If you're seeking independent school or private education for your student, Varsity Tutors can enroll your student in a Washington, DC SSAT course. It's important to start your student on a quality education path to help them in the future.
Taking a Washington, DC SSAT class can help students have better insight into the testing material. Varsity Tutors can help your student get a general layout and feel of the test. Here's some background on the SSAT.
What Is the SSAT?
The SSAT is a standardized test that helps determine the abilities of students looking to enroll in an independent or private school. Your student will be tested on basic verbal, math, and reading skills to see if they can have a successful academic path in an independent or private school setting.
At the Elementary Level, 3rd-grade applicants will apply to an independent school for the 4th grade. For 4th-grade applicants, they'll apply to an independent school for 5th grade.
The Middle Level is for 5th, 6th, or 7th-graders that want to attend an independent middle school within the next year.
The Upper Level is for students from 8th-11th grade seeking admission to an independent high school in the following year.
In all levels of the test, the Writing sample and Experimental section are unscored. All schools that your student applies to will be sent their Writing sample. Additionally, your student will not be allowed to use a calculator on the Quantitative section at any level.
If your student is on the Elementary Level, guessing is encouraged since they won't be docked points for a wrong answer. However, Middle Level and Upper Level students will receive one point for each correct answer and lose a quarter of a point if they answer incorrectly (there's no penalty for any unanswered questions). Here's more in-depth information about each level of the test.
What could a Washington, DC SSAT course help your student cover?
Elementary Level
The test consists of 89 questions and allows your student just under 2 hours to complete it.
On the Quantitative Section, students have 30 minutes to answer 30 questions. Your student will cover basic math in the following topics: number sense, properties and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and spatial sense, measurement, and probability.
Students have 30 minutes to answer 30 questions on the Verbal Section. It assesses your student's knowledge of the English language. Your student should be mindful of language, word relationships, vocabulary, synonyms, and subtleties in word meanings.
For the Reading Section, your student will have 30 minutes to answer 7 passages with 4 questions apiece (28 questions total). This tests reading comprehension, particularly when it comes to finding the main idea of a passage, meanings of words, and identifying information.
Students are given 15 minutes to create a prompt for the Writing Sample. Your student may be asked to write a simple story on a picture prompt that needs a beginning, middle, and ending. Your student could be tested on their organization, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
The Experimental Section also allows 15 minutes for completing 15-17 questions.
Middle Level
This test gives students just under 3 hours to complete 167 questions.
In the Writing Sample, your student should be mindful of choosing one creative prompt to base their story. Additionally, your student should be aware of writing techniques, such as grammar, spelling, organization, and punctuation for this portion of the test.
The Quantitative Section gives students 50 questions (25 questions for both sections); each totaling 30 minutes a section (1 hour total). It may be helpful for your student to review concepts in arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry.
In the Reading Section, there are 40 passage-based questions to complete within 40 minutes. Students will have to interpret the meaning of both narrative and argumentative passages. To prepare for this section, students could brush up on techniques, like finding the main idea of the passage, words and phrases in context, and understanding the author's tone.
For the Verbal Section, your student will have 30 minutes to answer 60 questions (30 synonyms, 30 analogies). It may be a good idea for your student to improve their vocabulary in order to help with different concepts, such as word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and relating ideas and words to the context.
The Experimental Section gives your student 15 minutes to complete 16 questions.
Upper Level
The test allows students under 3 hours to finish 167 questions.
Your student is given 25 minutes to complete the Writing Sample. Students should be aware of their choice to pick one prompt out of two selections (one creative and one traditional essay). Also, it may be helpful to review skills in organizing a story or essay; writing with good grammar, spelling, punctuation; supporting a statement with examples.
The Quantitative Section consists of 2 sections of 25 questions, which totals 50 questions. There are 2 30-minute sections (1 hour total). Your student should be aware of concepts such as data analysis, coordinate and plane geometry, and algebraic equations.
To get through the Reading Section, your student will have 40 minutes to answer 40 questions. Your student should be mindful of how to read through passages to understand argumentative and narrative perspectives. This can be helpful in formulating and evaluating opinions and arguments.
The Writing Section allows for 30 minutes to complete 60 questions (30 analogies, 30 synonyms). Your student should be aware of different prefixes and suffixes within Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Latin dialect.
How does a Washington, DC SSAT prep course assist your student?
A Washington, DC SSAT course has an interactive, online setting. With good preparation, your student will have a good foundation for studies in an independent or private school. An instructor can help clear up different concepts that your student may find tricky.
Also, being able to collaborate with others can make it easier to dissect large amounts of information. This can be a very helpful method for your student to get more out of SSAT review sessions.
How can I find a Washington, DC SSAT review?
Going to a different school can be a big change of pace for your student. Varsity Tutors can help you find a good Washington, DC SSAT class so your student gets the assistance needed to get ready to take the test.
Getting this assistance early on can lead to quality learning in your student's formative years. Contact Varsity Tutors today to find out more information about a Washington, DC SSAT course.

Alexandra: Washington SSAT course instructor
...twice a week for three years. I have over 150 hours of teacher training and countless hours in the classroom. Furthermore, I was the editor of our student newspaper, The Daily Cardinal, and have extensive writing-coaching skills in addition to a strong grasp on the English language. I am currently employed by an educational non-profit in Alexandria, Virginia and would like to spend time outside of my regular 9 to 5 job to help students...
Education & Certification
- University of Wisconsin-Madison - Bachelors, History and Journalism
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Writing
- ISEE- Middle Level
- Math
- +23 subjects

Matt: Washington SSAT course instructor
...Hopkins University as a Public Health major with a concentration in Immunology and Infectious Diseases. I then went on to complete a Masters program at Georgetown University in human physiology. Given the amount of schooling I have gone through myself, I have taken a wide range of subjects and more standardized tests than I would like to admit. I have taught students of almost every age in various fields such as elementary science, Hebrew, chemistry,...
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelors, Public Health concentration in Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Georgetown University - Masters, Biophysics and Human Physiology
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Pre-Algebra
- AP Physics 2
- SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M
- +85 subjects

Cynthia: Washington SSAT course instructor
...in college and involved in STEM academics and research mentorship as well as a translation program from and to English outside of class. I speak Japanese and French, and I have taken the PSATs, SATs, 10 APs, and the GREs successfully. I would be willing to help with any of these subjects, with math, science, and languages being more of my strong suit, and I would be willing to drive to a location as well...
Education & Certification
- Princeton University - Bachelors, Neuroscience
- Johns Hopkins University - PHD, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- French
- AP World History
- College Biology
- +72 subjects

Erin: Washington SSAT course instructor
...and calculus to high school and university students for about 12 years. Similarly, have 12 years of experience with the SAT, ACT, and ISEE/SSAT, and about 4 years of experience teaching GRE and GMAT. As far as hobbies go, I enjoy reading science fiction, classic literature, and comic books. Rock-climbing is a big thing for me, as is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I'm also into dancing, including salsa, bachata, zouk, swing, and Argentine tango. Also I love...
Education & Certification
- Stanford - Bachelors, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Pre-Algebra
- SSAT- Middle Level
- ACT Writing
- +77 subjects

Daeyong: Washington SSAT course instructor
...programming to hundreds of students. We have held a combination of virtual and in-person lessons, resulting in semester long workshops at local middle schools. I am also the President of our school's National Math Honor Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the education and enjoyment of math to younger students. Every time I tutor students privately or through these organizations, I find it extremely rewarding when a student finally understands a new concept, or applies...
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Music
- Computer Programming
- Elementary School Science
- +48 subjects

Annie: Washington SSAT course instructor
...students at the local middle and high school. I have experience tutoring in middle school English, math, and science, and high school English, social studies, and essay revision. My favorite part of tutoring is helping a student figure out how to connect their real passions to the schoolwork that's troubling them. One student hated writing essays, but loved playing the guitar with his band. I helped him plan an essay about his experiencing performing for...
Education & Certification
- Williams College - Bachelors, English
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Essay Editing
- ACT English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- +43 subjects

Ben: Washington SSAT course instructor
...out I found my life's passion in my very first economics class. It is my favorite subject to tutor and I love to keep up my self learning in advanced concepts. While taking economics courses I started tutoring by helping struggling students through classes we had together, and by word of mouth ended up tutoring a number of students in the economics department. I am passionate about learning and took as many courses as possible...
Education & Certification
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus - Bachelors, B.S. Economics
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Statistics
- Study Skills
- Test Prep
- +34 subjects

Nathan: Washington SSAT course instructor
I have extensive tutoring experience in the past. Before law school and after college, I worked as an assistant director of a Learning Center, and a big part of my job was working on test prep with students. I enjoyed my work, and I was successful at it because I was able to develop connections with my students and alter my teaching style to meet their needs, while still staying within the structured curriculum.
Education & Certification
- Clark University - Bachelor in Arts, English and History
- The George Washington University Law School - Juris Doctor, Law
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Advanced Placement
- AP World History
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- +29 subjects

Samantha: Washington SSAT course instructor
...working with students of a variety of ages from coaching an elementary school Science Olympiad team to working with adults prepare for the GRE after having been out of school for decades. Whether it's GRE test prep, French, math or economics, my approach to tutoring is to find what strategies work best for the student and work on methods for students to be able to make progress both in and out of tutoring sessions. My...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, 1. International and Comparative Political Science 2. Economics
- Johns Hopkins University-Schools of Advanced International Studies - Current Grad Student, 1. Conflict Management 2. International Economics
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- LSAT
- LSAT Logical Reasoning
- SAT Subject Tests
- +96 subjects

Laura: Washington SSAT course instructor
...before attending college I spent 6 months teaching English in Peru. Last year, as a sophomore in college, I was a TA for the Spanish Department, responsible for creating and executing my own lesson plans for two one-hour classes per week for Spanish 102, grading homework and designing my own quizzes. I also tutored occasionally through our on-campus tutoring program. Finally, for the past two summers I have worked at the extremely rigorous Breakthrough Collaborative...
Education & Certification
- Washington University in St Louis - Bachelor of Science, Anthropology/PreMed
Subject Expertise
- SSAT
- Biology
- SAT Writing and Language
- ACT Science
- +33 subjects