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The Enrollment Management Association has released updated testing modes and policies for the 2021-22 SSAT testing season. This follows after last season’s changes when, in response to the COVID pandemic, EMA rolled out a new online SSAT test taken from home, which was offered each weekend throughout the testing season. At the same time, for the 2020-21 testing season, the test maker also eliminated virtually all paper-based testing and its longstanding “Standard Test Dates”.
For the 2021-22 SSAT testing season, the biggest changes are:
- Paper-based SSAT on Standard Test Dates is back.
- Middle- and Upper-level students may now take 2 Flex tests (last year they were limited to 1).
- SSAT at Home (the online digital test) will be offered every 3 to 4 weeks instead of every weekend.
- Redesigned Score Reports for both SSAT and Character Skills Snapshot.
Please read on for a detailed summary of the updates to the SSAT administrations.
SSAT Registration
Registration for ALL test types will open on August 1st. Note there is no minimum separation date between tests.
Standard Test Dates for SSAT Paper-Based Tests
Paper-based testing at school sites is back for this testing cycle. Here are the standard test dates for 2021-2022:
- October 16, 2021
- November 13, 2021
- December 11, 2021
- January 8, 2022
- February 26, 2022
- April 23, 2022
Middle- and Upper-Level SSAT Domestic Testing Options for U.S. and Canada
Paper-Based Standard Test Dates will run the traditional way at school-based test sites. Schools will have the option of running as a “closed test site” because of COVID restrictions. If a test site is closed, the school will have to share the registration code with a family/prospective family s that they can register.
Flex Testing, Paper-Based. Students may take 1 Flex test within each of the two testing windows. The testing windows are: August 1, 2021 through November 14, 2021 and November 29, 2021 through July 31, 2022. NOTE that there is no Flex test offered November 15 – 28, 2021.
SSAT At-Home will be offered every 3-4 weeks on weekends (Friday through Sunday) throughout the testing season. At this writing, the schedule is not yet published. NOTE that students may take up to 3 online SSAT tests per season. This includes all online tests taken whether they’re from home or at a Prometric test center.
Online Testing at a Prometric Center will continue with daily testing offerings. Families should log on to the Prometric website and search for “SSAT by the Enrollment Management Association” in order to review the options for their area. Again, these count toward the 3 online SSAT maximum noted previously.
Elementary Level SSAT Domestic Testing Options
At the elementary level, students take paper-based tests administered on one of the established SSAT Standard Test Dates. It’s important to note that students at this level may take up to 2 tests per season, with the option of one test taken as a Flex test.
International SSAT Testing Options
SSAT tests administered internationally will be paper-based at test sites (and, where available, Prometric Center test sites) on the Standard Test Dates. Note that students in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam will only have access to paper testing.
The process of applying to independent schools can be overwhelming. We are here to help you make sense of it all. Please feel free to contact us with your questions and to take advantage of our free practice SSAT tests.
