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It explains the test-optional trend and the post-pandemic shift toward reinstated testing, advising families to verify current school policies. The newsletter details SSAT’s admissions role, preparation approach, writing/verbal/reading/quantitative structure, and scoring strategy, then covers flex and national test dates, retake benefits, and CSS Character Skills Snapshot basics, plus practical test-day guidance.",{"@graph":69,"@context":126},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/october-november-2025-placement-newsletter-snapshot-ssat-test-guidance/272882/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/october-november-2025-placement-newsletter-snapshot-ssat-test-guidance/272882.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Bulrr","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-20","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118,122],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"How should families evaluate whether a school is test-optional?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The newsletter notes that many schools reinstated required testing after the pandemic because it provides an additional metric for predicting academic success. It advises cross-referencing the information with each school’s website since last-minute changes can occur.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What does the SSAT measure and which parts are included in the test structure?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The SSAT measures reasoning and fluid thinking rather than specific learned knowledge. It includes a 25-minute writing sample, a 30-minute verbal section, a 40-minute reading comprehension section, and two 30-minute quantitative sections covering general math and algebra/geometry.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How does SSAT scoring work and what strategy is recommended if unsure?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Correct answers receive +1 point, skipped questions are 0 points, and incorrect answers are -0.25 points. The guidance recommends guessing after eliminating some answer choices, and notes that skipping is better than guessing without elimination.",{"name":123,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":124},"What is the Character Skills Snapshot (CSS) and how do families access or share it?",{"text":125,"@type":113},"CSS is a 20–30 minute online assessment of character skills offered alongside the SSAT. It is free with SSAT registration, and parents can choose whether to release CSS results to RCS or other schools.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":128,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":130,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":132,"site_id":62},272882,1789468344,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":135},{"doc_id":132,"user_id":136,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":39,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":143,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":144,"faqs":145,"seo_title":146,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":133,"read_time":39},5909892115043,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","October/ November 2025 Placement Newsletter “Snapshot”General Updates  \n● New Placement Newsletter for October 2025 now available.  \n● Access all archived newsletters and snapshots on the Placement Page.  \n● Contact Ridley Sperling at [sperling@rcsny.org](sperling@rcsny.org) or schedule a meeting via Calendly.  \nStandardized Testing and the Test-Optional Trend  \n● Test-Optional Trend: During the pandemic, many schools, particularly boarding schools, became “test-optional” due to testing restrictions.  \n● Post-Pandemic Shift: While some schools remain test-optional, many have reinstated required testing as it offers an additional metric to predict academic success.  \n● Check out this document to see which schools are test-optional. Be sure, also, to cross-reference this information on a school’s website as last-minute changes can and do occur.  \n● School-Specific Decisions: Decisions about requiring the SSAT are particular to each school. Always verify with each institution .  \n\n| SSAT’s Role in Admissions\u003Cbr>● Not the Only Criterion: The SSAT is one aspect of the application process but does not outweigh other factors.\u003Cbr>● Evaluation of Thinking: It measures reasoning and fluid thinking rather than specific knowledge. |\n| --- |\n| Preparing for the SSAT\u003Cbr>● Familiarity with Test Structure: Practice with the test’s format and time-management strategies is important.\u003Cbr>● Reasoning Over Knowledge: The SSAT evaluates how well students think on the spot, not what they’ve already learned.\u003Cbr>● Recommended Preparation: Familiarize with the types of questions, but do not expect to master the test like a classroom assessment. |\n\nSSAT Test Structure  \n● 25-minute Writing sample  \n○ Students choose one of two prompts.  \n○ Purpose: Admissions offices evaluate grammar, logical organization, creative thinking, and vocabulary through this sample.  \n○ Scoring: The writing sample is unscored, but it serves as a key indicator of a student’s writing style.  \n● 30-minute Verbal section: Includes synonyms and analogies.  \n● 40-minute Reading Comprehension section: Assesses the ability to understand and analyze reading passages.  \n● Two 30-minute Quantitative Sections: One focuses on general math skills, the other on algebra/geometry.  \n\n| SSAT Scoring System\u003Cbr>● Scoring: Correct answers = + 1 point, skipped questions = 0 points, incorrect answers = -0.25 points.\u003Cbr>● Strategy: If unsure, guess after eliminating some answers. Skipping is better than guessing without any elimination . |\n| --- |\n| Test Dates and Registration\u003Cbr>● Flex Test: RCS will administer a “Flex test” on November 11, 2025, for eight h and ninth graders ( RCS handles registration and payment) .\u003Cbr>● RCS hosts the SSAT on two national Test Dates: December 13, 2025, and January 3, 2026 ( registration and payment are the responsibility of the family) . |\n| Taking SSAT Multiple Times\u003Cbr>● Benefit of Retaking: Taking the test more than once (if possible) is recommended, as a second (or third) sitting may improve scores, especially before application deadlines. |\n\nSSAT vs. ISEE  \n● RCS Preference: RCS supports the SSAT because it is accepted by both boarding and day schools, and thus can be a fit for all RCS students applying to secondary schools, while ISEE is typically for day schools only, and applies to a more limited cohort.  \n● Guidance Available: The Placement Office can discuss differences between the two tests and help guide families in making the best decision .  \n\n| Character Skills Snapshot (CSS)\u003Cbr>● What It Is: A 20-30 minute online assessment of a student’s character skills, offered alongside the SSAT.\u003Cbr>● Usefulness: Provides admissions teams with a more holistic view of the student’straits and preferences.\u003Cbr>● Cost: Free with SSAT registration .\u003Cbr>● Optional Sharing: Parents can choose to release CSS results to RCS or other schools. |\n| --- |\n| Test Preparation Advice\u003Cbr>● Avoid Cramming: This is not a test that rewards last-minute studying. Stick with your chos","cbCaii3pjBkv6iEo","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaii3pjBkv6iEo","pdf",122776,"English","# General Updates\n# Standardized Testing and the Test-Optional Trend\n# SSAT’s Role in Admissions\n# Preparing for the SSAT\n# SSAT Test Structure\n# SSAT Scoring System\n# Test Dates and Registration\n# Taking SSAT Multiple Times\n# SSAT vs. ISEE\n# Character Skills Snapshot (CSS)\n# Test Preparation Advice\n# Test Day Tips","[{\"question\":\"How should families evaluate whether a school is test-optional?\",\"answer\":\"The newsletter notes that many schools reinstated required testing after the pandemic because it provides an additional metric for predicting academic success. It advises cross-referencing the information with each school’s website since last-minute changes can occur.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the SSAT measure and which parts are included in the test structure?\",\"answer\":\"The SSAT measures reasoning and fluid thinking rather than specific learned knowledge. It includes a 25-minute writing sample, a 30-minute verbal section, a 40-minute reading comprehension section, and two 30-minute quantitative sections covering general math and algebra/geometry.\"},{\"question\":\"How does SSAT scoring work and what strategy is recommended if unsure?\",\"answer\":\"Correct answers receive +1 point, skipped questions are 0 points, and incorrect answers are -0.25 points. The guidance recommends guessing after eliminating some answer choices, and notes that skipping is better than guessing without elimination.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the Character Skills Snapshot (CSS) and how do families access or share it?\",\"answer\":\"CSS is a 20–30 minute online assessment of character skills offered alongside the SSAT. It is free with SSAT registration, and parents can choose whether to release CSS results to RCS or other schools.\"}]","October - November 2025 Placement Newsletter Snapshot - SSAT Test Guidance | PDF"]