We require prospective students to submit either Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) or Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) scores, as they provide the admissions committee with a standard metric among applicants. We consider test scores within the context of each applicant’s overall application and educational background. Deadline: February 1.

Commonwealth’s SSAT code is 2542, and our ISEE code is 220222.

If students have taken any other standardized tests—MCAS, ERB, MAP, etc.—during middle school, we encourage them to share those results, too. Typically, upon request, a student's current school can send these score reports directly to Commonwealth.

Information on the SSAT

Please see below for details on testing options. Students are welcome to take the SSAT in whatever format they wish. If the SSAT registration fee poses a financial challenge for your family, please do not hesitate to contact us for a fee waiver.

We welcome (but do not require) students who have taken the Character Skills Snapshot, an online character development assessment through SSAT, to share their reports with us.

SSAT Testing Options for Domestic Applicants

• Paper-Based SSAT: Paper-based testing will be available for the 2022–2023 school year, and registration opens on August 1.
• Computer-Based SSAT at Prometric Test Center: Students may take a computer-based version of the SSAT at a local Prometric Test Center location.
• Computer-Based SSAT at Home: A secure, browser-based version of the SSAT will be available.

SSAT Testing Options for International Applicants*

• Please note that SSAT options vary from country to country; you will find a partial list of offerings here. We encourage you to contact us with questions.
• Paper-Based SSAT: Paper-based testing will be available for the 2022–2023 school year, and registration opens on August 1.
• Computer-Based SSAT at Prometric Test Center: Location permitting, students may take a computer-based version of the SSAT at a local Prometric Test Center location. Please note that this option is not available to students in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, and Myanmar.

*Unless they attend a school in which English is the primary language of instruction, international applicants should plan to take the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to the SSAT. Learn more about admission for international students.

Commonwealth requires recommendations from three current teachers:

• One from an English teacher; 
• One from a math teacher; and
• One from your head of school, principal, guidance counselor, or placement counselor.

Recommendations should be submitted through Ravenna's online recommendation system; directions can be found in your Ravenna application portal.

Personal recommendations—from a music instructor, coach, past teacher, etc.—are accepted but not required. Should you wish to include a personal recommendation, please limit yourself to one.

Deadline: February 1.

We ask applicants to complete Ravenna's transcript release form, which they will turn in to their current school. Please note that, as this is a shared form amongst the Boston-area institutions that use Ravenna, it is only necessary to submit the form, which you will find in your Ravenna application portal, to your current school once; simply check off all of the Ravenna schools to which you plan to apply.

Transcripts should include full-year grades for 2021–2022 and partial-year grades for 2022–2023. Many schools will also include grades from 2020–2021, which we gladly accept. School administrators should either upload transcripts to Ravenna or send them directly to Commonwealth by email (admissions@commschool.org) or mail (151 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116). Deadline: February 1.

We ask applicants to submit a writing sample that they have written this school year and that meets the following requirements:

• It should come from an English, history, or social studies class.
• It can be either a draft or the final version.
• While it does not have to be graded, it should include some kind of teacher feedback in the form of a completed rubric, comments, etc.
• If it’s not possible to submit an essay from this school year, please select a piece of writing from the second semester of last school year.
• It should be uploaded to your Ravenna account; you will find instructions in your application portal.

Deadline: February 1.