If your student is thinking about attending a certain private or independent school, then they can use some assistance with a Varsity Tutors ISEE preparation service. You may already know how effective ISEE test prep can be if you've ever looked up "ISEE help near me" online. The Independent School Entrance Exam, or ISEE, is a test independent and private schools use to see if prospective students can handle their rigorous coursework. Do you feel that your student can benefit from ISEE tutoring? Then please reach out to us to learn more about our ISEE test preparation services.
Why Take the ISEE Exam?
The Independent School Entrance Examination is commonly taken by elementary, middle, and high school students who are applying to competitive private schools. The point of the exam is to give these schools a chance to assess the academic skill sets of the students who are applying there. Earning a strong ISEE score could make your child a more attractive candidate for admission at the school they're most interested in attending. That's why having a strong ISEE test prep plan is important in the lead up to your student's upcoming exam. If you'd like to get your student some extra help with their study plan, you don't need to look up "ISEE tutoring near me" online. Instead, you can easily get started with your child's own ideal ISEE test prep plan by contacting Varsity Tutors today.
ISEE Exam Eligibility Requirements
There are few requirements that your student must satisfy before they can sign up to take the ISEE. It is, however, important that you register them for their test day early because they can fill up quickly. Getting your student signed up for their preferred exam day early can give you the peace of mind that they're on track to take their test by the time it's required to complete the admissions process at the private school they're applying to.
You can easily sign your child up to take the ISEE by visiting the Educational Records Bureau's registration web page. When you're doing this, make sure that you're signing your student up for the correct exam level. Doing this will avoid any delays associated with having to change the test your student is signed up to take at the last minute.
The ISEE is an easy exam to sign up for because of its lack of restrictive eligibility requirements. Outside of the considerations listed above, you should have no problem signing your student up to take the ISEE test they need in order to complete their private school application process. If you'd like help with the test registration process or want to learn more about ISEE requirements, consider reaching out to Varsity Tutors today.
Breaking Down the ISEE Exam
The ISEE exam has four levels: primary level (2nd-4th grade), lower level (5th-6th grade), middle level (7th-8th grade), and upper level (9th-12th grade). Each level comes with tests with multiple-choice questions that cover mathematics and reading topics, plus a writing prompt. (Students taking the primary level exam have to do a picture prompt instead of a writing prompt.) If your student is entering the 5th or 6th grade, here are some specific topics they need to know when taking the ISEE Lower Level exam:
- Vocabulary
- Sentence completion
- Quantitative word problems
- Identifying the main idea of a reading passage
- Drawing conclusions from a reading passage
- Numbers and operations
- Geometry
- Algebra
Is your student applying to a private or independent high school? Below are the details of the ISEE Upper Level exam:
|
ISEE Upper Level Sections |
# Questions |
Time Allowed (in minutes) |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
40 |
20 |
|
Quantitative Reasoning |
37 |
35 |
|
Reading Comprehension |
36 |
35 |
|
Math Achievement |
47 |
40 |
|
Essay |
1 Writing Prompt |
30 |
Whether your student needs to take the lower, middle, or upper level ISEE exam, they'll be asked to complete the same five test sections that are listed in the above table. However, the content of these sections may vary depending on your student's test level. Below, you'll find a brief look at what your student can expect to find in each of these test sections.
The first section of the ISEE exam, Verbal Reasoning, consists primarily of vocabulary questions. Thus, your student will need to have a strong understanding of vocabulary in order to do well on this part of the test. ISEE test prep assistance from Varsity Tutors can help your student build up their vocabulary if they could use some help with it.
The next exam section is called Quantitative Reasoning. This section consists mostly of math word problems. Again, signing up for ISEE test prep help from Varsity Tutors is a great way to get your student help with developing this skill set. Third, your student will also be asked to complete a Reading Comprehension test section. Here, they'll be asked to read complex passages and then demonstrate their understanding of those reading passages by answering a series of multiple-choice questions about the passages. The fourth and final multiple-choice section covers the topic of Math Achievement. This section will ask your student to solve math problems based on mathematics topics they would've learned about at their grade level.
Finally, your student will also be asked to complete an Essay while taking their ISEE exam. This test section, however, is not graded. Instead, your student's essay will be sent to the admissions directors at the schools they apply to. A strong ISEE essay is a great chance for your child to show off their writing abilities. It could influence the admission committee's final decision on your student's application as well. If your student could use some help with their writing skills, then ISEE test prep may be a good option.
As detailed above, the ISEE is a wide-ranging, comprehensive standardized exam. Even if your child already excels in most of the topics they'll be tested on, it can be very beneficial to have a refresher before utilizing their academic skill set on this important test. If you think your child would benefit from working with an ISEE test prep expert, then you don't need to search online for "ISEE test prep near me". Instead, consider reaching out to Varsity Tutors today. You can learn more about the various ISEE test prep options that you can choose from in the following section.
Varsity Tutors Can Help Your Student Study
You have a few different ISEE prep options to consider when deciding which one you'd like your child to pursue. The ISEE courses that you ultimately sign them up for should reflect their learning style and academic needs. You can get an in-depth look at each ISEE prep option by continuing to read below, or by speaking with an educational director today.
The first ISEE prep option you may be interested in for your child is private ISEE tutoring. Signing up for ISEE tutoring may be the right option for your student if they've previously done well when working directly with their educator. ISEE tutors offer the chance to get personalized feedback throughout the entire ISEE preparation process. Your student's ISEE tutors can set them up with a customized ISEE preparation plan that takes their specific needs into account. Your child will be able to work through each of these ISEE prep sessions at their own speed, stopping to get additional guidance from their ISEE prep instructor whenever they need it.
In our ISEE classes, your student receives one-on-one attention with an instructor who's an expert in their field. These ISEE tutors are knowledgeable in reading and math topics, so your student can ask them for assistance on anything that's troubling them. The personalization that your student will receive through their ISEE prep process could help them to create a more efficient ISEE test preparation plan.
What's great about our ISEE courses is that they assist gifted students. Maybe your student is studying for an ISEE Middle Level Exam, even though they're younger than the average junior high pupil. These ISEE class instructors are more than happy to nurture bright minds by helping them study challenging material. Does your student struggle with staying on task? In an ISEE course, a tutor can try to assist them with focusing on their studies by giving them handy time management advice. A tutor can also customize an ISEE prep session to suit your student's personal learning style. Pupils in our ISEE test prep programs can request a tutor to read a passage aloud or use slides if they feel it helps them absorb information better. We love the fact that our ISEE prep services can assist young students in several ways.
Another ISEE prep option you may want to consider is signing your student up for a small group-based ISEE class. This ISEE prep resource gives your child the chance to learn from an expert educator alongside a small group of peers. Taking an ISEE class may be right for your student if they've previously found success in the traditional classroom learning environment. In fact, ISEE classes combine the best of two different worlds. Your student will get all of the benefits of traditional ISEE classes with the convenience of online learning when they sign up to take a group ISEE course.
In fact, each of our ISEE test preparation options are flexible. We make every effort to connect you with an educator who is able to work around your child's schedule. This ensures that they can get the help they need preparing for their upcoming exam without having to worry about making any sacrifices in the other important parts of their lives. You can even sign your student up for an ISEE course that fits neatly into your own schedule.
Scoring the Independent School Entrance Examination
The ISEE has a percentile-based scoring system. This means that your student will earn both a raw score and a percentile rank for each test section they complete. For instance, if your child's raw score in their Math Achievement section was better than 80% of the other students who took the same level ISEE exam, they would earn an 80th percentile ranking for that section. This grading style was designed to give admissions committees a chance to see how the students who apply to their school compare to one another.
The majority, about 54%, of students who take the ISEE end up earning a percentile score somewhere between the 40th and 70th percentiles. Comparatively, about 23% of students score between the 1st and 30th percentiles. The same number, 23%, also score between the 70th and 90th percentiles. Taking ISEE courses can help your student develop the skills they need to be more confident while taking each part of the ISEE. If you think your student would benefit from ISEE courses, then consider contacting us today.
Getting Started
Like any standardized exam, taking the ISEE can be a challenging thing to do. However, your student doesn't have to go through the test preparation process alone. Instead, why not let Varsity Tutors help them get more out of their study sessions with the test preparation plan of their choice? We'd love to use our expertise in the test preparation industry to help your student feel more confident on the day of their exam.
If your student is approaching high school and wants to review anything for test, an ISEE test prep tutor is at their side to help them study. Your student can time themselves with a practice writing prompt or have an instructor drill them on math problems. Rather than spending time online looking up "ISEE help near me", you can easily get your child started with their own ideal test preparation plan by connecting with Varsity Tutors today.
Whatever the age of your student, the lessons they may learn in an ISEE prep program won't just help them now; they could benefit them greatly in the future, especially if they want to pursue higher education. Our ISEE test prep programs are all online, so your student doesn't need to leave home to engage in lessons. To get more information about our ISEE prep services, please contact Varsity Tutors today. Representatives are standing by to assist you in signing your student up for an ISEE test prep program.
Rebecca: ISEE test prep instructor
...rather that it sticks with you to build a solid foundation of knowledge and confidence that you can carry forward. My favorite subjects to tutor include English, SAT test preparation, math, and psychology. My approach to tutoring is to meet the student where they're at and go from there. I find that this way we...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Psychology
- University of Chicago SSA - Masters, Social Work
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- PSAT
- ACT
- +53 subjects
Erica: ISEE test prep instructor
...the past 10 years, I have tutored students of all ages and in a variety of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 mathematics. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. I am extremely passionate about teaching and work daily to improve my...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English; Latin Language and Literature
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +77 subjects
Ariela: ISEE test prep instructor
...as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- PSAT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- +50 subjects
Samantha: ISEE test prep instructor
...Law. For many years, I tutored a wide range of students in Spanish, English literature, and writing. I have also continued to help many high school seniors with college application essays. While I tutor a variety of subjects, I am very passionate about helping students improve their reading and writing skills, and I really enjoy...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Current Undergrad, Political Science & Legal Studies
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- ACT
- SSAT
- +36 subjects
Kelsey: ISEE test prep instructor
...a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Science at Montclair State University before going on to study her Master's of Business & Science in Analytics at Rutgers University. As a lifelong student, she loves tutoring to help others feel passionate about their own educational paths. Kelsey still attributes her academic successes to the...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACT
- SSAT
- GED
- +79 subjects
Kaan: ISEE test prep instructor
...of studying under my belt ready to get kids to want to learn. I pride myself getting students to be as confident in their answers, as I am in mine. My area of expertise ranges from algebra to physics to test prep and even basic Spanish. Everyone has a different way of learning, and everyone...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Current Undergrad, Electrical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +41 subjects
Connor: ISEE test prep instructor
...ability to grasp even the most complex of topics, and I have built my tutoring career on this premise. As an experienced tutor, I have continually enjoyed seeing my students achieve lofty goals under my instruction. I specialize in tutoring biology, chemistry, physics, and economics for high school students. In addition to this, I also...
Education & Certification
- Saint Louis University-Main Campus - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- HSPT
- STAAR
- +43 subjects
Brianna: ISEE test prep instructor
...of all ages, ranging from elementary school to college students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry my passion for working with children and have developed my skills in making successful and...
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Current Undergrad, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACT 4-Week Prep Class
- ACT
- SAT
- +217 subjects
Cynthia: ISEE test prep instructor
...I have been tutoring high school students outside of class in college and involved in STEM academics and research mentorship as well as a translation program from and to English outside of class. I speak Japanese and French, and I have taken the PSATs, SATs, 10 APs, and the GREs successfully. I would be willing...
Education & Certification
- Princeton University - Bachelors, Neuroscience
- Johns Hopkins University - PHD, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SSAT
- SAT
- +72 subjects
Kaley: ISEE test prep instructor
...both as a classroom teacher and a tutor and in these roles I look for ways to make learning fun and rewarding. I especially love teaching reading and writing and I have taught or tutored these subjects to students ranging from kindergarten through adults. I also have experience tutoring test prep subjects and focus both...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, Education and Public Policy
- Harvard Graduate School of Education - Masters, Human Development and Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- +35 subjects
Margarita: ISEE test prep instructor
...in a dermatologist office as a Medical Assistant and part-time on a public health project related to smoking cessation. I have also been tutoring students in a variety of subjects. I have been tutoring students since I was in 7th grade, and my favorite subject to tutor is math. My family is originally from Russia,...
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SSAT
- SAT
- +55 subjects
Chase: ISEE test prep instructor
...view studying and doing mathematical work as one of the greatest joys available to human beings in this context, and it is my role as a teacher to effectively, enthusiastically communicate the importance and beauty of math to my students as well as to foster their powers of critical and mathematical thinking. It is my...
Education & Certification
- Western Governors University - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- HSPT
- SAT 4-Week Prep Class
- ACT
- +153 subjects
Rena: ISEE test prep instructor
...as well as honors English classes. Besides taking classes in these subjects, I tutored at my local library with a volunteer group called Homework Helpers for all four years of high school. I tutored students in kindergarten up to eighth grade in all subjects. Not only did I help them with their homework but I...
Education & Certification
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick - Current Undergrad, Urban Planning and Design
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SHSAT
- SAT
- +30 subjects
Erin: ISEE test prep instructor
...an all honors high school in New Jersey. During high school, I was a peer tutor in physics, math, and spanish. Outside of school I tutored several local students in middle school math. I also taught a class of first graders in my parish. I feel that the most important part of learning is understanding....
Education & Certification
- New Jersey Institute of Technology - Bachelors, Architecture
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- HSPT
- +33 subjects
Varun: ISEE test prep instructor
...long it takes, I will make sure you get the most out of your sessions and will tailor my personal approach to whatever you need. I have been tutoring middle school, high school, and college students for five years. As an Ivy League graduate, I know what it takes to succeed in a highly competitive...
Education & Certification
- Dartmouth College - Bachelors, Government/Film and Media Studies
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- ECAA
- Florida EOC Assessment
- +149 subjects
Moriah: ISEE test prep instructor
...must learn at their own pace. Although, sometimes giving them too much leeway may not always be the best solution, I am there to also provide encouragement and challenge to make the learning process enjoyable and beneficial. Apart from work, I do enjoy reading, jogging, exploring New York City, and playing the violin during my...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, Music
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SHSAT
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +61 subjects
Leonid: ISEE test prep instructor
...In my free time, I rock climb, dance, and build crazy robotics projects. I love helping students of all ages build understanding and excitement for various subjects. I believe that, with patience and the right set of tools, you can grow to enjoy any subject. As someone who used to be terrible at math and...
Education & Certification
- University of Massachusetts Amherst - Current Undergrad, Mechanical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACT
- SAT
- SSAT
- +53 subjects
Jacob: ISEE test prep instructor
...take the GRE and attend a doctoral program in the biological sciences. In the summer of 2015, I participated in behavioral research on chimpanzees, and am now assisting with the skeletal archives at the American Museum of Natural History. I have had experience teaching as a peer mentor for college students in Introductory Biology, as...
Education & Certification
- Wesleyan University - Bachelors, Music and Biology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- HSPT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- +68 subjects
Naftali: ISEE test prep instructor
...students. Every student is different and should be taught in a way that helps them better understand both the subject matter in front of them and themselves as a student. I believe that the healthy combination of creativity and patience can lead to the solution of almost any problem in life. In my spare time,...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Current Undergrad, Dramatic Writing
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- SHSAT
- +54 subjects
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelor in Arts, History
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- REGENTS
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +84 subjects