Chapter One: SSAT/ISEE Mastery
Highlights:
* How to take advantage of the structure of the test
* How to approach test questions systematically
Every year, close to 100,000 students take either the SSAT or ISEE for admission to nearly 2,000 independent (private) schools. Although the components of the two tests are remarkably similar, there are some critical differences.
To perform your best on either test, there are some key things you need to know that have nothing to do with vocabulary words or isosceles triangles. Namely, you need to know how to be a good test taker.
To get a great score on a private school admissions test, you need to do three simple things:
* You need to have a basic understanding of the nature of the test.
* You need to hone your math and verbal skills.
* You need to develop strategies and test-taking techniques.
Having a solid grasp of the content on the test is obviously important. You can't do well if you don't know the material. However, understanding the nature of the test, including its setup, its structure, and traps it commonly sets for you, will allow you to gain points that you might otherwise not earn.
USING THE TEST STRUCTURE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Whether you're taking the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) or the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), you'll notice pretty quickly that it is very different from the tests you're used to taking in school. On a school test, you're often told to show your work, to spend more time on tough questions (since they're worth more points), and to work thoroughly, even if it means taking extra time.
None of these things applies in the world of standardized testing. On your private school admissions test, it won't matter how you answer a question; it only matters what your final answer is. Also, all questions are worth the same number of points, so it's always to your advantage to answer easier questions first, to get them out of the way.
Both the SSAT and ISEE are given to students in a range of grades, so if you're in 8th grade, you're not expected to get as many questions right as someone in 11th grade. Keep that in mind as you take the test so you won't get discouraged if you find a lot of questions that you can't answer!
To succeed in this unique testing environment, you need to know some fundamentals about the structure of your test. Both the SSAT and ISEE have some quirks about them, so read carefully.
Because the format and directions of the SSAT and ISEE remain relatively unchanged from year to year, you can learn the setup in advance. Then on test day, all you'll have to worry about will be answering each question, not learning how a Synonym question works.
One of the easiest and most useful things you can do to boost your performance on your private school admissions test is to learn and understand the directions before taking the test. Since the instructions are always exactly the same, there's no reason to waste your time on the day of the test reading them. Get them straight in your head beforehand, while you go through this book, and you'll be able to skip them during the test.
Skipping Around
You're allowed to skip around as much as you'd like within each section of the SSAT/ISEE. High scorers know this and use it to their advantage. They move through the test efficiently, quickly marking and leaving questions they can't answer immediately, racking up points on questions they do know, then coming back to the tough ones later. They don't dwell on any questions, even a hard one, until they've tried every question at least once.
When you see questions that look tough, circle them in your test booklet and skip them for later. Gather points on other questions first. On a second look, some tricky-looking questions can turn out to be much easier than they initially looked. And remember, if you're on the younger side of the testing group, expect to see several questions that you won't be able to answer. The test is intentionally set up this way, so don't let it discourage you.
Guessing -- Know Your Test
When should you guess? That's a question we hear from students all the time. It depends which test you're taking. Read the information below and follow the instructions for your test. Guessing is one of the few areas in which the SSAT and ISEE operate differently, so read carefully!
SSAT: There is a wrong answer penalty. For each answer you get right, you get one point. For each answer you get wrong, 1/4 of a point is deducted from your total score. Does this mean you shouldn't guess? No, not at all. What it means is that you need to be smart about it. Essentially, if you can eliminate one -- preferably two -- answer choices, it's to your advantage to guess, because you've tipped the odds of guessing correctly in your favor. If you can't eliminate anything, however, you're better off leaving the question blank.
ISEE: There is no wrong-answer penalty. That means you should answer every single question on the test, even if you have no idea what it's asking you. The ISEE calculates your score simply by adding up your right answers, so you might as well fill in all those ovals completely. You never know what you might get right by luck!
Gridding -- The Answer Grid Has No Heart
Misgridding. It sounds so basic, but it happens all the time: When time is short, it's easy to get confused going back and forth between your test book and your answer grid. If you know the answer, but misgrid, you won't get any points, so be careful. Don't let it happen to you. Here are some tips to help you avoid making mistakes on the answer grid:
Always Circle the Questions You Skip
Put a big circle in your test book around any question numbers you skip. When you go back, these questions will be easy to locate. Also, if you accidentally skip a box on the grid, you can check your grid against your book to see where you went wrong.
Always Circle the Answers You Choose
Circling your answers in the test book makes it easier to check your grid against your book.
Grid Five or More Answers at Once
Don't transfer your answers to the grid after every question. Transfer your answers after every five questions, or at the end of each reading passage. That way, you won't keep breaking your concentration to mark the grid. You'll save time and you'll gain accuracy.
Be careful at the end of a section, when time may be running out. You don't want to have your answers in the test booklet and not be able to transfer them to your answer grid because you have run out of time. Make sure to transfer your answers after every five questions or so.
APPROACHING SSAT/ISEE QUESTIONS
Apart from knowing the setup of the SSAT or ISEE, you need to have a system for attacking the questions. You wouldn't travel around a foreign city without a map and you shouldn't approach your private school admissions test without a plan, either. Now that you know some basics about how each test is set up, you can approach each section a little more strategically. What follows is the best method for approaching test questions systematically.
Think about the Question Before You Look at the Answer
The people who make the tests love to put distracters among the answer choices. Distracters are answer choices that look like the right answer, but aren't. If you jump right into the answer choices without thinking first about what you're looking for, you're more likely to fall for one of these traps.
Use Backdoor Strategies If Necessary
There are usually a number of ways to get to the right answer on an SSAT/ISEE question. Most of the questions are multiple-choice. That means the answer is right in front of you -- you just have to find it. But if you can't figure out the answer in a straightforward way, try other techniques. We'll talk about specific Kaplan methods such as backsolving, picking numbers, and eliminating wrong answers in later chapters.
Pace Yourself
The SSAT/ISEE gives you a lot of questions in a short period of time. In order to get through an entire section, you can't spend too much time on any one question. Keep moving through the test at a good speed; if you run into a hard question, circle it, skip it, and go back later if there's time.
Typically, the questions get harder as you move through a problem set. Ideally, you can work through the easy problems at a brisk, steady clip, and use a little more of your time for the harder ones that come at the end of the set.
One caution: Don't completely rush through the easy problems just to save time for the harder ones. These early problems are points in your pocket, and you don't want to work through them in such haste that you end up making careless mistakes.
Locate Quick Points If You're Running Out of Time
Some questions can be done quickly; for instance, some reading questions will ask you to identify the meaning of a particular word in the passage. These can be done at the last minute, even if you haven't read the passage. When you start to run out of time, locate and answer any of the quick points that remain.
When you take the SSAT/ISEE, you have one clear objective in mind: to score as many points as you can. It's that simple. The rest of this book will help you do that.
MANAGING STRESS
The countdown has begun. Your date with the test is looming on the horizon. Anxiety is on the rise. The butterflies in your stomach have gone ballistic. Your thinking is getting cloudy. Maybe you think you won't be ready. Maybe you already know your stuff, but you're going into panic mode anyway. Don't freak! It's possible to tame that anxiety and stress -- before and during the test.
Remember, a little stress is good. Anxiety is a motivation to study. The adrenaline that gets pumped into your bloodstream when you're stressed helps you stay alert and think more clearly. But if you feel that the tension is so great that it's preventing you from using your study time effectively, here are some things you can do to get it under control.
Take Control
Lack of control is a prime cause of stress. Research shows that if you don't have a sense of control over what's happening in your life, you can easily end up feeling helpless and hopeless. Try to identify the sources of the stress you feel. Which ones of these can you do something about? Can you find ways to reduce the stress you're feeling about any of these sources?
Focus on Your Strengths
Make a list of areas of strength you have that will help you do well on the test. We all have strengths, and recognizing your own is like having reserves of solid gold at Fort Knox. You'll be able to draw on your reserves as you need them, helping you solve difficult questions, maintain confidence, and keep test stress and anxiety at a distance. And every time you recognize a new area of strength, solve a challenging problem, or score well on a practice test, you'll increase your reserves.
Imagine Yourself Succeeding
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a relaxing situation. Breathe easily and naturally. Now, think of a real-life situation in which you scored well on a test or did well on an assignment. Focus on this success. Now turn your thoughts to the SSAT/ISEE, and keep your thoughts and feelings in line with that successful experience. Don't make comparisons between them; just imagine yourself taking the upcoming test with the same feelings of confidence and relaxed control.
Set Realistic Goals
Facing your problem areas gives you some distinct advantages. What do you want to accomplish in the time remaining? Make a list of realistic goals. You can't help feeling more confident when you know you're actively improving your chances of earning a higher test score.
Exercise Your Frustrations Away
Whether it's jogging, biking, pushups, or a pickup basketball game, physical exercise will stimulate your mind and body, and improve your ability to think and concentrate. A surprising number of students fall out of the habit of regular exercise, ironically because they're spending so much time prepping for exams. A little physical exertion will help to keep your mind and body in sync and sleep better at night.
Avoid Drugs
Using drugs (prescription or recreational) specifically to prepare for and take a big test is definitely self-defeating. (And if they're illegal drugs, you may end up with a bigger problem than the SSAT/ISEE on your hands.) Mild stimulants, such as coffee or cola can sometimes help as you study, since they keep you alert. On the down side, too much of these can also lead to agitation, restlessness, and insomnia. It all depends on your tolerance for caffeine.
Eat Well
Good nutrition will help you focus and think clearly. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat protein such as fish, skinless poultry, beans, and legumes, and whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, and pastas. Don't eat a lot of sugar and high-fat snacks, or salty foods.
Keep Breathing
Conscious attention to breathing is an excellent way to manage stress while you're taking the test. Most of the people who get into trouble during tests take shallow breaths: They breathe using only their upper chests and shoulder muscles, and may even hold their breath for long periods of time. Conversely, those test takers who breathe deeply in a slow, relaxed manner are likely to be in better control during the session.
Stretch
If you find yourself getting spaced out or burned out as you study or take the test, stop for a brief moment and stretch. Flex your feet and arms. Even though you'll be pausing on the test for a moment, it's a moment well spent. Stretching will help to refresh you and refocus your thoughts.
"Managing Stress" adapted from "The Kaplan Advantage Stress Management System" by Dr. Ed Newman and Bob Verini, ? 1996 by Kaplan, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 by Kaplan, Inc.
