The SSAT writing sample: prompts, tips, and how to practice
For Middle and Upper Level students and their parents: what schools receive, and how to get ready for it.
Last updated September 27, 2026.
The short answer
- Students get 25 minutes to write one response, usually choosing between two prompts.
- It is not scored, but a copy goes to every school that receives the score report.
- Middle Level prompts are usually a story starter or a personal topic. Upper Level prompts are usually a personal topic or a question to take a position on.
What the writing sample is
The writing sample is the first section on test day. It does not affect the student's SSAT scores. A copy is sent with the score report, and admission readers can use it to see how a student writes on their own, in a set amount of time, with no help. That makes it a useful part of the application and worth practicing. Depending on the test format, students write by hand on paper or type on a computer.
Middle Level and Upper Level prompts
| Level | Prompt type | What it asks for |
|---|---|---|
| Middle | Story starter | Begin a story with a given sentence and take it somewhere. |
| Middle | Personal topic | Write about a person, moment, or experience from your own life. |
| Upper | Personal essay | Reflect on an experience and what it taught you. |
| Upper | Position essay | Take a side on a question and support it with reasons and examples. |
What makes a strong writing sample
These are the four things SSAT Coach's feedback looks at, and they are the qualities a reader notices first.
- Ideas and content: it answers the prompt directly, with a clear point and specific details. One specific story is stronger than three general ones.
- Organization: a clear beginning, middle, and end, with each paragraph leading into the next.
- Voice and style: words chosen with care and sentences of different lengths, so it sounds like the student.
- Conventions: spelling, grammar, and punctuation that stay out of the reader's way.
A plan for the 25 minutes
| Step | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Choose and plan | About 4 min | Pick the prompt you have a specific story or opinion for. Jot down your main point and two or three details. |
| Write | About 17 min | Start right away with the story or the main point, and skip the long introduction. Aim for three to five paragraphs. |
| Reread | About 4 min | Fix spelling and punctuation, and check that the ending ties back to the prompt. |
Practice prompts
These prompts were written for this page in the style of the SSAT. Set a timer for 25 minutes and try one.
Middle Level
- Use this sentence to begin a story: The note taped to my locker was in my own handwriting, but I had never written it.
- Use this sentence to begin a story: Every dog on our street started barking at exactly the same moment.
- Write about an ordinary object that means a lot to you, and explain why.
- Describe a time you helped someone without being asked, and explain what happened next.
Upper Level
- Write about a question you cannot stop thinking about, and explain why it matters to you.
- Describe a person your age whom you admire, and explain what you have learned by watching them.
- Should students be allowed to use phones during lunch at school? Take a position and support it with reasons and examples.
- Is it better to have a few close friends or a wide circle of friends? Argue for one view and support it with examples.
How SSAT Coach helps with this
In SSAT Coach, students write under the same 25-minute clock and choose from two prompts at their level. Right after they submit, the essay comes back with:
- a score from 1 to 6 on Ideas & Content, Organization, Voice & Style, and Conventions;
- for each one, a specific strength from the student's own essay and one thing to try next;
- a sample sentence or a before-and-after rewrite built from the student's own words;
- a short summary of what they did well and what to try next.
The free plan includes one graded essay, and Full Access includes up to 20 graded essays during its 90 days. The grades are for practice and tracking progress, since the SSAT writing sample itself is not scored.
Full-length and timed, for the Middle or Upper Level. No credit card.
Common questions
Is the SSAT writing sample scored?
No. It does not affect the student's SSAT scores. A copy is sent to the schools that receive the score report.
Do schools read the SSAT writing sample?
Schools receive it with the score report, and many use it to see how a student writes on their own in a set time. How much weight it gets varies from school to school.
How long should the SSAT essay be?
There is no required length. In 25 minutes, three to five focused paragraphs is a good target. A complete, organized piece matters more than a long one.
Can you type the SSAT writing sample?
It depends on the format. Students taking a computer-based or at-home test type it, and students taking the paper test write it by hand.