Your child has done very well in her previous school. Why is a standardized test necessary for admission to a private school? After all, they can see she has good grades and that her teachers like her. The problem is that the admissions staff have no way of knowing exactly what your child has or has not learned in her current school. Standardized test results level the playing field. They measure your child's basic skills against known and accepted benchmarks. That's why they are necessary.
Testing Is Only One Part of the Admissions Process
The Secondary School Aptitude Test or SSAT and Independent School Entrance Examination or ISEE are just two tools in an array of assessment tools which admissions personnel use. What makes these tests useful is that they show how your child compares to other children taking the test. They give an indication of your child's aptitude for the kind of academic work likely to be undertaken. They don't, however, address other important factors such as her personality, other interests, goals and so forth.
Test Types and Dates
The SSAT is administered at two levels: Lower Level encompasses students in 5th-7th grades; the Upper Level includes 8th-11th grades. The ISEE similarly is given at the Middle Level (6th-8th grades) and the Upper Level (9th-12th grades). It also has a Lower Level for 4th and 5th grades. You must make your own arrangements to take these tests. The schools to which you are applying do not do this for you. Don't panic if you miss a registration deadline. Most test centers will allow you to walk-in provided they have enough test materials. If you must do a walk-in, be sure to arrive early to register.
What Do the Tests Measure?
The tests try to determine your child's aptitude for math and language with a series of multiple choice questions. The Verbal sections are primarily concerned with comprehension and vocabulary. In other words, can she read and understand the materials which are commonly found in high school text books and other resources for learning? The Mathematics sections deal with with essential topics such as basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
There is also a short essay.
Wrong Answers Are Penalized
A feature of the SSAT is that your child will be penalized for wrong answers. A quarter of a point will be deducted for an incorrect answer. In common with other Educational Testing Service tests there are experimental questions. You will, however, not know which ones they are. So always answer as many questions as you can.
Prepare for the Test
Your child needs to practice taking the SSAT or the ISEE, depending on which test the schools she is applying to require. It makes no sense to just show up and take the test without having worked at least three practice tests. She may know the material inside out and backwards, but if the test format confuses her or makes her feel uncomfortable, she will not do as well as she potentially could. If she is applying to a competitive school, her excellent test scores might be one of the deciding factors in her favor.