The SSAT (Senior School Admissions Test) is an entrance exam for middle and high school students, administered primarily in the United States and Canada. It helps students in grades 3–11 assess their skills in math, reading, and verbal reasoning, and helps schools make admissions decisions.

The SSAT has three levels: Elementary for students in grades 3–4, Middle for grades 5–7, and Advanced for grades 8–11. All three levels include a math section. At the Middle and Advanced levels, there are two math sections, each containing 25 questions and 30 minutes, covering topics such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. The math content of the test is aligned with what students are learning in their grade levels. For the elementary level, there is a 30-question section on basic topics such as addition and subtraction and geometry.

In addition to the quantitative section, the SSAT also includes verbal sections (synonyms and analogies) and reading comprehension. The total time to take the test varies depending on the level, and for the higher level, it is about 2 hours. Scoring is done on a scaled basis, with each section having a score between 500 and 800. The total score ranges from 1,500 to 2,400, with a score of 2,400 being considered a perfect score. At the intermediate level, there are scores between 440 and 710 for each section.

Many top private schools and some international programs require SSAT scores as part of the admissions application. Each school has different score expectations, and there is no universal passing score. In general, scoring in the high percentiles (such as 85-90 percent) can make an applicant competitive for top schools. Strong scores on the quantitative sections can indicate a student’s readiness for the challenging math programs at these schools. Outside of North America, some international schools also use the SSAT for admissions. Although the SSAT is less directly relevant to Iranian students, families looking for boarding schools in the United States or Canada may encounter this test. In these cases, preparation in high school math such as fractions, basic algebra, and geometry is critical for success in the quantitative sections.