Private School Readiness Tutoring
HI IQ Learning now offers fully flexible, à la carte private school readiness tutoring for students from pre-K through 10th grade. Whether your child needs help preparing for the SSAT, writing personal essays, practicing for interviews, or building academic confidence, you can now schedule support by the hour—$79/hr pre-tax—with no long-term packages required.
Our experienced tutors understand the local private school application process and tailor every session to meet your child’s unique needs and personality. We know that readiness goes beyond academics—it’s about building communication skills, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of self. From Iolani and Punahou to Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific, we’ve supported students through every stage of this journey.
We’re proud to be part of the village that helps students reach their potential. Book hours as needed and create a plan that works for your family—on your schedule, at your pace.
SSAT Information
Learn more about the SSAT!
What is the SAT?
The SSAT, or Secondary School Admission Test, is a standardized test commonly used by private schools as part of their admissions process.
What academic sections are on the SSAT?
The SSAT assesses students’ verbal, quantitative, and reading comprehension skills. The SSAT also includes a non-graded writing sample.
How do private schools use SSAT scores?
Private schools use SSAT scores as one of several factors in the admissions process to assess a student’s academic abilities and potential. SSAT scores help schools identify students who possess the academic readiness and intellectual promise to succeed in their rigorous academic programs. While SSAT scores are important, private schools also consider various other factors holistically to make well-informed decisions regarding admissions.
What other factors do private schools look for?
Admissions committees typically review SSAT scores alongside other application materials, such as transcripts, recommendations, and personal statements, extracurricular activities, and teacher recommendations, to gain a comprehensive understanding of each applicant.
What Score Do You Need to Get Into Private School?
Each private school has a different range of scores they will accept.
Breakdown of SSAT Scores:
Raw Score: SSAT scores are initially raw scores. Raw scores are calculated the following ways: On the Middle and Upper Level SSAT, one point is awarded for each correct answer and a quarter of a point is subtracted for each incorrect answer, no points are awarded or deducted for skipped questions. On the Lower Level SSAT, a point is awarded for each correct answer and there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
Equating: Since the SSAT has multiple forms of the test, equating is used to ensure fairness and comparability across different test versions. Equating adjusts for slight variations in difficulty between these different forms.
Scaled Scores: Once equating is applied, the raw scores are converted to scaled scores. Scaled scores range from 500 to 800 for each section of the SSAT (verbal, quantitative, and reading). These scaled scores allow for easy comparison of a student's performance across different sections and across different administrations of the test.
Percentiles: Additionally, scaled scores are converted into percentile ranks, which indicate how a student's performance compares to that of other test-takers in the same grade level. For example, a percentile rank of 75 means the student scored as well as or better than 75% of students in the same grade. This scaling and percentile ranking process allows for a standardized interpretation of SSAT scores, providing schools with a reliable measure of a student's academic abilities relative to their peers.
It is important to keep in mind that a student's scaled scores may differ within 100 points of the estimates above when they take the actual exam. This is dependent on the SSAT's specific scaling for that exam and any differences in the students test-taking process.
Students will also receive a percentile ranking comparing their performance against the performance of other students of their gender and grade who have taken the SSAT within the past three years. For example, a percentile of 65 means that you scored higher than 65% of other SSAT test-takers of your gender and grade. These rankings are frequently given the most consideration by admissions offices.
SSAT Test Formats:
Lower Level SSAT
For students seeking private school admission for 4th and 5th grade.
1 Math/Quantitative Section: 30 questions in 30 minutes
1 Reading Section: 28 questions in 30 minutes
1 Verbal Reasoning Section: 30 questions in 20 minutes
One break is given and one ungraded experimental section.
Total test time: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Middle Level SSAT
For students seeking private school admission for 6th, 7th or 8th grade.
2 Math/Quantitative Sections: 50 questions total, 60 minutes total.
1 Reading Section: 40 questions in 40 minutes
1 Verbal Reasoning Section: 60 questions in 30 minutes
Two breaks are given and there may be one ungraded experimental section.
Total test time: 3 hours and 5 minutess
Upper Level SSAT
For students seeking private school admission for 9th, 10th or 11th grade.
2 Math/Quantitative Sections: 50 questions total, 60 minutes total.
1 Reading Section: 40 questions in 40 minutes
1 Verbal Reasoning Section: 60 questions in 30 minutes
Two breaks are given and there may be one ungraded experimental section.
Total test time: 3 hours and 5 minutes
MAPS Testing Overview
In addition to SSAT readiness, we also provide 1:1 support for students preparing for the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test. The MAP test is a computerized adaptive assessment that evaluates a student's proficiency in reading, language usage, and math. This test is widely used by schools to monitor academic growth over time, helping educators tailor instruction to each student's needs. For students applying to Kamehameha Schools, MAP testing is often a key requirement in the admissions process. Our tutoring program is designed to help students build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and improve their test performance through targeted instruction and practice.