If you are considering having your student apply to an independent or private school, it could be a good idea to reach out to Varsity Tutors and enroll your student in a Philadelphia SSAT class. The SSAT is one of the entrance exams used by many independent and private schools as a component in their admissions process. Thus, doing well on the test could improve the likelihood that your student is accepted into the private or independent school of your dreams. The SSAT measures students' reading, verbal, and math skills because these are considered important when it comes to predicting academic success.
Depending on your student's grade level, they will take one of the three levels for the SSAT, which include an Elementary Level, Middle Level, and Upper Level. The Elementary Level test is offered to students in elementary school, the Middle Level is given to students who want to go to an independent or private middle school, and the Upper Level is designed for students who are going to attend high school.
What can a Philadelphia SSAT class help my student review?
The SSAT tests on a lot of different information across a range of academic subjects. For this reason, it may be useful for your student to take a class that helps them review topics across all four sections of the SSAT. All of the levels contain a Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, and Writing section. There are some differences between the sections across the three levels though, including the fact that the Middle and Upper Levels have 167 questions while the Elementary Level only has 89. There are also some differences in scoring as students lose one-quarter of a point for answering a question incorrectly on the Upper and Middle Levels while there isn't a penalty for choosing the wrong answer on the Elementary Level. What follows is a brief overview of the four sections and what your student will encountering during each one.
Verbal
The Verbal Section is geared towards the English language on all of the levels. The Elementary Level test contains 30 questions and students are provided with 30 minutes to finish it. This section focuses the majority of its attention on vocabulary and the relationship between different words. In contrast, the Upper and Middle Levels contain 60 questions, with 30 of them covering analogies and the other 30 covering synonyms. Students only have 30 minutes to complete this section despite it having 30 extra questions.
Quantitative
The Quantitative section covers math related topics across all three levels. The three levels are similar in the sense that students are not allowed to use a calculator for this section regardless of their age. The Elementary Level test is comprised of 30 questions and students have 30 minutes to complete the entire section. At this level, the test is based more on basic math, including shapes, properties, and graph interpretation. It may be helpful for your student to be skilled in fractions and place values as well.
The Middle and Upper Levels have 50 total questions on this section and students have an hour to finish it. These questions cover slightly more complex math at this level such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
Reading
The Reading section prioritizes reading comprehension across all three levels. In general, students are required to read through various passages and answer questions about what they read. The biggest difference between the three levels is the reading-level needed to comprehend the passages. While the Elementary Level is primarily focused on students being able to identify the main idea of the passage, the Middle and Upper Levels expect students to pick out details and make predictions and inferences based on the information provided.
Writing
The Writing Section isn't scored at any of the three levels, but it is still a good decision for your student to do their best on this section because their writing sample will be submitted to any school they apply.
At the Elementary Level, students are given 15 minutes to complete this section. They are given a picture and they are required to write a story about it. The story has to include a beginning, middle, and end because students are being tested on their spelling and punctuation skills as well as how well they can organize their story.
At the Middle and Upper Levels, students are given 25 minutes to finish this particular section. Your student will be given two writing prompts of which they must choose one. At the Middle Level, students have to choose between two separate creative options, while they have the option to choose between a creative or narrative prompt at the Upper Level.
How can a Philadelphia SSAT course help my student prepare?
Philadelphia SSAT courses are available for your student to take online. This can be helpful when it comes to being able to fit a course into your student's schedule. Whether your student is in the robotics club or on the swim team, it can be difficult to find time to study with so many other activities going on. That is part of what makes an online SSAT class so convenient because you won't have to stress about finding time to get your student to another activity. They can simply stay at home and still have the opportunity to prepare for the SSAT.
SSAT courses are designed to be as close to a regular classroom experience as possible. Your student will have access to an instructor who can help them review the necessary material while also giving them the chance to collaborate with other students in class discussions and group activities.
How can I enroll my student in a Philadelphia SSAT prep course?
Enrolling your student in a Philadelphia SSAT prep course can be as easy as reaching out to Varsity Tutors either online or over the phone. Don't hesitate to contact us today. Our educational consultants are ready to answer any questions you may have and enroll your student in a two-week or four-week session.

Julie: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...for the written word within all my students! I have been teaching both high school and middle school in Philadelphia for the past five years. I have taught reading intervention and seen many of my students make enormous gains. I am in the process of being certified in the Wilson System of reading, which is a rigorous and research based intervention for students of all ages. I am excited to work with students on everything...
Education & Certification
- Fordham University - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
- University of Pennsylvania - Masters, Urban Education
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- English
- Writing
- College English
- +26 subjects

Alex: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...is the quality of the tutor. Without a doubt, many people can teach you how to do a math problem, but not everyone can help explain it in such a way that you understand it and can apply the knowledge to future problems. The second important ingredient to successful learning is a positive attitude by the student. When tackling tough math problems, many students begin to feel overwhelmed by the material. I make sure to...
Education & Certification
- Drexel University - Bachelors, Biomedical Engineering
- Drexel University - Current Grad Student, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Other
- SAT Reading
- Test Prep
- +16 subjects

Stephanie: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...of a passionate teacher can turn a diffident or apathetic underachieving student into a classroom star. My favorite subject to tutor is standardized test prep (SAT, ACT, GRE, etc.) because such tests cover a finite body of material that can be taught and mastered. In addition to test prep, I also tutor a number of English related subjects (including Writing, Literature, Essay Editing, and Grammar), and offer help with Study Skills and Organization. In my...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Bachelors, Cinema and Media Studies / English Language and Literature
- University of Iowa - Masters, Film Studies
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- LSAT Essay Section
- Study Skills
- MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- +77 subjects

Alysia: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...students. Education has always been an extremely important aspect of who I am. My mother is a 2nd-grade teacher and my father is a middle school vice principal and that combination of discipline, leadership, and nurturing as a part of the educational experience has been instilled in me from a very young age. As a child, I had to overcome my own personal challenges in order to allow my intellect to shine. I have ADHD...
Education & Certification
- Thomas Edison State University - Bachelors, English
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- 3rd Grade Reading
- Handwriting
- 7th Grade Reading
- +151 subjects

Carolynne: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...is Carolynne, and I am a member of the University of Pennsylvania Class of 2020. I genuinely enjoy tutoring, and I have an extensive background in teaching-related leadership and volunteering. With me, you will never have a boring lesson--I try to make learning as fun and engaging as possible! I am more than qualified to teach the subjects I have listed in my profile, having received 5's on all my APs, and a score of...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Current Undergrad, Biological Basis of Behavior
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Math
- Mandarin Chinese 1
- AP English Language and Composition
- +13 subjects

Ivorie: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...student studying Clinical Psychology at Widener University. I have worked previously mostly with children between ages of 6 and 13 but I am comfortable working with students of all ages. I tutor in almost all subjects, but my favorites are Math, English, Psychology and Study and Organizational skills. Outside of tutoring, I like to write (mostly poetry), read, play all sports and do crafts. I love animals and have two dogs of my own. I...
Education & Certification
- Baylor University - Bachelor of Science, Psychology
- Widener University - PHD, Currently Studying Clinical Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Math
- SSAT- Upper Level
- High School English
- +21 subjects

Robert: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...me to tell you a bit about myself and how I can help you succeed. I have a Masters in Education and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (honors), and I am currently pursuing my PhD in Psychology. I have taught as a tutor and college professor for three years at local institutions like Temple and Drexel. I am currently a research assistant at Columbia, UPenn, and Yale, where I enjoy discovering strategies for optimum...
Education & Certification
- Drexel University - Bachelor of Science, Psychology
- University of Pennsylvania - Masters, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Graduate Test Prep
- College English
- Psychology
- +52 subjects

Sam: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...just graduated with a degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. My main focus was on financial models and health economics. I held multiple positions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where I worked with professors to conduct statistical research in the department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health. Before Hopkins, I received an International Baccalaureate Diploma in Geneva, Switzerland, where I studied higher level Math, Economics, English, and...
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- ACT English
- Trigonometry
- High School Accounting
- +37 subjects

Annamarie: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...I graduated from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia with a dual degree in Elementary and Special Education. I found helping children and making a difference in the world became a passion throughout high school, and I wanted to continue this idea into adult hood. Immediately upon graduation, I landed my first teaching job in Plymouth Meeting, PA at a school for children with emotional exceptionalities. I then switched gears into a public middle school in...
Education & Certification
- Saint Joseph's University - Bachelors, Elementary and Special Education
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Handwriting
- ISEE- Lower Level
- Elementary School
- +18 subjects

Eric: Philadelphia SSAT course instructor
...elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, I am consistently focused on small group instructional models in my classroom to assist students in their particular area of academic instruction. Tutoring is where there are many different ways to approach and solve a problem, but the most important part is meeting a particular goal. Breaking down the focus skill, whether it be in reading, math, or science is of the utmost importance so my students can become independent...
Education & Certification
- Temple University - Bachelors, Communications
- Arcadia University - Masters, Elementary Education
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Reading
- +17 subjects