Updated July 20, 2024

SSAT Practice Questions

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s SSAT Practice Question Bank

Applying to private elementary, middle, or high schools? If so, there’s a good chance you’ll have to take the SSAT (and do well on it!) as part of your application process.

If you’re dead-set on a high SSAT score, then you likely already know that you’ll need to do some serious test prep to be ready for the test. Unfortunately, there aren’t many high quality SSAT Practice Questions out there.

The good news is that PrepMaven has spent the last twenty years guiding countless students through the SSAT prep process, and we’ve developed a winning approach to preparing for this test.

In this post, we’ll use that experience to provide you with a sampling of high-quality SSAT-style practice questions. Plus, we’ll give you access to our complete bank of SSAT practice questions for free–all you have to do is click the link below.

Jump to section:
Official SSAT Practice
PrepMaven’s SSAT Practice Questions
10 Upper Level SSAT Verbal Practice Questions
20 Upper Level SSAT Math Practice Questions
5 Upper Level SSAT Reading Practice Questions
12 SSAT Writing Prompts
Next steps

Official SSAT Practice

Our expert tutors always recommend using official SSAT resources when possible, and the SSAT website is a great place to start your SSAT prep journey.

However, the truth is that the official resources available will not be enough for most students serious about prepping for a top score.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can get through the SSAT website with a yearly subscription fee of $80:

A mini SSAT practice test (free)
4 full-length practice tests
15 section tests
50+ Quizzes

These are fantastic resources, but they should be used sparingly.

Most students should take around 3 months to prep for their first SSAT sitting. If you think about splitting all those resources across 3 months or more, then it’s clear that there really isn’t a ton of material to work with.

That being said, we do recommend every student serious about the SSAT get access to the official materials. They’re simply going to be closer to the real thing than what you get from most resources online.

PrepMaven’s SSAT Practice Questions

Below, we’ll provide you a sampling of SSAT practice questions for all sections, totally free. And, even more importantly, we’ll give you access to a large bank of these practice questions via free download.

You might be wondering why we’re making these resources free when so many other companies expect you to pay for them.

A few reasons.

First, because we’ve been coaching students through SSAT prep for over two decades, and over that time we’ve become frustrated with the expensive, low-quality material out there.

When writing our free comprehensive guide to available SSAT prep resources and practice, we noticed how few of the resources out there actually provide realistic and free SSAT practice questions.

There are great vocabulary builders and math practice out there, but those don’t mimic the actual structure and style of the SSAT. We decided to change that.

So, are we doing this totally from the goodness of our heart?

Well… not only. We also hope that once you see the high quality of these free resources, you’ll consider taking the next step and working with one of our expert SSAT tutors.

There’s no pressure, of course. But in the last 20 years, one thing has become absolutely clear to us: a student’s ability to improve on the SSAT is closely correlated to the quality of test prep instruction they receive.

So, feel free to use the practice questions below to start getting ready for the SSAT. Then, when you’re ready to maximize your score potential, schedule a free test-prep consultation with us.

10 Upper Level SSAT Verbal Practice Questions

The SSAT Verbal section is split into two question types: Analogies and Synonyms. Below, you’ll find 5 multiple choice sample questions for each type, ranging in difficulty.

Here are 5 Sample SSAT Synonym questions:

1. LOQUACIOUS

A) silent

B) talkative

C) shy

D) grumpy

E) tired

2. VIGOROUS

A) weak

B) energetic

C) lazy

D) tired

E) dull

3. DESTITUTE

A) wealthy

B) poor

C) fortunate

D) educated

E) happy

4. TRANQUIL

A) chaotic

B) busy

C) peaceful

D) noisy

E) disturbed

5. PRECARIOUS

A) safe

B) secure

C) unstable

D) boring

E) confident

Synonym Questions Answers:

Now that you’ve given synonyms a shot, do your best with the following SSAT Analogy practice questions:

Ant is to colony as
- A) word is to punctuation
- B) fish is to pond
- C) star is to constellation
- D) cell is to jail
- E) note is to symphony

Carpenter is to hammer as
- A) chef is to knife
- B) writer is to bookstore
- C) teacher is to classroom
- D) artist is to painting
- E) pilot is to airplane

Brilliant is to dim as
- A) big is to huge
- B) fast is to slow
- C) soft is to smooth
- D) rough is to scratch
- E) dry is to arid

Architect is to blueprint as
- A) sailor is to ship
- B) musician is to song
- C) gardener is to plants
- D) doctor is to patient
- E) baker is to recipe

Cacophony is to noise as
- A) tranquility is to peace
- B) joy is to sorrow
- C) light is to dark
- D) heat is to cold
- E) chaos is to order

Analogy Practice Question Answers:

Want more help with the famously tricky SSAT Verbal section? Check out these free expert tips, get paired with one of our tutors, or get more questions like these for free below!

20 Upper Level SSAT Math Practice Questions

The SSAT Math section covers a wide range of topics, which you can read more about here. Broadly, you can expect to see questions on:

Algebra
Computation
Geometry
Number sense
Pre-algebra
Statistics and probability

Below, you’ll find a series of sample questions for each area. You can find many more questions like these in our free SSAT Practice Question Bank .

Algebra

Below are 5 Sample SSAT Algebra Questions. See how you do, then feel free to download our complete collection of sample SSAT questions below!

1) Maria earns a base hourly rate of $10 per hour at her job. However, if she works more than 8 hours in a day, she earns $12 per hour for each hour she works after the first 8 hours. How much money does Maria earn if she works 12 hours in one day?

A) $120
B) $124
C) $128
D) $132
E) $136

2) Which of the following is a possible value of x for which x(x – 5) = 0?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 5
D) 7

3) Two numbers whose sum is 60 have a difference of 10. What is the smaller of these two numbers?

A) 20
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35
E) 40

4) The product of 2m and 3 less than m equals 8. Which of the following could be a value for m?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

5) There are 25 girls and 15 boys in a class. In the class, 3/5 of the girls brought lunch from home and 2/3 of the boys brought lunch from home. How many more girls than boys brought lunch from home?

A) 5
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
E) 14

Algebra Answers:

Geometry

1) If the perimeter of a rectangle is 50 meters and the width is 12 meters, what is the length?

A) 6 meters
B) 8 meters
C) 13 meters
D) 14 meters
E) 15 meters

2) A rectangle has a length of 20 centimeters and a width of 9 centimeters. What is the area of the rectangle?

A) 180 square cm
B) 190 square cm
C) 200 square cm
D) 210 square cm
E) 220 square cm

3) The diameter of a circle is 18 inches. What is the circumference, in inches, of the circle?

A) 18π
B) 36π
C) 27π
D) 45π
E) 54π

4) The perimeter of a pentagon is 35 units. If the length of each side of the figure is increased by 3 units, what is the perimeter of the new figure?

A) 40 units
B) 45 units
C) 50 units
D) 55 units
E) 60 units

5) If the volume of a rectangular prism is 240 cubic cm, and the dimensions are 8 cm by 5 cm, what is the height of the prism?

A) 5 cm
B) 6 cm
C) 7 cm
D) 8 cm
E) 9 cm

Geometry Answers:

Get more questions like these for free below!

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Number sense and Operations

1) If 7+5𝑥=37 what is the value of x?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
E) 8

2) The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 54. What is the middle number?

A) 16
B) 18
C) 20
D) 22
E) 24

3) What is the greatest common factor (GCF) of 54 and 72?

A) 6
B) 9
C) 12
D) 18
E) 24

4) The product of two numbers is 48 and their sum is 14. What are the numbers?

A) 4 and 12
B) 6 and 8
C) 2 and 24
D) 3 and 16
E) 7 and 8

5) If the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12 is x, what is x?

A) 16
B) 24
C) 32
D) 36
E) 48

Number Sense and Operations Answers

Data Analysis

1) If the mean of 5 consecutive whole numbers is 25, what is the smallest of these six numbers?

A) 22
B) 23
C) 24
D) 25
E) 26

2) The average score of five tests is 78. The scores of the first three tests are 74, 82, and 76. What is the average score of the last two tests?

A) 78
B) 79
C) 82
D) 84
E) 86

3) The distances (in miles) that eight friends travel to meet are 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25. What is the median distance traveled?

A) 17
B) 18
C) 19
D) 20
E) 21

4) If the average (arithmetic mean) of the numbers p and q is 45, which of the following must be true?

A) p+q=45
B) p=q
C) p+q=90
D) p−q=45
E) p×q=2025

5) Which of the following must be true if two numbers, a and b, have a mean of 30 and b is less than a?

A) a=30
B) b=30
C) a<30
D) b>30
E) a>30

Data Analysis Answers

Get more questions like these for free below!

5 Upper Level SSAT Reading Practice Questions

The upper-level SSAT Reading section will present you with a series of passages and ask you to answer multiple choice questions on each one.

Below, we’ve offered a sample SSAT Reading passage and a series of realistic SSAT-style questions. As with the real SSAT, you’ll have five answer options for each question, with four wrong answers and one correct answer.

(1) In the late 19th century, the bustling city of New York was rapidly evolving into a cultural and industrial hub. Amidst this transformation, a wave of immigrants from diverse backgrounds arrived, each bringing their own unique traditions and perspectives. The convergence of different cultures resulted in a vibrant and dynamic society, where innovation and creativity flourished.

(6) Art and literature particularly thrived in this environment. The Harlem Renaissance, for instance, was a remarkable period during which African American artists and writers made significant contributions to American culture. This movement not only produced extraordinary works of art but also challenged the prevailing racial stereotypes and advocated for civil rights.

(11) Meanwhile, the city’s architecture was undergoing a radical change. Skyscrapers began to dominate the skyline, symbolizing the economic power and modernity of New York. Innovations in construction techniques and materials allowed for buildings to reach unprecedented heights. The iconic Flatiron Building, completed in 1902, became a symbol of New York’s architectural ingenuity and remains a beloved landmark to this day.

Questions for Passage #1

The primary focus of the passage is

A) the technological advancements in 19th century New York
B) the cultural and industrial evolution of New York City
C) the impact of immigration on New York’s economy
D) the history of the Flatiron Building
E) the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance is described as a period when

A) racial stereotypes were reinforced
B) African American cultural contributions were highlighted
C) New architectural styles were introduced
D) New York’s economy significantly declined
E) immigration rates were at their lowest

As used in the line 4, the word “convergence” most likely means

A) separation
B) unity
C) decline
D) expansion
E) mixture

The author’s tone in describing the architectural developments in New York can best be described as

A) critical
B) indifferent
C) admiring
D) nostalgic
E) skeptical

The purpose of mentioning the Flatiron Building is to

A) highlight a famous landmark in New York
B) emphasize the role of immigrants in construction
C) illustrate the advancements in building techniques
D) discuss the economic power of New York
E) describe the residential areas of the city

Reading Answers:

Want more resources? Check out our 6 expert SSAT Reading Strategies, contact our test prep experts, and get more questions like these for free below!

12 SSAT Writing Prompts

While it’s not scored, the SSAT Writing section is still something you should prepare for. Your SSAT writing sample will be sent directly to the independent schools you set as score recipients, so they’ll be reading exactly what you wrote.

That means it’s good to get a bit of practice in with this section before the real test. Check out our 16 tips for a great writing sample here!

Below, we’ve offered some 6 Sample SSAT Writing prompts. On the real SSAT, you’d have two pages and 25 minutes to write your response.

4 SSAT Creative Prompts (Middle Level SSAT)

As the sun set, the forest came alive with…
She couldn’t believe her eyes when she found…
In the quiet of the night, he heard a faint whisper…
The old house on the hill was rumored to be…

4 SSAT Personal Prompts (Middle and Upper Level SSAT)

Describe a time when you helped someone else. What did you learn from the experience?
How do you define happiness? What brings you the most joy in life?
What role does technology play in your life? How has it influenced you?
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would it be and why?

4 SSAT General Prompts (Upper Level SSAT)

Is it ever acceptable to lie? Explain your perspective.
Should professional athletes be considered role models? Why or why not?
What can we learn from historical events to improve our future?
What are the benefits of traveling to new places?

For more SSAT Writing Sample prompts, as well as Math, Reading, and Verbal practice, download our free SSAT Practice Question bank below!

Next Steps

If the private school of your dreams considers or requires SSAT scores, then you should do everything possible to earn an impressive one.

That starts with familiarizing yourself with the test and getting lots of high quality practice with resources like the ones in this post.

But your success on the SSAT also depends on making sure you’re using all these resources in the most effective way.

That’s why we see students improve so dramatically when working with one of our SSAT test-prep experts. Our SSAT tutors won’t just teach you the content: they’ll make sure that every hour you spend prepping is more efficiently spent, helping you maximize your score.

You can schedule a free test-prep consultation with our team here. And, of course, you can download our extensive bank of SSAT practice questions free below!

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Mike Kleynman is an expert test prep tutor (SAT/ACT/LSAT) and college essay consultant, with over a decade of experience and industry-leading results.

With average final scores of 34+ on the ACT and 1500+ on the SAT, nearly all of Mike’s test prep students score in the top percentiles. They also routinely earn admission to the most selective universities: just last year, Mike had students accepted to Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, UC Berkeley, USC, and Carnegie Mellon. The average final LSAT score of his students is over 172, and his law school application coaching students have been accepted to Harvard, Yale, and Columbia Law.

Mike holds a PhD in English from Duke University.