Geoff Dennis, Author at 91ÁÔĆć /blog/author/geoffdennis/ Prep for Success Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:02:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://assets.testinnovators.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/favicon-85x85.png Geoff Dennis, Author at 91ÁÔĆć /blog/author/geoffdennis/ 32 32 STUMPERS: The Hardest SSAT Verbal Question /blog/hardest-ssat-verbal-question/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:48:00 +0000 /?p=3679 The SSAT’s analogies are one of the very hardest parts of the test, especially for first-time test takers. To perform well on the analogies section, students not only must be adept at finding relationships between concepts, but also must have a solid mastery of above-grade-level vocabulary.

The 91ÁÔĆć platform gathers and provides data on how many students answer each question correctly, and we were curious to see which SSAT Upper Level verbal question stumped the greatest percentage of students.

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The analogy questions on the SSAT are one of the most challenging portions of the test, especially for first-time test takers. To perform well on the analogies section, students must not only be adept at identifyingĚý relationships between concepts, but also must have a solid mastery of above-grade-level vocabulary.

The 91ÁÔĆć platform gathers and provides data on how many students answer each question correctly, and we were curious to see which SSAT Upper Level verbal question stumped the greatest percentage of students.

Before we break down the question, let’s see if you can answer it correctly:Ěý

Vagabond is to itinerant as

If you chose Answer A, you are in an elite group! Only 9.1% of students selected this correct answer–far below the expected value of 20% for a question on which all students randomly guessed an answer.

This question hinges mostly on knowledge of some very advanced words and the nuances of how they are used. Let’s analyze it. .

The first word of the given couplet, vagabond, is fairly uncommon in 21st-century American English. Students who know the word might envision a medieval wanderer or Great Depression-era job-seeker. Some students may be familiar with the related word vagrant and know that it refers to a person, often suffering poverty, who travels from place to place in search of a living. The second half of the couplet, itinerant, is the defining characteristic of a vagabond—it describes unsettledness or a tendency to wander or travel. Astute students will recognize the similarity between this word and the word itinerary, which is the plan for a journey. So, a vagabond is itinerant, and we’re now looking for an answer choice where the second word is a defining characteristic of the first. Only knowing these words, though, can potentially lead us down the wrong path.

Answer D, with 30.2% of guesses, received the plurality of student responses, and it’s not hard to see why this answer choice is so tempting. Both words seem highly related to the given couplet–they evoke an image of voyages and journeys. However, the word pioneering is not quite right here. Pioneering describes a first: an invention that no one has thought of before; a step into uncharted territory. Someone who takes a trip to London could be described as a traveler, but they would not be described as a pioneer; millions have already made the trip to London.Ěý

*Note:Ěý If traveler were replaced with explorer, this would have been a sufficient answer.

Even if you can eliminate answer choice D, you are still in for a challenge. We can eliminate choice C because its second word, practitioner, is a noun, not an adjective like itinerant (which is a word that actually does sound like it could be a noun, but isn’t). Choice E doesn’t really make any sense: congenial (meaning harmonious or friendly) doesn’t at all describe a rebuttal.

Choice B is another toughie, though, even if you know what the words mean. A faction could potentially be described as partisan (strongly biased or one-minded) but it is not necessarily so—whereas a vagabond is undoubtedlyĚý itinerant.

If we are able to eliminate these wrong answer choices, we’re left with choice A: autocrat is to despotic. These are difficultĚý words. A student who is moderately well-versed in Greek roots will probably recognize the two parts autocrat is composed of. Auto– relates to the self (as in autonomy, autobiography, autograph, etc.), and –crat refers to government or rule (bureaucrat, aristocrat, democrat, etc.). An autocrat by definition rules by themself and has absolute power. The second word, despotic, is harder. There are not any recognizable roots, and a student will need to know what a despot is in order to figure out the definition. This word may have come up in history class a few times; Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong, and Adolf Hitler are all examples of despots. Despotic is the adjective that describes a despot (a ruler with absolute power and authority), and despot is a good synonym of autocrat. Therefore, vagabond is to itinerant as autocrat is to despotic.

Preparing for the ISEE? Check out our piece on the hardest ISEE verbal question.

Ready to prep for the SSAT?

Originally published on November 15, 2017. Updated on January 30, 2026.Ěý

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The Boy Who Forgot to Prepare: A Cautionary Tale /blog/boy-who-forgot-prepare-cautionary-tale/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:42:00 +0000 /?p=4003 Phillips Exeter Academy is Mason’s dream school. Mason knows everything there is to know about Exeter. All of his heroes are Exeter alumni: his favorite US president is Franklin Pierce, and he has dressed up as author Booth Tarkington for the past three Halloweens.

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Phillips Exeter Academy is Mason’s dream school—he knows everything there is to know about Exeter. All of his personal heroes are Exeter alumni: his favorite U.S. president is Franklin Pierce, and he has dressed up as author Booth Tarkington for the past three Halloweens.

Mason has always performed well on standardized tests. When he took the state-mandated achievement test at his public school last year, he scored in the 94th percentile. He’s one of the only straight-A students at his middle school. Not bad, Mason.

With this in mind, Mason isn’t considering putting together a preparation regimen before his SSAT in November. He figures that he’s a great test-taker, a stellar student, and an all-around good guy. The SSAT should be easy-peasy, and he’ll be a shoo-in for Exeter.

But Mason…let’s think about this for a minute. Consider who is applying to highly competitive schools like PEA—do you think it’s the same population of students who took that in-class exam a year ago?

I see you shaking your head “no,” Mason—you are correct. The SSAT is much more competitive than any test you’ve taken in the past. Students taking the SSAT are an elite group—they are applying to some of the best schools in the country, and they are a motivated bunch. You are competing against many other students who ace every assignment in class and score in the top 10% on other standardized tests.Ěý

Note:Ěý Percentile scores on the SSAT (and the ISEE, another competitive entrance exam) are consistently 10 to 40 points lower than percentiles on nationally normed tests. This difference is mostly attributable to the caliber of students taking these tests.

If you want to ensure that you’ll do well on this test, Mason, you should take a diagnostic practice test well in advance of the official SSAT. Lots of students do really well on their initial practice test—you might score in the 90th to 99th percentile range, and in that case, you’re good to go. However, if you see that your results are not in line with the target scores for the schools you want to apply to, it’s time to review your diagnostic report and work on any concepts or question types that you struggled with.

Even after our chat, Mason decided to forgo any sort of preparation for the SSAT. When he walked into the room on test day, his head was held high, expecting to ace the test, confident in his past scholastic experiences. He walked out of the testing room with a tired, defeated grimace. A twitching eye.

Mason learned the lesson that many other students have learned the hard way: the SSAT is quite a bit different than other tests. The SSAT is designed to challenge even the most intelligent of students.Ěý

Mason also didn’t realize that the Upper Level SSAT is a test that 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students are taking…a test designed to assess students four years older than him. Mason didn’t have any strategies to deal with the difficult questions that would show up. He wasted way too much time on questions that few—if any—8th graders will successfully answer. If Mason had done any sort of preparation, he could have learned to identify these questions and manage his time more efficiently.

Mason’s dream of Exeter was temporarily shattered when he received a report with low scores. Luckily, he could take the SSAT again next month. He vowed to try again, and to prepare this time. Good idea, Mason.

Don’t be like Mason.

Get started with your test prep today!

Originally published on October 12, 2016. Updated on January 30, 2026.Ěý

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Director of Admissions Greg Jones’s Advice for Parents /blog/director-of-admissions-greg-jones-offers-his-advice-for-parents/ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:07:00 +0000 /?p=3247 Greg Jones shares his tips for parents and families as a former Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions at Epiphany School in Seattle.

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Greg Jones served a long and illustrious career in education. Recently retired, Jones was the Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions at Epiphany School for 14 years and a middle school Humanities teacher, department chair, and admissions committee member at The Northwest School for 15 years, both located in Seattle, Washington.

In this conversation with 91ÁÔĆć’ CEO, Edan Shahar, Greg talks about his experience helping 8th graders find the best high school fit, and offers his advice for parents as they navigate the admissions process.

Originally published on December 12, 2018. Updated on January 5, 2026.

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School Profile: Eastside Catholic School /blog/school-profile-eastside-catholic-school/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:46:00 +0000 /?p=3161 Eastside Catholic is known for its strong community--many students view EC as their home away from home. The school offers grade-level retreats and a school-wide Mentor Program, award winning performing arts and athletic programs, and more than 30 AP, honors and collegiate level courses in the high school. With administrative approval, middle school students can take advanced courses in the high school.

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We spoke with Karen Hatch, the current Marketing & Communications Director atĚý Eastside Catholic School, about what makes EC special.Ěý

ł˘´Çł¦˛ąłŮľ±´Ç˛Ô:ĚýSammamish, Washington

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Grades Served:Ěý6 through 12

Student Body: Approximately 850 students total with ~70 per grade in the middle school and ~170 per grade in the high school.

What makes your school unique?

Eastside Catholic is known for our strong community—many students view EC as their home away from home. Our school offers grade-level retreats and a school-wide Mentor Program, award winning performing arts and athletic programs, and more than 30 AP, honors and collegiate level courses in the high school. With administrative approval, middle school students can take advanced courses in the high school. We care about the whole student—social and emotional, not just academics—while encouraging and supporting each student academically.

What makes your students unique?

Almost all of our students develop a great balance between our three Touchstones: Academic Excellence, Relationships, and Servant Leadership. Our students are appreciative and thank teachers at the end of class. Students learn to be strong collaborators and do so in and out of the classroom. Our students are also active volunteers in our neighboring communities.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Our faculty continuously work above and beyond the regular school day, including optional evening events, lunch meetings, acting as club advisers, meeting with students before and after school, and more. They are dedicated to EC and our mission and strive to encourage academic excellence, nurture relationships, and inspire a life of leadership and service to others. Currently, nine teachers are Nationally Board Certified, and 68% of EC’s faculty members hold advanced degrees.

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

During the application process, we work hard to develop an accurate picture of each potential student through academic evaluation, interviews, and written applications to assess what is best for them as a student and as a person and to ensure that they will succeed at Eastside Catholic. We encourage all students to visit EC and experience what it’s like to be a Crusader for a Day!

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

We are especially proud of the expansion of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) resources for middle school and high school, a new school-wide Mentor Program curriculum for all grades, and the Amplify Middle School Science curriculum. We are also excited about the addition of new programs to support school community cohesiveness through all-school activities like our parent-student sponsored “Spring Fling,” Field Day, and EC Way Awards.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Eastside Catholic is home to the Options Program which provides individualized academic and life skills development for high school students with diagnosed intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Describe what a class at your school looks like.

Students are greeted at the door and class begins with prayer. Each minute provides students the opportunity to learn and grow as young adults. Teaching styles and methods are varied throughout each lesson to accommodate multiple learning styles and maximize each student’s academic success and help them fulfill their true potential.

Originally published on November 7, 2018. Updated on January 4, 2026.

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When Is Boarding School the Right Choice? /blog/when-is-boarding-school-the-right-choice/ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:50:00 +0000 /?p=3400 What kind of family should consider boarding school? In this clip from our CEO's conversation with placement expert Neal Kamsler, Neal discusses how traditional wisdom about boarding schools may not hold water.

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What kind of students should consider attending boarding school? In this clip from our CEO’s conversation with placement expert Neal Kamsler, the twoĚý discuss how traditional wisdom about boarding schools may not hold water.

For 21 years, Neal Kamsler was Head of Upper School at Allen-Stevenson School in New York City. He now serves as Senior Director of Placement at Oliver Scholars, a non-profit educational access organization. Listen to Neal’s school admissions conversation with our CEO, Edan Shahar, here.

Check out this video from the for one student’s boarding school story.

Originally published on October 25, 2018. Updated on January 1, 2026.

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The Hardest ISEE Verbal Problem /blog/the-hardest-isee-verbal-problem/ Wed, 31 Dec 2025 05:30:00 +0000 /?p=4296 In this series of posts, we will explore some of our practice questions that have stumped a remarkable number of students. We hope to highlight some common mistakes and how to avoid them on the official test.

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STUMPERS Volume 1: To choose or not to choose.

For this installment of STUMPERS, in which we dissect the most difficult practice questions across our SSAT and ISEE offerings, we’ll take a look at the ISEE Verbal question with the lowest correct rate out of more than 4,000 practice questions on our tests.

The question comes from one of our Middle Level practice exams. See if you can fill in the blank with the correct word:

In contrast to San Diego’s downtown cityscape, the upscale —— of Rancho Santa Fe enchants with sprawling estates, lush foliage, and mature equestrian trails.

    A) asylum
    B) hamlet
    C) monarch
    D) metropolis

Think you know it?

Okay, now check your answer. If you answered B) hamlet, then you are smarter than quite a few fifth graders. Believe it or not, only 7% of our test takers answered this question correctly. That’s far below the expected value of 25% for a question on which all students randomly guessed an answer. So, let’s delve into this question and explore what makes it such a stumper.

Why This Question Is So Difficult:Ěý

Before we go into exactly why so many studentsĚý were stumped, let’s look at how they were stumped. It turns out that a whopping 62% of testers selected D) metropolis as their answer, while 15% selected A) asylum, and 16% selected C) monarch. As you can see,Ěý each incorrectĚý answer received farĚý more bites than the correct one.

Metropolis is the most tantalizing option, but why is this? One possibility is that studentsĚý aren’tĚý parsing through the entire sentence. Perhaps they were focusing mostly on the first six words in the sentence rather than picking up on the more relevant last eight words—words that really don’t hint to or describeĚý a metropolis. The key to understanding this question is recognizing that “sprawling estates, lush foliage, and mature equestrian trails” are not typical features of a “downtown cityscape”. Compounding this is the fact that it’s easier for many studentsĚý to recognize a synonym than an antonym. Once you’ve attached yourself to the “San Diego cityscape” part of the question, it would be a natural step to look for another word describing this same environment (i.e., metropolis).

As for the low rate of hamlet as a guess, we chalk this up to the pure difficulty of the word. This is a test taken by students applying to seventh and eighth grade. Some well-read kids might actually be more acquainted with the Shakespearean connotation of the word rather than the “village” or “rural community” definition.

How to Avoid Making This Mistake:Ěý

The key to correctly answering this question is threefold: 1) carefully reading the entire sentence before selecting an answer, 2) eliminating answers that won’t work, and 3) thinking about how well your selected answer fits into the sentence as a whole.Ěý

  1. As seemed to be the case with this question, carefully reading every word of the sentence is critical. The sentence completion questions on the ISEE are designed to test your mastery of context clues. You need to be the Sherlock Holmes of the ISEE and find all of these clues before coming to your ultimate conclusion.
  2. Process of elimination is your best friend with this type of question. When you see words such as “contrasts,” “although,” or “but,” you should typically look for words that would describe the opposite of other thoughts in the sentence. An imaginary red flag should wave in your head when you spot a word that actually describes the part of the sentence covered by those contrary words—this answer choice is probably there to trick you.
  3. Once you’ve eliminated words that definitely won’t work (like metropolis in this example), you need to re-read the sentence with your word included. Does it make sense? Are there any contradictions? If not, you’ve probably nailed it!

In the case of this problem, many middle schoolers may be less sure of the word asylum. However, many may know the word monarch from studying history in school. Even if a student can only eliminate two answer choices, they will have significantly raised their likelihood of selecting the correct answer. In this problem, if a student pays attention and knows the word metropolis, they will have saved themselves from the most tempting of wrong answers.

Find all of our ISEE preparation materials at !

Originally published on May 13, 2015. Updated on December 30, 2025.

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SSAT Featured School #1: Pingree /blog/ssat-featured-school-1-pingree/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:18:00 +0000 /?p=4031 Nestled among the farms and forests of northeastern Massachusetts, Pingree began as a school for girls in 1961. The school gets its name from the Pingree family, who generously donated its fifty acre homestead to house a school. The 9th through 12th grade high school has been growing ever since, welcoming boys in 1971 and expanding its facilities to meet the needs of a diversifying student body.

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In our Featured School Series, we’ll be profiling some of the schools that use the SSAT as part of their admissions package. Throughout these profiles, we hope to demonstrate the enormous diversity of competitive schools in the U.S., Canada, and abroad.

The first school we chose to examine is Pingree School in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Let’s take a look!

Pingree:

Nestled among the farms and forests of northeastern Massachusetts, Pingree began as a school for girls in 1961. The school gets its name from the Pingree family, who generously donated their fifty acre homestead to house a school. The ninth through twelfth grade high school has been growing ever since, expanding to all genders in 1971 and expanding its facilities to meet the needs of a diversifying student body. Today, Pingree enrolls nearly 350 high schoolers at its spacious day-school campus.

Fast Facts:

  • Pingree draws most of its student population from western Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
  • Due to its distance from central Boston, Pingree isn’t quite as competitive as some other top private day schools. That being said, Pingree draws many applicants with its idyllic rural setting and quality academic and athletic programs.
  • Students applying to Pingree can take the SSAT or ISEE. To have the best chance at acceptance, applicants should aim for the 70th percentile or above on these standardized tests.

Check out

Get started with your test prep today!

Originally published on July 22, 2015. Updated on December 22, 2025.Ěý

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School Profile: St. Bernard’s School /blog/school-profile-st-bernards/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:12:00 +0000 /?p=3201 We talked with Kaley Bell, Secondary School Advisor at St. Bernard's School, about what sets the school apart.

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We talked with Kaley Bell, Secondary School Advisor at St. Bernard’s School, about what sets the school apart.Ěý

Ěý

Location: New York, New York

Website:

Grades Served: K-9

Student Body: Roughly 375 students; about 40 students per grade in K-8 and 4 students in 9th grade

Ěý

What makes your school unique?

St. Bernard’s offers academic rigor, strength in the humanities, and opportunities for students to discover public speaking and performance. Additionally, every student takes Latin.

What makes your students unique?

Their general knowledge and the breadth of their knowledge and interests.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Like our students, our faculty have a diversity of specialties and passions. Many faculty members have had other careers besides teaching; everyone has a wide range and depth of knowledge, interesting hobbies, and skills

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

Students at St. Bernard’s must be able to handle academic rigor, juggling two languages and two English classes. They also must be comfortable publicly speaking in front of an audience of over 100 several times a year.

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

The Good Heart Program, currently in its pilot phase, began as a response to educational research on character development and social-emotional learning, especially in boys’ schools, and after conversations with other New York City independent schools. We strive to emphasize the four values that best represent our school and community: perseverance, honesty, community, and consideration for others. Each grade level has time during the week dedicated to the Good Heart Program, whether in homeroom, advisory, or our Good Guy and Social Justice classes. St. Bernard’s boys have always gone out into the world comfortable with rigorous academics; this program gives a name and a concrete curriculum to the social-emotional values we uphold.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Our Shakespeare play is the longest-running performance of Shakespeare in the United States, and our boys are proud to be part of that tradition. St. Bernard’s boys have been participating in a Shakespeare play each December since 1910. Every boy must participate, whether acting, designing sets, or stage managing. The play is kept a secret until the spring of seventh grade, when an unveiling occurs during assembly. The boys then read the play in their English class, and auditions occur a few months later in the fall of eighth grade. The only performance occurs the week before winter break at Miller Theater at Columbia University, after weeks of memorizing lines and long hours spent rehearsing (on top of secondary school applications, fall sports, and homework). The celebration of the Shakespeare production is a crucial part of the school’s cultural and poetic tradition.

Originally published on January 14, 2019. Updated on December 22, 2025.Ěý

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School Profile: Dexter Southfield /blog/dexter-southfield-school-profile/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:22:00 +0000 /?p=3372 We talked with Scott Duddy, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management at Dexter Southfield, about what sets his school apart.

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We talked with Scott Duddy, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management at Dexter Southfield, about what sets his school apart.

Ěý

Location: Brookline, Massachusetts

Website:

Grades Served: Pre-K through 12

Student Body: Around 1,100 students throughout all 14 grade levels; class sizes are larger in grades 9-12Ěý

Ěý

What makes your school unique?

Dexter Southfield, guided by the motto “Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow,” encourages creativity, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence. We prepare students for the future, which they shape. Dexter Southfield is committed to instilling confidence, nurturing individual talents, and building an ethical foundation for life for each and every student. Our 36-acre campus is located on the Brookline-Boston line,Ěý close to Boston’s best museums, libraries, hospitals, colleges, and universities—all of which serve as an extension of our classrooms. With active support from their teachers, students challenge themselves, experiment, and pursue their passions. Dexter Southfield graduates are poised, prepared, and versatile—ready for success in college and life beyond.

What makes your students unique?

At Dexter Southfield, students gain both breadth and depth by engaging in a full range of subjects and activities, by finding their passions, and by growing their unique talents in areas they love. Throughout all grades, the program is structured to introduce students to a wealth of new experiences, to build skills in all areas, and to develop a can-do attitude. From the start, everyone does everything, and as students progress, they choose paths according to the directions they want to chart for themselves, continually applying their knowledge and skills as new opportunities arise. As a result, they deeply explore areas that interest them, and they have the enthusiasm, the confidence, and the expertise to try new things for the rest of their lives.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Dexter Southfield encourages expansiveness, creativity, and innovation to prepare students for a future that they will shape. The School’s programs help students build a strong foundation of essential knowledge and skills while they develop versatility and habits of mind. Here, they learn to ask important questions, draw their own conclusions, and solve problems that matter. With active support from their teachers, students love to experiment and see things through—so they can succeed in the ever-growing fields of college and careers.

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

One of the first things visitors notice about Dexter Southfield is our warmth. We pride ourselves on being a caring and sincere campus, welcoming students and families of all backgrounds and paying attention to individual needs when students arrive and as they grow. The strength of our community is upheld in a variety of ways: assemblies, shared meals, school meetings, our unique single-sex program, our buses, and our commitment to diversity. We feel like a family, and we are eager to welcome new members.

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

Athletics Arena and Kraft Fieldhouse: The newly constructed arena includes an ice rink, new spectator seating, an off-season turf surface, a warming room, and team meeting space. The seasonally-flexible fieldhouse hosts a varsity-level basketball court, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a flexible gymnasium space, collapsible spectator seating, locker rooms, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and training facilities. Additional athletic facilities include an indoor swimming pool, baseball and softball fields, and three turf fields–two outdoor and one indoor. Dexter Southfield also has a Rowing Center, located on the Charles River just four miles away in Dedham.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

From the Playscape—where exploratory play, science, and engineering are fully integrated—to neuroendocrinology, independent study, and off-campus experiences involving programming at Harvard Medical School and NASA research, STEM programs are supported at every grade level. We deliver on our promise of excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and character with smooth, productive programming that sets our students up to be at their best.

Originally published on October 29, 2018. Updated on December 22, 2025.Ěý

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Which SSAT section is most important? /blog/which-ssat-section-is-most-important/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:19:00 +0000 /?p=4113 We get a lot of questions about the particular knowledge requirements on the SSAT, but this one is the most common: which SSAT section is the most crucial to a successful application? And as with any other question, we’ve turned to our extensive data to find the answer. We’ve heard a variety of hypotheses about section difficulties.

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We here at 91ÁÔĆć receive many questions about the specific knowledge requirements on the SSAT, but the most common one is: Which SSAT section is the most important?Ěý

As with any other query, we’ve looked to our extensive data for the answer. We’ve heard a variety of hypotheses regarding SSAT section difficulties. Some parents and tutors believe that the Reading section is the most important because reading comprehension is necessary for most other testable knowledge. Others opine that—especially for students applying to highly competitive schools—the Quantitative section is the most important because it best reflects the student’s innate ability for high-level reasoning. While these theories are reasonable, the truth is much more nuanced. Here is the fact of the matter: the most important section is the one that is most challenging to you. While this may sound paradoxical, our data supports this conclusion.Ěý

Students take the SSAT to gain admission to their schools of choice, so it makes the most sense to take the perspective of an admissions department. Suppose you’re an admissions director and you’re looking at the following two students’ SSAT scores:

Score reports tell a story, giving a glimpse into a student’s relative strengths and weaknesses. In the table above, Student 1 is testing in the middle of the pack, receiving solid—but not dominant—percentiles on each section. This student is above the mean in every category. As an admissions director, we see a student who will be ready on day one in all subjects that the SSAT measures. For Student 2, however, we see a very different situation. While this student is clearly excellent in Verbal subjects and received nearly the highest score possible on the Quantitative section, their Reading percentile displays a significant weakness. On day one of class, this student will be significantly behind in reading, which likely means that remedial help will be necessary. Very competitive schools typically don’t allocate resources for students who are far behind; therefore they rarely accept students who will need to play serious catch-up. Our practice test and admissions data supports the example above. Students with one or two areas of significant weakness—even with exceptional results in other sections—often struggle to gain admission to very competitive schools. Meanwhile, students with solid scores across the board tend to have a higher rate of admissions success.Ěý

So…what can you do? The critical first step in any SSAT prep strategy is to diagnoseĚý areas that need the most focus and preparation. Students don’t have unlimited time to study for the test, so it’s especially important to identify the subjects that would benefit most from improvement. We often find that a low score may simply reflect a student’s lack of familiarity with a section or question type, rather than a lack of ability. It’s important to take a full-length diagnostic practice test to assess your initial performance at the beginning of the prep process. Once you have done that, you can craft an informed preparation strategy based on your personal areas of weakness. Remember, the key to test success is to diagnose, review, learn, and practice.

Originally published on November 04, 2015. Updated on December 15, 2025.Ěý

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