?

The correct answer is . The relationship is part to whole and a month is a part of a year. Option is incorrect because a cow produces milk. Option is incorrect because man and woman are opposites. Option is wrong because the two words sound similar to the stem, but have no connection. Option is a similar relationship but is going in the other direction (a week has a day in it, instead of day being a part of a week).

EXAMPLE

1.

Minute is to hour as men is to our week is to day cow is to milk month is to year man is to woman

Option is the correct answer. The relationship is of homonyms. All of the other options are rhymes, not homonyms.

EXAMPLE

jaws laws caws paws cause

2.

Bare is to bear as pause it to

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

The Third-Grade Test: Reading Section

The Reading section of the third grade test Number of questions: 28 consists of seven short, grade-level appropriate Scored section: Yes passages, each with four multiple-choice questions associated with it. These passages may include Time allotted: 30 minutes prose and poetry, fiction and non-fiction from diverse cultures. Students are asked to locate information and find meaning by skimming and close reading. They are also asked to demonstrate literal, inferential, and evaluative comprehension of a variety of printed materials. Questions ask the reader to show understanding of key ideas and details to determine the main idea of the text. Additionally, they ask the reader to determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.

How are the Reading Questions Presented on the Test?

Line 5

Butterflies go through a complete metamorphosis in four different life stages. The butterfly starts its life as an egg. It hatches from an egg as a caterpillar. While it is in its larva stage, it constantly eats leaves or flowers. The caterpillar molts many times as it grows, losing its old skin again and again. The caterpillar turns into a chrysalis. It rests while it is in this stage. Finally, a beautiful, readyto-fly adult butterfly emerges.

EXAMPLE
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1. In line 4, the word molts can be replaced by

dies flies rests sheds hatches

Option sheds is the correct answer. The word is explained by the second clause of the sentence. Option is not mentioned in the text. Options , , and are all verbs used in other stages of the life cycle of the butterfly. This question asks the student to show understanding of the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.

Secondary School Admission Test Board

2. The main point of the passage is that butterflies

are beautiful are the same as a caterpillar eat a lot of leaves and flowers cannot fly until they are fully grown change completely in each stage of life

Option is correct. The remaining options are all true but clearly are not the main point of the passage. This question asks the student to show understanding of key ideas and details to determine the main idea of the text.

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

The Third-Grade Test: Writing Sample

The Writing Sample gives the student a chance to express him/herself through written response to a picture prompt. The student is asked to look at a picture and tell a story about what is happening and to be sure his/her story includes a beginning, a middle, and an end. This writing sample is not graded but a copy is provided to the school.

How is the Writing Sample Presented on the Test?

Look at the picture and tell a story about what happened. Make sure your story includes a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Number of prompts: 1

Scored section: No Time allotted: 15 minutes

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

Elementary SSAT Scoring

Your childs Elementary SSAT score report will contain the following information: Number of Items: The number of items in the content sections and subsections. Number Correct: The number of correct answers for the content sections and subsections. Percent Correct: The percentage of correct answers for the content sections and subsections. Scale Score: A score which has a range of values from 300 to 600. The mean value of the content sections scale scores is 450. Scale Score Percentile Rank: The scale score percentile rank is a score which has values from 1 to 99. It compares performance to other students taking the same examination. Total Scale Score: The total scale score is the sum of the scale scores for the Quantitative, Verbal, and Reading Sections. It has a low value of 900, a high value of 1800, and a mean of 1350.

Reporting Services
A free copy of your childs score report will be available online via your SSAT account. For an additional fee, SSAT will report scores by mail ($20) or FedEx ($35). In addition, families can receive a text alerting them to score report availability ($20) and purchase the student's writing sample ($20). Scores are generally available within three business days of receipt of the testing materials at the SSAT offices.

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

Frequently Asked Questions

How do schools use my child's scores? Schools use your childs scores in different waysto estimate your childs ability to do work in a private school, to compare your childs performance with other applicants for admission, and/or to compare the test score with your childs present academic record. Each school evaluates a childs scores according to its own standards and requirements. Specific questions about how test scores are used in the admission process should be directed to the schools admission officer. Are special testing accommodations, such as extra time, available for the Elementary SSAT? Yes, families who can provide school documentation verifying that their child routinely receives special accommodations in his/her current academic setting may apply for special accommodations. If you intend to apply for special accommodations, be sure that the test site you choose has special accommodations seating capacity. How many times can my child take the Elementary SSAT? Your child may take the Third Grade SSAT once during the testing year (August 1- July 31). Are snacks or drinks allowed on the day of the test? Yes, your child may bring snacks and beverages for consumption during the break. Snacks and beverages must be in a clear plastic bag and may not be consumed during testing. Can my child use the restroom during the test? A 15-minute break is provided during the test for trips to restroom. A child may raise his/her hand to use the restroom at any time during the test, but the child may not make up the missed testing time. Should my child guess if he/she doesnt know the answer? Encourage your child to try to answer every question, making his/her best guesses about the questions of which he/she is unsure. There are no penalties for wrong answers. How do I report my childs scores to schools? You may indicate the schools 4-digit SSAT code at the time of test registration, or you may wait to receive your childs scores before designating score recipients through your childs online SSAT account. Are fee waivers available for the Elementary SSAT? Yes, you may request a fee waiver from the school to which you are applying, if you are unable to pay the test fee due to economic hardship. A fee waiver covers the cost of the test only and can be used in lieu of a credit card during test registration.

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

Helpful Tips
The best way to help your child prepare for the Elementary Level SSAT is to review the test format beforehand, including layout, structure, instructions, and time allotment. Looking at practice questions together is an excellent way to demystify the process. In the days leading up to the test, be sure that your child gets adequate rest. Provide a healthy breakfast on the test day and encourage your child to bring a break-time snack and drink. Be careful not to add unnecessary stress. While its always important to encourage your child to do his/her best work, dont overemphasize the importance of the test. Be sure to remind your child to listen carefully to the test administrator, who will provide all the instructions he/she needs to take the test successfully. If your child is sick on testing day, you have up to one week after the scheduled test date to book a seat for another test date (if available). A change fee applies.

Contact SSAT
If you need assistance or have additional questions, please call us Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST at 609-683-4440, email us at [email protected], or chat with us via www.ssat.org.

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Sample Test Questions

These practice tests are provided to give you and your child a specific look at the types of questions that will appear on the test. It is also formatted exactly as the real test book will appear to your child on test day. Note that your child will mark answers directly in the test book by filling in the circle next to his/her answer choice. Please note that this is not the same length of the actual SSAT Third grade test.

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

SECTION 1 15 Practice Questions

Following each problem in this section, there are five suggested answers. Select the best answer from the five choices. You may use the blank space provided to solve the problem.

Sample Question:

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34 13 = _____ 21 37 42 47

A C E D

1. 922 157 =
753 765 776 835 1079

2. Veronica and Sam found 83 pebbles to use in their aquarium tanks. They place 37 of the pebbles in the tadpole tank. How many do they have left to put into their salamander tank?
46 47 54 55 56

3. On a map, 1 inch represents 150 miles. If I measure 4 inches on the map, how far is that in miles? 400 miles 450 miles 500 miles 550 miles 600 miles

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

4. If one banana weighs 8 ounces, how much do 4 bananas weigh?

12 ounces 16 ounces 22 ounces 32 ounces 40 ounces

5. A box holds 8 chocolate candies. How many boxes are needed to hold 136 chocolate candies?
14 15 16 17 18

6. 58 37 =

580 1,916 2,146 3,448 18,796

7. Which is the largest fraction?

1 2 1 3 1 5 1 10 1 100

8.

2+ 5 4 12 7 24 6 14 7 16 7 12 11 12

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

9. Sams birthday is 2 weeks and 2 days from today. If today is January 2nd, on what day is Sams birthday?

January 9 January 11 January 16 January 18 January 22

10. Find the perimeter for the shape.

30 35 40 45 50

11. Lily wants to buy a notebook that costs $3.50. She only has $2.45. Which coins could you give Lily so she would have exactly $3.50?

1 nickel 2 quarters and 1 nickel 3 quarters and 2 dimes 4 quarters and 1 nickel 4 quarters, 1 dime, and 1 nickel

12. Omar and Zahir have 427 paperclips in their collection. They traded 259 of their paperclips to their sister for 27 pencils. How many paperclips do the boys have now?
168 172 232 238 286

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13. What is the total number of cupcakes sold on Day 1 and Day 3?
25 35 55 60 75

Temperature on November 1 Miami Atlanta Seattle 90 82 65 63 45

Portland Chicago

14. What was the average temperature in these five cities on November 1?
45 65 67 69 86

15. 17 + 6 =
20 22 23 24 26

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

Synonyms

SECTION 2 14 Practice Questions

Each of the following questions 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. Sample Question:

SLEEPY: perky fast tired sad hungry

1. DIFFICULT: soft hard light gentle simple 2. FRANTIC: inferior worried reluctant paranoid depressed 3. FRIGHTFUL: horrible deceitful vengeful shameful spectacular 4. BRIEF: hide long short secret manuscript

5. ADMIRE: crave pretty desire delight appreciate 6. UNUSUAL: bad native regular abnormal appropriate 7. EDIT: reuse revise reduce referee redefine

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Secondary School Admission Test Board Analogies The following questions ask you to find relationships between words. For each question, select the answer choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.
Sample Question: Book is to author as clay is to sculptor hammer is to carpenter song is to composer script is to actor microphone is to singer

Choice is the best answer because a book is written by an author, just as a song is written by a composer. Of all the answer choices, states a relationship that is most like the relationship between book and author.
8. Listen is to music as ball is to bat choir is to sing floor is to mop read is to book laundry is to wash 9. Wheat is to bread as milk is to cow goat drink white cheese 10. Happy is to sad as up is to top hop is to pop run is to skip talk is to chat laugh is to cry 11. Sun is to hot as ice is to cold snow cubes skating slippery 12. Blue is to color as human is to hair pillow is to sleep flower is to grass paper is to pencil rabbit is to animal 13. Pane is to pain as weigh is to ton way scale weight pounds 14. Find is to lose as build is to wood create misplace demolish materials

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

SECTION 3 12 Practice Questions

Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.

Line 5

10

In Winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle light. In Summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day. I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up peoples feet Still going past me in the street. And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?
3. Why does the author have to go to bed when he thinks its still day? He isnt allowed to play with the people who are still outside. He has to get up very, very early the next morning. He has misbehaved and is put to bed early. It is evening though not yet dark. He has been sick. 4. The author is unhappy about when he goes to bed in the summer because he isnt tired he wants to play he wants to catch birds he cant sleep unless its dark the people walking outside keep him awake

1. Why does the author say he gets up at night in the winter? He goes to night school. In the winter, its warmer at night. He works an overnight shift in a factory. In the winter, it is still dark in the morning. His mother sleeps all day because of her job. 2. We can assume that the poem was not written recently because the sky is still clear and blue he has to dress by candlelight his parents make him go to bed early the author can hear people in the street there are birds on the trees outside of his window

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

Line 5

10

15

When the girl was brought to the king, he led her into a room that was entirely filled with straw. Giving her a spinning wheel, he said, Get to work now. If by morning you have not spun this straw into gold, then you will have to go and live in the tower. Then he locked the room, and she was there all alone. The poor millers daughter sat there. She had no idea how to spin straw into gold. She began to cry. Then suddenly the door opened. A little man stepped inside and said, Good evening, why are you crying so? Oh, answered the girl, I am supposed to spin straw into gold, and I do not know how to do it. The little man said, What will you give me if I spin it for you? My necklace, said the girl. The little man took the necklace, sat down before the spinning wheel, and whir, whir, whir, three times pulled, and the spool was full. So it went until morning, and then all the straw was spun, and all the spools were filled with gold, and the little man had vanished.
7. The girl was crying because she was alone in the room could not unlock the door could not see the little man wanted to keep her necklace could not turn straw into gold 8. What does the word vanished mean?
disappeared finished helped called cried

5. What did the king want the millers daughter to do? spin the straw into gold hand over the necklace fill the room with straw make the little man vanish stop the little man from crying 6. The word that best describes the king is mean tricky boring severe sneaky

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

Line 5

10

15

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Five cents doesnt buy you much these days, but the 1913 Liberty Head nickel is worth a fortune. Just ask the family of George Walton. A month after Paul Montgomery, a coin collector in New Hampshire, offered a $1 million reward for the 1913 Liberty Head nickelone of the rarest American coinsthe Walton family came forward and said that they thought they owned one. The family had put the coin away after Waltons death in 1962, believing the nickel was worthless. But after learning of the offer, the family decided to see if their nickel was genuine. Experts determined it was. The story of the Liberty Head nickel began in 1883. Thats when the U.S. Mint began producing the coins. In 1912, the mint replaced the Liberty Head nickel with the Indian Head, or Buffalo, nickel. But in 1913, someone-probably an employee of the U.S. Mintillegally minted five additional Liberty Head coins. Two of the rare 1913 nickels are now owned by coin collectors, and two others are in a museum. What happened to the fifth one remained a mystery until now. Its been missing for so long, said coin dealer John Dannreuther. People would say there are only four, but we knew there were five. And there it is.
11. According to the passage, another name for the Indian Head nickel is the 1913 nickel Walton nickel Buffalo nickel Liberty Head nickel Dannreuther nickel 12. In the last paragraph of the passage, we can assume that John Dannreuther feels tired pleased uncertain thoughtful disappointed

9. The main idea of this passage is people like to collect coins the U.S. Mint makes coins with pictures five extra 1913 Liberty Head nickels were made the fifth 1913 Liberty Head nickel is found coin collectors offer a lot of money for rare coins 10. If someone illegally made five 1913 Liberty Head nickels, they made them for government officials as examples for museums to sell only to coin collectors at the request of the U.S. Mint without permission of the law

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

SECTION 4 Writing Sample

Look at the picture and tell a story about what happened. Make sure your story includes a beginning, a middle, and an end.

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The Official Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

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Secondary School Admission Test Board

33

Third Grade Elementary Sample Test Answer Key

Section Section 1: Quantitative Item Number 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Answer B A E D D C A E D C D A B D C B B A C E D B D E E A E B D D B D B A A E A E E C B

Section 2: Verbal

Section 3: Reading

Test Day Checklist Arrive at the test site approximately 30 minutes before the exam to allow for student check-in. Have your childs admission ticket in hand to allow for fast entry to the test site. Review the Test Irregularity Policies (included with the admission ticket) to inform yourself of possible unusual circumstances and outcomes. Remind your child to follow the proctors instructions on where to go and sit. Remind your child to listen carefully to the proctors instructions as the exam begins and throughout the test. Check with the proctor what time to return to pick up your child. Please remember no
parents are allowed in the testing room.

What to Bring
SSAT Admission Ticket Several (at least 3) sharpened #2 pencils A good eraser Snacks and beverages for breaks (in a clear bag) Special accommodations documents (if necessary)

What NOT to Bring

Cell phones Dictionaries/Books Calculators (including watches) Computers or tablets Backpacks Toys or stuffed animals

iPad

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