SSAT and ISEE preparation
One-to-one preparation for students applying to independent and boarding schools.
Who I work with
The SSAT and ISEE fall in the middle of a stressful admissions season. I prepare students for the test and help parents plan the timeline.
Many independent day schools ask for the ISEE.
Boarding schools often ask for the SSAT and weigh it alongside interviews and essays.
Students who know the material but have not taken a long, timed test before.
This is an area I focus on. With the right pacing, preparation can build confidence instead of dread.
Levels
Both tests have levels based on the student's grade.
ISEE: applying to grades 5 and 6
SSAT Elementary covers students currently in grades 3 and 4. I build the vocabulary and math reasoning these tests cover, with extra attention to stamina for young test takers.
ISEE: applying to grades 7 and 8
SSAT Middle covers students currently in grades 5 to 7. Sessions combine content review with pacing and strategy.
ISEE: applying to grades 9 to 12
SSAT Upper covers students currently in grades 8 to 11. This is the hardest level, with more advanced math and longer reading passages.
What is included
Every SSAT and ISEE student receives the following.
A baseline test at the student's level, which I use to build the plan.
The verbal sections test vocabulary heavily. I teach it in small, regular doses that younger students retain.
The math often includes topics students have not seen in school yet. I teach them at a manageable pace.
Both exams include an unscored writing sample that schools read. I prepare the student to write well under timed conditions.
Younger students often have not sat for a long exam before. I rehearse the format with them until it feels familiar.
I keep parents updated on progress without adding to the pressure at home.
The approach
Younger students need a different approach. The material is demanding, so I keep sessions calm and encouraging.
I increase the difficulty gradually, so students walk into the exam feeling ready.
A ten-year-old learns differently from a fifteen-year-old, and I teach each one accordingly.
Many students finish with better study habits that carry over into school.
Score targets are set based on where the student is applying.
SSAT or ISEE
Many schools accept either test, and some require one. I help families choose during planning.
| SSAT | ISEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Administering body | Enrollment Management Association | Educational Records Bureau |
| Most common at | Boarding schools and many day schools | Independent day schools |
| Sections | Quantitative, Verbal, Reading, Writing | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading, Math Achievement, Essay |
| Scoring penalty for wrong answers | Yes (at Middle and Upper levels) | No |
| How often a student may take it | Multiple times within an admissions season | Once per season, up to three times a year |
Schedule a free, no-obligation Strategies for Success call to begin the process.
Schedule a strategy session