Simulating the official testing experience is a critical part of the preparation process. This helps students mitigate any testing anxiety because they know exactly what to expect, and it helps them practice managing their time on a rigorous exam.
For this reason, we have created online proctor videos so that students can have their own virtual proctor!
We recommend that students find a time that they can sit down and take a full-length practice test (ideally a weekend morning, as that’s the time they’ll be taking the official test!), print out their practice test, pull up their proctor video, and press play. The video proctor will do the rest — give students all the instructions, 5-minute warnings, and stop times for each section.
Make sure you choose the video for the correct level and test. If you will be receiving an accommodation for time and a half on the official test, check out the extended time videos!
As a general rule, we recommend starting your ISEE prep six to four months before your test date.
This means that if you plan to take the test in November, then you should take a diagnostic practice test sometime between May and July.
Applying to private and independent schools can be daunting. The process spans several months, and there are a lot of moving parts. But with some planning and preparation, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are four things you should be doing this summer if you are applying to private and...
Taking the ISEE or SSAT test is only one step in preparing to apply to private high schools. Making a list of schools to apply to can be nearly as daunting as taking a test. Here are three important questions to ask yourself as you get started.
For the first section of the SSAT, you will have 25 minutes to produce a sample of your best writing. For the writing sample, you will choose from two prompts: one is a creative prompt in the form of a partial sentence.
We’re excited to introduce Daibi, one of our 2023 Independent School Tuition Scholars. Daibi improved his score on the SSAT by 11%, putting him in the 99th percentile overall!
Retaking the SSAT can seem like a real pain. You’ve already taken the nearly three-hour test once — is it really worth it to give up a Saturday morning and countless nights studying just to take the same test again?
Test preparation is an iterative process. Each practice test serves as a benchmark of progress and as a roadmap for what to work on next. Approach preparation one step at a time, and don't get discouraged if you aren't reaching your goals immediately or as quickly as you expected. Like...
Congratulations to Ella, one of our Independent School Tuition Scholars for 2023! Ella was able to increase her SSAT score by 29 percentile points, putting her in the 53rd percentile overall.
Yesterday Test Innovators' Director of Education Brenna O'Neill revealed the strategies and secrets she and her team of highly experienced tutors have developed over years of preparing students for the SSAT. You can view the recording below:
The Primary Level ISEE has three levels: Primary Level 2 for students applying to 2nd grade, Primary Level 3 for students applying to 3rd grade, and Primary Level 4 for students applying to 4th grade. Keep reading for more information about each level and section, including sample questions from the...
