Admissions Interview
Kevin Ninomiya
808-227-9375
ninomiyak001@hawaii.rr.com

In the past two years, 86 students (15 for Fourth Grade Punahou Entrance, 59 for Sixth / Seventh Grade Entrance, 12 for Ninth Grade Entrance) went through my private school admission prep program. To date, 71 were accepted or waitlisted at Punahou, Iolani and/or Kamehameha Schools. I believe this to be a good success rate given the high applicant to acceptee ratios at these institutions.

 

Link: SSAT Website

 

Link: SSAT Vocabulary Practice (Answers on Last Page)

 

Link: Sample SSAT Lower Level Exam (Entering Grades 6 thru 8)


 

SSAT Lower Level (Entering Grades 6 thru 8) Acceptance Range

Test-takers are penalized ¼-point for each incorrect response. 

 

Section

Time Allowed

Number of Multiple Choice Questions

Approximate minimum number correct needed to get into the "acceptance range" at Oahu’s top private schools.

Entering Grade 6

Entering Grade 7

Entering Grade 8

Reading

40 Min.

40

23

25

28

Math 1

30 Min.

25

31

35

38

Math 2

30 Min.

25

Verbal

30 Min.

60

29

33

36

 

SSAT Upper Level (Entering Grades 9 thru 11) Acceptance Range

Test-takers are penalized ¼-point for each incorrect response. 

Section

Time Allowed

Number of Multiple Choice Questions

Approximate minimum number 

correct needed to get into the "acceptance range" at Oahu’s top private schools.

Entering Grade 9

Entering Grade 10

Entering Grade 11

Reading

40 Min.

40

24

28

32

Math 1

30 Min.

25

28

34

35

Math 2

30 Min.

25

Verbal

30 Min.

60

30

37

40

 

Scoring within the "acceptance range" does not assure admittance. Also, many applicants who've scored near but below the "acceptance range" with strong teacher reports, interviews, writing samples and/or letters of recommendation have been accepted. I arrived at these "minimum number correct" figures after comparing hundreds of SSAT scores with the test results of students who'd been accepted / waitlisted at Oahu's top private schools. With these figures, I assume the child has not gone "hogwild" with guessing on the test. 

 

 

Arguably the most important factor in SSAT test preparation is the usage of relevant study materials. While it is reasonably simple to find intelligent and enthusiastic test preparation instructors, it is relatively difficult to obtain study materials that systematically and efficiently prepare a ten to thirteen year old for an intensive and multifaceted national private school entrance exam. 

 

Using my years of experience developing training guides for a national test preparation company and manuals for database training / electronic grade-check systems for the Department of Education, I have created SSAT study materials that closely approximate the sequence, scope, phrasing and difficulty level of actual exams. I have accomplished this through years of meticulous research into individual SSAT test questions and through information acquired from former test participants.  

 

Students will also be trained for the admissions interview / essay using actual admissions interview questions. Demeanor, assertiveness, and responsiveness are essential to implant a positive impression on the admissions committee. In addition, students will receive instruction on idea formulation, organization, grammar and syntax in preparation for the writing sample required at many of Oahu's private schools.

 

Links to Admissions Information:

Iolani

Punahou

Mid-Pac

Kamehameha

Maryknoll

Hawaii Baptist

St. Louis

Sacred Hearts                

 

 

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