Finding the right New York City ISEE prep solution for your child doesn't have to be difficult when you take advantage of the help of Varsity Tutors. If your child will be taking one of the ISEE levels, it probably means you are hoping they will be accepted to one of the city's top independent or private schools. These schools rely on the ISEE to give them insight into the academic level of those children who apply.
No matter how well your child has been doing in their studies thus far, giving them an opportunity to review with a skilled instructor can help them work towards doing their best on test day. To learn more about what is covered on the different levels of the ISEE and how Varsity Tutors can help you find the right New York City ISEE prep strategy for your child.
What can New York City ISEE prep cover?
There are four levels of the ISEE; Upper, Middle, Lower, and Primary. The Upper Level is for students entering grades nine through twelve. The Middle Level is for students entering grades seven or eight. The Lower Level is for children entering grades five or six. The Primary Level is comprised of three sublevels; Primary 4, Primary 3, and Primary 2. The Primary Levels correspond to the grade level the child will be entering. All of the levels evaluate your child's grade level appropriate understanding of math and reading. They also all require your child to write an essay that is not graded.
The Upper, Middle, and Lower levels of the ISEE all have the same five core sections; Math Achievement, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and an Essay. Students will have have the same amount of time for these sections to answer the same number of questions. The specific skills evaluated throughout the sections are based on the grade level.
In the Math Achievement section of the exam, your child will have 40 minutes to answer 47 questions. In the Quantitative Reasoning section, they will have 35 minutes to answer 37 questions. These sections evaluate your child's mathematical thinking and math operation skills. Some of the math skills and concepts your child may need to review, depending on their grade level include solving equations, data analysis and probability, basic math operations, measurement, geometry, working with variables and exponents, integers, fractions, square roots, decimals, estimation, ratios and proportion, prime factorization, and various algebraic concepts.
For the Verbal Reasoning portion of the exam, your child will have 20 minutes to answer 40 questions. In the Reading Comprehension section, they will have 35 minutes to answer 36 items. These sections measure your child's English language and reading comprehension skills. A few of the English language and reading skills your child can review with the help of a professional ISEE prep resource include parts of speech, root words, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, comparing and contrasting, identifying an author's intent, cause and effect, figurative and literal language, and determining the meaning of a word from context clues.
Your child will have 30 minutes to respond to one writing prompt in the Essay section of the test. Although the Essay isn't graded, a copy of your child's response is sent to the schools to which your child applies. It is an opportunity for them to demonstrate their competency with skills such as sentence structure, creativity, organization, punctuation, and grammar. As part of their ISEE preparation, they can work on developing these skills so they can accurately represent their unique style and personality.
The three core sections of the Primary Level are Reading, Mathematics, and a Writing Sample. As with the other levels, the writing sample is not graded but should still be considered during preparation efforts. The Primary Level 2 ISEE has an additional section for students to complete that focuses on their auditory comprehension. During this section the students have a passage read to them, and they then answer questions based on the information presented. Some of the skills your child may need to review before taking one the Primary Levels of the ISEE include vocabulary, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and reading comprehension.
Professional New York City ISEE preparation can help your student prepare for their upcoming exam whether they need targeted help on specific skills or a comprehensive overview of multiple subjects.
How can a New York City ISEE prep class help my child prepare?
Prep classes are ideal for students who need a comprehensive overview and who thrive in group learning environments. Having the support of peers who are all focused on a common goal is highly motivating for many students. Classes are held in a secure online environment and are structured similarly to a traditional classroom. The teacher will present the curriculum to the class and may then work with children individually answering questions or facilitate group projects or conversations to support greater understanding of specific topics.
You can choose between two and four-week classes to ensure your child has an appropriate amount of time to prepare. Each class is made of individual sections, and new sections begin each week. This means your child can get started right away with their prep efforts.
How is working with a New York City ISEE tutor different from taking a course?
The two biggest differences between working with a tutor and taking a course are the amount of personalized instruction your child can receive and how sessions are scheduled. When working with a private tutor, your child's lessons will be tailored to their specific learning style, academic needs, and scoring goals while classes offer a more generalized approach that focuses equally on all areas. You and your needs determine the schedule of a private session while a course has designated times that your child must attend.
How can I get my child started with New York City ISEE prep?
Varsity Tutors can help you quickly sign your child up for a New York City ISEE prep course or connect you with a private ISEE tutor who can work one-on-one with your child. We know that education isn't a one method fits all proposition, which is why we want to support you in providing your child what they need to maximize their test preparation efforts. Contact Varsity Tutors now to get started today.
Margarita: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...in Biochemistry and Russian Literature from Columbia University in May 2014, and I plan on beginning medical school in the fall of 2015. Since graduation, I have been working part-time 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...
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- ACT
- PSAT
- +55 subjects
Alana: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...in Spanish and Biology as well. Having taken the MCAT and excelled on the SAT, ACT, as well as multiple SAT subject tests, I am have extensive standardized testing experience and am confident in my ability to help others in their academic studies. When not studying or doing research, I enjoy running, cooking, and exploring...
Education & Certification
- Haverford College - Bachelor of Science, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- HSPT
- SAT
- +56 subjects
Katherine: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...where she received her B.A. in Psychology with a special concentration in Linguistics. There she combined her love of language with attention to philosophic inquiry and data-driven research. In addition to her studies, Katherine dedicated much of her time to teaching. She worked as a T.A. in the Psychology Department and volunteered with Brainiacs, a...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology Linguistics
- CUNY Graduate School and University Center - Masters, Linguistics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +55 subjects
Jacob: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...have helped students develop the requisite skills, strategies, and confidence to overcome whatever difficulty faces them. My years of experience have left me with a deep conviction that empathy is a key characteristic in an effective tutor. I never forget that as a tutor, I enter a student's life at an especially fraught time. My...
Education & Certification
- Wesleyan University - Bachelors, Government
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- +69 subjects
Alex: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...first on the students comprehension of the material at hand and then help the student construct an analytical argument. In subjects related to math, I review the foundational concepts in a certain topic before proceeding to assist the student with specific example problems. I always make sure to make my lessons enjoyable and relatable, so...
Education & Certification
- Stanford University - Bachelor in Arts, Applied Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- UK A Level
- SAT Subject Tests
- GED
- +100 subjects
Zoe: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...wanted to be engaged in a creative field empowering young people, specifically anything related to writing or the arts. I did a creative seminar at camp with a small co-ed group of young students, and the poems and thoughts some of those children came up with were simultaneously moving, insightful, wacky, and hilarious in a...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Theatre
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- PSAT
- +32 subjects
Jordy: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...has always been that of academics and the performing arts; as I have spent the last six years since graduating from Columbia University in New York auditioning and performing, I have also found myself drawn to working with kids. I have worked as a nanny and tutored kids between the ages of three and seventeen,...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, English Literature, Art History
- Harvard University - Master of Fine Arts, Acting
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Advanced Placement
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- +28 subjects
Joanna: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...I remember how much I loved it. I tutored students from 8 years old to 18 years old, not to mention the 8 younger cousins and siblings I have. I love seeing understanding light up in a student's eyes when they understand a new concept or finally get something they've been struggling with. When they...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- PSAT
- SSAT
- SAT
- +32 subjects
Diptesh: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...and other exams! I truly believe education is a mutual learning and teaching opportunity and enjoy helping my students achieve a thorough understanding (those "Aha!" moments) and appreciation of whatever they choose to study! In the future, I seek to pursue clinical and pedagogical medicine and enjoy biking, skateboarding, dancing, and philosophizing in my spare...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SHSAT
- SAT
- HSPT
- +88 subjects
Chloe: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...five years, and my students have ranged from early elementary school students with reading difficulties all the way up to graduate students who needed help getting articles ready for publication. Although I enjoy tutoring many subjects, my specialties are editing college essays, reading comprehension, and all levels of test prep. As an SAT tutor, my...
Education & Certification
- Williams College - Bachelor in Arts, Arabic Studies, Religion
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- TACHS
- HSPT
- +44 subjects
Owen: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...pursue a role as a financial analyst, but I have maintained a full roster of 1-1 private students since. I truly love working with students to help them achieve more than they (and their parents) thought possible. Let's get in touch to discuss how we can make your son/daughter a top performing student. Here are...
Education & Certification
- CUNY Brooklyn College - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- TACHS
- ACT
- REGENTS
- +42 subjects
Daniel: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...and legal studies. As a high achiever throughout high school and college, I've always viewed education as one of our most valuable resources and am passionate about expanding the educational prospects of others. I have worked as a TA and recently spent a summer creating content for educational programs for disadvantaged populations. My priority as...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Sociology and Theatre
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- +48 subjects
Saad: New York ISEE test prep instructor
I am a Finance major at Mercy College in New York, having transferred this Fall from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. My goal to simply help my students achieve the results they desire and to help them set up the habits which will let them reproduce these results in the future.
Education & Certification
- Mercy College - Bachelor of Science, Finance
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +34 subjects
Elias: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...to meeting new students and helping as much as I can! In the rest of my life, I love to hike, I listen to a ton of music, and enjoy reading, spending time with friends and playing sports. I plan on attending law school in the next few years and hope to eventually work as...
Education & Certification
- Washington University in St Louis - Bachelors, Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, Anthropology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +60 subjects
Jeff: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...of an instructor as possible--from my own education, I've noticed that teachers who are indifferent, "boring," or too removed from their students often have difficulty motivating their students to try harder and continue learning the material. While I am able to tutor a variety of subjects, my strongest areas are in math, writing, science, and...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Current Undergrad, Neuroscience/Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- SHSAT
- ACT
- +37 subjects
John Raffles: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...(or type of problem) there is a non-sequitur somewhere in that process. My job, which is quite fun in this way, is to identify and correct this misunderstanding. One of the best feelings in the world is helping someone see the underlying beauty governing the world and humans. Understanding why and how things work is...
Education & Certification
- University of Arizona - Bachelors, Biomedical Engineering and Dance
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- AP Biology
- +70 subjects
Liz: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...young adults. I have been a choreographer for middle school musicals for several years. I love working with kids, and have experience tutoring middle school students in Spanish, tutoring high school students in the ACT and SAT Verbal sections, guiding students through essay writing, and have worked with children with learning and behavioral disabilities, including...
Education & Certification
- University of Southern California - Bachelor in Arts, Theatre
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +40 subjects
Zachary: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...Cognitive Science, not so much as a fallback career, but because I am fascinated by the subject. I succeeded in getting into Northwestern without the aid of any academic tutors or test prep classes. As such, I am confident in my standardized test-taking abilities, and happy to share the strategies I used for the ACT,...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Theatre, Cognitive Science
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- CAHSEE
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +60 subjects
Sarah: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...that they now enjoy learning about and studying. I believe I am a good tutor and teacher because I am patient, encouraging, and have good communication and classroom management skills. I do not get frustrated if my students do not understand something right away; instead, I look for an alternative way to explain whatever is...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelors, Classics
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London - Masters, Advanced Theatre Practice
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- SHSAT
- PSAT
- +56 subjects
Jason: New York ISEE test prep instructor
...undergraduate, particularly enjoying my work with ESL students and students with disabilities. I am especially passionate about foreign languages, the humanities, and social sciences. I received four consecutive gold medals on the National Latin Exam when I was in high school, so I am eager to help students who are struggling with the subject. I...
Education & Certification
- Vassar College - Bachelors, Drama (education minor)
- CUNY Graduate School and University Center - Masters, Linguistics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- PSAT
- CLEP
- +90 subjects