"You are required to submit an SSAT score"—seeing this sentence on your target school's admissions page can leave many parents wondering where to even begin.
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) and ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) are standardized tests required for admission to prestigious boarding and private schools in the US and Canada. Information available in languages other than English is extremely limited, and there are very few resources that answer fundamental questions like, "What is the difference between the two tests?", "Can they be taken in Japan?", and "How should we prepare?"
This article, based on the consulting experience of ELT Education (founded in London, 1984) and using official information from ssat.org and erblearn.org as primary sources, provides a comprehensive, from-the-ground-up explanation of the differences between the two tests, section-specific preparation strategies, how to take the exams in Japan, and how to plan your testing schedule.
What you'll learn in this article:
- The differences between the SSAT and ISEE, and the criteria for deciding which to take.
- The section structure, timing, and scoring system for each test (including whether there's a penalty for wrong answers).
- Strategies that leverage common strengths (Math) and weaknesses (Vocabulary) for students from non-English speaking backgrounds.
- Test centers in Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka) and available test formats.
- A reverse timeline for planning from the start of testing to application submission.
→ To learn the basics of boarding schools, please see "What is a Boarding School?"
What is a Boarding School? Costs, Benefits, and How to Choose in Japan and Abroad
What are the SSAT and ISEE? — Why are these tests necessary?
The Role of SSAT/ISEE in US Private School Admissions
When applying to private middle and high schools (including boarding schools) in the US and Canada, many schools require either SSAT or ISEE scores. This is different in nature from Japanese "entrance exams."
In the Japanese system, test scores determine almost everything. However, US private school admissions are based on a Holistic Review. The SSAT/ISEE score is just one part of the application package and is evaluated alongside the interview, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and academic transcripts. The test score serves as a "cutoff" or a "reference point," and admission decisions are never made based on the score alone.
That said, applicants to top-tier schools tend to have uniformly high scores, so a low score will be a disadvantage. The reality is, "the test isn't everything, but you can't compete without it."
An Important Change for 2025: The Merger of EMA and ERB
The EMA (Enrollment Management Association), which administers the SSAT, and the ERB (Educational Records Bureau), which administers the ISEE, have merged into a new organization, "E3^n." However, according to the education media outlet Applerouth, the SSAT and ISEE are expected to continue operating as separate tests for the time being. While the tests may be integrated in the future, for the 2025-26 academic year, students will still need to take them as separate exams.
SSAT Overview
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Full Name | Secondary School Admission Test |
Administered by | EMA (now E3^n) |
Levels | Elementary (for G3-4) / Middle (for G5-7) / Upper (for G8-11) |
Frequency | 6 Standard paper tests per year (Oct-Mar) + 1 Flex test per year + CBT |
Testing Limits | Middle/Upper: 6 Standard + 1 Flex per year (+ CBT) |
Fee | Standard: $172 (International $329) / Prometric: $242 / At Home: $258 |
Score | 500-800 per section / 1500-2400 total / Percentile |
Guessing Penalty | Yes (Middle/Upper: -0.25 points for wrong answers, 0 for unanswered) |
ISEE Overview
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Full Name | Independent School Entrance Examination |
Administered by | ERB (now E3^n) |
Levels | Primary (for G1-3) / Lower (for G4-5) / Middle (for G6-7) / Upper (for G8-11) |
Administration | School-based paper tests / Prometric / At-Home |
Testing Limits | Once per testing season (Fall/Winter/Spring-Summer = effectively twice a year for applications) |
Fee | School test: $165 / At-Home: $240 |
Score | 760-940 per section / Percentile / Stanine (1-9) |
Guessing Penalty | None |
SSAT vs. ISEE: A Direct Comparison — Which Should You Take?
Comparison Table (Upper Level)
Item | SSAT | ISEE |
|---|---|---|
Verbal Section | 60 questions / 30 min (Synonyms + Analogies) | 40 questions / 20 min (Synonyms + Sentence Completion) |
Math Section | 50 questions / 60 min (2 parts) | 84 questions / 75 min (Reasoning + Achievement, 2 parts) |
Reading Section | 40 questions / 40 min | 36 questions / 35 min |
Essay | 25 min (unscored, sent to schools) | 30 min (unscored, sent to schools) |
Total Test Time | Approx. 3 hours 10 min | Approx. 2 hours 40 min + breaks |
Guessing Penalty | Yes (-0.25 points) | None |
Number of Attempts | 7+ times per year + CBT | Once per season (effectively twice a year) |
Vocabulary Difficulty | High (Analogies are particularly challenging) | More approachable |
Math Difficulty | Standard | Slightly higher (2 sections cover a broader range) |
Test Centers in Japan | ASIJ, St. Mary's, NIS | Prometric (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka) |
"Which test does your target school require?" is the top priority.
Unlike the SAT and ACT for college admissions, which are widely interchangeable, private middle and high schools may require a specific test. First, check the admissions page of your target schools to see which tests they accept. If they accept both, you can choose the one that best suits your strengths.
How to choose if both are accepted
Choose the SSAT if: You are confident in your vocabulary and want to improve your score through retesting. The SSAT can be taken 7+ times a year, allowing you to aim for your best possible score over multiple attempts.
Choose the ISEE if: You are strong in math but less confident in vocabulary. The ISEE does not have an Analogy section, making its verbal component more approachable than the SSAT's. However, since the ISEE can effectively only be taken twice a year for applications, each attempt carries more weight.
General Trend for International Applicants in Japan: The SSAT is far more common among test-takers in Japan, and there are more prep materials and resources available for it. If you're undecided, the SSAT is generally the safer choice.
SSAT Upper Level: Content and Strategy
Section Breakdown
Section | # of Questions | Time | Affects Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Writing Sample | 1 prompt | 25 min | Does not affect score (sent to schools) |
Quantitative 1 | 25 questions | 30 min | Yes |
Reading | 40 questions | 40 min | Yes |
Verbal | 60 questions | 30 min | Yes |
Quantitative 2 | 25 questions | 30 min | Yes |
Experimental | 16 questions | 15 min | Does not affect score (for test development) |
How Scoring Works — The Meaning of Percentile
Each section (Verbal / Quantitative / Reading) is scaled to a score between 500 and 800, for a total score range of 1500 to 2400.
The most important metric is the percentile. This shows your rank compared to same-grade test-takers (from the US and Canada, first-time testers) over the past three years. A "90th percentile" score means you scored higher than 90% of your peers.
Beware the Guessing Penalty: On the Middle and Upper Level SSAT, the rule is +1 point for a correct answer, -0.25 points for a wrong answer, and 0 points for an unanswered question. This means it can be better to leave a question blank than to guess randomly. Statistically, the basic strategy is to answer if you can narrow it down to two choices, and leave it blank if three or more options remain.
Verbal Section Strategy — The Biggest Hurdle for Non-Native Speakers
The SSAT Verbal section consists of 30 Synonyms and 30 Analogies. The vocabulary tested is challenging even for native English-speaking high school students, making it the biggest hurdle for students from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Strategy for Synonyms: This is a pure test of vocabulary. You need to commit to at least 30 minutes of vocabulary study per day for a minimum of six months. Recommended materials include the "1100 Words You Need to Know" and "Wordly Wise 3000" series. Make a habit of repetitive learning using flashcard apps like Quizlet or Anki.
Strategy for Analogies: These are "A is to B as C is to ?" style questions that test your ability to identify relationship patterns (synonym/antonym, part-to-whole, cause-and-effect, etc.). In addition to vocabulary, they require logical reasoning skills, and training in pattern recognition is effective.
Quantitative Strategy — A "Scoring Opportunity" for Many International Students
The SSAT math section covers topics from middle school level arithmetic and mathematics (operations, fractions/decimals, ratios/proportions, basic algebra, fundamental geometry, basic probability/statistics). For students who have received a strong math education, such as in the Japanese system, the content itself is not difficult.
The challenge is reading the math terms in English. If you can memorize math-specific English vocabulary beforehand—such as integer, fraction, ratio, equation, perpendicular, and circumference—you can aim for a high score or even a perfect score.
The math section is a key advantage for students with strong quantitative skills, and the basic strategy is to maximize your score here to compensate for potential losses in the Verbal section.
Reading Section Strategy
You will be tested on passages (around 250-350 words each) from various genres, including literature, social sciences, natural sciences, and historical documents. A balance of reading speed and inference skills is crucial. The most effective preparation is to build a habit of reading English articles (e.g., National Geographic Kids, Newsela) and fiction daily to increase your reading speed.
Writing Sample Strategy
While this section does not affect your score, it is sent to the admissions offices of the schools you apply to. Practice writing a "five-paragraph essay" (Introduction → 3 Body Paragraphs → Conclusion) in 25 minutes. A clear logical structure and specific examples are valued more than perfect grammar.
ISEE Upper Level: Content and Strategy
Section Breakdown
Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
Verbal Reasoning | 40 questions | 20 min |
Quantitative Reasoning | 37 questions | 35 min |
Reading Comprehension | 36 questions | 35 min |
Mathematics Achievement | 47 questions | 40 min |
Essay | 1 prompt | 30 min |
Difficulty Differences Compared to the SSAT
The ISEE math is a two-section format (Quantitative Reasoning + Mathematics Achievement = 84 questions / 75 min total), which covers a broader range and has more questions than the SSAT math (50 questions / 60 min). Therefore, the overall math difficulty is slightly higher on the ISEE.
On the other hand, the ISEE's vocabulary section does not include Analogies and consists of Synonyms + Sentence Completion, making it more approachable than the SSAT Verbal section.
The ISEE has no guessing penalty. You won't lose points for wrong answers, so be sure to mark an option for every question, even if you run out of time.
Strategy for Limited Attempts
The ISEE can only be taken once in each of the three seasons: Fall (Aug-Nov), Winter (Dec-Mar), and Spring/Summer (Apr-Jul). Since the Spring/Summer season is after application deadlines, it is effectively useless for applications. This means you have **one chance in the Fall + one chance in the Winter = 2 attempts.**
Plan to take your first test in the Fall season (around Oct-Nov) and retake it in the Winter season (Dec-Jan) if your score is not sufficient.
How to Take the Test in Japan
SSAT Test Centers in Japan
- ASIJ (American School in Japan) — Chofu, Tokyo
- St. Mary's International School — Yokohama
- Nagoya International School (NIS) — Nagoya
Standard paper-based tests are offered six times a year (October to March). Check the official SSAT website (ssat.org) for dates.
How to Take the ISEE in Japan
Paper-based ISEE tests are primarily administered by individual schools in Japan, making test centers extremely limited. For residents of Japan, the following options are more realistic:
- Prometric Test Centers — Tokyo (Ochanomizu Sola City), Nagoya (Meieki-mae), Osaka (Nakatsu)
- At-Home (Online) — Register on the ERB website. Offered nearly every weekend during the fall season.
Recommended Test Formats
The expert recommendation is: Paper-based (at a school) > Prometric > At-Home. While At-Home testing is managed by a remote proctor, there can be issues with internet connectivity and inconsistent proctor quality. For reliability, we recommend taking the test at a Prometric center.
The Relationship Between SSAT/ISEE and TOEFL/IELTS
The "Two-Test System" for Non-Native Speakers
Many US boarding schools require non-native English speakers to submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores in addition to the SSAT/ISEE. The SSAT/ISEE measures "academic aptitude," while the TOEFL/IELTS measures "English proficiency"; they are evaluated on different axes.
A typical required TOEFL iBT score is around 80-100 (varies by school).
Priorities for Non-Native English Speakers
If English proficiency is still developing (TOEFL iBT below 60): Focus on TOEFL prep first to build a foundational English ability. You cannot tackle the SSAT Verbal section without an English level equivalent to at least TOEFL iBT 80.
If English proficiency is CEFR B2 or higher (TOEFL iBT 80+): You are ready to begin serious preparation for the SSAT vocabulary section. In parallel, start learning the English terminology for the math section.
Score Benchmarks and Top School Requirements
SSAT Score Benchmarks
School Tier | Percentile Goal | Total Score Goal |
|---|---|---|
Top-tier schools (Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, Choate, etc.) | 85th–95th percentile or higher | Approx. 2000+ |
Highly selective schools | 75th–85th percentile | Approx. 1900+ |
Competitive schools | 60th–75th percentile | Approx. 1800+ |
ISEE Score Benchmarks
Tier | Stanine Goal |
|---|---|
Top-tier schools | Stanine 7–9 |
Highly selective schools | Stanine 6–7 |
Competitive schools | Stanine 5–6 |
Remember that scores aren't everything. Admissions offices at top-tier schools explicitly state that "test scores are only one part of a holistic review that includes transcripts, recommendations, essays, interviews, and extracurricular activities." Even if you don't score in the 90th percentile, you can still be admitted if you make a strong impression in your interview and essays.
Designing Your Test Schedule — A Reverse Timeline
Typical Schedule for Grade 9 Entry
Time | To-Do |
|---|---|
Spring of G7 (approx. 2 years before entry) | Start TOEFL prep. Begin SSAT vocabulary building for "30 minutes a day." |
Summer of G7 | Experience boarding school life by attending a summer program. |
Fall of G7 (Oct-Nov) | Take the SSAT for the first time (to establish a baseline). |
Winter G7 to Spring G8 | Work on weak areas. Repeat practice tests. Finalize school list. |
Summer of G8 | Attend a summer program at a target school (as a pre-interview touchpoint). |
Fall of G8 (October) | Take the SSAT officially (aiming for the best score). |
Fall of G8 (Nov-Dec) | Retake if necessary. Prepare essays and request letters of recommendation. |
Winter of G8 (January) | Application deadlines. Send scores. |
Spring of G8 (March) | Admissions decisions released (many schools on March 10, "Notification Day"). |
When to start: Ideally, begin preparations 1.5 to 2 years before entry. Building vocabulary takes at least six months, so it's never too early to start.
Recommended Materials & Resources
Official Materials (Top Priority)
SSAT: EMA's official "SSAT Guide Books" (each contains 4 full-length practice tests for Upper/Middle levels). SSAT Practice Online (official online practice tests, annual subscription from $70).
ISEE: ERB's official "What to Expect on the ISEE" (free download for each level). ERB's official Sample Tests (free).
Prep Books (Commercial)
Material | Features | Recommended Level |
|---|---|---|
Kaplan SSAT & ISEE Prep | Detailed explanations. Score guarantee. | Beginner to Intermediate |
Princeton Review Cracking the SSAT & ISEE | Strategic approach. | Intermediate to Advanced |
Barron's SSAT/ISEE | Comprehensive. Large volume of questions. | Intermediate |
IvyGlobal SSAT Practice | SSAT-specific. Higher difficulty. | Advanced |
Vocabulary Building
The standard choices are "1100 Words You Need to Know" and the "Wordly Wise 3000" series. Make a habit of repetitive learning with flashcard apps like Quizlet and Anki. The goal is to add about 2,000 words to your vocabulary by studying 30 minutes a day for six months.
Online Resources
Be sure to utilize Khan Academy (excellent for practicing math in English), the EMA's official SSAT mini-test (free), and the ERB's official ISEE practice tests (free).
Summary: The First 3 Steps for SSAT/ISEE Prep
① Check which test your target schools require—the SSAT or the ISEE. Search for "standardized testing requirements" on their admissions pages.
② Take an official practice test to gauge your current level. Complete the free mini-test on the SSAT website or one of the ISEE Sample Tests, record your scores for each section, and identify your weakest area.
③ Start building your vocabulary for "30 minutes every day," starting today. Vocabulary takes the longest to develop and has the most direct impact on your score. Buy a copy of "1100 Words You Need to Know" and start working on it today.
At ELT, we offer comprehensive support, from online lessons for SSAT/ISEE prep to essay and interview coaching for boarding school applications. Feel free to contact us with any questions, such as "My SSAT verbal score isn't improving" or "I'm not sure whether to take the ISEE or the SSAT."
