Private School Admission Preparation

Link: Writing Sample Link: SSAT Website

Link: Admissions Interview Link: SSAT Vocabulary Practice (Answers on Last Page)

SSAT & Kamehameha Test Prep Study Guides - Entrance to Grades 4, 6, 7 and 9

If you choose to prepare your child on your own, you can purchase SSAT and Kamehameha Test Preparation Study Guides for entrance to grades 4, 6, 7 and 9 at "Kahala Kids" in the heart of Kahala Mall. (808) 737 6200 MAP Kahala Kids will ship to all parts of Oahu, the neighbor islands and the mainland for a shipping and handling fee.

SSAT Lower Level (Entering Grades 6 thru 8) Acceptance Range
* Test-takers are penalized ¼-point for each incorrect response.

Section	Time Allowed	Number of Multiple Choice Questions	Approximate minimum number correct needed to get into the "acceptance range" at Oahu's top private schools.
			Entering Grade 6	Entering Grade 7	Entering Grade 8
Reading	40 Min.	40	23	25	28
Math 1	30 Min.	25	32	35	39
Math 2	30 Min.	25	32	35	39
Verbal	30 Min.	60	29	33	36

SSAT Upper Level (Entering Grades 9 thru 11) Acceptance Range
* Test-takers are penalized ¼-point for each incorrect response.

Section	Time Allowed	Number of Multiple Choice Questions	Approximate minimum number correct needed to get into the "acceptance range" at Oahu's top private schools.
			Entering Grade 9	Entering Grade 10	Entering Grade 11
Reading	40 Min.	40	25	27	30
Math 1	30 Min.	25	29	30	30
Math 2	30 Min.	25	29	30	30
Verbal	30 Min.	60	30	35	35

Testing - Private School Prep in Honolulu, HI

How does my child's SSAT score compare?

Scoring within the "acceptance range" does not assure admittance. Also, many applicants who've scored near but below the "acceptance range" with strong teacher reports, interviews, writing samples, and/or letters of recommendation have been accepted. I arrived at these "minimum number correct" figures after comparing hundreds of SSAT scores with the test results of students who'd been accepted/wait-pooled at Oahu's top private schools. With these figures, I assume the child has not gone "hog-wild" with guessing on the test.

Preparing for the SSAT Exam

Arguably the most important factor in SSAT and private school prep is the usage of relevant study materials. While it is reasonably simple to find intelligent and enthusiastic test preparation instructors, it is relatively difficult to obtain study materials that systematically and efficiently prepare a ten to 13-year-old for an intensive and multifaceted national private school entrance exam.

Private School Admission Preparation Program

To better prepare the dozens of fifth thru ninth graders I coach each year, I've used my 10+ years of teaching / test-preparation / curriculum-development experience to create study guides that closely approximate the sequence, scope, phrasing and difficulty level of actual SSAT exams. I've accomplished this through years of meticulous research into individual SSAT test questions and through information acquired from former test participants.

Additional Preparation: The Admissions Interview and the Writing Sample

Students will also be trained for the Admissions Interview using actual admissions interview questions. Demeanor, assertiveness, and responsiveness are essential to implant a positive impression on the admissions committee. In addition, students will receive instruction on idea formulation, organization, grammar, and syntax in preparation for the Writing Sample required at many of Oahu's private schools.

Links to Admissions Information:

Iolani

Punahou

Mid-Pac

Kamehameha

Maryknoll

Hawaii Baptist

Saint Louis

Sacred Hearts