ISEE vs. SSAT?

[TerriM]

Any opinions on ISEE vs. SSAT for a gifted 8th grader?  He's finished up through Precalc, and is not as strong in English as Math, but still decent (his English SAT score was only 60 points lower than his math score last year).

 

Given that any private schools we apply to will probably be on the gifted side, I'm wondering if one is better than the other for demonstrating high-level skills.

 

Also, I read this:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-mallory/isee-or-ssat-choose-wisely_b_3853168.html

 

and thought that the risk-averse on guessing might be a consideration (although being a math-kid, he certainly understands the "I've narrowed it to two answers, therefore I should choose one and I'll come out ahead statistically."

 

PS: One consideration might be that we could be moving across country.  So far the two schools I've looked into both accept ISEE and SSAT, but if there's a part of the country that only accepts one that would be important to know.

Edited September 13, 2017 by TerriM

[mathnerd]

In the West coast, ISEE is more popular than the SSAT for entrance into private schools from what I have seen.

[Lucy the Valiant]

In New England, the boarding schools mostly prefer the SSAT (which is a "junior cousin" to the older SAT 2005 - 2015), and day schools mostly prefer the ISEE (which is theoretically more like the ACT). There's a lot of overlap, though. And both tests have prep materials readily available at Barnes & Noble, etc.

 

Editing to add: The SSAT has an analogies section, which is sometimes new to kids. 

Edited September 13, 2017 by Lucy the Valiant

[TerriM]

Oh fount of knowledge......  Paper or Online for the ISEE?