How to Prepare for the SSAT - Reading Section

The Elementary Level SSAT Reading section includes approximately six passages, while the Middle and Upper Levels feature eight passages. Each passage is followed by around five questions. The main question types are:

• Main Idea Questions: Assess students’ ability to summarize the main point and key content of the passage.
• Supporting Ideas Questions: Test students’ ability to locate specific information within the passage.
• Inference Questions: Require students to infer the correct answer based on information in the passage.
• Attitude/Tone Questions: Challenge students to determine the tone or attitude of the passage.
• Vocabulary Questions: Check whether students understand the meaning of specific words in the context of the passage.
• Literary Devices Questions: Test students’ ability to identify the use of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and symbolism in the passage.

General Preparation Tips:

The SSAT Reading section includes a wide variety of new vocabulary, both academic and literary, so students must dedicate significant time to expanding their vocabulary. Improving reading speed and comprehension accuracy is essential. Once students have a solid vocabulary foundation, they should engage in extensive reading practice, ideally completing around 100 practice passages and taking 3–5 full-length practice tests to familiarize themselves with the exam’s pace and format.

Effective time management is crucial during the exam. Allocate about one minute per question to ensure you have time to complete all passages. Be careful not to spend too much time on one question at the expense of the remaining passages. If a question seems too difficult and you cannot confidently eliminate incorrect choices, it is better to skip it. However, if you can rule out one or two wrong answers, making an educated guess is advisable, as incorrect answers deduct only 1/4 of a point.

Specific Strategies for Each Question Type:

- Main Idea Questions

Skim the passage to identify the first and last sentences, as they often contain the main idea. Look for key phrases that summarize the central theme and choose the option that best captures those ideas.

- Supporting Ideas/Inference Questions

For questions with clear reference points, locate the relevant section in the passage based on keywords. For questions without explicit references, carefully match each option with information in the passage. Always base your answers on the text, avoiding over-interpretation.

- Attitude/Tone Questions

During preparation, familiarize yourself with common attitude and tone words (positive, negative, neutral, complex). During the exam, use these clues to eliminate incorrect options.

- Vocabulary Questions

Focus on vocabulary building and practice inferring word meanings based on context. Use the options provided to see which word fits best in the passage.

- Literary Devices Questions

These are common in poetry or fictional passages. Learn to identify common literary devices and practice recognizing them in different texts. Reading Passage Tips:

- Expository/Informative Passages

These passages typically offer a lot of factual information. When practicing, focus on developing your ability to quickly locate key details.

-Poetry Passages

Poetry tends to have a unique structure, so practice understanding difficult words, sentence inversions, and literary imagery. Familiarize yourself with common poetic devices used in these texts.

- Fiction Passages

Fiction passages require strong vocabulary and sentence structure comprehension. Reading more English-language novels can enhance familiarity with the nuances of fiction.

- Other Types of Passages

Since SSAT passages cover a wide range of subjects, practice reading various text types to build versatility.