Kaplan Test Prep - SSAT & ISEE Middle & Upper Level Prep 2020: 4 Practice Tests + Proven Strategies

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ISBN: 978-1-5062-5960-4

ISBN: 978-1-5062-5959-8

Kaplans experience shows that the best SSAT and ISEE scores result from active and thorough preparation. Well give you direction and focus for your training. Well teach you the specific skills that the test demands and the most effective strategies to help you improve your score. However, your effort is crucial to your success. The more time and effort you spend in preparing for the test, the higher the score youll earn. In your hands, you have the best test prep available for the SSAT and ISEE, admissions tests for private and independent schools.

This book covers the Middle and Upper Levels of the SSAT and ISEE.

• Upper Level (for students currently in grades 811)
• Middle Level (for students currently in grades 57)

• Upper Level (for students currently in grades 811)
• Middle Level (for students currently in grades 6 and 7)

• Elementary Level (for students currently in grades 3 and 4)

• Lower Level (for students currently in grades 4 and 5)
• Primary Level (for students currently in grades 13)

This book covers both the Middle and Upper Levels of the SSAT and ISEEthat means these two test levels span six grades! Depending on your current progress in school, you might find some questions too difficult. You should try your best to solve all of the questions, but do not be discouraged if you cannot. Other students in your age group will find these questions hard to solve as well. Keep in mind that your test will be scored in relation to other students your age; this should help relieve some pressure.

Not every topic covered in this book applies equally to the test you will take. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a note indicating what test applies to each topic. Keep an eye out for these notes to guide you in your preparation, and skip those chapters that are not relevant.

Ideally, you should take a couple of months to work through this book. That gives you enough time before Test Day to absorb the strategies thoroughly so that they become second nature during practice and on Test Day. Do just two or three chapters a week and let the material sink in slowly. If you have more than two months, plan to cover some chapters more than once.

If you have less than two months to prepare, however, dont panic: by working through a chapter or two every day, you can finish this book in a couple of weeks. If you don't have enough time for that, prioritize the chapters that will help you improve your score as much as possible. Use our SmartPoints system and practice tests to determine which topics to study.

Heres how you should approach your preparation:

• Read through each chapter completely, learning from the examples and trying the practice questions. Dont just read passively, however. Work through the passages and questions as much as you can before reading the explanation. The sooner you learn the test's structure, content, and question types, and master Kaplan's strategies, the sooner you can work on your speed.
• Read Chapters 16 and 17 to learn more about stress management and setting the stage for your studying and testing success.
• Take the practice tests under strictly-timed conditions. Score your tests, find out where you need help, and then review the appropriate chapters.
• Create an initial plan for your prep using Chapter 16: Study Planning and revisit this plan each week.

Dont hesitate to take some time off from your SSAT/ISEE preparation when you need to.

Q. Its two days before the SSAT/ISEE and Im clueless. What should I do?

A. First of all, dont panic. If you have only a day or two to prepare, then you must accept that you won't be able to prepare thoroughly. That doesnt mean you should give up, though, because there are still steps you can take in your final days. First and foremost, get familiar with the test. Then, if you dont have time to do anything else, take a full-length practice test under reasonably test-like conditions. When you have finished that, check your answers to see what you got incorrect and review your results using the explanations.

Q. The test is tomorrow. Should I stay up all night studying geometry formulas or memorizing vocabulary words?

A. The best thing to do now is to keep calm. Read Chapter 17 to find out the best way to surviveand thriveon Test Day.

Q. I dont feel confident. Should I just guess?

A. That depends on whether youre taking the SSAT or the ISEE. The SSAT penalizes you for incorrect answers (one-quarter of a point), so you want to be careful, but that doesnt mean you should never guess. If you can rule out at least one answer choice, preferably two, you should guess because you have statistically better odds of guessing correctly. If youre taking the ISEE, you should ALWAYS guess because theres no incorrect answer penalty.

Q. Whats the most important thing I can do to get ready as quickly as possible?

A. In addition to assessing basic math and verbal skills, the SSAT and ISEE test your ability to take the test. This means that the most important thing you can do in a short period of time is to familiarize yourself with the directions, the question types, the answer grid, and the overall structure of the test. Read everything carefully; many mistakes are the result of simply not reading thoroughly enough. If you have additional time, visit Chapter 16 to review the Kaplan Methods Cheat Sheet for either the SSAT or the ISEE.

Q. So its okay to panic, right?

A. No! No matter how prepared you are for the test, stress will hurt your performance, and its really no fun. Stay confident and dont cram. So... breathe, stay calm, and remember: its just a test. It does NOT define you!

Congratulations! By purchasing this book, you have taken the first step toward helping your son or daughter prepare for the SSAT or ISEE, the admissions test for private and independent schools. Each school has a different requirement policy for admissions exams, so check with your schools of interest to find out which test your child should take. These days, many schools accept either test.