Many students struggle with the verbal reasoning section, which requires understanding analogies and relationships between words they may not encounter in everyday classroom work. The pacing can also be challenging—students must work quickly through quantitative problems while maintaining accuracy. Additionally, the test's multiple-choice format rewards strategic thinking and elimination skills that differ from traditional classroom assessments, making targeted preparation essential.

In a typical classroom with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio like many Concord schools, test prep moves at a fixed pace and addresses general strategies. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify your child's specific weak areas—whether that's vocabulary building, quantitative reasoning, or test-taking stamina—and create a customized study plan. This targeted approach helps students build confidence and see measurable improvement in the areas where they need it most.

Most students benefit from 2-4 months of consistent preparation, working 1-2 hours per week with a tutor. The timeline depends on your child's starting point, test date, and how quickly they grasp new strategies. Starting early allows time to build foundational skills, practice with real test materials, and develop the stamina needed for test day without last-minute cramming.

The first session typically includes an assessment of your child's current skills across all four test sections, a review of their learning style and goals, and an introduction to test format and timing. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who use this initial meeting to understand your child's strengths and areas for growth, then develop a personalized study plan tailored to their needs and your timeline.

Strong vocabulary and reading comprehension are foundational—students should be comfortable with grade-level and above-grade-level words and able to answer questions about main ideas and details. In quantitative reasoning, focus on word problems, fractions, and multi-step math. Test-taking skills matter too: learning to eliminate wrong answers, manage time across sections, and stay calm under pressure. Personalized tutoring helps students strengthen all these areas in concert.

Students who work consistently with a tutor typically see meaningful gains in both raw scores and confidence. Many students improve their performance by 10-20 percentile points or more, depending on where they start and how engaged they are in preparation. Beyond test scores, students develop stronger critical thinking skills, better time management, and the resilience to tackle challenging academic work—skills that serve them well in independent school and beyond.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ISEE Lower Level preparation and understand the needs of students in Concord. When you reach out, share your child's current grade, target schools, and timeline, and you'll be matched with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style align with your family's goals. The process is straightforward—you can get started quickly and customize the tutoring schedule to fit your family's needs.