Students applying for grades 6 – 12 are required to take an admissions test as part of the application process. We require the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) but under certain circumstances we can accept a recent ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) in lieu of the SSAT.

OES is a member of a consortium of Portland-area schools that administer and use the SSAT as part of the admissions process. Local students may take the SSAT at any of the Portland locations listed below, regardless of where they are applying for admission, and have scores sent to them and to the school(s) they designate.

Local applicants may register for the SSAT online at www.ssat.org/oregon. When registering you will need to know:
1. Date of the test
2. Test center location and its school code
3. School code(s) for the school(s) where you would like the scores to be sent. The OES School Code is 5572.

Applicants living outside the Portland area may take the SSAT at any SSAT test location. (Check www.ssat.org for national and international dates and locations.)

Please remember that to be considered for OES admission, you must take the test in November, December, January or February. Please note that some test dates have registration deadlines three weeks before the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does it matter where I take the test?

NO, you may take the test at any location worldwide. Just indicate that you would like the results sent to OES by entering our school code (5572) when you register.

2. Does it matter when I take the test?

YES, you must take the test by February 21, 2009, in order to be considered for admission to OES. Our application deadline for admission is February 2, 2009, but you may take the test as late as February 21 and the results will get to us before our admissions committees meet.

If you are a late applicant, you may take the test on one of the dates listed in March or April, or contact the OES Admissions Office (503-768-3115) for alternate arrangements.

3. Can I register for the test by mail or fax?

Yes and no – it depends upon which date you plan to take the test.

YES. If you plan to register for one of the following national / International dates, you may register online, by mail or fax:
October 11
November 8
December 13
January 10
February 7
March 7
April 18

NO. If you plan to register for one of the following flex test dates in Portland, you must register online:
January 24
February 1
February 21

4. How do I obtain an admission ticket?

If you register online, you should print out your own admission ticket as part of the registration process.

If you register by mail or fax, SSAT will send you an admission ticket by mail or e-mail within one week of registration.

5. Is there a deadline for registration?

Yes and no.

YES. Most dates have a registration deadline three weeks before the test date. After that date there is an additional $25 late fee. The late registration deadline is two weeks before the test date. After the late registration deadline, you pay a $55 late fee. You are on “standby” status and there is no guarantee that you will be able to take the test that day. You will find out at registration that morning if there are testing space and materials available for you.

NO. For the three Portland-only dates (January 24, February 1, and February 21), there is no registration deadline and there are no late fees involved. However, if you are hoping to register later than 10 days before the test, before registering please call the school administering the test to be sure there will be enough room and test materials for your student.

6. Do I need to order Preparing and Applying for Independent School Admission and the SSAT for $25 to prepare for the test?

NO. You do not need to prepare specifically for this test. This is a standard multiple-choice test in reading and math plus a writing sample. Sample questions are provided on the SSAT opening web page under “Sample Questions” and in the SSAT Student Registration Guide.

Please remember that the SSAT tests applicants who are currently in grades 5 – 11, so the questions will represent a range of difficulty. The sample questions shown are there to show the types of questions asked. Questions on the actual test will be geared to the age taking the test.

7. What are the hours of the test?

The Portland administrations of the SSAT will run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 12:45 p.m. There will be two short breaks. Please arrive between 8:30 and 8:45.

Other national and international locations may have a different schedule.

8. Do I need to bring anything to the test?

YES. Bring the following items:
1. Your SSAT admission ticket
2. 2 sharpened #2 pencils
3. A good eraser
4. A water bottle
5. A light snack

9. Do all applicants for grades 6 – 12 take the same test?

NO, there are two levels of the test, one for applicants to grades 6 – 8 and one for applicants to grades 9 – 12. Within each group, scores will be scaled based on grade level.

10. How will I learn my scores?

SSAT will send you your scores approximately two and a half weeks after the test.

11. How will my scores be reported to the schools?

At the time of registration, you may designate two schools to receive your scores. This service is included in your registration fee. For additional scores reports, there is an additional fee. Please enter the OES code (5572) if you would like your scores sent to us.

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