As you can see, 2017 was a year of student perseverance and pushing boundaries. 25,315 students from over 100 different countries answered over three million practice questions. Impressively, they spent 118,029 hours taking practice tests, studying vocabulary, watching instructional videos, and working through question banks. To prepare for the written component of the test, students crafted personal essays, with most commonly used words including “people”, “learn”, “world” and “help”.
For the first time, Test Innovators started to measure grit and provide students with a grit score. This metric indicates student tenacity in goal pursuit, an attribute that schools are increasingly looking for in their admissions evaluations.
Most importantly, the effort expended by students throughout their practice resulted in measurably improved SSAT and ISEE scores.
In May 2025, Texas passed a new education bill launching school vouchers in 2026 through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Families may receive $10,000 per child to use toward private school tuition, tutoring, educational therapy, and more. With broad eligibility and limited spots, now is the time to explore school options,...
Parents often ask us which ISEE section is the most important to a competitive application. It’s also a question we like to discuss with our internal team and with our network of tutors and school administrators. And as with everything else, we’ve analyzed our data to find the answer to...
About the SSAT Writing Sample
The first section of the SSAT is a timed writing sample.
The prompts vary by test level, with Upper and Middle level students choosing between two differing prompts, and Elementary level students being asked to write a story based on a visual prompt. Upper and Middle level...
The Lower Level ISEE test is an entrance test for students applying to 5th or 6th grade that is taken when the student is in 4th or 5th grade. Here are some tips for preparing your student for the test:
The following infographic provides a visual overview of the structure and content on the ISEE, so that you can get to know the test. However, the best way to get to know the ISEE is to take a full-length practice test. Get started with a free sample test today.
The saying “practice as you’d like to perform” is applicable to so many things, especially test preparation. Practice tests are the foundation of preparation for this very reason. Practice tests help simulate test day and expose you to the content and structure of the test.
But taking a practice test is...
When it comes to preparing for an entrance exam, it can be easy to procrastinate because of all the other things you have to do for your applications. Giving yourself enough time to study will not only boost your performance and confidence, it will also help you retain information for...
As soon as your score report is ready, you can view your scores by logging in to your SSAT account. If you want to know the minute scores are released, you can sign up to receive a text or email alert from the SSAT. After you’ve reviewed your scores, you...
Test Innovators' education team recently ran webinars that answered our most frequently asked questions about these tests. If you missed the webinars, check out the recordings.
