How to do well in SSAT quantitative section?

Certification: Test Prep SSAT - Secondary School Admission Test

The Secondary School Admission Test is a very critical exam to students in the early education stage of life. This exam will probably determine which middle school or high school one goes to. For one to perform their level best, they need to be well prepared for the paper. This means that you understand what is required of you as the applicant in each section. The paper is taken by students in grades 3 to 11, who are mainly seeking admission into independent or private schools. The paper contains four parts, which are all multi-choice questions. The main purpose of the exam is to gauge and assess the level and ability of the applicant. Since schools use the SSAT score to admit new students, it is important for one to get a high score. The sections tested are reading comprehension, verbal, quantitative math and also a writing sample section. Each section is structured to evaluate the students' academic capabilities and skills in various topics.

Quantitative Section of the SSAT

The quantitative section is one of the hardest section for most student, since it entails mostly mathematic questions. Mathematics is not a hard topic but without the right kind of preparation make sure fully to prepare. Preparation involves understanding what is required of you as a candidate in this section. This section of the SSAT contains 50 questions which are sub-divided into two sections, each of 25 questions. Each section of 25 questions is awarded thirty minutes. The applicant is mainly assessed on their ability when it comes to common mathematical concepts. The topics covered in this section include:

Elementary Concepts of Algebra - this involves sub-topics such as Patterns, Absolute Value, Properties of Exponents, and Equations of Lines.

Geometry and Measurement – some of the sub-topics include here are Slope, Area and circumference of a Circle, Volume of a Cube, Box, Cylinder, Coordinate Geometry and other many related topics.

Number Concepts and Operations – Some of the topics tested are Frequencies, Estimation, Arithmetic Word Problems, Sequences and Series, Rational Number any much more.

Data Analysis and Probability - here you will be tested on topics such as Probability, Interpretation of graphs and tables and also Trends and Inferences.

These are the main topics that one should expect as they are preparing for the exam. With the right kind of study guide and tips, you will grasp what is required of you as a student.

How to Prepare for the Quantitative Section

There are essential steps that one should follow when preparing for the quantitative section. The following are some of the ways to do so:

• Get to know your weak areas and strong area when it comes to quantitative mathematics. This is an important step in planning your study schedule. Since you are a student, you probably know your weakness in mathematics. By getting to work more on your weak topics, you will gradually improve. This will ensure you get comprehend and have enough time to study your weak points and make them strong. When planning your schedule, make sure to allocate your weakness more time compared to your strong topics. You will be able to cover much more of what you do not understand.
• Get to arrange and rank the subjects or topics based on the difficulty. The quantitative section covers so mainly four topics, which include Algebra, Computation, Geometry and Mathematical Concepts. As a student, make sure to list them from the most difficult one to the less demanding one. This will enable you to know on which subject you should spend more time at.  When you realize the difficult subjects for you, you can get more resources on those subjects so as to gain more knowledge and acquire the right skills and ability. By the end of the study schedule, you will find that you find all the topics quite easy and that they will not give you a hard time as you sit-down for the SSAT exam.
• Next you should consider your academic grades. They play a crucial role in ensuring you have adequate study guide. Your academic grades will guide you in deciding on which subject or area you need to have more study time. For students who have a weak or no mathematical background, they will probably need more time to prepare compared to others. Once you are aware of how much time you require for the preparation, you will end making a schedule that will be flexible and efficient to you. It is imperative to have a program that covers the required resources within a particular duration.
• Make sure to have both daily and weekly study guide. It is known that a minimum of around three hours of study time a day is ideal for any student preparing for the SSAT. Once you have identified the difficult subjects in your studies, make sure that you that allocate enough time to each subject. For example, the most difficult and second most difficult subjects, one can allocate them two days of study a week in the schedule. It is advised that one should spend at least two-thirds of their study time going through the most difficult topics and subjects.

With this main steps involved in the preparation for the quantitative section, one can also decide to use various SSAP courses out there that specially prepare students on the quantitative section. As long as you have study guide or course, make sure to adhere to it, and once the day for the exam arrives, you will find that you have no problem with the quantitative section of the SSAT. One should apply the training skills and tips to all sections of the paper so as to get an overall high score.