Meet Ryan

Meet Ryan

We are pleased to introduce Ryan, one of our 2020 scholars. Ryan’s perseverance and dedication allowed him to increase his SSAT score by 51 percentile points, scoring in the 81st percentile overall.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys rowing. As a coxswain, he is the person responsible for coordinating and steering the boat. Ryan also leads a sustainability club. One of his notable projects was organizing a marker-recycling program, which allowed him to engage and educate younger students. Additionally, Ryan likes technology, specifically understanding how computers and other electronic devices work.

In school, Ryan has always been “a math and science person.” This last year, however, he really enjoyed English because he had a great teacher. Ryan explained that he enjoys school in general, so there isn’t one subject he likes more than the others.

Preparation

Ryan started preparation early, but he didn’t get his desired scores the first time he took the test. He continued to prepare diligently, using Test Innovators practice tests. Ryan explained that simulating the testing experience with the practice tests was very beneficial. Ryan found the Test Innovators platform’s detailed analysis to be very helpful in identifying exactly what areas needed improvement.

Throughout the preparation process, Ryan learned test-taking strategies and skills. He said, “I even used some of the skills I learned from Test Innovators on actual tests for school.”

Advice for Students

Ryan’s advice for other students preparing for the test is to “stay focused.” He explained that shorter, focused practice sessions are more effective than longer, distracted practice sessions. Ryan also emphasized the importance of starting preparation early, so that you don’t have to cram. Ryan encourages others to remember that although the process is challenging, it is also very rewarding.

New School

Ryan is attending 9th grade at Lawrence Academy as a day student. He was immediately drawn to the school’s beautiful, expansive campus, and he ultimately chose to go to Lawrence because he knew it was a place where he would thrive. Ryan is especially excited about participating in rowing.