Ssat Upper Level Test 1
Ssat Upper Level Test 1
Ssat Upper Level Test 1
P DF Ve r s io n 1. 1
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Be sure each mark completely fills the answer space.
Start with number 1 for each new section of the test. You may find more answer spaces than you need.
If so, please leave them blank.
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
SECTION 4
Schools would like to get to know you better through a story you tell using one of the ideas below.
Please choose the idea you find most interesting and write a story using the idea as your first sentence.
Please fill in the circle next to the one you choose.
Use this page and the next page to complete your writing sample.
Following each problem in this section, there are five suggested answers. Work each problem in your head or
in the blank space provided at the right of the page. Then look at the five suggested answers and decide which
one is best.
Note: Figures that accompany problems in this section are drawn as accurately as possible EXCEPT when it is
stated in a specific problem that its figure is not drawn to scale.
Sample problem:
5,413 (A) 586
– 4,827 (B) 596
(C) 696
(D) 1,586
(E) 1,686
B C D E
7. A long distance phone call costs $10.00 for the first ten
minutes and $0.75 for each additional thirty seconds.
If Andre has $16.65, he can talk for
(A) 13 minutes and 30 seconds
(B) 14 minutes
(C) 14 minutes and 30 seconds
(D) 15 minutes
(E) 17 minutes and 30 seconds
8. 0.025 × 40.00 =
(A) 0.01
(B) 0.1
(C) 1
(D) 10
(E) 100
9. 3 + 6 +1 is approximately equal to
(A) 9.33
(B) 10.33
(C) 10.67
(D) 11.33
(E) 11.67
(A) 15
(B) 4
(C) 5
(D) 10
(E) 20
(E) 3 + 3
(B) 125
(C) 105
(D) 85 85° 75°
(E) 75
Figure 3
(A) 13
(B) − 13
(C) 38
(D) −3
(E) 3
22. Aram lives 5 miles from Brian’s house. Simran lives 8.5
miles from Brian’s house. How far is Aram’s house
from Simran’s house?
(A) 3.5 miles
(B) 5 miles
(C) 11 miles
(D) 13.5 miles
(E) It cannot be determined from the information
given.
STOP
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED,
YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY.
DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION IN THE TEST.
Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of
the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.
The train pulled into station at 8:05 precisely, just as the schedule demanded, and the
remarkable Dr. Twill bustled off onto the platform with a crowd of other travelers. He was
tired from his journey, but eager and excited to see the lights of the city again. He stretched
and yawned, and decided to find a hot cup of coffee before heading out to enjoy the bright city
Line 5 night.
His trip through the surrounding country towns had been a profitable endeavor: with
a few vague explanations here, some simple demonstrations there, and a great deal of
enthusiasm everywhere he went, he had been able to sell a number of his electrical cures at
prices which were more than modestly profitable, and returned with a considerably lighter
10 trunk and fatter wallet than those with which he had departed. The cures were many and
varied, ranging from electrical hairbrushes which promised to cure baldness and restore a
youthful appearance, to electrical belts which were guaranteed to resolve indigestion,
incontinence, or indeed any ailment of the gut, even to electrical shoes, the function of which
was as yet unclear but undoubtedly wonderful.
15 He had even been able to secure some rather generous investments in the development
of his latest cure: a tonic of pure electrical energy, which when imbibed would most assuredly
improve the whole health and well-being of the imbiber, invigorating flesh and mind from
within! There remained the minor question of how he would manage to liquefy pure
electricity—but the buzzing of the street lights never failed to inspire, and Dr. Twill had all
20 confidence that a solution would come soon enough.
1. It can be inferred from the passage that 2. Dr. Twill seems to believe that electricity
Dr. Twill makes a living by is
(A) researching a great variety of (A) an unfortunate necessity of the
diseases modern world
(B) selling devices which are supposed to (B) a dangerous technology which must
cure disease be carefully handled
(C) bottling electricity, and selling it in (C) a curative force of incredible
the country potential
(D) inventing devices and selling the (D) a limited but practical method for
patents to rich investors reliving certain types of pain
(E) travelling to the city to see patients (E) one tool among many in a doctor’s
under electric lights arsenal against disease
6. The author’s main purpose in this passage 7. It can be inferred from the passage that
is to
(A) some of the works created or edited
(A) compare and contrast different in the Great Library survive to the
theories about the Great Library’s present day
destruction (B) the Great Library was most likely
(B) describe the activities of an important founded by Ptolemy I
historical institution (C) the Great Library was mainly funded
(C) chronicle the role of libraries by the sale of books
throughout history (D) the scribes that lived in the Great
(D) discuss the literature of two ancient Library were not allowed outside of
civilizations Alexandria
(E) explain the impact of the Great (E) most of Greece’s famous myths were
Library on Egypt’s political history originally created at the Great Library
10. The author’s primary topic in this passage 11. Based on the passage, the author would
is most likely agree with which of the
following statements?
(A) the scientific definitions of fruits and
vegetables (A) The goals of scientists are at odds
(B) the Supreme Court’s decision that the with the public’s health.
tomato is a vegetable (B) It doesn’t matter what you call them,
(C) the biological structure of tomatoes, as long as you eat plenty of healthy
cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash plants.
(D) the conflicts over botanical (C) Scientists often create definitions that
classifications within the scientific are not useful to the general public.
community (D) The Supreme Court lacks the
(E) the controversy over popular authority to define botanical terms.
conceptions of fruits and vegetables (E) Tomatoes are best served as an
appetizer.
14. The narrator of this passage is 16. Based on the context of the passage, a
“robe-de-chambre” (line 8) is most likely
(A) Mr. Bennet
(B) Dr. Livingstone (A) a type of bed
(C) Bayonne (B) a particular hotel in France
(D) Stanley (C) a type of casual garment
(E) Bayonne (D) a coat to be worn outdoors
(E) a formal hat worn for important
15. According to the passage, Dr. Livingstone occasions
is
17. In lines 16-19, Mr. Bennet’s tone could
(A) a medical doctor
best be described as
(B) studying plants in central Africa
(C) an infamous criminal on the run (A) urgent
19. The passage is primarily about 20. Which significant event took place in
1952?
(A) the types of equipment required to
make life in the lab (A) Organic compounds were created in
(B) the amazing insights of Alexander laboratory conditions that simulated
Oparin and J.B.S. Haldane Earth’s early environment.
(C) weather and environmental (B) The first living organisms were
conditions on the early Earth created by the Miller-Urey
(D) the many possible locations where experiment.
life may have begun on Earth (C) J.B.S. Haldane and Alexander Oparin
(E) a hypothesis and the experiment proposed a new theory about the
designed to test it origins of life on Earth.
(D) The University of Chicago was
founded, leading to many great
experiments.
(E) The theory that life came from space
was finally disproved.
23. Which of the following best summarizes 24. Based on the passage, the author believes
the author’s main argument in this that courage, strength, and ingenuity
passage?
(A) are useful attributes, but not as
(A) If you don’t have a good sense of essential to a wilderness traveler as a
direction, you’ll be lost in either the sense of direction
city or the wilderness. (B) are not at all relevant to a wilderness
(B) Most city dwellers quickly learn to traveler
find their way in the wilderness when (C) might be necessary in order to
they get the chance to practice. develop a strong sense of direction
(C) Only the roughest people can develop (D) can’t be acquired unless they come
a good sense of direction, and highly naturally
cultured people are better off hiring (E) are usually lacking in people with a
guides. good sense of direction
(D) A sense of direction is an essential
talent in the wilderness, and it’s
something that not everyone can
learn.
(E) A sense of direction can be cultivated,
but only in the wilderness, where it is
transmitted by a germ.
28. Which of the following best summarizes 30. When the speaker discusses “never-dying
the main idea of this poem? fires” (line 10), he is most likely referring
to
(A) If you get to know them, you will
often find that beautiful people have (A) long-lasting love
unpleasant personalities. (B) love that diminishes quickly
(B) People who have a calm and gentle (C) physical beauty
disposition are usually physically (D) anger and hatred
beautiful.
(E) lips and cheeks
(C) Physical beauty is temporary, but
inner qualities can be more 31. When the speaker states that “flames
permanently attractive. must waste away” (line 6), he most nearly
(D) It’s better to dislike beautiful people means that
until they prove that they also have
(A) in time, even the subject of the poem
pleasant personalities.
will die
(E) If you are beautiful on the inside, then
(B) love always fades when people get
your physical beauty will also last
older
longer.
(C) it is impossible to maintain a fire
without logs for kindling
29. When the speaker refers to “old Time” in
lines 5-6, he is (D) if love is based on physical beauty, it
will diminish when beauty fades
(A) talking about the past
(E) some people will never be satisfied
(B) having a conversation with time
for very long
(C) referring to the specific time in a
person’s life when they are old
(D) talking about old-fashioned things
(E) suggesting that time is an old,
powerful entity
32. According to the passage, carries is 34. According to the passage, the number of
people who suffer from carries is
(A) a type of cancer
(B) a disease related to HIV (A) a majority of the population of the
(C) cardiovascular disease planet
33. According to the passage, carries is (D) around four million people
increasing in Africa due to (E) smaller than the number of people
suffering from HIV
(A) the spread of industry
(B) increasing poverty
35. This passage would most likely be found
(C) high rates of HIV and other diseases
in
(D) higher rates of social and
(A) a newspaper
psychological problems
(B) a novel
(E) changes in the way that people eat
(C) a personal letter
(D) a biography
(E) an encyclopedia
36. It can be inferred from the passage that 38. The speaker says that the “accusers” (line
the speaker 6) who will come after him
(A) has committed a very serious crime (A) will avenge his death
(B) is in command of a massive army (B) will have the power to make
(C) has lived his life as a fortune-teller prophecies
(D) has been sentenced to death (C) will be numerous and less polite than
(E) believes that it is honorable to die he was
(D) have been improving themselves
37. According to the passage, the speaker (E) have been living evil lives
believes that he has been condemned
because 39. When the speaker says “punishment far
(A) he was critical of the way that many heavier than you have inflicted on me will
people were living surely await you” (lines 3-4), he most
likely means that
(B) his enemies were afraid that he
would kill them (A) his supporters will set him free
(C) he lived an evil life, and failed to (B) the people he is addressing will miss
improve himself their last chance to be good instead of
(D) he was young and inconsiderate evil
(E) he did too much to restrain the critics (C) there will be a great war following his
of his enemies death
(D) the people he is addressing will
become ill
(E) the people he is addressing will face
far harsher criticism in the future
than they did in the past
STOP
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED,
YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY.
DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION IN THE TEST.
This section consists of two different types of questions: synonyms and analogies. There are directions and a
sample question for each type.
Synonyms
Each of the following questions consists of one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the
one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
1. CALCULATE 4. DOMINANT
(A) type (A) very muscular
(B) enter (B) most powerful
(C) figure (C) cruel
(D) implicate (D) unequal
(E) ask (E) not nice
2. DEBUT 5. STANCE
(A) sudden removal (A) section
(B) experiment (B) position
(C) failed attempt (C) trend
(D) first appearance (D) question
(E) single instance (E) portion
3. PURSUE 6. SURPLUS
(A) browse (A) twice as much
(B) chase (B) more than necessary
(C) escape (C) used goods
(D) discover (D) cheap merchandise
(E) arrest (E) specialized equipment
Sample Question:
Kitten is to cat as
(A) fawn is to colt
(B) puppy is to dog
(C) cow is to bull
(D) wolf is to bear
(E) hen is to rooster
A B C D E
Choice (B) is the best answer because a kitten is a young cat just as a puppy is a young dog. Of all the answer
choices, (B) states a relationship that is most like the relationship between kitten and cat.
STOP
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED,
YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY.
DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION IN THE TEST.
Following each problem in this section, there are five suggested answers. Work each problem in your head or
in the blank space provided at the right of the page. Then look at the five suggested answers and decide which
one is best.
Note: Figures that accompany problems in this section are drawn as accurately as possible EXCEPT when it is
stated in a specific problem that its figure is not drawn to scale.
Sample problem:
5,413 (A) 586
– 4,827 (B) 596
(C) 696
(D) 1,586
(E) 1,686
B C D E
1. The blue team has 12 players and the red team has 20 USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING.
players. How many players need to move from the red
team to the blue team in order for the teams to have
the same number of players?
(A) 10
(B) 8
(C) 6
(D) 4
(E) 3
(A) 24
y y
(B) 12
(C) 8
y y
(D) 6
(E) 4
Figure 1
(A) 2 × 32
(B) 3 × 23
(C) 4 × 34
(D) 6 × 12
(E) 9 × 13
(C)
(D) Figure 2
(E)
(A) 26
(B) 30
(C) 38
(D) 40 10
(E) 42 4
Figure 3
18. A small town has two parks. The first park measures
80 feet by 90 feet, and the second park measures 150
feet by 200 feet. The two parks have an average area
of how many square feet each?
(A) 260
(B) 18400
(C) 18500
(D) 18600
(E) 37200
(B) (9) +
(C) + (9)
(D) + 9
(E) 2 + 2
Figure 4
(C) = 12 and = 18
(D) − = 20
(E) ( + ) ÷ 2 = 15
(B) 37
(C) 27
(D) 35
(E) 23
STOP
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED,
YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY.
DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION IN THE TEST.
First, count up the number of questions you answered correctly, the number of questions you skipped,
and the number of questions you answered incorrectly. Then, calculate your raw score using the
following formula:
#
= # −
4
Add together your raw scores from your two math sections in order to determine your total raw math
score.
Once you have found your raw score, convert it into an approximate scaled score using the estimated
scoring charts on the next page. Keep in mind that you may score within 100 points of this estimate
when you take your actual SSAT exam.
MY RAW SCORE
Verbal − ÷4 =
Reading − ÷4 =
Math 1 + Math 2 − ÷4 =
SCALED SCORE
Once you have found your raw score, convert it into an approximate scaled score using the scoring
charts that follow. These charts provide an estimate for your SSAT scaled score based on your
performance on this practice test. Keep in mind that your scaled score may differ within 100 points of
this estimate when you take your actual SSAT exam, depending on the SSAT’s specific scaling for that
exam and any differences in your own test-taking process.
60 800
55 800
50 800 780
45 780 750
PERCENTILE
When you take your actual SSAT exam, you will also receive a percentile ranking comparing your
performance against the performance of other students of your gender and grade who have taken the
SSAT within the past three years. For example, a percentile of 62 means that you scored higher than
62% of other SSAT test-takers of your gender and grade. Because your percentile ranking shows how
The following chart provides an estimate of your SSAT percentile ranking based on your raw scores for
this practice test. Keep in mind that the percentiles below are estimates only and are not specific to your
own grade and gender. Because younger students are expected to score differently than older students
on this exam, your percentile may be higher or lower than this estimate depending on your grade.
60 99
55 99
50 99 98
45 96 94
40 87 99 87
35 75 94 77
30 62 78 63
25 45 57 47
20 30 36 31
15 18 20 18
10 9 8 8
5 3 3 3
0 1 1 1
-5 1 1 1