The SSAT along with the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) are used for admissions into private/independent schools. Some schools favor the ISEE, others favor the SSAT and some will look at whichever you scored best on. See more from Varsity Tutors on how to improve ISEE scores. Don’t add pressure: The tests can cause tons of pressure and anxiety for younger students, especially when parents pile it on. That’s why having the right mindset is just as important as the best SSAT prep. Avoid telling your child “you need to do well,” “you must do well,” or “if you don’t do well…” ...

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Which is better: the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or the Secondary School Aptitude Test (SSAT)? Well, both are used for entrance into private/independent schools, but they’re not exactly interchangeable. Some independent schools will accept only the ISEE, others only the SSAT, and some will consider whichever test you scored higher on. But, before you spend tons of hours prepping for one test, make sure the school(s) you’re interested in accept it. Test levels: First of all, the ISEE has three levels: lower for students currently in grades 4-5, middle for grades 6-7 and upper for grades 8-11. The SSAT only has two leve...

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Over the next two weeks, close to 2 million students will be taking the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams.  Covering subjects ranging from Art History to Macroeconomics to Statistics, AP exams (and their corresponding AP classes) give high school students opportunities to take rigorous classes while earning college credit by successfully passing the exams. Here are some pointers to help you get through the next two weeks of grueling exams: 1.  Read over the official Course Description booklets The College Board has course booklets for each of its AP exams.  Browsing over the course booklet is a great way to ensu...

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By now, you’ve probably heard your older brothers’ or sisters’ tales of it – and your teachers talk all about how important or difficult it can be. But, the fact that you’re reading this post and considering working with an ACT tutor already puts you a step above the rest. And guess what, we’re going to give you even more help with the following ACT prep tips. Background: Some colleges prefer the ACT over the SAT and vice versa. But, most will consider whichever you score higher on. Unlike the SAT, you can’t combine sections from previous tests to create an aggregate score. The ACT has five sections:...

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The ISEE essay is not scored. But, you can request for your essay to be photocopied and sent to certain schools – or you can leave it off your ISEE report entirely. But, why wouldn’t you send your ISEE essay to every school? If you don’t send it, private schools are just going to think you’re hiding something from them. Not sending an essay tells schools you didn’t care enough to prepare for it. At which point, they’ll draw their own conclusions. Is this student lazy? Do they have poor grammar skills? Do they have zero confidence in their writing? Those are the impressions you’ll leave, and elite sch...

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