SSAT Writing Sample
About the SSAT Writing Sample
The first section of the SSAT is a timed writing sample.
The prompts vary by test level, with Upper and Middle level students choosing between two differing prompts, and Elementary level students being asked to write a story based on a visual prompt. Upper and Middle level students have 25 minutes to complete their essay, while Elementary level students have 15 minutes to write their story.
How is the Writing Sample scored?
Even though the EMA does not score the writing sample, it is evaluated by individual schools. This review process is different for each school, and many schools do score the essays internally.
The common thread that schools are evaluating for is whether the student’s writing is on-par with grade level expectations, or if it is an area that could require additional assistance if they are admitted. Some of the specific criteria that schools tend to look for include:
- Adherence to the writing prompt
- Correct structure, including an introduction, body, and conclusion
- Clarity: Is there a consistent thesis throughout the essay? Does the student provide examples to support their argument?
- Writing style: Does the student present a strong voice? Is their writing varied or repetitive? Are there any major issues with grammar or punctuation?
- Originality: does the student present a strong, unique voice?
What kind of prompts should I expect?
Upper Level students will select between one personal or one general question prompt.
- Example Prompt 1:
- If you were making a documentary, what topic would be the focus of your film? Why do you think it’s important for people to know about this?
- Do you think students should be required to study a world language? Why or why not?
- Example Prompt 2:
- If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?
- Name a challenge facing the community where you live. How could it be fixed?
Middle Level students will choose between one creative story starter or one personal question prompt. The creative starter (option “a” below) is usually an abstract prompt
- Example Prompt 1:
- I had never seen such a creature in my entire life!
- Describe a time when you needed help. What did you need help with and how did you get the help that you needed?
- Example Prompt 2:
- “Are you going to eat that?” she asked.
- How can food connect us to family, friends, and new people we meet?
Elementary Level students will be shown a random image and be asked to make up a story about what happened that includes a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can practice by showing your student any age-appropriate image that they have not seen before and ask them to write a story about what happened in the image.
What topic should I choose for the prompt I receive?
It is important to consider your audience – the admissions board at your school of choice – when choosing a topic for the SSAT writing sample.
You will want to consider how you would like to portray yourself to the people who will be reviewing your application. You likely don’t want to choose a topic that will make you sound mean, insensitive, or out of touch with your fellow students.
It is a good idea to brainstorm a few different topics for each prompt before you start writing. If your topic was something along the lines of “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you decide to live and why?”, you could use this to relate back to a story about your life (you could share a story about a time that you went to a beautiful place), or describe things that you are passionate about (you would choose to live in the mountains because you are interested in that ecosystem). You may want to steer clear of a response that paints you in a negative light, such as cutting yourself off from communities or prioritizing materialistic desires (such as living in a secluded mansion with a garage full of sports cars, for example).
If you’re unsure what to write or don’t have an experience that directly relates to a given prompt, that’s okay. You can include that in your essay as a starting point. However, you’ll want to make sure that you do address the prompt you choose. Let’s say you are given these two prompts to choose from:
- Is there a social media influencer or pop culture icon that has impacted you, and why?
- Has social media had an overall positive or negative impact on society?
However, you do not use social media. This could likely help you eliminate option one. You could begin your response to option two by saying something along the lines of “While I myself don’t use social media, it has had some major effects on society and the world around me…” and continue on from there.
The important thing is to not allow the prompt to delay your writing process. You only have so much time, use it as best as you can.
Interested in learning about the other sections of the SSAT? Check out our section-specific blog posts!
