officialguidetoelementary3rdgradetest13-14updatedtext.pdf

7/29/2019 OfficialGuideToElementary3rdGradeTest13-14UpdatedText.pdf

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The Ofcial Guide

to the Third Grade ElementaryLevel SSATWhat to Expect and Sample Questions


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2013 by Secondary School Admission Test Board. All rights reserved.

SSATBs mission is to provide unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment and enrollment needs of schools, students,and families.

SSATB is dedicated to the principle of equal opportunity, and its programs, services, and employment policies are guided by that principle.

SSAT, Secondary School Admission Test, and the SSAT logo are registered trademarks of the Secondary School Admission Test Board.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form orby any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without prior wr itten permission of SSATB. The scanning, uploading,and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Briefquotations or excerpts of this publication for use in reviews or professional works are permitted as provided under intellectual property law.

SSATB

SSAT Registration ChecklistSSAT.orgCreate an Online Account

Apply for Special Accommodations, if NeededPre-approval is required before a test registration can be created.

Choose a Test Date and Site

Use our easy Test Center Search to fnd a site close to home.

Select Score Recipients

List the schools to which you are applying during online registration or wait until after

you receive the scores.

Order Additional Services

SSAT offers, for additional fees, the options to receive a copy of your writing sample,

printed copies of your scores, and alerts to view your scores the moment they areavailable.

Pay

Fees are payable by credit card (Visa and Mastercard). Fee waivers are available from

SSAT member schools for those in need. Contact the member school to which you are

applying in order to receive a fee waiver.

Print the Admission Ticket

These tickets list important test information including administration policies, location

details, special instructions, and items to bring with you on test day.

Prepare

Complete the sample tests in this guide and read all the helpful tips, and you are on

your way!

All this and more can be completed and managed through www.ssat.org!


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Secondary School Admission Test Board

3

Table of Contents

Welcome.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Brief History of SSATB.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SSAT Testing Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is the SSAT?... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Overview of the Elementary Level SSAT. . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

The Third Grade Test: The Quantitative Section. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

The Third Grade Test: The Verbal Section.. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 10-13

The Third Grade Test: The Reading Section.. . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 14-15

The Third Grade Test: The Writing Section .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17

Elementary SSAT Scoring.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Reporting Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Frequently Asked Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Helpful Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Contact SSAT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Sample Test Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-32


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The Ofcial Guide to the Third Grade Elementary SSAT

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WELCOME!

I you are in the process o having your child apply to one or more o the independent schools around the

world that rely on the Secondary School Admission est (SSA) as an admission assessment tool, this guideis or you

his is an exciting time in your childs academic lie, and we have designed this guide to help demystiy the

testing process As you read through this document, youll ind an overview o the individual test sections,

sample problems, and answers to requently asked questions

Please contact us i you have questions or concernslike you, we want your child to eel conident and well-

prepared

Sincerely,

Heather HoerleExecutive Director, SSATB


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A Brief History of SSATBIn the 1950s, ten independent school admission ocers addressed the need or a common admission test

Because academic programs diered among schools, it was dicult to compare the academic ability o applicants

based on grades and other school-specic perormance measures o solve this problem, the Secondary SchoolAdmission est Board (SSAB) was ormed SSAB is a non-prot educational organization whose mission is

to provide unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment and enrollment needs o

schools, students, and amilies Over 900 private and independent schools in the United States, Canada, and

worldwide rely on SSAB or the delivery o high-quality admission and assessment services

SSAT Testing LevelsTere are currently three testing levels o the SSA Te Elementary Level tests are or students in grades 3

and Because o the learning and growth that takes place during the 3rd and th grades, separate tests are

constructed or each grade Te Middle Level is or students in grades 5-7 Te Upper Level is or students ingrades -11

What is the SSAT?

What is the Purpose of the SSAT?Te SSA is designed or students who are seeking entrance to independent schools worldwide Te purpose

o the SSA is to measure the basic verbal, quantitative, and reading skills students develop over timeskills

that are needed or successul perormance in independent schools Te SSA provides independent school

admission proessionals with meaningul inormation about the possible academic success o potential studentslike you at their institutions, regardless o students background or experience

Te SSA is not an achievement test Your most recent classroom math test, or example, was probably an

achievement test: Your teacher specically designed it to evaluate how much you know about what has been

covered in class Te SSA, on the other hand, is designed to measure the verbal, quantitative, and reading skills

you have acquired, instead o ocusing on your mastery o particular course materials

Further, SSA tests are not designed to measure other characteristics, such as motivation, persistence, or

creativity that may contribute to your success in school

How is the SSAT Designed?Te SSA measures three constructs: verbal, quantitative, and reading skills that students develop over time,both in and out o school It emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential or

academic success

Te SSA is constructed to be o middle diculty or those who take the test In other words, about 50% o the

examinees will get the average test question correct Te distribution o question diculties is set so that the test

will eectively dierentiate among test takers, who vary in their level o skills


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In developing the SSA, the SSAB convenes review committees, composed o content experts and independent

school teachers Te committees reach consensus regarding the appropriateness o the questions Questions

judged to be acceptable aer the committee review are then pretested and analyzed Questions that are

statistically sound are ready to be selected and assembled into test orms

Is the Elementary SSAT Reliable?Te SSA is highly reliable Te scaled score reliability is higher than or close to 5 or all three measures,

which is considered high in the educational eld

The SSAT is a Norm-Referenced TestTe SSA is a norm-reerenced test A norm-reerenced test interprets an individual test-takers score relative

to the distribution o scores or a comparison group, reerred to as the norm group. Te Elementary SSA

norm group consists o all the test takers (same grade), who have taken the test or the rst time on one o the

Standard Saturday or Sunday SSA administrations in the USA and Canada

Te SSA reports percentile ranks, which are reerenced to the perormance o the norm group For example,

i you are a boy in the 3rd grade, and your percentile rank on the March 01 Verbal section is 90%, it means

that 90% o all the other 3rd grade boys (who have taken the test between August 1, 01 July 31, 013)

scores all below your scale score Te same scale score on the SSA may have a dierent percentile rank rom

year to year, and the SSA percentile ranks should not be compared to other tests in the same testing year

because each test is taken by a dierent group o students Since the elementary level test was just launched in

August 01, the number o test takers was limited Te reported percentile ranks were based on a sample o

convenience Tis sample may not necessarily be representative o the 3 rd grade norm group Te percentiles

will be updated when more data are available

In contrast, a criterion-reerenced test interprets a test-takers perormance without reerence to the perormance

o other test takers For example, your percent correct rom a classroom math test is 90%, because you answered

90% o the questions correctly Your score is not reerenced to the perormance o anyone else in your class

It is important to remember that the SSA norm group is a highly-competitive group You are being compared

to all the other students (same grade/gender) who are taking this test or admission into independent schools

some o which can be the most selective schools in the country Most important to remember is that the SSA

is just one piece o inormation considered by schools when making admission decisions and, or the vast

majority o schools, students with a wide range o SSA scores are admitted

The SSAT is a Standardized TestAlthough each year several dierent SSA orms are administered, the SSA is administered and scored

in a consistent or standard manner Te reported scores or scaled scores are comparable and can be used

interchangeably, regardless o which test orm students take A scaled score o 500 on the October 01

Elementary third grade Level verbal section, or example, has the same meaning as the scaled score o 500

rom the January 013 Elementary third grade Level verbal section, although the orms are dierent Te score

interchangeability is achieved through a statistical procedure, reerred to as score equating Score equating is

used to adjust or minor orm diculty dierences, so that the resulting scores can be compared directly


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Standard also reers to the way in which tests are developed and how tests are administered Regarding test

development, a standard process or writing, testing, and analyzing questionsbeore they ever appear on a

live test is used Further, SSA provides precise instructions to be ollowed by qualied and experienced test

administrators rom the moment you are admitted to the test center until the time o dismissal Any deviations

rom the uniorm testing conditions are reported by the test administrator in writing to SSAB O course, astudent with a school-documented need may apply or special testing accommodations, but the processes and

procedures or the tests administration remain the same

Overview of The Elementary Level SSAThe Elementary Level SSATs (separate 3rd and th grade tests) are multiple-choice admission tests that

consist o our sections, given in this order:

Section Number of Questions Time Allotted toAdminister Each Section

Section 1 (Quantitative) 30 30

Section 2 (Verbal) 30 0

Break 15

Section 3 (Reading) 30

Writing Sample 1 prompt 15

Totals 9 110 minutes

TEST OVERVIEW

Each test booklet will be barcoded with inormation identiying your childs registration ID, name, grade,

gender, and other important identiying inormation Your child will mark answers directly in the test book by

lling in the circle next to his/her answer choice


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The Third-Grade Test: Quantitative SectionTe Quantitative section o the third grade test

consists o thirty quantitative items Tese items

are a mixture o concepts that are consideredto be the basis o the third grade Mathematics

curriculum and a ew that will challenge the

third grade student Tese include questions on

number sense, properties, and operations, algebra

and unctions, geometry and spatial sense, measurement and probability Tese questions refect the ollowing

skills:

Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Place value

Ordering o numbers (greater than, less than)

Fractions

Basic concepts o geometry (shapes and their attributes)

Basic concepts o measurement

Interpretation o graphs

Number of questions: 30

Scored section: YesTime allotted: 30 minutes


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Option is correct Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and ignored the rst

denominator Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and ignored the second

denominator Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and then the denominators

Option is incorrect because the student added the numerators and multiplied the denominators Tis

question tests basic addition skills as well as acility with ractions It is structured in the terms that directly

state the mathematical operation necessary to solve it

How are the Quantitative Questions Presented on the Test?

Option is correct Option is incorrect because the student divides rather than multiplies Option isincorrect because the student adds rather than multiplies Option is incorrect because the student doubles

but does not multiply by our Option is incorrect because the child multiplies by and adds in the 300

again Tis question tests basic addition skills, and as it is a word problem, it does not specically state the

mathematical operation necessary to solve it Te students task is also to consider the inormation in the

problem in order to determine what operation is necessary to solve the problem

. Te Smith amily drove miles every day or days. How ar did they drive on their trip?

miles miles miles miles miles

EXAMPLE

. 14

+ 12

=

22 2

4 3

4 2

6 2

8

EXAMPLE


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The Third-Grade Test: Verbal SectionTe Verbal section o the test has two parts

Te rst is a vocabulary section and the second

is an analogies section Tese sections testunderstanding o language, word relationships,

and nuances in word meanings by relating them

to words with similar but not identical meanings

(synonyms)

SynonymsSynonyms are words with similar meanings in the same language Te words do not need to have the same

meaning, and thereore learning synonyms enables students to dierentiate between shades o meaning Tisallows them to be more precise in their own speech and writing, and also to understand subtleties in the

speech and writing o others Tere are many examples that are used in everyday speech and writing For

example, large and big are synonyms, as are beautiul and pretty Synonyms are oen used by writers so that the

same words are not repeated again and again in order to make their thoughts more interesting to the reader

Te test ocuses on vocabulary appropriate to the third grade, pulling words rom all areas o third grade

study, including science, technology and social studies Tese questions require the student to demonstrate

understanding o words with similar, but not identical meanings

How are the Synonym Questions Presented on the Test?

Option help is the correct answer Option is a synonym or a similar word Option is an antonym

Option is connected to the correct answer, cooperating helps nish, but is not a synonym Option is

also connected to the correct answersomeone who is cooperating might be supportive, but support is not a

synonym or cooperate


Scored section: Yes

Time allotted: 20 minutes

. COOPERAE:

join help delay nish supportE

XAMPLE


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Option chilly is the correct answer Option rhymes with cold Option cool is similar to cold, but to a

lesser degree Option is a synonym o mold Option is an antonym o cold

. COLD:

mold

cool chilly shape hotE

XAMP

LE


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AnalogiesAnalogies are a comparison between two things that are usually seen as dierent rom each other, but have

some similarities Tey help us understand things by making connections and seeing relationships between

them based on knowledge we already possess Tese types o comparisons play an important role in improvingproblem solving and decision making skills, in perception and memory, communication and reasoning skills

as well as reading and building vocabulary Analogies help students to process inormation actively, make

important decisions and improve understanding and long term memory Considering the relationships

stimulates critical and creative thinking Tese questions require the student to demonstrate understanding o

both nuances in word meanings and word relationships

There are Different Categories of Analogies:

Opposites or antonyms: up is to down as short is to tall

Synonyms or words with identical or similar meanings: big is to large as little is to small

Characteristic: pillow is to so as blanket is to warm

Part to whole: trunk is to tree as stem is to fower

Uses: broom is to sweep as pencil is to write

Users: hammer is to carpenter as brush is to painter

Category: robin is to bird as shark is to sh

Product to Producer: poem is to poet as sculptor is to statue

Degree: snow is to blizzard as rain is to hurricane

Homonyms: our is to or as see is to sea


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Option is the correct answer he relationship is ohomonyms All o the other options are rhymes, not

homonyms

Te correct answer is Te relationship is part to whole and a month is a part o a year Option is incorrect

because a cow produces milk Option is incorrect because man and woman are opposites Option is wrong

because the two words sound similar to the stem, but have no connection Option is a similar relationship

but is going in the other direction (a week has a day in it, instead o day being a part o a week)

How are the Analogy Questions Presented on the Test?Te classic approach to guring out analogies is the bridge sentence Te student looks at the question pair,

below it is minute is to hour, and decides what the connection is between the two words In the example

below, the connection is part to whole so the bridge sentence might be a minute is part o an hour Ten, the

student looks at the options and turns them into the same bridge sentence Tat sentence, men is part o our

doesnt make sense, so it is clearly not the answer Te student keeps going until the sentence works

. Minute is to hour as

men is to our week is to day cow is to milk month is to year man is to womanE

XAMPLE

. Bare is to bear as pause it to

jaws laws caws paws causeE

XAMPLE


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The Third-Grade Test: Reading SectionTe Reading section o the third grade test

consists o seven short, grade-level appropriate

passages, each with our multiple-choice questionsassociated with it Tese passages may include

prose and poetry, ction and non-ction rom

diverse cultures Students are asked to locate

inormation and nd meaning by skimming and

close reading Tey are also asked to demonstrate literal, inerential, and evaluative comprehension o a variety

o printed materials Questions ask the reader to show understanding o key ideas and details to determine the

main idea o the text Additionally, they ask the reader to determine the meaning o words and phrases as they

are used in a text, distinguishing literal rom nonliteral language

How are the Reading Questions Presented on the Test?

EXAMPLE

. In line , the word molts can be replaced by

dies ies rests sheds hatches

Option sheds is the correct answer Te word is explained by the second clause o the sentence Option is not mentioned in the text Options , , and are all verbs used in other stages o the lie cycle o the

butterfy Tis question asks the student to show understanding o the meaning o words and phrases as they

are used in a text


Scored section: YesTime allotted: 30 minutes

Line 5

Butteries go through a complete metamorphosis in ourdierent lie stages. Te buttery starts its lie as an egg. It hatchesrom an egg as a caterpillar. While it is in its larva stage, it constantlyeats leaves or owers. Te caterpillar molts many times as it grows,losing its old skin again and again. Te caterpillar turns into achrysalis. It rests while it is in this stage. Finally, a beautiul, ready-

to-y adult buttery emerges.


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. Te main point o the passage is that butteries

are beautiul are the same as a caterpillar eat a lot o leaves and owers

cannot y until they are ully grown change completely in each stage o lie

Option is correct Te remaining options are all true but clearly are not the main point o the passage Tis

question asks the student to show understanding o key ideas and details to determine the main idea o the text


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Te Writing Sample gives the student a chance to

express him/hersel through written response to

a picture prompt Te student is asked to look ata picture and tell a story about what is happening

and to be sure his/her story includes a beginning,

a middle, and an end Tis writing sample is not

graded but a copy is provided to the school

Look at the picture and tell a story about what happened Make sure your story includes a beginning, a middle,

and an end

The Third-Grade Test: Writing Sample

How is the Writing Sample Presented on the Test?

Number of prompts: 1

Scored section: NoTime allotted: 15 minutes


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Elementary SSAT ScoringYour childs Elementary SSA score report will contain the ollowing inormation:

Number of Items:Te number o items in the content sections and subsections

Number Correct: Te number o correct answers or the content sections and subsections

Percent Correct: Te percentage o correct answers or the content sections and subsections

Scale Score: A score which has a range o values rom 300 to 00 Te mean value o the content sections scale

scores is 50

Scale Score Percentile Rank: Te scale score percentile rank is a score which has values rom 1 to 99 It

compares perormance to other students taking the same examination

Total Scale Score: Te total scale score is the sum o the scale scores or the Quantitative, Verbal, and Reading

Sections It has a low value o 900, a high value o 100, and a mean o 1350

Reporting ServicesA ree copy o your childs score report will be available online via your SSA account For an additional ee,

SSA will report scores by mail ($0) or FedEx ($35) In addition, amilies can receive a text alerting them to

score report availability ($0) and purchase the student's writing sample ($0) Scores are generally available

within three business days o receipt o the testing materials at the SSA oces


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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do schools use my child's scores?

Schools use your childs scores in dierent waysto estimate your childs ability to do work in a private school,

to compare your childs perormance with other applicants or admission, and/or to compare the test score with

your childs present academic record Each school evaluates a childs scores according to its own standards and

requirements Specic questions about how test scores are used in the admission process should be directed

to the schools admission ocer

Are special testing accommodations, such as extra time, available for the Elementary SSAT?

Yes, amilies who can provide school documentation veriying that their child routinely receives specia

accommodations in his/her current academic setting may apply or special accommodations I you intend to

apply or special accommodations, be sure that the test site you choose has special accommodations seating

capacityHow many times can my child take the Elementary SSAT?

Your child may take the Tird Grade SSA once during the testing year (August 1- July 31)

Are snacks or drinks allowed on the day of the test?

Yes, your child may bring snacks and beverages or consumption during the break Snacks and beverages must

be in a clear plastic bag and may not be consumed during testing

Can my child use the restroom during the test?

A 15-minute break is provided during the test or trips to restroom A child may raise his/her hand to use therestroom at any time during the test, but the child may not make up the missed testing time

Should my child guess if he/she doesnt know the answer?

Encourage your child to try to answer every question, making his/her best guesses about the questions o

which he/she is unsure Tere are no penalties or wrong answers

How do I report my childs scores to schools?

You may indicate the schools -digit SSA code at the time o test registration, or you may wait to receive your

childs scores beore designating score recipients through your childs online SSA account

Are fee waivers available for the Elementary SSAT?

Yes, you may request a ee waiver rom the school to which you are applying, i you are unable to pay the test

ee due to economic hardship A ee waiver covers the cost o the test only and can be used in lieu o a credit

card during test registration


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Helpful TipsTe best way to help your child prepare or the Elementary Level SSA is to review the test ormat beorehand,

including layout, structure, instructions, and time allotment Looking at practice questions together is an

excellent way to demystiy the process

In the days leading up to the test, be sure that your child gets adequate rest Provide a healthy breakast on the

test day and encourage your child to bring a break-time snack and drink

Be careul not to add unnecessary stress While its always important to encourage your child to do his/her best

work, dont overemphasize the importance o the test

Be sure to remind your child to listen careully to the test administrator, who will provide all the instructions

he/she needs to take the test successully

I your child is sick on testing day, you have up to one week aer the scheduled test date to book a seat or

another test date (i available) A change ee applies

Contact SSATI you need assistance or have additional questions, please call us Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to :30 pm ES at

09-3-0, email us at ino@ssatorg, or chat with us via wwwssatorg


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Sample Test QuestionsTese practice tests are provided to give you and your child a specic look at the types o questions that will

appear on the test It is also ormatted exactly as the real test book will appear to your child on test day Note

that your child will mark answers directly in the test book by lling in the circle next to his/her answer choicePlease note that this is not the same length of the actual SSA Tird grade test.


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. 9 =

8 9

. Veronica and Sam ound 8 pebbles to use in their aquarium tanks. Tey place o the pebbles in the tadpole

tank. How many do they have let to put into their salamander tank?

. On a map, inch represents miles. I I measure inches on the map, how ar is that in miles?

miles miles miles miles miles

A C D E

= _____ 9

Sample Question:

SECTION 1

15 Practice Questions

Following each problem in this section, there are ve suggested answers. Select the best answer rom the ve choices.

You may use the blank space provided to solve the problem.


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. I one banana weighs 8 ounces, how much do bananas weigh?

ounces ounces ounces

ounces ounces

. A box holds 8 chocolate candies. How many boxes are needed to hold chocolate candies?

8

. 8 = 8 ,9 , ,8 8,9

. Which is the largest raction?

12

13

15

110

1100

8. 24

+ 512

7

24 614

716

712

1112


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9. Sams birthday is weeks and days rom today. I today is January nd, on what day is Sams birthday?

January 9 January January

January 8 January

. Find the perimeter or the shape.

. Lily wants to buy a notebook that costs $.. She only has $.. Which coins could you give Lily so she wouldhave exactly$.?

nickel quarters and nickel quarters and dimes quarters and nickel

quarters, dime, and nickel

. Omar and Zahir have paperclips in their collection. Tey traded 9 o their paperclips to their sister or pencils. How many paperclips do the boys have now?

8

8

8


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. What is the total number o cupcakes sold on Day and Day ?

. What was the average temperature in these ve cities on November ?

9 8

. + =

Temperature on November 1

Miami

Atlanta 82

90

Seattle 65

Portland 63

Chicago 45


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SECTION 2

14 Practice QuestionsSynonymsEach o the ollowing questions consists o one word ollowed by ve words or phrases. You are to select the one word or

phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

. DIFFICUL:

sot hard light gentle simple

. FRANIC:

inerior worried reluctant paranoid depressed

. FRIGHFUL:

horrible deceitul vengeul shameul spectacular

. BRIEF:

hide long short secret manuscript

. ADMIRE:

crave pretty desire delight appreciate

. UNUSUAL:

bad native regular abnormal appropriate

. EDI:

reuse revise reduce reeree redene

Sample Question:SLEEPY: perky ast tired sad hungry


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AnalogiesTe ollowing questions ask you to nd relationships between words. For each question, select the answerchoice that best completes the meaning o the sentence.

Choice is the best answer because a book is written by an author, just as a song is written by a composer.O all the answer choices, states a relationship that is most like the relationship between book and author

8. Listen is to music as

ball is to bat choir is to sing oor is to mop read is to book laundry is to wash

9. Wheat is to bread as milk is to

cow goat drink

white cheese

. Happy is to sad as

up is to top hop is to pop run is to skip talk is to chat laugh is to cry

. Sun is to hot as ice is to

cold

snow cubes skating slippery

. Blue is to color as

human is to hair pillow is to sleep ower is to grass paper is to pencil rabbit is to animal

. Pane is to pain as weigh is to

ton way scale

weight pounds

. Find is to lose as build is to

wood create misplace demolish materials

Sample Question: Book is to author as

clay is to sculptor

hammer is to carpenter

song is to composer

script is to actor

microphone is to singer


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. Why does the author say he gets up at night in thewinter?

He goes to night school. In the winter, its warmer at night.

He works an overnight shit in a actory. In the winter, it is still dark in the morning. His mother sleeps all day because o her job.

. We can assume that the poem was not writtenrecently because

the sky is still clear and blue he has to dress by candlelight his parents make him go to bed early the author can hear people in the street there are birds on the trees outside o his

window

. Why does the author have to go to bed when hethinks its still day?

He isnt allowed to play with the people who arestill outside.

He has to get up very, very early the nextmorning. He has misbehaved and is put to bed early. It is evening though not yet dark. He has been sick.

. Te author is unhappy about when he goes to bed inthe summer because

he isnt tired he wants to play he wants to catch birds he cant sleep unless its dark

the people walking outside keep him awake

SECTION 3

12 Practice Questions

Read each passage careully and then answer the questions about it For each question, decide on the basis o

the passage which one o the choices best answers the question

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In Winter I get up at nightAnd dress by yellow candle light.In Summer, quite the other way,I have to go to bed by day.I have to go to bed and seeTe birds still hopping on the tree,Or hear the grown-up peoples eetStill going past me in the street.And does it not seem hard to you,When all the sky is clear and blue,And I should like so much to play,o have to go to bed by day?


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. What did the king want the millers daughter to do? spin the straw into gold hand over the necklace ll the room with straw

make the little man vanish stop the little man rom crying

. Te word that best describes the king is

mean tricky boring severe sneaky

. Te girl was crying because she

was alone in the room could not unlock the door could not see the little man

wanted to keep her necklace could not turn straw into gold

8. What does the word vanished mean? disappeared

nished

helped

called

cried

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When the girl was brought to the king, he led her into a roomthat was entirely lled with straw. Giving her a spinning wheel, hesaid, Get to work now. I by morning you have not spun this straw

into gold, then you will have to go and live in the tower. Ten helocked the room, and she was there all alone.Te poor millers daughter sat there. She had no idea how

to spin straw into gold. She began to cry.Ten suddenly the door opened. A little man stepped inside

and said, Good evening, why are you crying so?Oh, answered the girl, I am supposed to spin straw into

gold, and I do not know how to do it.Te little man said, What will you give me i I spin it or you?My necklace, said the girl.Te little man took the necklace, sat down beore the spinning

wheel, and whir, whir, whir, three times pulled, and the spool was ull.So it went until morning, and then all the straw was spun, and all thespools were lled with gold, and the little man had vanished.


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Five cents doesnt buy you much these days, but the 9Liberty Head nickel is worth a ortune. Just ask the amily oGeorge Walton.

A month ater Paul Montgomery, a coin collector in NewHampshire, oered a $ million reward or the 9 Liberty Headnickelone o the rarest American coinsthe Walton amily cameorward and said that they thought they owned one.

Te amily had put the coin away ater Waltons death in 9,believing the nickel was worthless. But ater learning o the oer, theamily decided to see i their nickel was genuine. Experts determinedit was.

Te story o the Liberty Head nickel began in 88. Tatswhen the U.S. Mint began producing the coins. In 9, the mintreplaced the Liberty Head nickel with the Indian Head, or Bualo,nickel. But in 9, someone-probably an employee o the U.S.Mintillegally minted ve additional Liberty Head coins.

wo o the rare 9 nickels are now owned by coin collectors,and two others are in a museum. What happened to the th oneremained a mystery until now.

Its been missing or so long, said coin dealer JohnDannreuther. People would say there are only our, but we knewthere were ve. And there it is.

9. Te main idea o this passage is

people like to collect coins the U.S. Mint makes coins with pictures ve extra 9 Liberty Head nickels were made the th 9 Liberty Head nickel is ound coin collectors oer a lot o money or rare coins

. I someone illegally made ve 9 Liberty Headnickels, they made them

or government ofcials

as examples or museums to sell only to coin collectors at the request o the U.S. Mint without permission o the law

. According to the passage, another name or theIndian Head nickel is the

9 nickel Walton nickel Bualo nickel Liberty Head nickel Dannreuther nickel

. In the last paragraph o the passage, we can assumethat John Dannreuther eels

tired pleased

uncertain thoughtul disappointed


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SECTION 4Writing Sample

Look at the picture and tell a story about what happened. Make sure your story includes a beginning, amiddle, and an end.


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Section Item Number Answer

Section 1: Quantitative . B. A

. E. D. D. C. A8. E9. D. C. D. A. B

.D

. C

Section : Verbal . B. B. A. C. E. D. B8. D9. E

. E. A. E. B. D

Section 3: Reading . D. B. D. B. A

. A. E8. A9. E. E. C. B

Third Grade ElementarySample TestAnswer Key


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Test Day ChecklistArrive at the test site approximately 30 minutes before the exam to allow for student

check-in.

Have your childs admission ticket in hand to allow for fast entry to the test site.Review the Test Irregularity Policies (included with the admission ticket) to inform your-

self of possible unusual circumstances and outcomes.

Remind your child to follow the proctors instructions on where to go and sit.Remind your child to listen carefully to the proctors instructions as the exam begins

and throughout the test.

Check with the proctor what time to return to pick up your child. Please remember noparents are allowed in the testing room.

What to Bring SSAT Admission Ticket

Several (at least 3) sharpened #2 pencils

A good eraser

Snacks and beverages for breaks (in a clear bag)

Special accommodations documents (if necessary)

What NOT to Bring Cell phones

Dictionaries/Books

Calculators (including watches) Computers or tablets

Backpacks

Toys or stuffed animals

iPad

08-13


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officialguidetoelementary3rdgradetest13-14updatedtext.pdf

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