Ssat Percentile Calculator

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a critical component of the application process for many independent and private schools. While your scaled scores are important, it's the percentile ranks that provide the most meaningful context for admissions officers. This calculator helps you estimate your SSAT percentile based on your section scores and grade level, giving you a clearer picture of your performance compared to other students.

SSAT Percentile Estimator

5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade

Estimated Results

= 5 && gradeLevel <= 7) ? 'middle' : 'upper'; var minScore, maxScore; if (testLevel === 'middle') { minScore = 440; maxScore = 710; } else { minScore = 500; maxScore = 800; } if (verbalScore maxScore || quantScore maxScore || readingScore maxScore) { errorDiv.innerHTML = 'Scores are out of range for the selected grade. ' + testLevel.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + testLevel.slice(1) + ' Level scores should be between ' + minScore + ' and ' + maxScore + '.'; return; } // — Calculation — var totalScore = verbalScore + quantScore + readingScore; var verbalPercentile = getEstimatedPercentile(verbalScore, testLevel, 'verbal'); var quantPercentile = getEstimatedPercentile(quantScore, testLevel, 'quant'); var readingPercentile = getEstimatedPercentile(readingScore, testLevel, 'reading'); var totalPercentile = getEstimatedPercentile(totalScore, testLevel, 'total'); // — Display Results — var resultHTML = '

Total Scaled Score:

Estimated Overall Percentile:

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Estimated Verbal Percentile:

Estimated Quantitative Percentile:

Estimated Reading Percentile:

Disclaimer: These percentiles are estimates based on general data and are not official results from the EMA. Official percentiles compare your scores to a specific norm group from the past three years.

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Understanding Your SSAT Scores

When you receive your SSAT score report, you'll see several numbers. It's important to know what each one means.

• Scaled Scores: Each of the three main sections (Verbal, Quantitative, Reading) receives a scaled score. These are not raw scores (number of questions right/wrong) but are converted to a consistent scale to account for slight differences in difficulty between test dates.
• Score Ranges: The score range depends on the test level:
  • Middle Level (grades 5-7): Each section is scored from 440 to 710. The total score ranges from 1320 to 2130.
  • Upper Level (grades 8-11): Each section is scored from 500 to 800. The total score ranges from 1500 to 2400.

What is an SSAT Percentile?

An SSAT percentile is perhaps the most crucial part of your score report. It shows how your performance compares to a specific group of test-takers. Specifically, your percentile indicates the percentage of students in the same grade and of the same gender who scored at or below your scaled score over the last three years.

For example, if you are in the 75th percentile, it means you scored as well as or better than 75% of the students in the norm group. Admissions officers rely heavily on percentiles because they provide immediate context about a student's academic standing relative to their peers.

How to Use the SSAT Percentile Calculator

Using our estimation tool is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Select Your Grade: Choose the grade you are currently in from the dropdown menu. This determines whether the calculator uses Middle or Upper Level score ranges.
2. Enter Your Scaled Scores: Input the scaled scores you received for the Verbal, Quantitative, and Reading sections of your SSAT.
3. Calculate: Click the "Estimate My Percentile" button to see your estimated total score and percentile ranks for each section and for your overall performance.

Example Calculation

Let's say you are an 8th-grade student applying to high school. You took the Upper Level SSAT and received the following scaled scores:

• Verbal: 680
• Quantitative: 730
• Reading: 670

After entering these values into the calculator, you would see an estimated Total Scaled Score of 2080. The calculator would then provide estimated percentiles, such as a 65th percentile for Verbal, a 65th for Quantitative, a 65th for Reading, and an overall percentile around the 65th percentile mark. This tells you that you performed better than approximately 65% of other 8th graders in the norm group.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a "good" SSAT percentile?

A "good" percentile is highly dependent on the schools to which you are applying. Highly competitive schools often look for students with percentiles of 80% or higher, and the most elite schools may look for percentiles above 90%. However, many excellent schools have a wider range of acceptable scores. A score above the 50th percentile is generally considered a solid performance.

How are official SSAT percentiles calculated?

The Enrollment Management Association (EMA), which administers the SSAT, calculates percentiles by comparing your score against a "norm group." This group consists of all students in your grade and of your gender who have taken the SSAT for the first time over the past three years in the United States and Canada. Our calculator uses a simplified, general model for estimation.

Will my percentiles change if I retake the test?

Yes, your percentiles can change. If you improve your scaled score on a retake, your percentile will likely increase. Additionally, the norm group data is updated annually, which can cause slight shifts in percentile ranks for the same scaled score from one year to the next.