Varsity Tutors is a powerful resource for students interested in enrolling in a Kansas City SSAT prep course. The SSAT is a standardized test that exists to give private and independent schools an objective data point that allows them to compare candidates with different backgrounds fairly. There are three different "levels" of the SSAT: Elementary Level for students in grades 3 and 4, Middle Level for students in grades 5-7, and Upper Level for students in grades 8-11. Students take the SSAT the year before they plan to attend a new school. For instance, a sixth-grader is looking to start attending a private or independent school for grade 7.
Most schools look at other criteria as well as standardized test scores, but a strong performance on the SSAT is one way for either you or your student to stand out in a crowded applicant pool. If you feel like your test prep could use a boost, taking a Kansas City SSAT class is a great way to improve your study skills in advance of the exam. Keep reading to discover more information about this valuable service.
What topics are typically covered in a Kansas City SSAT course?
The Elementary Level SSAT has a total testing time of one hour and 50 minutes, while the Middle and Upper Level exams last two hours and 50 minutes. This means that the Elementary Level Exam has a completely different format from the test older students take, while the Middle and Upper Level SSATs differ only in the level of material covered.
The SSAT has five sections no matter which level is taken: Writing, Quantitative, Reading, Verbal, and Experimental. The Experimental section allows the exam's manufacturer to test out future exam items and is always unscored. The Writing section is also unscored, but a student's essay is included in their private school application as a writing sample. Here is a closer look at the four exam sections that matter:
Writing
The Writing section of the SSAT is designed to assess a student's written communication skills, command of English grammar, punctuation, organization, and spelling. On the Elementary Level test, students have 15 minutes to compose a short story based on a provided picture prompt. The directions remind them to include a beginning, middle, and end in their work. Middle Level test-takers choose between two creative writing prompts and have 25 minutes to finish. The Upper Level SSAT also allows 25 minutes to plan and compose a response, but students choose between a creative or traditional essay prompt.
Quantitative
The Quantitative section is called "Math" on the Elementary Level SSAT and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions about topics such as subtraction, shapes, fractions, multiplication, and place value. Children have half an hour to answer all of the questions. Students taking the Middle or Upper Level SSAT answer a total of 50 multiple-choice questions evenly split between two 30-minute subsections. Questions are about more advanced topics such as data analysis, algebra, and geometry. Calculators are not permitted on any level of the SSAT.
Reading
The Reading section consists of 28 multiple-choice questions over 30 minutes on the Elementary Level SSAT and 40 multiple-choice questions over 40 minutes on the other two. All students are presented with reading passages and asked to identify the main idea and relevant supporting details, distinguish between literal and non-literal meanings, and use context to define terminology. Older students are also asked to critically evaluate arguments and make inferences based on what they read. Naturally, the passages also become more difficult at higher levels of the SSAT.
Verbal
The Verbal section contains 30 multiple-choice questions over 20 minutes on the Elementary Level SSAT and 60 multiple-choice items over 30 minutes on higher levels of the test. Vocab, analogies, and synonyms are the primary topics of discussion, with vocabulary worked into the other two question types on the Middle and Upper Level SSATs. Some of these questions can get pretty tricky, so it may be a good idea to study prefixes, suffixes, and word roots to help a student piece together what a word means and how it might relate to others.
Can you explain some of the benefits of taking a Kansas City SSAT course to me?
Every Kansas City SSAT class we provide takes place on our exclusive live virtual platform, allowing students to meet with their instructor and a handful of classmates wherever anywhere with a strong internet connection. Our platform supports real-time interactions between everybody involved, so asking for help is as simple as raising your hand. We also start new classes every week and offer two and four-week options to make it possible to fit a class into even the busiest schedule.
Each Kansas City SSAT class also covers both academic skills and test-taking strategies specific to the SSAT. If you or your student could express yourself more effectively on written assignments, learning how to outline your response before you try to compose it may prove beneficial. Similarly, children taking the Elementary Level SSAT should try to answer every question because there is no penalty for incorrect responses. However, students taking the Middle and Upper Level exams are penalized for every wrong answer, making a blank question better than an incorrect response. Whether to guess or not on these items comes down to a student's perceived odds of guessing correctly.
Studying with other students also carries several advantages. You can split the cost of your expert instructor, making formal test prep more affordable than you might think. Perhaps more importantly, multiple students can work together to foster a learning environment where everybody can ask questions and do their best to develop a more comprehensive understanding of academic concepts. For example, learning how to approach a math problem from a peer instead of an instructor can help it seem more accessible.
How do I enroll in a Kansas City SSAT course?
Simply use the info provided on this page to connect with a knowledgeable educational consultant who can walk you through the entire enrollment process. Varsity Tutors is a leader in the Kansas City SSAT course space, and we would be delighted to show you why!

Andrea: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...students individually on homework problems or test preparation. For the past few years, I have also tutored students independently, primarily focusing on Algebra/Algebra 2, Physics, and Chemistry. Students have often said that I am a very clear, patient, and thorough tutor. I believe it's important to let students do as much of the work independently as possible so that they stay involved in the learning process, and I also find it valuable to relate previous...
Education & Certification
- Washington University in St Louis - Bachelor in Arts, Physics
- University of Washington - Seattle - Master of Science, Physics
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- College Physics
- SAT
- Middle School Math
- +27 subjects

Anna: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...foreign languages. One of the reasons I like tutoring is because it allows me to use what I have learned in such fields to help others gain confidence in and become excited about a subject. I especially love to tutor in French, which I studied at the Universit du Havre and minored in during college. I believe that curiosity is the most important ingredient in learning. As a tutor, I ask questions to help students...
Education & Certification
- University of Kansas - Bachelors, Biology, Environmental Studies
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- +52 subjects

Melony: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). I have 9 years of teaching experience as a Preschool, Elementary & College level instructor. I've taught general education courses, ESL, Spanish Native Language Literacy and a University Writing course. I love teaching! My favorite subjects to tutor are ESL, Reading, Writing, Grammar and Spanish. My tutoring style involves getting to know each other and sharing our interests, discovering my student's goals and...
Education & Certification
- University of Central Missouri - Bachelors, Elementary Education
- University of Central Missouri - Masters, Teaching English as a Second Language
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- SAT Writing and Language
- COMPASS Writing Skills
- +98 subjects

Laura: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...can achieve their academic goals with the right help. As a past tutor with an After School Program, I know what it takes to motivate and encourage students of any age. I am a very patient and kind teacher, but I also enjoy a few quips to keep things light throughout the learning process. I think a sense of humor is sometimes necessary in order to get through complicated lessons! I connect well with kids,...
Education & Certification
- Texas Christian University - Bachelors, Theatre major/Spanish and Anthropology minors
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- High School English
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE
- +24 subjects

James: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...who are looking to improve their SAT ACT and SSAT scores but I have also worked with a variety of AP tests. If I were to describe my teaching style, when it comes to standardized tests I'm not someone who likes to focus on memorization or learning specific math or grammar rules. I believe more points can be won/lost based on the process that a student uses to answer questions. How many times have you...
Education & Certification
- Western Washington University - Bachelor in Arts, English, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Algebra 3/4
- ACT Science
- +40 subjects

Colin: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
As a tutor, I would like to foster not only mastery of individual subjects, but a strengthened approach to academia in general. Outside of tutoring, I enjoy playing and writing music on the guitar, watching movies, playing basketball with my friends, and hanging out with my animals.
Education & Certification
- University of Kansas - Current Undergrad Student, Behavioral Sciences
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- IB Mathematical Studies
- Test Prep
- Pre-Calculus
- +76 subjects

Linda: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...with a desire to learn and that, with the right light, we can each continue on that journey throughout or lives. No one person understands or internalizes each lesson in exactly the same way, although many of the basic principles are the bases for this understanding and future growth. It is here where we are charged to help others understand in a manner that best accommodates their learning, and then empower them with the tools...
Education & Certification
- University of Northern Iowa - Bachelors, Elementary Education
- Baker University - Masters, Education
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Test Prep
- ISEE- Primary
- Math
- +20 subjects

Olivia: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...of study in English. I have worked as an assistant teacher in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classrooms, as well as in homeschool settings. I have also worked as a tutor for children ages 5-15 with learning disabilities: I taught phonemic awareness as a means to increase fluency and accuracy in reading and spelling. I have tutored a broad range of subjects, but have more in depth knowledge of English. This is also my favorite...
Education & Certification
- University of Missouri Kansas City - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Math
- Art
- +62 subjects

Richard: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...students struggle in other areas as well - they misuse their working memory! Our brains work by combining small bits of information at a time and the process can easily be derailed by anxiety, missing previous information, poor study habits, or a psychological condition. I've worked with students with each of these problems (and more) and seen the vast majority improve their performance, which gives them confidence, which improves their performance even more. It’s incredibly...
Education & Certification
- Rice University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Essay Editing
- STAAR
- PSAT Mathematics
- +38 subjects

Eileen: Kansas City SSAT course instructor
...believe anyone can learn. A student has to be open to learn though and a great teacher can help to open a mind to that. Learning can be fun and especially when you work one-on-one with someone. The lessons can be focused to exactly what one needs and that really helps things to move along more quickly. After being in education for over 20 years, I am excited to work with new people and to...
Education & Certification
- Eastern Michigan University - Bachelors, Elementary Education
- Pittsburg State University - Masters, Educational Leadership
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Math
- 7th Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- +78 subjects