SSAT Test Dates (2025–2026)
Find upcoming SSAT dates, compare testing formats, and plan a prep schedule that fits your timeline. If you’re on a deadline, start with the “Next available SSAT date” card and work backwards.
- ✓Diagnostic + score goals (so prep is focused, not generic).
- ✓Timed section drills + pacing strategy (the biggest SSAT differentiator).
- ✓2–3 full practice tests with deep review + next-step plan.
- ✓Format guidance (paper vs at-home vs Prometric) based on your learner.
Quick answers families search
Fast, direct answers for planning and search visibility.
Testing formats to know
Confirm accepted formats with your target schools.
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Standard Paper (test center): fixed national dates.
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SSAT at Home: more official weekend options.
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Prometric (computer-based): depends on local seat availability.
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Flex Paper: offered by some schools (varies by school).
SSAT score ranges (quick context)
Targets vary by school—this is a planning lens, not a guarantee.
Builds confidence while you stabilize pacing and reduce mistakes.
Strong performance when paired with grades, teacher recs, and fit.
Often where selective programs see consistent applicant strength.
Standard Paper SSAT dates
Fixed dates; availability varies by test center.
| Test date | Status | Levels | Suggested prep start | Notes |
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SSAT at Home dates
More date options; schedule early for best availability.
| Test date | Status | Month | Suggested prep start | Planning note |
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Pick your date, then plan backwards
A simple checklist that makes the next few weeks feel clear.
Verify accepted format(s) and score-use expectations for your target schools.
Plan 2–3 timed sessions per week + full practice tests and review.
Match the day/time window, reduce surprises, and lock in pacing.
Prep timeline (simple + effective)
A practical plan families can follow without overcomplicating it.
- Week 1: Diagnostic + goal-setting (priorities by section).
- Weeks 2–5: Strategy + pacing drills (timed sets + deep review).
- Weeks 6–8: Full practice tests + targeted remediation.
- Final week: Light review + confidence reps + logistics check.
SSAT FAQs
Common questions families ask while planning.
What’s the difference between Upper, Middle, and Elementary SSAT?
They’re different test levels based on grade. Always match the SSAT level to your target school’s instructions for the entry grade.
Should we choose paper or at-home?
Choose the format your schools accept and the one your learner can execute best. At-home offers more dates; paper can feel more familiar for some learners.
How early should we register?
Earlier is better—popular dates can fill. Once you pick a date, plan backwards and schedule practice tests on the same day/time window when possible.
Parent stories
What families say after SSAT/ISEE-style prep and structured practice.
“The pacing strategies made the biggest difference — practice tests stopped feeling overwhelming, and the score moved fast once we focused.”
“We finally had a clear plan. Diagnostic → targeted drills → full tests. The structure made prep feel manageable with sports and school.”
“The detailed review after each full practice test was huge. We didn’t just ‘take tests’ — we learned exactly what to fix.”
“Format advice helped us choose the right option and avoid surprises. Everything from timing to breaks was rehearsed.”
Ready to prep for the SSAT?
We’ll help you choose the right format, set a realistic goal, and build a plan that fits school + activities. If you’re on a deadline, start with a diagnostic and we’ll map the fastest path forward.
SSAT Test Dates
Do you know when the next SSAT test is?
| Test Date | Late Registration Begins | Rush Registration Begins | Last Day to Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2025 | October 26, 2025 | November 2, 2025 | November 12, 2025 |
| December 13, 2025 | November 23, 2025 | November 30, 2025 | December 10, 2025 |
| January 3, 2026 | December 14, 2025 | December 21, 2025 | December 31, 2025 |
| January 31, 2026 | January 4, 2026 | January 11, 2026 | January 28, 2026 |
| March 7, 2026 | February 8, 2026 | February 15, 2026 | March 4, 2026 |
When is the SSAT offered?
Below are the dates for 2025-2026.
Registering early is recommended, however the typical registration deadline is approximately 3 weeks in advance.
What is the SSAT?
The SSAT is a 2.5 hour test given to students who seek admission to prep school. There are three levels: Elementary, Middle, and Upper. Upper is for students aiming to matriculate for 9th – 12th grade. Middle is typically for students aiming to matriculate for 6th – 8th grade.
SSAT is created by the “Enrollment Management Association” and contains four sections:
Math –30 minutes
Reading – 40 minutes
Verbal (Synonyms and Analogies) – 30 minutes
Math – 30 minutes.
All students get a break after two sections of testing. Combined with preliminary enlistment requirements, the paper version of the SSAT takes just over 3 hours. An at-home and a “Prometric” version of the SSAT may run less time if a student finishes sections quickly. And a “FLEX” version of SSAT can run more time, and is good for students that have a significant impairment.
When is the best time to take the SAT?
The admission deadline of the schools you are applying should dictate your exam schedule. You must choose a SAT test date that is at least four weeks before the application deadline because you need enough time to receive your scores and send them in.
The SAT is best to take during your junior year. If you have taken all classes that would be covered by the test, then it makes the most sense to jump right in while the knowledge is still fresh! Typically, most high schoolers take the SAT in the spring of their Junior year of Fall of their Senior year.
Once registered, can I change my SSAT dates?
Yes, after registration, you can change your test date, but unless it is for an event that is taking you out of town, it is best to stay with the original date and ADD ANOTHER SSAT date. Even if you have not studied thoroughly or are not feeling well, taking the test for practice has merit. Plus, you might do well enough on ONE SECTION of the SSAT, (the Math, Reading, or Verbal) to post a high 1/3 score that will get "Super-scored" with a high scores on the other two sections on later dates.
Additional Questions
When is the best time to take the SSAT?
The admission deadline of the schools you are applying to has some relevance. But you can take the SSAT well BEFORE the admission deadline. Indeed, some students will test a full 15 – 18 months before their applications will be sent. We encourage you to take the test when you have prepped well and have in practice two high-enough scores to show you are ready to do that or even better on the real test. All other things being equal, testing EARLY is best. More on the advantages of early-to-study-and-early-to-test is at www.ivybound.net.
When is the SSAT offered?
The SSAT is offered nationally four times a year in PAPER version. However, SSAT is offered on MANY dates at Prometric Centers and now even at students’ homes. In both cases, these are electronic materials and electronic entry. There is a final version of SSAT, called a FLEX test, where a proctor can administer a test one-on-one in a more comfortable facility and at a comfortable time. FLEX is only allowed once a year and is typically scheduled with your school.
Registration deadlines are typically four to five weeks in advance of the test date. However, we strongly urge students to register 8 to 10 weeks in advance so that you can be seated at your desired test center and not sent to a distant and unfamiliar test center.
What are the SSAT test dates for international students?
SSAT dates for International students in 2023 are the same test dates as those in the United States. International students typically have fewer opportunities at a given location. Test centers in the US typically offer the SSAT two or three times a year, while SSAT test centers abroad typically offer the test just once or twice a year.
Mature international students often find it beneficial to come to the United States to take the SSAT in the summer. Many will take the ISEE in the U.S. as well. They come to the United States in June and study for the SSAT / ISEE while taking other courses on university campuses. They can then test back at home online when they return from the USA
When should I study for the SSAT? Can it be in the summer?
Yes, though there are no summer SSAT dates for paper-testing, July, August, and early September (technically that's still summer) provide most students far more study time than the school year. The earlier paper-based SSAT is not until October, but since SSAT tests SKILLS, and skills, once learned, tend to stay with you, even minimal study for a few weeks once school resumes should put the assiduous student in a perfect place for testing.
Be on the lookout for home-based testing dates. Most of these occur in the Dec – March period, but these can occur earlier than October and count just as well as a paper-based test score. View www.ssat.org for more info, and https://www.ssat.org/testing/home/overview#test-dates for at-home test dates currently offered.
Are some test dates easier than others?
Many students and parents cogitate and try to plan to take the SSAT on an "easy" test date. They plan based on the rumor that certain dates are "easier" than other test dates.
There is no test date that rewards testing among less-prepared students or punishes testing among well-prepared students. There ARE dates when the average tester is not well prepared. December typically has more students who are poorly prepped than any other date. February and April typically have the best prepped students. But students are not competing against other students on a given date. They are competing against a pre-set "curve". So if you are destined to score 700 – 700 -700, you don't get any more points for scoring this high in February, when the national SAT average is on the low side, than for scoring 700 – 700 - 700 in October when the national SSAT average is higher.
Our advice: take the SSAT when you are most prepared to take the SSAT. All things being equal, take the SSAT early and often.
Does it hurt my admission chances to take the SSAT many times?
No student is hurt by testing many times. Admissions offices are guided in their admit/deny decisions by the BEST score a student submits. We have heard of NO school that cares how many times a student tests.
Indeed, a student who tests multiple times has the advantage of SUPER-SCORING. Most prep schools choose to super-score. This advantages students who submit multiple scores because the school admissions committee is then locking in your best Math score and combining it with your best English, and Verbal scores from different dates.
The Ivy Bound Advantages
Ivy Bound has a bevy of seasoned SSAT tutors. All are available online, and at least six are available in person in metro NYC and southern New England.
Our tutors know the SSAT test; they know strategies for success, and they know teens’ motivations. Ivy Bound makes pairing based on schedule, budget, and parent preference for a certain “type” of tutor (female/male, older/younger, gushy/militaristic).
Ivy Bound SSAT Classes and Private tutoring
Ivy Bound offers SSAT classes on weekends in the spring, summer and fall. These are in the “Form Your Own” fashion, whereby one parent gathers three to nine others for a joint set of sessions. Students in an FYO class still have 3 or more hours of private or semi-private tutoring to assure the tutor is addressing THEIR needs. Students can enlist in Private Tutoring in ANY season, and at almost any time of the week. An Ivy Bound Tutor Coordinator will make a pairing based on you desired times, the “type” of tutor you see, your budget, and your preference for online, in-person, or a mix.
Ivy Bound provides answers to commonly asked test-scheduling questions here. For more detailed answers that fits your child's situation, Ivy Bound's $250/year Ascent program lets a counselor tailor the study and the scheduling of SSAT and/or ISEE tests, and TOEFL (for international applicants)
Sign up with your email address to learn more about our private tutoring
What does Ivy Bound Recommend?
Since even the most competitive prep schools accept the SSAT in all four formats, and since youngsters are now very adept at grappling with computer technology, we prefer the At-home version for almost all students. At-home means it’s private, the monitoring is remote, and the available dates are ample. The EMA has cut back on Paper version dates, but has expanded the at-home dates. We expect this expansion to continue. We recommend FLEX for students with special testing needs.