Meet Ilyas
Meet Ilyas
We are excited to introduce you to Ilyas, one of our amazing 2024 scholars! By remaining persistent, Ilyas increased his score on the SSAT by 12.5%!
Academically, Ilyas is drawn to math and history the most. He explained that while math isn’t his favorite subject, he appreciates the fact that it’s a subject he’s skilled in. His true passion, however, lies in history. Ilyas is fascinated by social studies and the way that a historical narrative unfolds. “I really like stories that people tell,” he said, “and how you get to interpret it.”
When he isn’t at school, Ilyas enjoys staying active with both fencing and soccer. In addition to sports, Ilyas is a talented musician. “I play piano and cello,” he shared, adding that he enjoys making music in his “music household,” as his brother plays the violin.
Preparation
For Ilyas, the SSAT’s reading section proved to be a serious challenge. “I struggled in the beginning,” he explained. However, the Test Innovators practice exercises, especially the reading questions, became instrumental in his improvement.
Additionally, taking practice tests helped Ilyas become familiar with the exam’s layout, pacing, and how to approach challenging questions. Ilyas was able to put key test-taking strategies into practice as well. “Like if I’m stuck on a question, I can move on and come back to it,” he shared.
If he were to prepare for the SSAT again, Ilyas said that he would focus on starting early and remaining consistent. “I started to take it more seriously near the end,” he shared, but he believes that he would have achieved an even higher score if he started earlier.
Advice for Students and Parents
When asked what advice he has for students currently preparing for the SSAT, Ilyas stressed the importance of exposing yourself to plenty of material. “Take advantage of as many resources as you can,” Ilyas shared. He also encourages students to spend plenty of time focusing on enhancing their vocabulary to succeed in the Verbal section.
Jessica, Ilyas’s mom, also had some key advice for parents going through the process. “Practicing early and routinely is probably a much smoother path than trying to cram at the end,” she said. Jessica also emphasized that practicing test-taking strategies and understanding the test’s format ahead of time are just as important as focusing on content.
New School
Ilyas is now attending The Commonwealth School in Boston, Massachusetts as a 9th grader. Commonwealth’s fencing team was an especially exciting discovery for Ilyas, and he looks forward to joining!
Ilyas’s passion for learning helped him to succeed on the SSAT, and we’re sure that it will continue to take him far. We wish him the best of luck at The Commonwealth School this year!
Test Innovators is Here to Help
Test Innovators is committed to helping students gain admission to their top-choice schools. We prepare students for the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT, equipping them with the skills they need to perform their best on test day. Our practice platform offers a personalized experience, allowing students to focus on areas of improvement and achieve their target scores.
In addition to test preparation, Test Innovators supports students and families throughout the entire admissions process to independent and private schools. Our Admissions Assist courses provide step-by-step guidance, from researching schools to navigating waitlists, and everything in between.
