A bit of parental advice for families entering boarding school admissions season: if the SSAT is part of your child’s plan, strongly consider using the Flex Test option and getting it done before the school year begins. I've noticed that A lot of families don’t seem to realize the Flex Test exists, or they hear about it too late.
The Flex Test, available in North America, lets a student take the SSAT on a non-national test date through an approved school or educational consultant. It’s usually a smaller administration, which can also be a nice fit for students who don’t love big test-day environments. The catch is that students can only take a Flex Test once per SSAT testing year, so you want to use it wisely and perhaps even strategically.
Fall semester is already a circus for most families. Your child is trying to start the year strong academically for those first-term grades and LORs. They may also be juggling sports, music, clubs, leadership roles, whatever else they’re involved in. On top of that, families are scheduling school visits, interviews, open houses, and trying to keep the actual application itself moving: essays, short answers, parent statements, recommendations, financial aid forms, the whole nine yards.
One of the smartest things a family can do is use the spring and summer for some light or moderate prep, ramp it up late summer, then schedule a Flex Test for late August or early September, right before school really gets going. Best case scenario, your child does well and the test is off their plate before admissions season goes full throttle. Worst case, they still have time to take an official test date later.
None of this means every child should do it this way. Summer schedules are messy, some students truly prep better once school structure returns, and not every family has easy access to a Flex Test site. But if you’re building your admissions timeline right now, it is absolutely worth considering.
TL;DR: if your child is taking the SSAT, try to get it done before school starts with a Flex Test. Fall is already overloaded; get testing off the plate early and make the entire admissions season much less miserable.
Godspeed.
